I tried this once a few years ago, but life got in the way and I never got around to completing them.
I'm trying again, this time with better supplies, more insight into making these models, and a bigger budget for aftermarket items.
I started work on the 1701-D first. Now, this is a fairly s****y kit, yet it's still (by far) the best rendition of the biggest Enterprise ever made.
Problem #1: the little peg that holds the two hulls together is really, really lousy. Solution: MAGNETS
That'll stick
Problem #2: The neck. Solution: Tetryon Part's resin replacement
Problem #3 Those magnets I glued in look like ****.
I can't put them inside because I still need spacers due to how the kit is shaped.
Solution: a heap of Testor's contour putty, which smooths out really good with rubbing alcohol and patience.
Problem #4: The bussards that came with the kit were defective.
That's what I get for buying a Generations version of the kit off of eBay rather than manning up the $60 to buy the recent re-release by Round 2.
Solution: solid red resin aftermarket drop-in replacements by Federation Models
Problem #5: The main shuttlebay is awful on the kit (first image is of the 1701-D I did 4 years ago with stock part)
Solution: Scratch build it out of Apoxie Putty and styrene sheet.
New scratch-built shuttlebay.
Now, I'm also doing the 1701-E, and unlike the filming model, and ever other version of the model I've ever seen, this one will separate too.
Why? Because that's how Jean-Luc rolls, at least until Troi crashes it.
Size comparison of saucers
Ships as a whole
Building frames (see kids, geometry DOES come in handy).
Sidenote: I put entirely too many magnets in this one.
These are thicker (and thus much stronger) than the ones I put in the E-D.
There are 5 in the stardrive, but only 3 in the saucer.
Filling with putty
Cleanup
I had to dremel out a large amount of the saucer's center, only to putty it back out to fit the shape of the mating surface.
As you can see, the 3 magnets work really well.
Other Enterprises in background in varying states of readiness.
I'm trying again, this time with better supplies, more insight into making these models, and a bigger budget for aftermarket items.
I started work on the 1701-D first. Now, this is a fairly s****y kit, yet it's still (by far) the best rendition of the biggest Enterprise ever made.
Problem #1: the little peg that holds the two hulls together is really, really lousy. Solution: MAGNETS
That'll stick
Problem #2: The neck. Solution: Tetryon Part's resin replacement
Problem #3 Those magnets I glued in look like ****.
I can't put them inside because I still need spacers due to how the kit is shaped.
Solution: a heap of Testor's contour putty, which smooths out really good with rubbing alcohol and patience.
Problem #4: The bussards that came with the kit were defective.
That's what I get for buying a Generations version of the kit off of eBay rather than manning up the $60 to buy the recent re-release by Round 2.
Solution: solid red resin aftermarket drop-in replacements by Federation Models
Problem #5: The main shuttlebay is awful on the kit (first image is of the 1701-D I did 4 years ago with stock part)
Solution: Scratch build it out of Apoxie Putty and styrene sheet.
New scratch-built shuttlebay.
Now, I'm also doing the 1701-E, and unlike the filming model, and ever other version of the model I've ever seen, this one will separate too.
Why? Because that's how Jean-Luc rolls, at least until Troi crashes it.
Size comparison of saucers
Ships as a whole
Building frames (see kids, geometry DOES come in handy).
Sidenote: I put entirely too many magnets in this one.
These are thicker (and thus much stronger) than the ones I put in the E-D.
There are 5 in the stardrive, but only 3 in the saucer.
Filling with putty
Cleanup
I had to dremel out a large amount of the saucer's center, only to putty it back out to fit the shape of the mating surface.
As you can see, the 3 magnets work really well.
Other Enterprises in background in varying states of readiness.
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