1st Pilot USS Enterprise (1/350 TOS)

[JMar]

Welcome to today's episode of Jason's Model Shop:

https://youtu.be/H0-FLieKEbI

I've had this 1/350 scale, Premiere Edition of the Classic USS Enterprise (by Polar Lights) since I received it, as a member of the 1701 club, in 2012.

I had actually started it at one point, planning to build an unlit production version. Boy am I glad I didn't.

First of all, it wouldn't have turned out as well. Second, I never would have got the idea to build the 1st pilot version.

There are a number of differences between the 1st pilot and production version of the USS Enterprise, more than I ever realized.

Today's episode of Jason's Model Shop details those differences, as well as providing contrast between the modified parts and kit supplied parts.

I hope you enjoy today's episode and thank you for watching Jason's Workbench.

Don't forget, if you like what you see, please subscribe!

 

[JMar]

Here's a photographic look at the build up so far.



The hardest task by far is filling all the windows and getting a nice, smooth surface



On starboard hull half I either filled the window opening with putty, or added the kit supplied windows and puttied over them.



The first pilot didn't have any visible grid lines penciled on, so the task at hand is to fill them in and sand them smooth



It's not as easy as it looks....

...fill, sand, fill, sand, fill, sand...



The three raised areas around the sensor dome collar need to be removed.



So filling the grid lines didn't work out so well, however a palm sander works really well and taking them off.



The 11 foot model (that I'm basing my build on) had no detail on. It took a few minutes with the Dremel to get the raised rectangular piece sanded off.

 

[JMar]

https://youtu.be/wZGsk3Jej0k

Lost footage!

I lost all the footage of the middle of the build. So we're going to do a bit of time travel!

Decals, that's the name of the game today.

On this build, in order to replicate the look of the 11foot first pilot version, I filled in all the window openings. Once the hull was sanded smooth and painted I applied individual windows decals...

Provided by jerry at www.hdamodelworx.com

 

[JMar]

Here's some more of the build progress pics.

Given that I misplaced a bunch of video of the build up this will fill in the gaps



If you haven't built this kit yet I'd say this is the only fit issue (when the shuttle bay is installed). Otherwise it goes together like a dream



Here's a stern view showing the shuttle bay in place and the gap at the top.

 

[JMar]

I mention in the first video that there is some material to be removed from inside the secondary hull to get the fit right (you could also sand the outside of the shuttlebay assembly if you so choose). This pic shows the improved fit.





The two photos show the pre-filled pylons.







Plenty of fill!

I used high build primer given the amount of filling required.

What I found was the high build primer showed all the imperfection I was trying to remove and I just kept adding fill and primer and it just kept coming back.

Then I figured out that I could sand out the imperfections right in the primer surface. The thicker primer surface gave me a lot of freedom.

 

[Duncanator]

Wow! I never realized how much this ship evolved!

 

[JMar]

Duncanator I knew there were changes between versions when I started but I never knew how many small details changed.

It's been a fun experience!

 

[JMar]

Here's some more progress pictures:

The base coat is Tamiya Spray Paint AS-20 Insignia White (US Navy). I was attempting to replicate the way it looked in many of the reference photos I found so it may not be accurate to the studio model.

Turned out the weather was great for painting when I got to that step.





Here's a view of the smoothed inner pylon(s)



There's been a lot of debate around the neck. Was it blue or wasn't it.

To my eye it was clearly blue in two reference photos (the photo when it was first delivered and a screen grab from 'The Cage')





Once I was happy with the base coat on the secondary hull it was onto the nacelles





The 'bolt cover' may or may not have been blue. Based on the findings of others, I chose to go blue.



Test fitting all the pieces

 

[JMar]

The first blue I mixed for the neck was too deep, so I lightened it and reapplied



All the windows on this model are decals (thanks to Jerry at www.hdamodelworx.com).

Each one had to be cut and applied individually.

To ease the installation I made a template based on windows that were there on all versions and then added the 1st pilot arrangement. The template was made from a sheet of tracing paper.





Here's a look at the windows and pennant applied to the secondary hull









Here's a look at the port side prior to window application





By this point everything was done on the nacelles and secondary hull.

The next challenge was the saucer. There were no grid lines penciled on the 1st pilot version (possibly the 2nd as well).

Initially I tried to fill the etching with putty and sand smooth, but didn't like the inconsistent result.

My solution was to use a palm sander and just get rid of the etching all together.

Not a fun job.

 

[JMar]

See next posting

 

[JMar]

Welcome to today's episode of Jason's Model Shop

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAJ27reTdo4&feature=youtu.be

Decals!


In keeping with more focused episodes, today I cover decals. Primarily the Starfleet pennant on the secondary hull and more windows!


I started using a method I saw online to keep my decals straight and true. I lay down a piece of dental floss and make sure it follows a straight line so I can lay down the decals in the correct position.


I hope you enjoy today's episode and thank you for watching Jason's Model Shop.


Don't forget, if you like what you see, please subscribe!

 

[JMar]

There's not really much left to say about the build up.

All that was really left was decals and final assembly, and I've got nothing to say about assembly...

Except it was a dream. The kit is so well engineered all I had to do was apply glue and slide the sub assemblies together!

As for the remaining decals I had to find a way to line them up since I removed the grid lines.

I found a wonderful solution online. It's so simple I can't believe I didn't think of it.

And here's a look right after assembly and clear coat, but before the addition of the clear domes and impulse deck

 

[JMar]

Here's a few of the shots I took on the bench right after adding the last few parts:

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-b_cwCrfOxe8/VnYkCAHg2fI/AAAAAAAAGgY/modr_8aeuyw8sjkbFc9-rn5F-fOQQWCoACCo/s640/001%252860%2529.jpg

[img]https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ARnw5E0ETbY/VnYkCL7sDpI/AAAAAAAAGgc/6x-BcPaO4d8YraM-NMPNJPmrk6N57nBrQCCo/s640/001%252861%2529.jpg

 

[JMar]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdBd24yXKxw&index=4&list=PLqAkfB4RzBvIpIOUvz5oNgFEr_tlu-Nja

 

[JMar]

Here's supplemental images of the areas I changed or modified to match the 1st pilot configuration of the 11 foot model (in no particular order)

**I misplaced the impulse engine inserts, so I used the photo etch grilles...not accurate, but it is what it is**

**There's a notch out of the deflector. I could have requested a replacement, but didn't want to delay the build.

 

[Albertese]

Nicely done!

--Alex

 

[patrickivan]

Well done. Such a nice clean and relatively simply build (no giant mods/ interior additions)...

Was that connecting dorsal really that blue? I thought it was just the leading edge of it that was blue, then green?

 

[JMar]

Nicely done!

--Alex

Thank you @Albertese

- - - Updated - - -

Well done. Such a nice clean and relatively simply build (no giant mods/ interior additions)...

Was that connecting dorsal really that blue? I thought it was just the leading edge of it that was blue, then green?

Thanks, everyone does the production version. I wanted to do something different

As far as the neck goes, there's not many reference pics...and A LOT of debate.

Personally, I used these screen grabs as my guide:

 

[Automaton]

Looks awesome. I always liked the pilot version. I've always considered the Constitution refits are overall the best-looking of the Enterprises, but the iconic silhouette of the original NCC-1701 really looks fantastic from every angle, as does your model! Some super clean modification work on show there.