Mike Scott’s Classic Enterprise with lights
This is my contribution to the over the top star ship club. I started this kit about 10 minutes after it was offered to the public and it has taken me this long to complete it.
My first attempt to build a studio correct Enterprise was the woefully inadequate AMT kit. Not much remains of this kit except the primary bridge and Z scale interior which has a few slide shots mounted from the View master Star Trek reel. They show the captain his first officer and the chief surgeon in the turbo lift and another Galaxy starship in the main viewer.
The cut hulls had to be bonded together, filled and sanded to perfection. Any detail had to be replicated. The hull lights were relocated to the proper spot then drilled out and filled with clear resin. The hull was then painted flat black and foiled to reflect the most light possible.
After mounting the bridge to its new home I decided to build the shuttle bay. Both doors open, the one on the starboard side has a lower flange which connects to the center of the circular platform located toward front of the doors. This will give the illusion of a shuttle rotating into position for launch.
All the electronics are accessible for replacement and the effects circuits are mounted on custom etched boards inside the main hull which is also mounted with a 20 pin removable connector. Even the nacelles can be serviced and struts removed at the base which is a etched plug.
The nacelle power units have 20 yellow and green LEDs per side ,they chase in a counter rotating movement covered with a piece of diffraction plastic to diffuse the light ,in the middle of this is an orange panel light cover that gives the fan blade effect. the nacelle domes are thermal formed plastic sanded with 1500 grit and then dull coated, this gave the nacelles the flat dull look as seen on the three and twelve foot prop.
The paint color is a direct usage of the information given on CulTVman’s fine web site. The tamiya Grey and white combo known as ACE Shady Cove. I actually went to the Smithsonian to check the twelve footer’s saucer section against this Chip Strip. Its as close as anyone’s likely to get guys!
The saucer section had grid lines subtly penciled in along with an air brushed rust ring. The entire ship is airbrushed with darker shades of color to represent the pattern found on the original prop. Weathering is a combination of pencil lead and dry brushed acrylic. The insides of the pylons and struts are foiled with the strut vents covered with the dark mesh decals supplied by JTGraphics listed on this web site. All decals I used are available on this web site.
This is the LAST TOS Enterprise I ever want to do, its about 90% of what I have waited so long for. Can’t wait for the Polar lights refit kit.
Mike L Scott
