TOS AMT/ERTL 18 inch Enterprise Custom Build

[trekriffic]

Very nice design Trekriffic. Did you also hook up the the metal cage to the motor inside the 18 inch ship to give it the rotating blade effect?

Not exactly metal cages no. The domes were solid resin which I hollowed out with my dremel.
Then I took a 2-part clay mold my neighbor made from the kit dome and heated up a piece of clear styrene sheet and smooshed it between the mold halves to make two hemispheres that nested inside the resin bussard domes.
After sanding the rim flat against a sanding block I stuck on twelve pie slice sections of adhesive backed foil to represent the turbine blades.
Then a clear acrylic rod was epoxied to the center for the driveshaft.
The end result resembled a clear umbrella with silver stripes!

Regarding the 1/1000 scale model, I'm considering only lighting the bussards and not the windows.
The round windows are easy of course, but the rectangular ones are so small in this scale it would be hard to get the corners perfectly square and lined up and nothing blows the realism for me more than sloppy window openings.
I do have a 555 flasher circuit a friend made for me for the flashers on the saucer rim though.

 

[Chrisisall]

Chrisisall is also thinking of building the 1/1000 kit. I would like to see the end results of both of your ships But I think you may have an electronic edge on him.

This I cannot deny.:rolleyes
On the other hand, I should have no trouble cutting the tiny rectangular windows.:cool

 

[trekriffic]

This I cannot deny.:rolleyes
On the other hand, I should have no trouble cutting the tiny rectangular windows.:cool

In that case, I'll be keeping an eye out for pics of your build to see how it's done! :thumbsup

 

[Chrisisall]

In that case, I'll be keeping an eye out for pics of your build to see how it's done! :thumbsup

I just need a REALLY small Xacto knife...:love
I was thinking of lighting a bigger E, but it just seems so impossible in the 1/1000 scale, I *have* to try.

 

[trekriffic]

Go for it man! The best builders have to have a certain amount of fearlessness IMO. Hope you also have some really small jeweller's files. I used those on my 18 incher but they may be too big for the 1/1000.

 

[Chrisisall]

some really small jeweller's files

I'm off to my model store!:lol
Like Scotty said, I'll let ya know!

 

[spacerone]

Trekriffic I may use your idea for the fan blade effect in a future Enterprise build some day. I would like to see a short video of them in motion if you could.

 

[spacerone]

This I cannot deny.:rolleyes
On the other hand, I should have no trouble cutting the tiny rectangular windows.:cool

Build it and they will come

 

[Chrisisall]

Build it and they will come

BWAHAHAHAHAHA!:lol

 

[trekriffic]

Trekriffic I may use your idea for the fan blade effect in a future Enterprise build some day. I would like to see a short video of them in motion if you could.

I need to replace the C batteries in the battery box first then I'll see if I can post a video of them in motion up on Youtube for you.

 

[spacerone]

I finished my ship. Here are some photo's of the ship, let me know what you think. I did a little photoshop to them, one of them shows part of the stand and one without. Click on the last photo and you will see a short video of the ship with the lights working. The light kit really brings the ship to life.

Click on this last photo to see the short video of the ship.

 

[JMChladek]

To quote George Takei....

"Oh MY!!!!!! :eek :love :thumbsup

To me, this is living proof that the old AMT girl can still be done up nicely. All it takes is skill, time, effort and love. And I LOVE this result! BTW, even if the lit rear ends of the warp nacelles aren't necessarily studio accurate, they provide a nice effect and really add a bit of charm to the model.

 

[spacerone]

To quote George Takei....

"Oh MY!!!!!! :eek :love :thumbsup

To me, this is living proof that the old AMT girl can still be done up nicely. All it takes is skill, time, effort and love. And I LOVE this result! BTW, even if the lit rear ends of the warp nacelles aren't necessarily studio accurate, they provide a nice effect and really add a bit of charm to the model.

Thanks! I appreciate the comment. I just wanted to add a little power to the back end of the ship.

 

[Chrisisall]

let me know what you think.

Oh my Lords of Kobol, by Grabthar's Hammer, Cromm...
*bows to the maker of perfection*
Dude, you must know how much this totally rocks.
I certainly do.
This is yet another example of what I'd like to achieve my own self some day. And I might. Buddha willing.

Thanks for the pictures!

 

[spacerone]

Oh my Lords of Kobol, by Grabthar's Hammer, Cromm...
*bows to the maker of perfection*
Dude, you must know how much this totally rocks.
I certainly do.
This is yet another example of what I'd like to achieve my own self some day. And I might. Buddha willing.

Thanks for the pictures!

Your welcome! Now its your turn to build one, I know you can do it.

The last photo is a link to a video I posted of the ship . If you have'nt seen it click on last photo. Thanks for the kind words.

 

[phase pistol]

Definitely one of the nicest AMT builds that I've seen! :cool

 

[spacerone]

Definitely one of the nicest AMT builds that I've seen! :cool

Thanks, It took awhile to make it. I may build another one of these later and use a model kit from the late sixties. But first I'm thinking of building up a tos phaser.

 

[Chrisisall]

The last photo is a link to a video I posted of the ship . If you have'nt seen it click on last photo.

Just awesome. Great musical background.
I'm lovin' it! (apologies to McDonald's TM)

 

[JCByrdman]

This is awesome! I used to build these as a kid and I never ever thought I would want to build another one... but now seeing this.... I gotta build another one :lol

 

[spacerone]

This is awesome! I used to build these as a kid and I never ever thought I would want to build another one... but now seeing this.... I gotta build another one :lol

Thanks, just make sure you have a lot of time, patience, and also a good electronics lighting kit does'nt hurt.:lol