Merchantman Vessel Parts Map and Reference Thread

[dbhs]

Here's the current status of the model from the Christies site.

Out of all of the modified versions I like the original the best.

 

[Nwerke]

Oh god, they ruined it!

I was going to ask Karl to post his pics...now I don't want to see them! :sick

 

[dbhs]

I tried to tell myself "it's not so bad....just bad lighting".... but, no, it's really been butchered.

 

[ralphee]

Apart from the silly bridge, id say i prefer that version too Doug, those wing tendrils on the TWOK variant just look dodgy, then again i never could get on with the hoopty ships from ST anyway, but this one aint so bad lol.

lee

 

[Nwerke]

Got any pictures ?

Sure. Took some tonight. Just for fun, 145 and 146 are stereos, if you can do the eyes-out-of-focus trick.

The thing's pretty bashed, and it was crude to begin with. No ventral fin, found objects included jam jar lids, hull design is "inspired by" in the same way the ROTS freighter and blockade runner are "inspired by" the Falcon and Tantive IV...without being them, ha ha. Horrible...I had it under construction when a friend asked me to finish it as a talking point for some funding meetings he was having, so the details and paint got thrown together in a few evenings. It never got a masked paint job, instead it was just rubbed back through to primer and even bare plastic - on purpose, I swear - and then oversprayed and washed with black. Quick and dirty. Has lost a few kit parts over the years; actually I didn't get it back from the friend (ex-friend I should say) for about four years and then it just sat. It needs entire new engines and a lot more plumbing, probes, panels and paint work before it's really displayable, so it just lives in the rafters of my garage.

Are you referring to this thing or something else (see attached)?

Nope, I meant the lumpy object on the right side of the ventral fin.

Here's some interesting info on the history of the modifications to the model and a listing of all of it's appearances: Ex Astris Scientia - Redresses of the Merchantman

Thanks for that!!

Apart from the silly bridge, id say i prefer that version too Doug, those wing tendrils on the TWOK variant just look dodgy,

Lee, the TWOK version *is* the 'original' that Doug was referring to. He and I kinda hate the one *you like*.

then again i never could get on with the hoopty ships from ST anyway, but this one aint so bad lol.

Now there I'm totally with you.

 

[ralphee]

Thats your build Martyn? Very nice indeed!

lee

 

[dbhs]

Your model looks great. You definitely captured the feel of the original.

 

[Bradleyfett]

Doug- you are a man after my own heart with this one! I've been looking at building this for years, hoping some more reference would surface. Its the only Trek ship I've ever really wanted to tackle in studio scale.

I had reconginzed the (revell) shuttle stack, SatV, E boat, Harrier and railgun parts, but your parts have gone even further! I even printed out the L. Allen Everhart, Jr blueprints to full (studio model) size a while back. They are actually quite accurate; looks to have been drawn using those orthographic view photos of the miniature.

Nice to see somebody else has an interest in this one!

And Nwerke- great rendition! I just love that somebody actually did this!!


-Mark

 

[Nwerke]

Hey thanks guys! Feedback appreciated. It really is just impressionistic - "another ship of the same basic class" was the idea. Would like to soup it up some time, but an accurate Merchantman would be higher on my things to do list really.

 

[dbhs]

This one is a challenge for sure. I've made a little more progress on the part ids. Need to find time to update the parts maps I started.