Phase II Enterprise Study Model

[Shaw]

Background
Back in 2007 I spent a little time cleaning up the one-to-one scale plans of the Phase II Enterprise studio model (which can be found here). The model would have been about 5 feet 4 inches long when completed, and between photos of the studio model under construction and additional drawings by Jefferies, I thought there might be enough information for an accurate set of plans. What I found shortly after starting work on the project was that the gaps in data were fairly large and that filling them would require me to inject my own artistic choices. This was something I absolutely wouldn't do as I've always felt that my work should be research and documentation, but should have as little to do with me as possible because I wasn't part of Star Trek (and I believe that people who weren't there shouldn't be trying to write themselves into the subject). So the project was shelved with the hope of one day returning to it to finally flesh out the details that were missing.

This last summer I started looking over the project again, and outlining what I would need to do to bring this to fruition. I had set my sights on restarting it by the summer of 2013.

About a month ago all that changed. I was contacted by someone willing to provide the details I would need to go forward... unfortunately, it was before I was prepared to step back into the project. I've since been going back through my notes and source materials to get back up to speed on the subject.

Study Model
I work better with a three dimensional (physical) representation of a subject I'm studying... plus I like models. The two attempts I made at replicating the original 33 inch Enterprise (at two-thirds scale) were done to help me with plans of that model, which in turn were leading to a one-to-one scale replica once I felt like the plans were accurate enough. And I had planned on starting that build before December.

Even though much of the two smaller scale attempts were scratch built, what I was planning on in building a full size replica would have included building techniques I hadn't done before. And I was apprehensive about experimenting with those techniques on a model with parts that large (where screwing up could get expensive very fast).

So between the need for a study model for the Phase II Enterprise project and a project that would let me test some building techniques on a smaller scale, this model got pushed to the front of the build list.

Because this is a study model, I wanted to reduce the work as much as possible. The obvious choice was to use another model as a starting point, and as the TMP Refit Enterprise was actually built on the foundations of the Phase II Enterprise, it seemed like an obvious choice.

I decided on the AMT/ERTL Refit model over the Polar Lights/Round 2 Refit because of price (both of the kit itself and the additional cost of building larger parts). The only parts to be used would be the primary hull and secondary hull, both heavily modified. The rest of the model would be scratch built.

I'm not sure how others approach this type of build, but I'm firmly from the school of measure twice, cut once model building. So to start this model off, I've been spending my time reinterpreting Jefferies' plans into a form that will help me build this model. This includes how parts from the AMT/ERTL Refit will need to be altered and how any parts that will be scratch built will connect to either of the preexisting sections.

One of the areas that had bothered me the most back in 2007 was the design of the nacelles, so I'm starting with them. Studying the design of the nacelles, I've tried to strip away any elements that define if the nacelle is port or starboard, and concentrate on building a symmetric foundation nacelle. This can then be used to make two copies and I'd add the unique elements to those to make them either port or starboard. This is my preliminary nacelle design...

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This sketch more closely resembles the geometry of the Brick Price/Don Loos miniature than the Jefferies plans (even though they are mostly based on measurements from the Jefferies plans).

Next I started in on the nacelle supports, translating them to drawings that would be easier to build from.

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By this point I had had enough time to get an AMT/ERTL Refit model and to bring important data about the parts geometry into my computer so I could start working all the elements together. My initial assessment of how the AMT/ERTL Refit parts would work were based on plans of the TMP Refit model. Unfortunately, the geometry of the AMT/ERTL Refit differs by quite a bit. When I saw how far off the AMT/ERTL Refit primary hull cross-section was from that of the Jefferies plans for the studio model, I was worried that I might have to consider scratch building the primary hull (which I've now done twice, once for each of my 33 inch Enterprise replica attempts). Fortunately, Jefferies had a number of drawings of the Phase II Enterprise, and the AMT/ERTL Refit cross-section wasn't too far off from one of the other Jefferies' drawings.

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The secondary hull wasn't too much better, as I was hoping to have more room to work with in the hangar deck area. Still, I had replaced the hangar doors, deck and undercut on my last Enterprise model, so I'm not too worried about having to do the same in this case.

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When I started looking at the dorsal, I came across another geometry issue. The dorsal as designed by Jefferies in the full scale plans was different than the dorsal as built by Price/Loos (though other drawings by Jefferies could be interpreted as how the studio model was built).

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After studying the various versions, I decided to stick with Jefferies' original design for this model... mainly because I think it'll be easier to work with when adding the torpedo assembly housing later on. This is how I plan on building the dorsal (the primary and secondary hull contours are from the AMT/ERTL Refit)...

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I included the AMT/ERTL Refit's dorsal as a comparison because I know that some people have suggested that it could be used because it has a similar profile, but the parts over all geometry is too far removed from what I need to be used (even as a starting point).

