TOS Enterprise: 18" AMT - Re-Builds

[GeneralFROSTY]

Finally finished my first genuine attempt at building a model kit. Please note that in the photos I have not yet sealed everything with the final dull coat, and if there are any innacuracies to the original model - I was more worried about doing a professional build than pay attention to accurizing details.
I basically built this kit right out of the box - when Polar Lights releases the eventual 1/350 scale original series Enterprise, I will be sure to research details and get that one as good as I can.
So here we are....let me know what you think:

 

[hankey01]

Very well done! Love it!

 

[JMChladek]

Very very nicely done! I like how clean this model is. Granted you plan to flat coat it, but the glossy sheen gives it almost a desktop display model quality.

 

[division 6]

Glad this popped up, I have 3 on the way.

I remember having the original lighted models in my room as a kid.
All these years I thought my dad had built them but it turns out my mom did, she used to build car models as well.

About 20 years ago someone asked me to rebuild their poorly built model into a scout so I borrowed a copy of the tech manual for reference and finished it about a month later.
Sadly I didn't take pictures.

With the 3 I have coming I plan to build a regular Heavy Cruiser, a Scout and a Destroyer and eventually get another to build a Tug.
No after market parts accept maybe decals.

E...

 

[saarno]

THat is a gorgeous build! I have to say I love the glossy finish, too! Perfect placement of the decals. What is the light source - LED or bulbs? Nacelles are nicely lined up. No flaws at all.

 

[Bryancd]

That's awesome. man, I must have built that kit a dozen times as a kid. I can recall buying my first in like 1975 or so.

 

[saarno]

Updates on my re-build as of 06/27.

It does not look as nearly as nice as the other models on this post, but that's why so many companies decide to knock down rather than renovate buildings.

Trek Model Rebuilds

 

[GeneralFROSTY]

Updates on my re-build as of 06/27.

It does not look as nearly as nice as the other models on this post, but that's why so many companies decide to knock down rather than renovate buildings.

Trek Model Rebuilds

I hope my postings did not seem to be a hijack of your thread.
You must be having a challenging time re-working your kit - I can't imagine what it would be like to strip down and rework a kit that was already completed.
Just keep posting pics and remember to take your time....if you think it's "good enough" then it probably is'nt. That was my line of thinking while doing my build and I think it served me pretty well.
I learned a LOT from my first build and hope to employ that in my next one and expand on it and hopefully with some patience and practice I will do a much better job next time.

 

[STARTREKTOS]

Your model is awesome. I really want to eventually build one. Hopefully when I do it looks somewhere near as good as yours. thumbsup

 

[GeneralFROSTY]

I could give some pointers, but honestly I'm an ameture. This was my first honest attempt at doing a model kit. All I did was put lots of love and effort into it and not settle for less.
Is it perfect? Not by any means - but it turned out far better than I had anticipated and am quite pleased with it overall and totally blown away by all the great compliments...

 

[NYY27]

I like it!!

 

[trekriffic]

This turned out great! Great job on the seams. One of the best OOTB builds I've seen. And very well photographed!
Cudos to you!

 

[Shaw]

Can I use this image?

It is one of the best representation of the AMT kit and gives me a good idea of the shape of the model kit as a whole.

I'll add what ever credit you'd like if you want.

 

[GeneralFROSTY]

Sure you can! I'm really blown away and humbled by all the positive feedback on this kit. Like I've said, it is my first honest attempt at building a kit and I'm happy I did a decent job on it.
Where would you be posting the image?

 

[STARTREKTOS]

It's nice to see humility, it is lacking so often nowadays. That being said, you did an incredible job.

 

[GeneralFROSTY]

Well, I'm not out of the woods yet. I still have to do a decent job with the Refit E before I start patting myself on the back.
The original series kit - in my mind, is the quint essential sci-fi model kit. When I was just a little kid - maybe 5 or something, I remember my father building the same kit...now 25 years later, he's pretty proud of the work I did on the kit and that means the world to me.
I build this thing with next to no research. I looked at a few photos of the studio model, but did not have them handy during the construction and painting process - thus, all the work done to the kit was done based off memory from what reference images I had in my head and from looking at the instructions and box art.

 

[Shaw]

Sure you can! I'm really blown away and humbled by all the positive feedback on this kit. Like I've said, it is my first honest attempt at building a kit and I'm happy I did a decent job on it.
Where would you be posting the image?

It would just be over in my thread for now.

The thing is, there are lots of really nice builds of the (current) 18 inch model kit that use varying degrees of modification, and there are a lot of stock builds of the 18 inch kit which didn't necessarily turn out that well, but your model is an excellent example of a pristine stock build. That in and of itself is rare, but you also took some really nice images on top of that. :thumbsup

The main reason for needing a really nice stock 18 inch reference image is that TOSPHASER had brought up creating modified parts for the 18 inch kit to make it look like the 33 inch filming model. I haven't seen an 18 inch kit in person since 1994 and your model makes for a great comparison.

The other reason for asking is your choice of base color. I think there are quite a few options that work nicely, and have suggested Light Sea Gray as one in the past. So having a really nice example of how that color turned out always helps strengthen it as an option.

So yeah, your build makes for a great reference on a lot of different levels (including how nicely the kit can turn out when built with care).


I'm also looking forward to seeing more of saarno's build as it is awesome to see the original 18 inch kit (which is also a rarity these days).

 

[GeneralFROSTY]

Go ahead a repost whatever images you feel will help, so log as they are credited to me. Glad to help!
-Jimmy

 

[saarno]

I hope my postings did not seem to be a hijack of your thread.
You must be having a challenging time re-working your kit - I can't imagine what it would be like to strip down and rework a kit that was already completed.
Just keep posting pics and remember to take your time....if you think it's "good enough" then it probably is'nt. That was my line of thinking while doing my build and I think it served me pretty well.
I learned a LOT from my first build and hope to employ that in my next one and expand on it and hopefully with some patience and practice I will do a much better job next time.

I'm back on after a few days. hammered with web work.

Oh, no hijack at all. I love the images you took and it lets me know how good these AMT's can look! Top shelf job.

 

[saarno]

Been short on time the past week, so I haven't posted updates for a few days. Still waiting for the new decal set for the old kit, so I'm moving ahead on the new build. I'm posting pics tonite and I'm taking more time on this new one than I ever did on the older ones. My re-build worked in getting me back in the swing of things. I want to make the new kit at least as good as General Frosty's work, but we'll see. I did design and build a new stand system for the kits, replacing the kit provided stand. It brings the ship up about 2 feet above the surface on a thin pole. Looks similar to the ones used in the studio shoots. Easy to key out in photos.