1/350 TOS Enterprise "Blasphemer's Edition"

[modelerdave]

I'm finally embarking on my 1/350 TOS Enterprise journey. This will not be remotely canon, hence the "Blasphemer's Edition" moniker. I already have a nice canon edition in 1/1000 scale that is fully lit, so this is going to be a different beast.

Planned modifications:

1. Add 3D printed phaser turrets
2. Add photon torpedo tube launchers just above the planetary sensor
3. Change the cargo hatches (I think that's what they are) at the rear of the upper saucer, just in front of the impulse engines
4. Use the saucer with the engraved gridlines (which leave the original smooth saucer for experiments)
5. Build and light the bridge
6. Build and light the shuttle bay, but with landing lights running across the floor and a floating and lit shuttle
7. Add a 3D printed spine to the top of the secondary hull
8. Replace the deflector dish and needle (and possibly the housing that inserts into the hull) with a 3D printed design
9. Light the chiller grills
10. Custom Aztec paint scheme
11. Add RCS thrusters to the saucer (maybe—not sure this is doable the way I want)
12. Design and build an actual B deck you can see through the windows (another big maybe because of my limited 3D design skills)
13. Use printed 35mm slides to back most of the windows with "rooms"

And the kicker is that I want to finish this in time for Wonderfest! Hahaha!

I was planning to use clear resin for the windows, and I've actually managed to get a test some spare parts without bubbles, but even with what is supposed to be ultra-clear jeweler's resin, they are not really that clear. I think these windows may be too large for this, so I will be using the kit clear parts unless I come up with something else. Maybe clear acetate, but that will leave them recessed from the exterior of the hull. I'll have to experiment more.

Progress so far

Finished the bridge. This is pretty much a straight TOS bridge I bought from Shapeways before they went bust. Slide film screens from Etsy. Adding the screens was probably the most tedious work I have ever done on a model.

These two parts are not glued together—they're just sitting on top of a flashlight. Obviously no light blocking has been done yet, especially around the ceiling. But it gives you the general idea. Once it's cleaned up and under the dome I think it will look pretty good. I do not think I'm going to put any figures in it but may change my mind.

One of the photon torpedo tubes drilled out and with a cut piece of brass tube inserted. I've since finished the other one. I'll use fiber optics to light them up using the Tena Controls Photon and Phaser board.

 

[modelerdave]

Continuing...

Here's a test cutout of the cargo door (or whatever it is—it's not labeled on any blueprints I can find) on the smooth hull. I just wanted to make sure I could cut through the thick plastic in the shape I wanted. This isn't cleaned up or straightened. I may slightly modify the shape to remove the two beveled corners on the inner side, since they were really hard to make the same size.

Design iteration 1 of the spine cover. This is pretty close to fitting after I did a test print. i'm hoping iteration 2 will work.

The design of the phaser turrets and the final prints, which are 10mm across. I will have three on the upper saucer, three on the lower, probably one on the bottom of the secondary hull, and the single one at the rear of the spine cover. I'm not sure I can make these work with the Tena Controls phaser board but I'll see what I can do with fiber optics.

First design test of the deflector dish and needle. The needle is fine. The deflector is warped and I decided to modify the design. The kits parts are shown for reference.

Deflector needle design.

Redesigned deflector. I'm much happier with it. This is straight from the printer. It needs some sanding but should work as a final design.

 

[Analyzer]

Looking forward to it

Great work on that bridge, looks perfect lit as well

Love the improvements planned

 

[division 6]

I'll be watching this.

Like the idea of post launch updates like they do with real ships.

 

[edge10]

 

[JNordgren42]

This looks like an illustrious start to your project. I love the work you've done on the bridge and your mods look great! I can't wait to see more.

 

[Rogviler]

For the windows, have you tried Micro Kristal Klear? On larger windows it takes some practice but I've seen people exceed the recommended 1/4" size no problem on things like custom Hot Wheels.

 

[modelerdave]

For the windows, have you tried Micro Kristal Klear? On larger windows it takes some practice but I've seen people exceed the recommended 1/4" size no problem on things like custom Hot Wheels.

I will definitely test with Krystal Klear. I’ve used it on smaller windows but never anything so large. I’m leaning towards clear acetate but I’ll have to see how happy I am with a recessed window look. And there are always the kit windows if all else fails.

 

[publiusr]

The scotch tape dispensers—they are curved and clear, right.

Adam Savage cuts glass under water—but maybe that would help dremel out plastic?

 

[modelerdave]

Pretty much done with the deflector revisions for now. This is straight from the printer with zero sanding or any other work done on them. They're just balanced precariously together for now. I left a hole in the borrow for a 3mm bulb to backlight the dish. Will probably use blue but still need to test it.

