1:1400 Galaxy Class build for filming purposes

[TheTrekBack]

Building this model in a reasonably decent way requires a huge amount of time and patience. I didn't go nearly as far as some others and limited myself to additional photo-etched parts from Greenstrawberry.

I had doubted that a model at a scale of only 1:1400 would produce usable results for filming, but I was quite pleasantly surprised. The very elaborate detail work, the application of hundreds of individual escape pods, and not least the extensive decal and painting work were all worthwhile. Of course, this was a kit from the 80s, where I had to mill out each window individually. One secret to this build is that you first have to clean the parts of all those raised lines that were presumably meant to add texture, because they not only look extremely out of scale, but also make the clean application of the Aztec decals almost impossible. What I would have liked to do was create a pattern on the hull with glossy and matte areas, like in Generations. But that was just too much work for me.

Here are some pictures of the model after completion.

I've also already taken some motion control shots with a simple flight maneuver. Pictures of these results will follow soon.

USS Challenger NCC-71099 1:1400 film model. by Alan Smithee, auf Flickr

USS Challenger NCC-71099 1:1400 film model. by Alan Smithee, auf Flickr

USS Challenger NCC-71099 1:1400 film model. by Alan Smithee, auf Flickr

USS Challenger NCC-71099 1:1400 film model. by Alan Smithee, auf Flickr

USS Challenger NCC-71099 1:1400 film model. by Alan Smithee, auf Flickr

 

[Ray Hardgrit]

She looks absolutely beautiful with the lighting on.

 

[TheTrekBack]

She looks absolutely beautiful with the lighting on.

True. Although the smartphone camera can't capture it very well. Here's a screenshot of a properly lit and graded motion control sequence shot in 6K. There are still a few problems, such as the blue light from the warp nacelle looking too white, but I won't be using that shot anyway. It's a bit too close for a model of this size.

Screenshot 2026-02-07 204045 by Alan Smithee, auf Flickr

 

[137th Gebirg]

I built a 1:1400 D like this once - a LOOONG time ago. Drilling out all those damn windows tested my patience - BIGLY - in a way that I couldn't possibly do it again today. I forgot how many of those little Dremel drill bits a broke trying to make this thing work. I bought multiple containers, containing 10 each, I think. Those things snapped with very minimal effort, despite all the care in the world being taken. In the end, I did finish the model and it looked good for a while, then age finally caught up with it and it started falling apart with a failing lighting wiring harness. I cut all the wires and rebuilt it as a Nebula-class variant and sold it on eBay. It had a good run. Wouldn't ever want to do it again, and yours looks wonderful. Far better than mine wound up looking.

 

[TheTrekBack]

Haha... yeah, exactly my experience. I bought these nozzle cleaning drills for 3D printers and broke countless of them. Model kits are clear these days so that you can then scrape the windows clean. I don't know how well that works, but I still have two more 80s kits with which I want to build a Nebula-class model also and the USS Buran from the battle of Wolf. But not too soon, I guess.