Star Trek III - Rare AMT ERTL Model??

Monster Dave

Hey everyone! Hopefully some of you can help me!

I have a Star Trek III AMT/ERTL model that I acquired many years ago that's unopened and still in its original plastic wrapping and has been living in my closet for the last 10-15 years.

Recently, I've become interested in it (primarliy to assess any value it may have) but in trying to locate another one, haven't found a single example like this one. There are plenty from the other movies, but this is honestly the first one that I've ever seen from III.

Has anyone here seen another of these or know anything about its rarity?




I did contact AMT/Ertl but the rep who I spoke with told me that not all of the records from early models were kept and it couldn't be located.



Any help is much appreciated! Thanks!

Dave.

robn1

This would be pretty rare, since it's the last time it was seen with a smooth hull. The version labeled for ST4 had the engraved panel lines added, a terrible attempt to replicate the aztecing.

Monster Dave

Hey Rob,

Thanks for chiming in! I've built a number of Enterprise models over the years but I'm by no means an expert on them as a product line. Your point about the smooth hull is really interesting. I did not know about that shift in design. I think that all of the ones that I've built have had the textured hull.

Since I haven't been able to find anything on this specific model, my knowledge base is really limited to what I can read on the box itself!


Anyone else?? Or other suggestions/observations?? I'm even more curious now!

robn1

Yeah the original version from '79 had a smooth hull. The decals were dry transfers and it had reflective decals for the warp nacelles. The ST2 version changed to water release markings and no reflective ones. For ST4 they added the A to the number, and the engraving. Not only did the lines look nothing like the aztecs, but they had a rough surface. It looked like plywood panels!

Unfortunately the molds were altered to make the engraving, so it became permanent

Monster Dave

I could be mistaken, but I thought that somewhere along the line AMT and ERTL split. I wonder if that had anything to do with the design of the molds.

I'd like to get a better idea about the value that this model may hold. Given that it's very hard to find it is by definition rare, but have the '79 models held any value? After all, I'd hate to rip into it when I find myself yearning to build a model only to discover that I should have kept it unopened!!

That would be bad!!

On a side note, I do love the simple and clean artwork on the box. Just a black background and the Enterprise. What more could one ask for!! The picture really doesn't do justice to how good of condition this model is in.

ZOMBIEREPELLENT

few years back, 90 bucks was about the average for that kit. but anyone you asked would just say "just wait a few months, polar lights is coming out with a better, bigger, and cheaper one"

robn1

AMT was the original maker of the Trek kits, starting with TOS in the 60s. They were bought by ERTL in the 80s. ERTL also bought MPC, which put Star Trek and Star Wars kits under one brand. Round 2 currently owns them.

As for the value, that really only matters if you're a collector, or if you plan to sell it. If you want to build the AMT, the smooth one is best. I don't know if R2 has any plans to re release it, since they have the PL 1/350 kit which blows it away.

Monster Dave

Thanks for the info guys! For being my first thread, I've learned a lot here!

vaderman1701

The ST:III version had the engraved lines in it as well. I have seen them sale between $20-$40 now.

Monster Dave

As fate would have it, after all this time I've never seen anything about this model...I happen to do a cross reference search of Ertl models and found 1 for sale through Amazon for just under $80.

I'm not really interested in selling it so much as I am in learning what I've got. I remember when I bought it - I thought it was quite the find given it's great condition. I've kept it in a cool area and in a closet protected. I'm trying to remember when that was exactly...sometime back around '94 I think. So I've had it for a while to say the least!

From time to time I like to pull it out to admire the art work on the box, but that's as far as I go with it - I've never been able to bring myself to actually opening it!!

dcarty

I would second Vaderman1701, the engraved panel lines made their appearance with the Star Trek II issue of the Kit. The only "smoothie" for the AMT Enterprise was the first Motion Picture issue.

I had one of each. My "smoothie" had that cruddy stand taken from the original 1968 issue of the Star Trek Kits which never balanced properly and fell over and broke repeatedly until one last time it demolished the model. When they issued the Wrath of Khan version of the kit I was surprised--and disappointed (even at 13)--that they had added those awful, inaccurate, panels. That one avoided the crummy stand and hung from the ceiling until it met its Kobayashi Maru and I replaced it with the Star Trek IV issue in its rainbow box.

KLINGONSNIPER

Round 2 pretty much killed the value of collectible kits. If you look at the Excelsior kit, now ranges between $80 to $110 on ebay because round 2 hasn't reproduced it....YET. Once they do it to (the original kit) will be selling for around $20-$30

Gatekeeper

Thirding this. The TMP version was the only smoothie released.

robn1

Thanks guys I stand corrected

SteveNeill

Just went through my old kits and found a Excelsior kit.

Steve

Smiling Demon

Just like the C57-D model I have, when it was re-released the price dropped substantially.

robn1

Sell it quick before it's re issued You could do it better from scratch anyway!

SteveNeill

LOL! That's what I thought.

