1/2 Studio Scale Refit Enterprise

Underdog

Thanks, it has progressed past this point. I can't wait to get through the photos to the actual build up, but frankly, I'm a little burnt out.

Underdog

After cleaning the clay out of the recess, that I set-up for the fourth part of the mold, I started pulling off all of the dried clay, cleaning the entire mold, and removing the dowl rod and the balsa wood and marked the perimeter of the cut line, following the shape of the hull. Afterward, I put down mold release all over the part and the mold and backfilled the recess (not shown).

I have been talking to Scott over at AW Studios about the *accurate* details of the Refit. Much the same as the TOS version, there are very different models used for filming the various movies and different shots within the movies. Whenever you try to come up with an *accurate* version of one of these ships you run into the same thing, separate references conflict with each other, different blueprints conflict with each other, separate models are not accurate one to another and some times what you think, or have been told... is not accurate. While working more on the decals and masks I decided to show exactly what I mean. Is the shots below, you can see that the blowup of the neck and hull section for TWOK does not match up with the eight foot studio model, the AMT model didn't match up with either of these and these are models that were used for various shots of the same ship.

Additionally, there is no aztec pattern. There appears to be an underlying aztec, but realistically, all of the pattern is a successive approximation of multiple panels which are in reality nothing more than separate layers of paint in varying degrees of gloss, dullcoat, pearl, translucent and so on... This is how I'm going to paint the build-up.

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Underdog

About three years ago at this time, I started going through the available references, looking at working up the interior. Naturally, I found that several things didn't match up and could not work. For one thing, there is no chance in hades that the wreck deck could fit in the primary hull. Additionally, to me, there was no way that the officers lounge could be set up, they way it appears in the PLR2 model. I looked at Andy Proberts references and even he admitted that they were not as accurate as they could be. So, while deciding which way I was going to work on the bridge, I decided to work up a maquette of the Aboreatum. I took Probert's prints and came up with what was essentially a 1/35th scale Arboreatum. This was a study model for the 240 scale version.

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Underdog

Below you can see where I set up a clay damn around the impression between the mold and the cast and poured and removed the fourth part of the mold, this will allow me to maintain the original shape, work around the cutout and still be able to reproduce the part as originally made. You can see the custom decals I made for the various sized Refit models, in particular the 1/537. I really need to update that forced perspective thread. Additionally, you can see one more scale shot.

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kahn1701

rocking man

Underdog

Here you can see where I removed the silicon glove mold from the fiberglass retainer parts. ........and we're off...... Woosh........=/\=

For some reason, as soon as I got the part out of the glove mold and cleaned and inspected it, this is the first song that came to my mind.

Pat Travers - Boom Boom (Out Go The Lights) (live edit) - YouTube

Keep on Trekkin! =/\=

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EvanW

Looks big! Is that a missing chunk on the bottom or a shadow? Looks bubble free though. Some small holes around the docking port but overall fantastic!

Underdog

No missing chunks, just shadow.... The holes around the lock are exterior handles / handholds and controls.

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kahn1701

Great looking man.

Underdog

Thanks Paul, it's getting there. I'm pretty much done with this thread, As soon as I pop out a few more parts I start the first build.

EvanW

Oh man! Uber-detail! I love it!

Underdog

LOL! Actually, when we started one of the first threads over at StarshipBuilder I titled the thread "Under-Anal Refit Prints." That was Dec 06. You ain't seen nothin yet. You should see the lil brass inserts we have to go into the hatch as well as some of the other surprises and toys that are going to be in the box.

kahn1701

Underdog

Will you be selling any? Copys?
You can IM or email the info if you like.

Thanks

Underdog

Copies of what, the models? Yes. The blueprints...??? Haven't decided yet.We did try to give them away as well as the original files for the entire ship, however, things have changed. Tell me what you want and I'll try to work something out., I have the complete ship as an .obj and we considered texturing it for a nice 3D representation, but the plain truth is, the ship is such a high poly count, even if you textured it it would take forever to render. The complete ship came in at close to a hundred megs and even the prototyper had to reduce the resolution to get it to run through, or it would have taken a week.

kahn1701

The model.
I'll be building most of the year.
Just looking for a end of year build.

Thanks

Underdog

Well, I just spent all day working on it.... again, so.... I'll get it to market as soon as I can and you and a few others will get the first shot.

trekriffic

Whoohoo! This is impressive to say the least! Such attention to detail! I wish I had the room for something this size. Great job!

mechagrover

Looks great! Wish I had room to display something like that

kahn1701

That's great man..
That will look awesome next to the BIG E.
I'm going to ad a new room for them. LOL
No really...LOL

Thanks again..

Underdog

^^^ Thank you all, I sincerely appreciate the comments and positive input. I got a fascinating e-mail from a Hollyhwood insider that really made my day. I keep getting PM's and e-mails about kits, so I'm going to have to get this done. I'll be showing the engineering hull freash out of the mold soon, than I'm going to start a build thread. The better I do, the more I move ahead, the more people that actually get to see the work done by my hands, the worse my stalker looks as he continues his diatribes. Maybe one day, he'll grow up enough to admit he was wrong the ever have started a personal vendetta against someone he didn't know. Oh well, that's his problem.

CommanderCody

this really is very inspiring work, I can't wait to see one all built up!!

Mauiman

Somewhere in here you made mention and even shown pictures of the thing broken up in to shambles after it gone from one incompetent fool to another incompetent fool. And you wound up fixing up their smeg ups and such.

After all of that I do think you are the Competent Angel for this model and it is looking great. IT will look great next to Steve Neill's Work of mastership. (No Pun Intended)

Underdog

Wow. Someone called me and hipped me to your post. I don't know what to say..... I will have one last update, then I'll show pics of the build and start a new thread. Thank you for your comments..

Underdog

Thanks, I'm working on it. New updates soonest. Keep on Trekkin! =/\=

Sorry, but there's a time to work and time to post and a time to rest.

Underdog

I just went back through the thread and I want to thank all of my friends and supporters, it's been a long rough row to hoe, but it's looking real good and I can't wait to show you. Sorry for the delay in response, I've been kind of busy. I wonder how long it will take Peter B to start running this post down the line? LOL