Looking for advice on building the PL Enterprise A.

Hey gang!

Ive decided that I was finally for to work on my Enterprise that Ive had for a few years sitting in my closet.

First off let me say that I dont have much experience in model making. But what Im wanting to do is at least make it look half way decent. And I definately want lights in it.

Also, I seem to have misplace my "Aztecing" sheet. Are there any reference pictures of a screen used model anywhere?

Any help would be appreciated! Also, lets see some of the kits you guys have finished!!

Thanks!!

-Mike

As for pictures of the studio model, the best place is http://www.cloudster.com/Sets&Vehicl...erpriseTop.htm. Starshipmodeler.com has some really good ones too.

Go to their forums and do searches here. There are literally dozens and dozens of builds ups and tutorials on this kit.

word of advice, take your time having built 2 of these its the best tip I can offer

Recently finished this build of the 1701....(not the "A")
http://s109.photobucket.com/albums/n...Picture899.jpg

Patience and attention to detail are the key....

Rich

Just like any model get your reference available and plan ahead, take your time and do the best you can.

There is also a lot of good advice over on starship modeler
http://www.starshipmodeler.com/

Their discussion forums have a ton of people that have built the PL Enterprise. there are also templates for aztec friskets, and decals for the engineering section and deflector that are pretty darn nice... This is where you need to decide which version you're gonna build, and if you're going for how it looked on screen vs. how the model looks. It affects what decals you might use and if you want to try and kill yourself with the TMP paintjob or go for the still difficult but much more manageable "A" version - personally I recommend using the tamiya white and peral white out of a rattle can... Yeah I know scarilege, use an airbrush - but the Tamiya rattle cans are darn nice and no funky mixing is required....

Go slow - Enjoy the build, Mask CAREFULLY... And It will look great!

Jedi Dade

Wow, I remember playing around with one of those. That is definately not something that could be made in a day.
I also remember giving up on glue and just using a soldering iron to weld the wings on to the engineering section.

damn dude you were seriously frustrated... I never even heard of anyone having that much trouble with that kit... I certainly didn't. I think I'd just go with epoxy if I was that frustrated... solderign iron seems like overkit... but to each their own...

Jedi Dade

I took a whole series of photos of the 6-foot miniature at Christies' in 2006... let me know if you need reference pics.

Jedi Dade said:

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damn dude you were seriously frustrated... I never even heard of anyone having that much trouble with that kit... I certainly didn't. I think I'd just go with epoxy if I was that frustrated... solderign iron seems like overkit... but to each their own...

Jedi Dade

Oooooh yea......
Those things never stayed on, no glue would hold them for long. If they didn't fall off within an hour then it might take a day. Sometimes I would come home after a couple days to find both narcelles +wings on the floor and the model perfectly in place.

phase pistol said:

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I took a whole series of photos of the 6-foot miniature at Christies' in 2006... let me know if you need reference pics.

Damn looks like the background of the little journal your contrast paper is on is a pretty good match . If its not too much I'd like to get a hold of your reference. I have another of these bad boys sitting boxed that I've been thinking about lately... If your willing I'll send you a couple bucks and you could mail me a disk... unless you have a file share site that doesn't compress photos... every one I use shrinks them

Yaknow in that pic you can really see any aztecking at all...

Jedi Dade

clancampbell said:

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Recently finished this build of the 1701....(not the "A")
http://s109.photobucket.com/albums/n...Picture899.jpg

Patience and attention to detail are the key....

Rich

Stunning! I'll give you six bucks to build mine!

My little notebook is a Moleskine, you can find them at bookstores and art supply stores. The endpapers are a creamy off-white color.



Repainting has really overwhelmed the subtle "azteking" pattern on the miniature; you can see it under certain lighting, but as you noted the overall impression is of an off-white color.

My reference pics are a zip about 50 megs in size; if somebody can host it up I can make it available for folks. I got good coverage of both the Refit and the 6-foot Enterprise-D.

Jedi Dade said:

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Damn looks like the background of the little journal your contrast paper is on is a pretty good match . If its not too much I'd like to get a hold of your reference. I have another of these bad boys sitting boxed that I've been thinking about lately... If your willing I'll send you a couple bucks and you could mail me a disk... unless you have a file share site that doesn't compress photos... every one I use shrinks them

Yaknow in that pic you can really see any aztecking at all...

Jedi Dade

PHArchivist said:

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Stunning! I'll give you six bucks to build mine!

Wow! knew there was big bucks to be made in the model making business!!!

Clearly, the six bucks was an exercise in hyperbole and understatement. The comment that your work is stunning is dead accurate!

PHArchivist said:

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Clearly, the six bucks was an exercise in hyperbole and understatement. The comment that your work is stunning is dead accurate!

Amen

Thanks guys!

The model was originally a commission job for a buyer who pulled out half way through......

I eventually had to sell her on ebay to make some money back.

Without hijacking the thread, which it appears i'm clearly doing, i can provide many more pics if you're interested?

Rich