On to the shuttle bay!

Again, original kit part for comparison.

 

[JNordgren42]

Your dish and housing look fantastic! I can't wait to see how they look once they're painted.

 

[modelerdave]

Your dish and housing look fantastic! I can't wait to see how they look once they're painted.

Thanks! I'm still tweaking the outer shell part so that the inside post that holds the stem of the antenna has a solid fit. Nothing you'll see, just fiddly work to make things fit better. I also created a hole for a 3mm bulb. I tested it out with a blue LED and it provides a really cool and subtle glow behind the antenna.

 

[modelerdave]

A setback when trying to get running lights under the shuttle bay floor. I thought these meteor LEDs were all faulty, but I later learned that they are designed to cycle through different modes with each power cycle. I may try to figure out if I can set them to a single output.

 

[modelerdave]

Just about done with the deflector. I'm going to put some kind of subtle light behind it. Keep in mind I've done zero sanding or lilghtblocking of these parts, they're straight from the printer.

It's very hard to photograph blue light.

And one more new design versus the kit parts.

I'm going to put these in the forward three windows of the saucer instead of the windows. The plan is that I'll have red fiber optic light in them.

 

[jake88]

Love the Aztec idea! What ideas do you have in the works for the insignia and the serial number? Possibly something akin to the mirror universe Enterprise? Can’t wait to see!

 

[modelerdave]

Love the Aztec idea! What ideas do you have in the works for the insignia and the serial number? Possibly something akin to the mirror universe Enterprise? Can’t wait to see!

It's still going to be just the regular Enterprise lettering. I have the decals and a masking set. I will do the masks for the main registry but we'll see about whether or not I feel brave enough to try it on the red pennants.

 

[real9thdoctor]

I used the same bridge piece, at least I think. I and my girlfriend painted it, but while we did ok, nowhere as good as yours.

As far as your mods, funny you mention that stuff, as I have an 2nd kit I am slowly modding into a ship I designed for a defunct fancomic that is also and "inbetweener". She is called the Condor. This 3d model was made from a 3d Enterprise that had some TMP like elements, which I added to for my design.

 

[modelerdave]

I used the same bridge piece, at least I think. I and my girlfriend painted it, but while we did ok, nowhere as good as yours.

As far as your mods, funny you mention that stuff, as I have an 2nd kit I am slowly modding into a ship I designed for a defunct fancomic that is also and "inbetweener". She is called the Condor. This 3d model was made from a 3d Enterprise that had some TMP like elements, which I added to for my design.View attachment 1909399View attachment 1909400View attachment 1909401View attachment 1909402View attachment 1909403View attachment 1909404

You should show some progress shots on your model! I'd love to see them.

 

[real9thdoctor]

I don't have very much to show right now, as I got started, like 2 yrs ago I think, and then life happened. I haven't gone back since. But I wann try to get back to it later this year.

I do have a thread gor my out of the box build for the TOS Enterprise itself though.

 

[modelerdave]

Got some Alclad copper and AK Extreme Steel gunmetal on the Deflector dish and housing. My Alclad paint is really old and came out more grainy than I wanted, so I may strip it off and repaint with another brand or just go buy some more. TBD.

I stuck a 3mm blue LED through the underside (I'm waiting on some 5mm LEDs, since that's the actual size of the hole), and got a really cool and subtle effect where the light shows through parts of the deflector dish mount. I really like it. I also reprinted the shell and added four quarter-circle slots in the bottom that will be open to the interior of the secondary hull. I'm going to put blue film gel across the openings and just let the secondary hull lighting create a glow. I haven't tested it yet but I'm hopeful!

Test fit of the three forward laser sensors (that's what I'm calling them) in place of the saucer windows. They're just dry fit for now. I had to drill out the window openings just a tiny bit to make them fit. The plan is to paint them German gray and have 1mm red fiber optics lighting the center holes.

I almost have the spine cover completed. One more iteration to tweak the connection to the neck should do it.

Experimenting with the best way to add RCS thrusters that are consistent across the ship that aren't just black dots. I need to make this more flush bit I think it will work.

I'm trying to design a slightly chunkier pylon for the nacelles. Getting all of the angles right is really hard for my limited design skills (and limited toolset in Tinkercad). But I'm getting closer. I'll add the inserts on the inner sides once the design size is fine. These will be a sheath over the kit parts for (a) stability and (b) so I don't have to design the connection points.

Still messing with the windows. The B and C deck inserts are terrible. They don't fit and there's a mold point right in the middle that does a serviceable impression of a large resin bubble. Worthless. The rest seem okay, but I'm going to have to come up with a different solution for these.

That's it for now!