TOS USS Constellation (AMT studio model replica)

For the past few weeks, I've been building up a long box 18" AMT Starship Enterprise kit as the USS Constellation from the episode "The Doomsday Machine". The reason I am using a long box kit is because it is the proper tooling to use for this model (the original 1966 vintage tooling wore out by 1975 and the tooling used after that was almost totally different).

Using the screen captures I've found here (mainly in the AMT studio model thread), I've tried to add the proper battle damage in spots, using what I've seen in those images to guide me. This won't be a 100% exact replication and indeed I may go a bit more detailed on the paintjob and the decals, but it is certainly in the spirit as my damage areas are being made with stretched sprue, styrene bits and aluminum foil, as that looks like what the effects house used back then.

In any event, I've uploaded three in progress videos to youtube detailing my work (with inspiration from Steve's "The Enterprise Project") as it were. So have a look if you want!

18" USS Constellation Project (part 1) - YouTube

18" USS Constellation Project (Part 2) - YouTube

18" USS Constellation Project (Part 3) - YouTube

I'll be uploading still photos of the conversion soon as well as I have been shooting a few during the build.

Very cool, I enjoyed the vids.

These decals were designed by David Shaw who is making plans of the original kit. The decals were biased off the original kit decals and the windows that were etched on the hull.

I've thought about using these, but I have plenty of decals sitting around anyway and I am leaning towards doing the windows closer to what the Enterprise studio model had, partly because it doesn't seem like the Connie had all the windows painted on anyway. My thoughts are since I am not doing a 100% total replication (say more like 95% as I am tweaking it in spots to make it a little better looking than the cheaper style damage), I am probably going to tweak the paintjob a little as well under the premise that the Constellation "might" have looked like this if the production crew had more of a budget to spend. I already accurized the bottom of the saucer a little to get rid of the dimples down there and add the three rings. Since we never saw that area on camera, nothing says I couldn't do it.

But I am still on the fence about that. The one set of AMT windows I am definitely leaving on is on the back of the saucer in front of the starboard pylon since we saw it so clearly in the episode.

In any event, I have enough long box models sitting around that I can use one for window reference if I should decide to put the AMT style windows on. But thanks for showing an image of these. I at least downloaded the image for use as a sizing guide.

Okay, I went ahead and uploaded part 4 this morning. Enjoy!

18" USS Constellation Project Part 4 - YouTube

Nice job! Enjoying the vids.

I'll be posting a new video soon, but I wanted to make mention of a couple things. For my paint selection, I decided to try the Tamiya JN Gray color that Newitt recommended as being a nice off the shelf model paint shade close to Walmart "Concrete" which in tern is a close match to the 11 foot E color chip. Well, it is indeed a nice color, but too dark in the bottle. Mixing it with 10% white probably gets it close to what the studio model had (and it might work fine for the 1/350 E) but it really needs some lightening for the smaller stuff, probably more like 20 to 25% white.

So I mixed up a batch last night. I've probably got closer to 40% white in my first batch, but since the Constellation studio model looks so washed out in coloring anyway (and I doubt the effects builders used the GM color on it since it was plastic, UNLESS they shot a good primer coat on it first). The final coloring I ended up with seems about right. I'll use the original full strength JN gray on the patches on the bottom of the warp nacelles and the front of the center pylon.

Fantastic Jay - you do really good work.

Looks great!! I had heard that on the original that they used balled-up aluminum foil for the destroy engine nacelles. Just thought that I would mention it. Enjoy your videos.

beside the actual episode where else is there info on this?

Looks great so far!.

I watched all of the videos...waitng for the next installment. The anticipation is killing me!

I actually JUST finished my model. Great minds and all...

Okay, I have just uploaded Part 5, which primarily discusses my color selection. Check it out:

18" USS Constellation Project (Part 5) - YouTube

Well, Part 6 has just been uploaded. This one pretty much covers my planet killer display for the stand rather than the model itself. Still, it might give somebody ideas for similar presentations. Enjoy!

