PL 1:1000 TOS E That I Built For My Uncle

[Albertese]

When I was a kid, I had an interest in building models as well as an interest in Star Trek. The second model kit I ever assembled was the 18" AMT Enterprise when I was about eight years old. My Uncle Rick shared such interests and over the years, he gave me a bunch of his Trek models that he had built.

Fast forward to around 2005 (give or take) and my uncle and his family moved to Missouri. Since he had always been so generous with me, I wanted to return the favor. Polar Lights had pretty recently released the 1:1000 TOS Enterprise and I decided to build one up and give it to my uncle.

A couple months ago, my Uncle Rick passed away. My cousin sent me a few of his things that she knew I'd appreciate and one of them was returning this model. She said it was always one of his favorite things and he always had it displayed on a shelf above his TV.

Looking at it now, eight or nine years later, I don't quite like the colors I chose, and I think the weathering is a bit heavy handed. And I had forgotten how badly the decals silvered. And yet, given the model's place in my personal history, it's one of my favorites in my collection, so I thought I would share it.

I pretty much hate all kit-provided stands, so I made this one out of a slab of bubinga wood with the Starfleet delta carved out of a maple burl. A length of brass tube holds the model up.








--Alex

 

[CDR6]

Sounds like your uncle was a pretty neat guy... In any event you have to take "modelers intent" in to consideration here. For me the model holds up/photographs well. The intent was to give joy to someone, which it obviously did. Weathering is a tough call, to little and it won't show up, to much and it carys away the "line" of the kit and becomes competion for the other details. Decal silvering is some thing I have had my share of troubles with over the years also. My best results have been using gloss paint first, decal, then over coat with a "dull coat/flat" paint.

To my eye it looks like a good job and a nice build up. I especially like the stand (kit stands just don't do it for me either.) Nice job!

-Chuck

 

[Kaiser]

very well made model there and epic story behind it

 

[Mario de Monti]

A great history behind this model and a very well-executed build. When you´re buliding a model, all the flaws in execution it might have are a lot more obvious to yourself, than to anyone else Great job and thanks for sharing

I like the stand too, and was thinking of something similar for my 1/350 Big-E - that is, if I ever finish it

Mario

 

[trekriffic]

Thanks for sharing the backstory on your model. What a treasure for you to remember your uncle by. Love the stand!