MR TOS Enterprise - new pics

[Kuhn Global]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ringa @ Apr 6 2007, 05:42 PM) [snapback]1457055[/snapback]</div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(stingray @ Apr 6 2007, 06:17 PM) [snapback]1456969[/snapback]

Has anyone had issues with the back side of the saucer section? It maybe just the way it is. :confused

[/b]

That's pretty much normal for everyone.
[/b][/quote]
Rick,.. yours looks like this too? Mine doesn't have this problem.

 

[Artman]

Kuhn,

Take a flash shot of it . . . if after that you still see only perfection then your one of the lucky ones. I've said it before this baby looks good under normal lights (barring any cracks) and she looks even better when lit for a photo shoot. It's an entirely different matter however when one starts taking flash shots of her, that is when some of what we are seeing here shows up, it can get down right ugly on some models.

RW.

 

[CessnaDriver]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Artman @ Apr 10 2007, 10:38 AM) [snapback]1459409[/snapback]</div>

Kuhn,

Take a flash shot of it . . . if after that you still see only perfection then your one of the lucky ones. I've said it before this baby looks good under normal lights (barring any cracks) and she looks even better when lit for a photo shoot. It's an entirely different matter however when one starts taking flash shots of her, that is when some of what we are seeing here shows up, it can get down right ugly on some models.

RW.
[/b]

Agreed.
I've yet to see close up detailed pics of a perfect one.
Nor would I want someone that is completely happy to give an anal exam of their ship and become less happy with it. Everyone is different and not everyone has the same eye for different details.

Unfortunately, I have a modellers eye. Damn my eyes.

 

[Kuhn Global]

LOLOL.. ok... I will take a flash photo.

Here...

I do see a bit more with flash, but it is clearly much different than the other example. That is a bit disturbing that they could be so different. I guess I got lucky.

However,... it is a very good thing that humans don't have flash bulb cameras for eyes.

 

[ringa]

So, that's what it's supposed to look like.

 

[CessnaDriver]

That looks a lot better, best I have seen yet. Still there is a small gap there.
But if they all were like this, I seriously doubt anyone would have griped at all.

The difference is night and day. If one can be done right, they ALL should have been done right.

We all payed the same money did we not? give or take a signature or two.

 

[Artman]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(CessnaDriver @ Apr 10 2007, 04:33 PM) [snapback]1459577[/snapback]</div>

That looks a lot better, best I have seen yet. Still there is a small gap there.
But if they all were like this, I seriously doubt anyone would have griped at all.

The difference is night and day. If one can be done right, they ALL should have been done right.

We all payed the same money did we not? give or take a signature or two.
[/b]

You said it. The discrepancies say more about the basic skills possessed by the individuals building this ship then it says about the quality of the materials or construction design. The fact that we are seeing later models with fewer warts means either the people working on them are getting better at it or they have fired the real stinkers in the group.

Personally I think they should have made the assembly of this model less up to individual craftsmanship and more up to machine precision, clearly some of the fellows working on this project where not up to the task.

RW

 

[vaderdarth]

I totally agree on the computer painting for these items. For example, a company called Action Performance has made 1/24 scale NASCAR race car replicas for years. AP has always used a computer controlled painting process that makes each car practically identical.........even the tiny little decals plastered all over the car are painted and not decalled. You can get a magnifying glass and read the freaking print on those things. I'm not kidding.

My point is that if you perfect a paint sample on the prototype using this computer program, Every single Enterprise or Falcon rep could go thru the machine on an assembly line......and the paint job would be absolutely identical. Very very seldom, have I seen any samples of the cars where a corner of one "sticker" was smudged etc...... It's never noticeable in any case. Nowhere near the margin of error of these airbrushers at MR Hong Kong. I'm not knocking cheap labor, but I've got to tone down the black weathering on my entire MR Falcon before I will be remotely happy.

MR should read this post and truly look into getting some painting equipment like this. It would eliminate the quality control painting issues on these replicas and result in a replica that truly truly looks like it jumped off the movie screens into our living rooms. Overnight, they would quadruple the number of propster customers just because it truly can't be done better by hand.

Dave

 

[GF]

Big difference between Kuhn Global and Stingray's model, not only the gap but the finish
aswell, It's unacceptable IMHO.

Here's my experience with 2 Falcons I got.

The Enterprise is less forgiving than the Falcon because it has a clean look, but they can
get away with the Falcon because of the heavy weathering but many flaws are still visible
threw the weathering, if it was to be clean people would be surprised how sloppy some
areas are on the falcon, I can attest for that.

It all depends who assembles the models at the factory, some are less skilled,
more sloppy or just don't care, it's just another job for them not fans.

I had 2 Falcons, the first I returned because it was put togheter very sloppy,
with major putty and glue visible all over, especially around the side pods and
side of cockpit area ect... I just received the 2nd one which is much better and
cleanly assembled but still see some areas that could be done much more cleanly.

Defects or flaws like glue smudges and rough spots are much harder to see on the Falcon
because of the heavy weathering and super detailed surface, but if you see closely you can
still see glue marks and rough spots under all that. I'm maybe too picky because I build models and very meticulous but can't believe how some got threw quality control.

