1/350 enterprise d 6 footer

I am a custom automotive painter/bodyman and have always wanted to build a big enterprise d. After seeing some of the projects on this site I was inspired to start a 1/350 enterprise d. Figured I would start with the nacelles and go from there. Also did a test board to see if I could find a better way to mask the windows, I was very happy with the results. I started out masking the windows, sealer/priming the surface, then built up with three colors for the aztec scheme (the model will have the four colors though), gloss clearcoated with automotive clearcoat, then a sanded down to the tape I layed out for the windows, then I flat clearcoated and pulled the tape. It left a nice clean window edge which I followed with some gloss clear in the window. Any suggestions throughout the build would be appreciated!

very nice
for a suggestion- make molds..sell me a copy

I am so glad to see a large enterprise D. Are you using the Christies auction photos, there are a lot of them

Am constantly checking reference from Christie's Auction. Will recruit my dads help for fiberglass molds definately! Thanks for the interest. Will upload more pics soon!

Glad my pics are of help.

Karl

Here is some more pics, just to show you the size of this monster! My wife has already told me it has to stay in the garage, but I am trying to convince my 11 year old to hang it as a bedroom light....cant wait to do the saucer!

Thats amazing, cant wait to see more

Looking good, being a former bodyman myself. all the skills really help in model building. lots of the techniques transfer over into good model making

***UPDATE***
Got started on the secondary hull of the beast this weekend, just wanted to post some pics!
Ribbed up with 1/4" mdf, was nice and easy to cut and sand to shape.
Also sprayed another coat of primer on the nacelle, starting to look pretty good!
Gotta keep rollin while the inspiration and motivation is going!

That's really nice work. I can't wait to see this build finished.

Doug

How are you scaling you pieces? Just by eye? Looks great!

That's a big Ent-D. Where in the world are you planning on displaying that thing when you are finished?

Kenny

Incredible. Enterprise D is my favorite, can't wait to see more updates on this project.

I am using the enterprise d blueprints scaled up....for the most part they are pretty accurate. But I do have slight issue with the window placement and the fact there is a row of windows missing on the lower part of the secondary hull. So I will do my best to replicate the 6 foot studio model.

Which blueprints are you using, and how are you getting the shape for the ribs?

Basically what I am using is the official blueprints along with an old amt ent d that I built like 15 years ago for a starting point. As many measurements as I can get off the blueprints I am using to make my ribs out of, what I can't see on the blueprints I use the amt model. Then I will fill it with foam, trim and rough shape it with bondo. I am trying to build it up the same way the original was done in 87. Once I get a rough shape I will compare it to as many pictures of the original 6 foot model that I can find, reshape what's needed then primer, etc. The only things I want to do different on my masters are no windows (I will have stencils cutout that will line up with the grid line of the ship), phaser banks as separate detailed resin pieces, no raised lifeboat or little greeble details ( if someone wants to add them they can, most were to cover screws anyway), and I am hoping I can make the main molds from just fiberglass or exopy(depending what I can afford). Thanks for looking, will be back working this weekend, hope to have more update pics next week!

*********update 6/10/12*********
Ok, ok, the first 2 pics are of the amt I built around 15 years ago. I got a lot done on this monster this week. finished the ribs on the secondary hull and sprayed that crazy foam in between them. Got started on the lower section of the saucer section, I decided to sheet between the ribs since it is an easier shape. Now off to work with it to bondo, fiberglass, primer, sand, primer, sand, primer, sand, primer, sand, primer, sand, primer, sand..........
and then some more, primer, sanding.
...............oh and yes thats my almost 3 year old, number 3 of 5.
...............and that is my old car fender for size comparison.
...............and no coke for me I need something stronger, sorry REL

Subscribed to this, if it can come off close to the first 2 it will be the best I've seen on here.

Wow, this build is unbelievable! Love the D! Can't wait to see more!

Sean

Looking great and moving along so rapidly. Can't wait to see it completed.

I never realized the D was that much bigger than the A!

Great looking build so far! I always loved the D.

look at the size of that thing!

Looking good. be carefeul that spray foam may sag over time. alot of times the center never cures and it will droop.

**************UPDATE 6/18/12***************
ok...got the main saucer fiberglassed, primered and the first sand on it. sketched out the windows and the neck seperation line and cut er out!
Also got started on shaping all that nasty foam i sprayed in the secondary hull. Hoping to get started on to the upper part of the saucer so I can get everything to line up. This thing is so big I am going to have to build a few jigs to make sure the sections go together straight and level! Hope you all enjoy the pics!
Oh and by the way....it was over 110 in the desert today! Yuck!
Gotta go make up with the wife she says too much trek info last couple weeks!