Star Trek III - Rare AMT ERTL Model??

FlyingDachshund

I really like the size of this kit, but given the 1:1000 and 1:350 versions out there now, and the amount of work this particular kit needs (even the 79 smoothy) I don't think I'll ever build another one. In fact I have a smoothy in my stash somewhere that may be donating it's nacelles to the Reliant reissue...

Mark in Okinawa

Monster Dave

Hearing the differences between the later versions and the smoothies, I find myself compelled to see two completed models side by side for comparison.

JPolacchi

When it comes to building either of the kits (the ertl re-issue) or the orignial AMT re-fit, I'd have to say that the better kit is the original AMT re-fit. Both kits are idetnical,but the HUGE difference is the quality of plastic.The ertl kits seemed like the styrene was really gummy (at least to me) and the ertl re-issues had that horrible panel engraving.The AMT kit is just made better, and these days, between the acurized decals that are available and the upgraded resin and I think photo etch parts you can make a really nice re-fit in the AMT 1/537 scale.That's just my opinion, but there you have it.

SSgt Burton

I had this kit back in 1984. Painted it using the directions of spraying the entire hull silver, then misting flat white over top while the silver was still wet. Produced an interesting effect of making the hull look "pitted" by space debris or something. I didn't have a clue about Aztec patterns at 14.

That was my first refit kit. Had it for a couple of decades before she took a bad fall and had to be decommissioned.


Kevin

FlyingDachshund

Structurally they will be almost the same and share the same issues with the same fixes. The big difference is going to be that the TMP version is smooth and has dry transfer decals, and the later releases have the engraved panel "detail". The other main difference is that the TMP version does not have the grills molded into the nacelles and the later versions do. That's really about it. CultTVMan and Starship Modeler probably have many examples of these kits - smoothys, hand-smoothified later releases and unmodified later release versions.

If you think you might want to fix the kit's issues and would like to see what you would be getting into this is a good place to start. If that seems overwhelming, you can build a nice representation out-of-the-box if you just take care of the basics (seam filling, decent paint and decal job) or you can aim for something in between.

Mark in Okinawa

Proper

There's one listing for $25 with no bids: Star Trek III Enterprise, AMT ERTL model, vintage NIB 1984, The Search for Spock | eBay

And another one sold for $35: http://www.ebay.com/itm/vintage-coll...item336eae0189

If it were me I would keep it in the shrink-wrap as a collector piece or to sell and i would build the PL one.

Underdog

I'm doing a build-up of a 1979 Lesney Smoothy, I wonder what that's worth? I've still got three in the box in the garage...