With these elements, I decided I had enough to do a quick-n-dirty test assembly to see how everything was coming together.

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In the drawing above I included modifications to the AMT/ERTL Refit parts I planned on making and a copy of Jefferies studio model plans for comparison. What I've taken away from this test assembly is that things are going about how I planned, but that the bottom of the primary hull needs to be extended down and the plateau should be smaller (which isn't that hard a fix).

So that is where I'm currently at... mainly in the planning stages, trying to address issues before I encounter them during the actual physical build.

 

[trekman1017]

WOW, Talk about attention to detail!

 

[psion]

WOW, Talk about attention to detail!

Yep. That's a typical Shaw characteristic. He is quite meticulous in his work and his results show it.

 

[JMChladek]

I'm certainly watching this one with interest since I did some preliminary work on a Phase 2 Enterprise model about 15 years ago. The result (if and when I finish it) will essentially be a kitbash between an AMT TMP refit (the infamous "smoothie"), a SFSM Avenger class (I scrounged the engines from it since at the time I didn't have a smoothie to use as a parts donor) and a 22" Cutaway for some bits, with a little bit of resin here and there. The engines were the one assembly I got the furthest with as they are almost complete.

I used the Avenger nacelles for this bit since they were vacuformed from a master based off an AMT smoothie obviously. The nacelle fronts were a little more ideal to work with though since they didn't have the TMP style grill pattern in front, just a rounded shape. So it was just a matter of cutting off the side details, using sheet and grooved styrene to make the new grilles, and blending in some of the other bits. This was my first time attempting a resin "master" as it were (for my own use only) and I had a few minor issues during casting. But, while my parts have some flaws on them, at least they are useable. And I can always try again of course.

The top of the nacelles also had to be flattend a bit to get rid of the top most step (I had to back fill the nacelle with putty for when I punched through the plastic). One nice advantage to using an Avenger nacelle though was without that TMP style pylon attachment on the bottom, I didn't have to remove a detail down there since the work was already done for me. Plus, since the grills on the sides were smooth (because the smoothie used prism stickers instead of etched detail) it made adding the Phase 2 details a little easier. Although as you can see, I still didn't quite finish these pieces.

Indeed the refit neck will not work as the cross section of that pylon is more like a lengthened classic, but with the extension at the front for the main phaser bank (it didn't become a photon launcher until TMP). The only assembly I haven't taken a stab at yet is the warp nacelle pylons and I'll likely go with a rounded rectangular cross section as opposed to a tapered back one, just because at least for me it will be hard enough replicating the swept back profile in one dimension rather than also throwing in the taper in at the same time. But I might change my mind on that.

 

[crackerjazz]

Thanks for sharing these - I'm taking down notes for my Refit.

 

[Shaw]

Thanks for the encouragement guys!

... the extension at the front for the main phaser bank (it didn't become a photon launcher until TMP).

Nice work so far on your build!

I hadn't seen it labeled, but it make sense that it would have been the phaser bank given the nature of the refit (as described in the pilot as I recall).



So while I was considering what to do with the primary hull, it dawned on me that I had significantly more reference photos since the work I had done back in 2007. Since that time I had collected photos from the ebay auction and reconstruction of one of the Planet Hollywood models... which included some edge on shots of the primary hull. I had had plenty of shots of the underside, and I only needed to see how the dorsal intersected the lower surface to study that curve, but I didn't originally have any photos that lent themselves to studying the upper curve.

So after going back and studying the model a little more, this is what I've come up with...

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Looking at the drawings a little closer, this makes some since. The original one-to-one scale plans were drawn in September of 1977, while the cross-section plans are from November of 1977. So the change in Jefferies' curve might actually be his attempt to better match the progress on the studio model.

I also took some time to gather information from the AMT/ERTL Cutaway Enterprise upper primary hull structure and compared it with Jefferies' plans for the same feature. I'm trying to decide if there is enough similarities to justify an attempt to modify the AMT/ERTL Cutaway part, or if starting from scratch is the best course of action.

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[JBReplicas]

I'll be following this, I love the Phase II design!

 

[JMChladek]

In my case, since I am using some resin bits, the bridge dome is going to come from a Soyuz class (since it has two turbolift bulges behind the bridge. I'm using a resin piece I got from DLM years ago. The B/C deck teardrop will likely have to be resculpted and reshaped with putty as I see it since I haven't found anything 100% ideal.

 

[dcarty]

Awesome!!

My AMT smoothie, cutaway, and I thank you as always for doing all the research!

 

[Shaw]

Thanks guys!

... the bridge dome is going to come from a Soyuz class (since it has two turbolift bulges behind the bridge.

Well that makes sense, since the bridge they used on the studio model was a leftover from when they cut up the model Brick Price delivered to Paramount (which ended up as the foundation of the destroyed Enterprise in ST III). From what I've seen of the Soyuz kit, the parts are very nicely made, so that is the perfect option. :thumbsup



So I've made a little more progress.