Steve

crowe t

Dave,

If you aren't interested in selling it then opening it up and building it isn't such a bad idea. I know it's hard to open a kit that's been sealed for 30 years. I have a sealed AMT ST: TMP Refit "Smoothie' that I've yet to open. I have 2 more that are open and I'm building one so I don't need to take the shrink wrap off the sealed one, yet. However if you aren't planning on getting another one and you aren't going to sell it then it's up to you what's best.

Monster Dave

Something about opening it feels really....wrong. I feel like I've abstained from opening it this long...so opening it now would be sad. LOL.

I think for the time being, I'll let it remain as is.

I'm not necessarily opposed to selling it - not bottom of the barrel anyway - it's worth a lot more to me than that!!!

Heck, if I did let it go, I'd still have my unopened G1 Optimus Prime to admire!!

JMChladek

The Trek II and Trek III Enterprise models HAD the engraving in it. It was something added when Ertl took over AMT. What made them different from the Trek IV kit was the stand as the TMP, Trek II and Trek III kits had triangular stand bases that were remeniscent of the stands found in the long box versions of the AMT models from the 1960s (Enterprise, Klingon, Leif Ericson).

Here is a quick and dirty synopsis of the refit kit changes:

TMP Version- Smooth hull with no "mall floor" tile pattern, lights in the saucer, batteries in secondary hull, rainbow stickers for warp engines, rub on transfers for other markings. Triangular stand (which you had to glue to the base of the model to use it)

Trek II- No lights, "mall floor" tile pattern added, additional detailing added to warp nacelles inside and out, Box hints at lights and uses TMP artwork, triangular stand, waterslide decals added.

Trek III- Same as Trek II except the light illumination artwork on box art was deleted to remove hinted references to a lighting system completely, triangular stand.

Trek IV- Same as Trek III except stand changed to Starfleet Arrowhead style where model could be clipped on securely without gluing. Decal markings changed to Enterprise-A logos.

Trek V- Same as Trek IV except shuttle craft Galileo added (not same scale as Enterprise). Minor decal change as secondary hull arrowhead decals changed from yellow/orange to white.

Lighted Enterprise- Issued after Trek V, this kit had lights in it for the saucer and warp engines, blue glowing navigation deflector and a unique stand for batteries and sound effects (TV style phaser and photon effects). Mold altered with openings in saucer and warp nacelles for navigation lights (not sure if this kit had the shuttle)

Trek VI Enterprise- Same as Trek V (including shuttle) except it used the altered molds from the lighted kit (old Nav deflector though), so the saucer and warp engines have openings for navigation lights. Clear parts tree added with raised lights for these areas. First run of the kit included a sticker on the box mentioning the kit had a mini Enterprise D in it. The Mini Enterprise Ds were leftover Galoob toy premium Enterprise Ds that were randomly inserted in specially marked boxes of Cheerios back during ST:TNG's premiere season. ONLY the first run of the Trek VI kits had these as all subsequent runs did not. So if you find a shrinkwrapped Trek VI kit with no sticker mentioning it, it does NOT have it.

As for reissue possibilities... not likely. Reps from AMT/Ertl after they acquired PL and reps from Round 2 after they acquired the rights to the AMT tooling catalog (and Round 2 NOW owns the assets of AMT and Polar Lights, YAY!), said that the 1/537 refit E mold was completely worn out and not cost effective for reissue given its hard life. It has effectively been retired. Only way we might see another one in that size would be if Revell of Germany does one as Round 2 already has the 1/350 and 1/1000 refit kits.

Monster Dave

I restored the link the the pic in my first post. Hopefully it sticks this time.



Sometimes, I think that box art is a lost art. I love the art work on this model box - simple, clean, and uncluttered. I love the font of the lettering, and I love the clean black background.

I see what you mean about the removal of the lighting from the box art from Trek II:

JMChladek

Yup. I love good box art myself and the TMP/Trek II box art was very nicely done (Trek III wasn't quite as good as they got rid of the stars in addition to trying to remove the light glows). The artist that painted it put a lot of effort into getting the TMP E to look right.

In my case I sort of fell for the lighting hints. I bought a Trek II version just a few days before Trek III came out in theaters and I was thinking it had the lights from the first issue in it. It didn't. I was a little confused at the time though since in addition to the box art, the side panels showed pictures of the built TMP model with an obvious light source in the saucer.

It took me a few years before I finally got my grubby paws on a TMP "Smoothie" and there I could see just how much the mold got altered. Some of it was for the better (such as the detail on the warp nacelles). Other bits (the tile pattern) were not.

moffeaton

Open it and build it!

JPolacchi

Not that rare I don't think? It is a re-release by ERTL when they bought out all the AMT molds. I have an original M.I.B Enterprise re-fit from STTMP.That kit is at least 30 years old and often auctions between $50 and $100 (typically closer to $100).I guess you can try to get as much as you can for it?I'd say the STIII ERTL re-release is worth at least $30-$40.Subsequent releases and re-releases of the kit were modified by ERTL further screwing up the Enterprise and they are worth less.Rule of thumb, the older the kit and the more sought after kit are the first releases of the re-fit Enterprise before ERTL got their hands on it and started F.U.B.A.R.ing it.Most folks who want an Enterprise kit in that scale (1/537 approx.) want the old kits,they are a bit better made and less work done to them.