18" USS Constellation Project (Part 6) - YouTube

Just a quickie update. The model is almost done as I spent a good portion of yesterday evening applying most of the decals. Thanks for the link to Shaw's decals as I went ahead and downloaded them and resized them for my use and had the ships name and registry numbers printed on my ALPS-1000. Once I applied them to the model, the results were perfect as Shaw nailed the shape and proportions of the Constellation name and numbers just perfectly (and they look dead on accurate to the studio model numbers).

I didn't use his windows though as I opted to go for closer to Enterprise style windows. So I am using the Round 2 AMT decals for that. I am also using several of the stencil markings on the ship as well for a little up close touch. Many of these markings can't be seen at the filming angles from the episode and those that are wouldn't show up well anyway. I'm also adding a couple minor tweaks of my own, including a pilot 2 style grill decal to the back of the stock AMT warp nacelle (I never did like the totally blank appearance in the episode).

So, I just have a few more markings to apply, then I will clean the decal residue off once they are down fully, flat coat, go to town with the pastel chalks and I can declare it done. In the meantime, I'll shoot one more video tonight once the rest of the decals are down as an update in addition to some work in progress still photos. But, it looks like I am in the home stretch now. Stay tuned!

Part 7 is now up and ready for viewing! She has decals on her!

18" USS Constellation Project (Part 7) - YouTube

Looking good. Can you pass me a slice of saucer pie?

Why? Fake food would be more appetizing.

Wonderful work on the damage so far. Looks much like the original.

Oh man that looks really great!!! This is my favorite TOS episode and you are doing a fantastic job on the Connie. In the 70's I built a couple but I was just a kid. You make me want to build a new one. One thing I remember about the one we see on screen is the windows around the B/C deck were very prominent. I'm looking forward to seeing her finished up!!

Just remember she doesn't have all the decals on yet. I have a few more windows to apply and I might strip the neck pylon decals off of one side and apply new ones since their position doesn't seem symetric with the other side (it will be a judgement call). I have a few windows I need to add to the saucer as well, including the B-C deck teardrop windows. Shaw's NCC-1017 numbers and Constellation name worked perfect for the saucer and engines BTW. I was going to use the PL ones, but Shaw got the lettering down perfect for that "AMT studio model" appearance.

I know you are not done with the saucer; the B/C windows are just something for some reason that I always remember about that model. That is the only reason I mentioned it; I was sure you were going to get to them. Looks grand!!

JMChladek said:

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Shaw's NCC-1017 numbers and Constellation name worked perfect for the saucer and engines BTW. I was going to use the PL ones, but Shaw got the lettering down perfect for that "AMT studio model" appearance.

Thanks for the compliment!

Between this model and the 1/1000 Constellation Gregatron has been working on, I'm really glad that I took the time to do Constellation versions of the AMT decal markings as well as restoring the Enterprise ones.

I was really hoping that someone would do a great reproduction of the Constellation as she appeared in TOS, and now there are two of them!

Outstanding workmanship on this build. It is amazing to see it come together.

Well thanks again for doing the artwork Shaw. I'll be honest as I was originally going to use either the Round 2 kit decals instead or some other aftermarkets in my stash. But, after comparing them to what you did, you got the unique look of those AMT markings down cold! Plus, the more condensed rub on transfer font used on the Constellation's name looked perfect as well. So, it was a no brainer. I'm having to print off a couple of additional markings for my model, so I'll be throwing some of the AMT windows on there as well as it is a nice time saver compared to positioning individual window decals on the B-C deck and the saucer. The majority of the windows are the Round 2 AMT dark pilot ones to give the ship a look closer to that of the Enterprise. But, there were some more obvious AMT window features I need to add to it to complete the look.

If it helps, I put up an EPS version of the sheet I put together (it was what I sent to JT Graphics to have my copies made up). You can find it here:

1966_decal_sheet.eps

This is a beautiful build... I can't wait to see it done!