I wanted to get started on some of the actual physical model building, so I started in on altering the pieces that I'll be using. I started by cutting off the B/C deck structure from the AMT/ERTL Refit's primary hull. In the images below I've placed the AMT/ERTL Cutaway's Bridge/B/C deck structure on the part and then overlaid Jefferies' (November 1977) drawing for comparison purposes.

I also started in on the AMT/ERTL Refit's secondary hull, cutting off the hangar deck (but keeping the undercut). At the same time I drew up a paper template of what I'd need to replace it and cut that part out of styrene. While playing with the parts I had on hand, I noticed that the DLM hangar doors would actually work nicely. So I'm considering using those rather than scratch building my own.

Because I haven't finished cleaning up the cut (because the parts aren't glued together yet), I used the paper template as a stand-in in the photo below.

Because I was curious as to how my (small) progress was comparing to my plans, I arranged the photos I have so far next to my earlier test assembly.

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For what little I've done, at least the physical model seems to be matching up with the plans.

 

[JMChladek]

When I was doing my preliminary kit work back in 1998 or so, I had heard that proportionally the refit Enterprise kit from AMT had a few issues that were not quite right and I believe some of that might have been due to the fact that TMP was a relatively rushed production somewhat when the decision was made to go from a television series to a movie. So I have a feeling that some of the model's dimensions might have been more Phase 2 based while things were still being fleshed out on the true TMP studio model. Granted a couple of things like the under saucer contour don't match anything else I've seen, but it isn't really that noticeable in the big scheme of things. Indeed looking at the AMT smoothie, it does have a sense that it was rushed into production before it was complete due to the lack of grill work on the warp engines, no phaser bank bumps, and some hatches and ports in the bottom of the saucer that were STILL never added when AMT/Ertl cut the "mall floor" tile pattern into the mold.

It looks indeed like the B-C deck from the Cutaway might indeed do the job nicely with the rear contour altered. Also, I don't know if you noticed or not, but in at least one of the paintings for the ship (the one on the cover of the Phase 2 book, based on a Mike Minor painting) it seems that the three dimples on the bottom of the AMT 18" saucer were likely going to be incorporated into the details. Considering the work in progress shots of the studio model have an AMT small box kit sitting behind it, I have a feeling those dimples were going to be incorporated on the model, likely as saucer based dodecahedon travel pod docking ports, such as what the secondary hull was going to have. TMP kept at least one port down there, which became the recessed docking port/airlock that both Spock and Kirk used in V'ger.

Another subtle detail I'll likely incorporate into my model is I'm going to sharpen the upper edge of the saucer to a more TOS look than TMP. The images seem to show more of a rounded corner, but to me, a sharper edge will give it more of a direct lineage back to Trek. I've also considered perhaps doing a "rust ring" at its original position on the TOS saucer, followed by a slightly different coloring outside of that to give a subtle look as to where the edge of the pre-refit saucer was and show where the extension was made (since the Phase 2 refit's saucer is bigger than the classic saucer, just like the movie version of the ship).

 

[Shaw]

Yeah, I'll definately be sharpening up that upper edge on the primary hull, which I'm guessing won't be that hard after I fill-in all the other edge details.

I've made a little more progress, including patching the holes in the primary hull left when I cut away the TMP features and started in on extending the bottom down a bit to better match Jefferies' drawings. This is where it currently stands (again with overlaid Jefferies' drawing for comparison purposes)...

So even though I've already started in on the modifications, I figured I needed to do a little more pre-planning of the aft end of the secondary hull. This is essentially what I'm aiming for...

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... which shouldn't require too much modification of the undercut. I'll need to shorten up the replacement section of the hull I made, but that shouldn't pose a problem. I'm hoping that I can basically finish this part of the hull without the doors in place because I don't want to lose the details on them while working out the rest of the secondary hull modifications.

 

[Shaw]

I've started in on working out the details on how I'll be building the master nacelle...

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Braking it down into two major components will let me concentrate on the unique geometry of each part without the risk of compromising the other. When I'm happy with each, I'll bring them together and make a mold from them as a whole. I think this will work out nicely... but I'll find out when I actually sit down to do the work.

 

[JMChladek]

Not an easy looking beast to manufacture, although breaking it down, I can see how it seems to be made mostly of round and half round shapes of various diameters. Parts modification was my solution, but if one can manufacture these all new from the ground up, it would speed the work quite a bit.

