Steve Broderick’s Botany Bay
After a long break from scale modeling, I came back to the hobby this year with a project that I wanted to do for a long time. Although the S.S. Botany Bay has been done before, by a few garage kit manufacturers, the detail and accuracy never impressed me enough to open my wallet. However, this version from Atomic City is as close to the studio model as you can get. In fact, the artist behind this resin kit had direct access to the original filming model. The result is an extremely accurate model of Khan’s ship from the Star Trek episode: Space Seed.
Like all models from Atomic City, the parts are all beautifully crafted, the detail is crisp and the parts fit very well during assembly. The kit has about 36 parts and measures 21.5 inches long, which is exactly half the size of the original studio filming model. There are some parts that need to be made by hand, such as the center section thrusters and the five panels on the back of the cargo containers. These parts are not included in the kit. It is interesting to note that the thrusters on the original model were actually made out of a dashboard bezel from a commercial car kit. The four rear antenna are simply resin rectangles that are textured to look like metal screens, so I went a step further by building my own version with actual metal to have that transparent effect like the original. In my opinion, it just looks more authentic and adds to the presentation and overall quality of the model.
Contrary to what most think, the studio filming model is not pale gray, it is a beige / rust color. Before painting, the modeler must decide whether to paint the model as it appeared on TV or to attempt to match the studio model as it truly is. I went with the look of the studio model. There are several really good clear shots of it available on the web, taken back in the 80’s when the model was briefly on public display during a media event. It is clear when you see the original model that the builders did not have the time or the budget to do a detailed paint job. It is basically that beige / rust color sprayed on with black streaks applied by brush all over the model. I decided to put more effort in detailing mine while staying true to the original look.
Once the primer applied, I started with Tamiya Wooden Deck Tan, then oversprayed with Model Masters Earth Red and also some Rust ½. I then did some paneling here and there, to give the ship that worn look, and finished with a very light overspray of Wooden Deck Tan to bring the color down a notch and to subdue some of the panel lines. For additional weathering, I used some brown and black (paint and pastels) and an oil paint wash (Earth Red) in certain areas to bring out the fuselage detail. It is important to find a good balance when weathering this model. Although the ship is of simple design, the paint job is what can really bring it to life. I recommend doing several paint tests before final application.
In conclusion, this is great model for any Star Trek fan who enjoys a subject that is not available commercially. As with all resin garage kits, very few are made and are usually available only for a limited time. This kit goes for around $200 and is currently still available so grab one while you still can.
Steve Broderick