My 1st falcon was a mess, the weathering and paint job was excellent for what it was, but
you have to see beyond that which I guess only a average modeler can notice, I'm sure
many many models get away with these flaws because most people who buy them don't
see or notice these flaws or is not a issue for them.


GFollano

 

[spidey2]

Arrived and working has all the same issues as others but it works and im happy as long a it keeps working lol here ae some pics box to stand

 

[b26354]

Mine arrived today (SE #442). After all the pics of bad paint and bad assembly I was a bit nervous. One slight scrape mark at the rear of the saucer but the fit, masking and painting are overall pretty good. Port nacelle motor seemed a bit sticky at first but it's been running for 20 minutes and is turning at the same speed as the starboard.

I wonder if MR assign a QA grade to each one and, knowing that it's going to be expensive to process a return from New Zealand, make sure a "good" one gets sent. I got lucky with the Falcon as well.

 

[phase pistol]

For those who want to save about $1175, there's always the new Art Asylum version.

 

[Artman]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(spidey1 @ Apr 11 2007, 09:00 PM) [snapback]1460482[/snapback]</div>

Arrived and working has all the same issues as others but it works and im happy as long a it keeps working [/b]

Congratulations. She looks like a KEEPER.

RW.

 

[stingray]

I have mine in a bad place as far as turning it on and dusting it, but its a good place when their kids around. I purchased a Remote Control Power Switch to turn it on and off. Its pretty cool. You can turn it on/off pretty much anywhere in the house. It has a range of 100 feet. Here is a short video of it in action. Sorry for the crappy video and be warned its about 9MB mov file.
Video Link

 

[rad1701]

That AA version looks pretty nice. Might have to pick one of those up too!

 

[Artman]

Oh the Pain!!!

Guy's I'm still waiting for my returned Enterprise to reach MR. Sent it on the 9th of this month, got stalled because of paper work missing (funny how this was not discovered when I specifically asked the receiver if all was in order when I dropped it off). Got over that hurdle after about 2 days of phone calls and scrambling for answers only to have them rip-off the return label somewhere near Utah and she gets stored in a holding cell until the goofy customer tracking it comes sniffing around wondering "what the hells the hold up"?

Anyway at least they found it and know it belongs to me and will send it to MR come Monday.

Here is a tip for those sending their E back, put a packing slip inside as well as the one outside; I am told they will check in the box if the one on the outside is inadvertently removed. (Personally I'm wondering how that could happen, it's not like the E was re-entering the atmosphere and got her burned off) I'm wondering if they Ace Ventura'd it, you know kicked it onto and off of the truck. Man oh Man what a run-around!!

RW.

 

[Lanboy]

How long did it take for you guys to receive a reply from Master Replicas after emailing customer service that you would be returning your Enterprise?

Mine has a crack where the impulse engine meets the primary hull, otherwise I would have kept it despite the very minor paint issues.

 

[Artman]

How long did it take for you guys to receive a reply from Master Replicas after emailing customer service that you would be returning your Enterprise?

Mine has a crack where the impulse engine meets the primary hull, otherwise I would have kept it despite the very minor paint issues.

Sorry to hear about that crack. I'll be more than sorry if the replacement I get sports a crack, off-line windows, missing decals, lights that don't work, or any number of other serious problems this item can and has had.

I received a response from MR regarding the replacement one day after I sent them my intentions to send it back.

RW.

 

[CessnaDriver]

Added the Art Asylum E to the fleet.

 

[DrMcoy]

Hairline Crack on Main Hull ??

Got mine yesterday -- obviously very anxious about how it would look based on the concerns expressed by many others...mine seems okay. The only thing I can see right now is a very fine hairline crack in paint that runs on the top of the main engineering hull between the two pylon struts -- I have been told this is common on many ships because the hull is not made in one piece but actually has an insert that goes between the pylons, much like how the small Polar Lights Enterprise model is engineered -- if you follow my meaning.

My question to the group is, should I keep or send back. You can hardly notice the hairline crack unless you are right on top of it and examining it closely. The way I have it displayed nobody will hardly notice it at all, if ever. Of course, there is always the "I'll know it's there" factor, but having suffered through an Unobtanium ship with all its problems, and considering that everything else on my ship appears to be okay -- decals all straight, weathering good, grid lines okay, just the most minor of paint chipping at base of one pylon -- I'm very tempted to keep this. Of course, if you all tell me that nobody else has experienced this hairline crack on back of hull bteween pylons, then I MAY be tempted to send her back. Of course, as has been expressed by others, would hate to exchange this for one with other minro cosmetic problems that are more glarring.

I guess it would be challenging to find ONE that is ABSOLUTELY perfect in every way...I am not overly anal retentive about these things, but at the same time, don't want to drop $1100 on this with a minor blemish that is not common among others...

If you get a moment, let me know if you have heard of others having this blemish and if u would keep or send back.

I'll try to get pics up of my ship tonite...in the meantime, here is a pic I stiole from someone else who posted pics of their ship -- IU have indicated where the hairline paint crack is on mine with a red line.