Building From Scratch - Part 2

A 4" disc was cut from .005" styrene. Three rings were etched into this disc. The center of the disc was cut out making a 4" diameter, .2" wide ring. Another disc was cut from .004" styrene with the center cut out at 3". This ring was glued to the underside of the larger ring. Both rings were glued down to another styrene disc. A shallow resin disc was poured and when cured, was shaped and sanded smooth to a shallow flat dome shape. A resin plug was poured then turned on a lathe to form the central disc/dome shape with etched lines. This lathe turned dome was glued to the center of the flat resin disc. A .003" styrene disc was cut at 2 1/2" in diameter and had a couple of lines etched into it. This plastic disc was then cut into pie segments and glued to the top shallow resin disc. This separate assembly was placed on the tiered styrene disc assembly and lines were penciled on to use as guides for scribing in radial lines.

Radial lines were etched into the tiered styrene discs and on the flat part of the central dome assembly. Recessed 'doors' were also etched into the resin flat dome.

Radial lines were etched into the central resin dome, and torpedo tube recesses were drilled into this 2" diameter resin assembly.

The central resin assembly was glued to the tiered styrene assembly completing primary construction of the new saucer bottom. This assembly was centered and glued to the bottom of the saucer. Scribed styrene was cut to fit into the deflector slot. Additional detail was added in with thin strip styrene.

Styrene sheet was cut to shape of the lower pod structures. These styrene shapes were glued to the lower hull. Epoxy putty was sculpted on and around the styrene and finally wet sanded to shape.

The notch in the forward section was filled with sheet styrene and detailed.

The launch bay door section was built from sheet styrene. This entire area measures about 1/4" by 1/2". A small shuttlepod was sculpted and inserted into one of the open doors. An observation tower was then added.

Saucer doors are made from very thin sheet styrene and placed into the recessed door sections in the saucer top and bottom. Panel line scribing of the pods are completed. A few windows were also etched in.

The 'gas caps' in the recesses on the tops of the pods are detailed with sheets styrene and shaped styrene tube. Recesses were also cut into the sides of the pods and filled with grooved sheet styrene to form 'vents'.

The impulse thrusters were reattached. The aft ends of the pods were cut off for later detailing. Saucer rim manuvering thrusters were made from thin sheet styrene and attached.

The saucer rim manuvering thrusters are detailed. Ultra fine tiling lines were etched on over the entire model surface.

A view of the saucer bottom showing the new detail with the fine etched hull tiling lines.

The intermix pod lathe cut disc was glued to the .008" styrene base. A styrene aft 'wall' was glued on at an angle and epoxy putty was used to shape the sides of the pod. After final wet sanding to shape, detail was added with very thin sheet styrene. Shown here with the tip of a #11 X-acto blade, the primary tool used in making this model.

Castings of the pod wings were cut to fit the side contours of the pod and glued in place.

Cut vinyl tape was used to add the ribbed detail on the bottom of the pod, completing this portion of the model.

All windows were etched in, cut vinyl tape was applied for low relief detail panels. The cut off aft thruster ports are detailed with ribbed plastic on the aft end, and the outer surface is textured. Finally, the model shapes were complete!

Since this model was multi media, I decided the painting would be much easier if it were a single media. the model was embedded into clay and rubber was poured over it to make a mold.

On to Part 3 Painting!

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