1/350 REFIT BUILD

[Chris PikE]

So...

Having built several of these many years ago when this kit was first released, I find myself building three now. All three will feature...

The Star Trek the motion picture paint scheme. Five colors(Four iredescent Gold,Blue,Green and Red) Plus the base color white.
Full lighting package.
On this build, the masking set from Orbital Dry-docks.
Photo Etch from Para Grafx.

Once I started the build I realized why I stopped building them. They are a major pain to build.These three will be my last.

On this build, I started with the Shuttle bay. After cleaning up the parts and Priming, I air brushed the appropriate color scheme...

 

[Chris PikE]

More detailed pictures of the Shuttlebay and the two Turbolifts...

 

[Chris PikE]

The Shuttlebay again...The detailed/painted Botanical Garden and officers Lounge.

On both I removed those horrid plastic "trees" and substituted scale ones.

Also the Photo Etch addition of the Windows for both areas.

 

[Chris PikE]

The intricate Five color Motion picture paint scheme begins.
Note...to keep these builds from boring me to tears, I jump around. Your milage may vary.

Again, using the mask set from Orbital Dry-docks I have begun airbrushing the Secondary hull...A tedious process to say the least. I won't go into the steps of The actual how to on using the mask, You can find that around the net. However, having said that, it's MUCH easier than cutting my own, which I did in the past.

 

[Chris PikE]

he kit supplied bridge is wrong...So I started to modify it until I found a much more accurate part on Shapeways...





And on the Saucer...



The Impulse power crystal housing..

 

[Chris PikE]

I airbrushed the intricate Aztec pattern and five colors on the upper saucer...

 

[Chris PikE]

The saucer and Shuttlebay assemblies and the lower saucer gets airbrushed...

 

[Chris PikE]

Test Fitting the major assemblies...




AND some light testing...

 

[Chris PikE]

The electronics and lighting have been installed 100%.

Although there is much more work to do, the model is finally beginning to look right. Still need to address several areas for clean up and lighten some of the coloring...However, I am happy with the progress so far.

I also stopped by to see my friends at my local Hobby Shop to allow them to inspect and enjoy the model...











AND a Video...
1/350 REFIT WIP - YouTube

 

[Gibraltar]

Gorgeous build! Nicely done.

 

[Santaman]

Very well done, your aztec pattern is awesome with all the colours there.

 

[Mage]

Holy sh*t......... I am beyond impressed.....

 

[137th Gebirg]

That is astonishingly beautiful! Would you be able to share which paints you used to make that flawless pearlescent effect? I have a refit still in the box myself and I was hoping to give it a similar paint treatment.

When I see builds like this, it really boggles my mind why ILM didn’t preserve that paint job for TWOK and beyond.

 

[ashleytinger]

That is fantastic work. It might be a pain, but I like your results!

 

[valkyrie013]

Very nice!
Have a Orbital Drydocks set for the 500 09 Enterprise.. Haven't used it yet..
Looking great! that bottom of the eng and the tail of the nacelles look complicated paint!

 

[Chris PikE]

Many,many thanks!! More to come.

 

[Kor]

Very nice work!

Kor

 

[valkyrie013]

Have 2 350 enterprises, this and the NX sitting in my closet.. But I live in an Appartment so can't build them because of Space! Grrr...

 

[Chris PikE]

On the dinning room table...

 

[Cobalt Frost]

“I apologize for the interruption, sir, but this transmission just came in from Epsilon IX. You are the ranking officer on duty.”

“Thank you, Captain..?”

“Frost, sir. Gabriel Frost.”

“You’re not posted to the Comms center.” It was not a question, but stated in a friendly manner.

“No sir. I’m just… passing through.” Gabriel proffered the data cartridge. “Sir, you really need to see this.” Kirk took the cartridge and snapped it into the reader on his desk. As it was playing, Gabriel’s attention was drawn to the wall of monitors, particularly to the four displaying the very nearly completed Enterprise.

“She always was my favorite Enterprise,” said Gabriel to himself.

“What’s that, Captain?” asked Kirk, pausing the recording.

Gabriel turned to face the Admiral. “I was just saying that you’ve got quite a ship there.”

“She’s not mine,” Kirk said with more than a hint of regret. “Not anymore.”

“Things change,” Gabriel answered, a knowing smile quickly crossing his face. “If there’s nothing else, sir?”

* * * * *

GORGEOUS model!