News Enterprise 1701-A Matchstick Build

[Darren Myers]

Hi Guys, firstly I'm very new to this Forum and I have been advised to post my comments here as I think I mistakenly posted them on another forum section...

Anyway since March 2016 I have been working on my build of the Enterprise 1701-A. The model is estimated to be around 2.8 meters in length and will be finished 2018 / 2019 and yes when you view the link you will see its being built out of matchsticks. The build is being filmed using a time frame app so it should be great to see it eventually built in a small movie. However I will be posting every few months pics of the current model.

My sincere apologies to all mathematicians who might be on this forum, but it appears the formulas that have been used over many century's, make no sense to me. So I have had to create my own formulas using clear and easy symbols to build this model of which I'm happy to share. These equate to Mass / weight dimension over mass to form structure integrity.

Its not the first model I have built out of matchsticks, if you google Matchstick boat Darren Myers you will see a 6 year project I worked on.

Below is the link of the current pics, half the fuselage has been completed structurally, and I'm now working on the LED lighting plan. please feel free to comment -

http://enterprisebuild.imgur.com

 

[SPCTRE]

That's already very impressive.

How much time do you usually put into that project on a daily basis?

 

[Darren Myers]

Depends, I have weeks/weekends when I spend 4 -5 hours a night (As I work in the day) but some weeks/weekends I have other commitments. However due to recent news activity I'm having to work more each week, which also involves me learning from scratch how to build LED circuits. So challenging times ahead

 

[Atolm]

you, my friend, you are truly skillful... nicely done!

 

[Q2UnME]

Darren Myers, very impressive so far, to say the least. I know I'm probably jumping the gun a bit but, from a structural stand point, how do you think you'll address the considerable weight and joint strains of the "neck" and the warp engines? Even working in plastic, the shear weight of the primary hull and the two warp engines always resorted in additional reinforcing and steel armatures to prevent stress issues and sagging. Give the scale you're working in, I'd have to assume those suckers are going to be heavy!

Q2

 

[Darren Myers]

This is where the fun began, I first looked at complex formulas to help me with this problem, however there are so many mathematical symbols and signs that really didn't make sense. Not to insult a vast number of geniuses out there. "I just don't understand why they have to make them difficult to read". So I opted in creating my own, and its working out (Touch Matchstick) like a treat. The fundamental focus is the same as a seesaw, mass over center of weight parsing external mass into center weight. I'm focusing more weight on the back section of the saucer and the same for the nay cells, I have been finishing the last formula's for key stress points into the hull. To visualize it, it will look internally like the letter "V" with a line lower to v point. The Hull has been designed to cross axis with this eventual V which will hold both cells and dish. I will post a photo link so you have an idea, as I could write forever, about how this is working . Whats more difficult is preventing burning my fingers whilst I build the electronics, happen to finish off the deflector dish lighting last night. Uploaded some pictures.