 

[Shaw]

Well, before I started in on those drawings of the nacelle I went to my local hobby store and started taking an inventory of what was available to work with. Two key components are 7/8 inch styrene tubing and 25 mm model rocket tubing. These elements (along with sheet styrene) should help create the large areas of uniform contours. The areas that are going to require actual sculpting will be started as either foam (I just got a hot wire foam cutting/sculpting tool) or foamcore board, with putty/filler to bring the final shaped into sharp relief. Besides getting the shapes to what I want, the only real issue I should face will be making sure the nacelle is completely symmetric.

That gets me to the base nacelles that I need, after which I'll make molds and then plan on using Alumilite White to cast the final parts.

This model is going to act as practice before I dive into building my 33 inch Enterprise replica. On that build I've also decided to build a single master nacelle and then I'll cast both of the nacelles from the same molds (that way I can be sure that the inner trench geometry is perfectly uniform for both). The master nacelle will have openings for both the port and starboard pylon connections, and I'll patch the unused openings on the casted parts during the assembly of the model.

But I just want to make sure I've gotten the basic techniques needed to do all that down on a smaller scale before diving into that build, which is why this model seemed like a great opportunity for doing that.

 

[Shaw]

So family issues have had most of my attention recently, but I have been putting a little time towards this project.

After playing around with the bridge/B/C deck structure from the AMT/ERTL Cutaway kit, I decided it would be better to start from scratch. So yesterday afternoon, I started from scratch...

I also made a little more progress on the primary hull, and decided to add the engraved ring that Jefferies included on one of his drawings (which corresponds to the inner most ring on the underside of the original Enterprise).

I took some more time on the bridge/B/C deck structure today (after letting it sit most of the day), and continued to work on refining the shapes.

Last week I started in on the aft end of the nacelle, and the results (so far) are matching up nicely with all the available reference images I have of the studio model's nacelles.

I've also been continuing with the deconstruction of the secondary hull, and have removed quite a few features so far. Until I'm finished with these modifications, there isn't any point in resurfacing the secondary hull.

So that is where things stand currently. It is slow work in that I often have to wait for things to dry/cure, by which time I'm usually occupied with other things.

 

[JMChladek]

Incredible work so far (as usual). Indeed a scratchbuilt B-C deck teardrop does look like the best option is it looks like an oversized AMT kit from the top (side profile being slimmer of course).

 

[Shaw]

Thanks!

Yeah, without that AMT egg shape it didn't feel right, and I couldn't get the shape on the cutaway parts to the point where I was happy with them.

So I've spent a little more time on the bridge, B/C deck structure and primary hull...

I decided to widen the bridge to better fit with Jefferies' plans. I also have started in on removing/filling in the features of the rim of the primary hull, working towards getting the upper edge sharp while keeping the lower edge rounded. Once the rim is done I can start in on the impulse engine elements.

 

[Shaw]

So I had planned on working on the front third of the nacelle today, but I realized that I didn't have that much thick sheet styrene left. Because I want to make sure the front grill area is perfect, I didn't want to run the risk of not finding styrene of the same thickness (I bought this stuff 5 years ago) in case I run out. For both the front grills on the nacelles and on the grills on the pylons are going to be inset by cutting out the shape of the openings in one sheet and covering the back with another. And I want to make sure that those openings have a uniform depth for all of them and that they are deeper than the thickness of the corrugated styrene I plan on making the actual grill parts from.


What I did work on today was the dorsal. Because there wasn't any special features, I knew I would be able to work with what I had and that I wouldn't need backup styrene in case of mistakes. So here is my progress so far...

It is just sitting in place, I won't do any type of final attachment until I've finished getting the primary hull's surface perfect.

 

[Shaw]

I'm getting the feeling that the actual build process is most likely too much information, so I'm skipping past internal aspects of the model that, when finished, no one is ever going to see again. I'll stick to progress shots that show how the model is shaping up and starting to look more and more like the TOS Enterprise rather than the TMP Enterprise.

I finished up on the dorsal as much as I could without having completed the secondary hull modifications.

And I've spent the last few days finishing the removal of TMP features from the secondary hull. I extended the channels that the original support pylons when into (because they were at the correct angle for the Phase II Enterprise) and started gluing the major pieces together (right now the two sides are whole). After a few more internal structural things are done, I'll glue the two sides together and work on the hangar deck and fan tail.

I also primered the primary hull so I could get a feel for where I was at in finishing it off.

Here are some of the major pieces set together (including a couple of the beginning pieces of the impulse engines)...

I've been working on the nacelle supports... mainly how to build them. While overall they will be done pretty much like the dorsal (which took a little more than a day to get where I'm at now), making sure that I correctly represent Jefferies' vents is what is slowing things down (plus I have to deal with similar vents on the nacelles). Part way through this design process I realized that I had better make sure that the major dimensions I am planning on using for the supports actually work. So I made foamcore board stand-ins to make sure that the final supports will be about where I need them (I can make small adjustments during the final assembly, but if they are too far off I'd have to rebuild them).

So here are some shots of the model assembled with the stand-in supports...