Presents... Enterprise NCC-1701 Here you will see the construction, painting and decaling of three prototype models. These models have been used for the display and promotion for a new line of Star Trek styrene model kits by Polar Lights. The descriptions next to each photo are the steps taken during that day.

Day 1 Parts were dug up and gathered together to build all three ships. These parts included engine nacelle halves from plastic kits (some were built), lipstick containers, vacuform domes, resin aftermarket parts and hulls, and small 'google eyes' for use as clear small domes.

The saucer's seams were sanded smooth. The raised rib detail on the 'spine' is removed, smoothed and a channel is routered into two of the saucers. Two pairs of nacelles halves were glued together. The inboard screen details are completely sanded off each nacelle inboard half. The rectangular aft grills are ground off as well. The last pair of nacelles, which were covered in paint was set overnight in a pan of Pine-Sol to loosen the paint from the plastic.

Day 2 The nacelle halves are removed from the Pine-Sol and the loosened paint is scrubbed off. Recesses are drilled into the sockets on the saucers and into the tops of the secondary hull necks to help the epoxy hold the parts together securely.

The lower sensor array rings were trimmed and glued to the bottoms of the saucers.

The bridge domes were trimmed and sanded then glued to the appropriate saucers. The two tall bridges were glued to the saucers with the routered channels. Lastly, the 'short' bridge was glued to the last saucer.

Day 3 The loose parts for the nacelles were cleaned up, modified and trimmed.

The nacelle parts were aligned and glued onto the assembled nacelles.

Special attention was paid to the production version nacelles. After the aft 'handlebars' were attached, small strips of styrene were cut and glue to the forward edge of the handlebars. Small sections of strip styrene were cut to length and glued into the inboard channel. A connecting plate was cut to shape and glued to the aft ends of the styrene strips.

Day 4 The completed nacelles were epoxied into the secondary hulls.

The saucers were epoxied to the secondary hulls. Holes were then drilled into the bottoms of the secondary hulls for support rods to hold the models.

Brass tube sections were cut to fit into the holes in the bottoms of the secondary hulls and into holes drilled into the base in the foreground.

The short brass tube sections were glued into the drilled holes in the secondary hull bottoms and in the base. These tube sections will act are receptacles for a slighter smaller diameter brass tube that will slide into the base, then into the completed model to hold it up.

Day 5 Epoxy putty was applied around the base of the pilot bridges. Note the contour and height differences in the foreground Pilot and the background Production Version.

Epoxy putty was applied over all model surfaces to correct gaps, seam lines and unwanted detail.

All putty was sanded smooth and all seams were fine sanded on all three models. The impulse deck and aft engine caps are attached to the First Pilot Version.

The impulse deck and aft caps were attached to the Second Pilot Version. The Production Version parts remain off until after painting is completed.

All three models were primered with Krylon primer.

The Second Pilot bridge dome height is noticeably different from the Production Version bridge dome. Part 2

Main Page / Modeling Links

Contact us: info@ThomasModels.com