Work [nearly finished] on my 1/350 TOS Enterprise (series version)

Re: Work started on my 1/350 TOS Enterprise (series version)

I totally can see where you might not want to go with the liquid mask on such an important project if you've had bad experiences with it in the past. One trick I've used for keeping it off areas that I want to be opaque around the base of marker lights is to cut a hole in a piece of masking tape matching the diameter of the base of the light, then cutting a straight line thru the tape and thru the middle of the circle. Lay the tape down on each side of the dome nice and tight and paint on the liquid mask. Then before it dries peel off the tape on each side pulling sideways so as to leave the liquid mask on the dome undisturbed.

Or you can do what you plan to do since you have plenty of extra domes.

One other comment. It seems you are going with lighting the top port on the bow of the saucer but I thought it had been pretty much proven that that was just an access cover for replacing the light bulb that lit the three ports on the rim at the bow and was not meant to be lit.
 
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Re: Work started on my 1/350 TOS Enterprise (series version)

It is a piece of frosted plex that got weathered and very little to no light.
Kind of like the center window on the leading edge.

It did occasionally show up.
 
Re: Work started on my 1/350 TOS Enterprise (series version)

I only installed that clear piece just to see what it looked like as I can always cover it over again. The way the kit is designed, the cover has to be put in with either clear, smoke or white since a gray plug was not molded. Greg Jein actually replicated that glowing cover on his 6 foot "Trials and Tribbilations" model (but you never saw it in the episode as they typically viewed it from the bottom).

I've got it installed a certain way and after seeing how goofy it looks, I'm just going to paint it silver on the inside to light block it and give it the full primer and basecoat on the outside. I've already taken care of the seams on its edge and etched the center grid line into it. It glows rather bright because of where I located the LED strip for the front round window/deflector ports on the saucer.

Another reason why I am going to cover it is although a hint of the round cover could be seen on top saucer shots (such as that slanted view seen in both "Doomsday Machine" where the E is taking the Constellation under tow and "Tholian Web" as the web is being built around the ship) it doesn't appear lit at all, like they gave it a more thorough paintjob as they shot more effects scenes. So I would chalk up some of those appearances to inadvertent light leaks. I'm kind of surprised they didn't leave the front saucer black "hatch" detail paint from the second pilot version of the ship to disguise that cover even more on the series version of the ship (it might have been black tape I suppose to plug a light leak).
 
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Re: Work started on my 1/350 TOS Enterprise (series version)

Bridge is awesome!!
I don't want it to be concealed.

katsu
 
Re: Work started on my 1/350 TOS Enterprise (series version)

yuumi2891103 said:
Bridge is awesome!!
I don't want it to be concealed.

katsu
Click to expand...

If you think it looks good now, wait until I get it fully installed and under the dome as the dome practically acts as a magnifying glass. That's why it has been taking me so long to plug all the light leaks and touch up the paint. I want to get it to look the best it possibly can.
 
Re: Work started on my 1/350 TOS Enterprise (series version)

Nice video. I like the idea of using the "GOO" to secure the wiring harnesses. Your shuttlebay is looking really nice too. Thanks for the tip about spraying the Tamiya silver on the inside surfaces of the walls to allow light to transmit to the rear hull windows.
 
Re: Work started on my 1/350 TOS Enterprise (series version)

That's looking pretty awesome so far, and the saucer is impressive when lit
Do they make action figures that small? ;)
 
Re: Work started on my 1/350 TOS Enterprise (series version)

Thanks guys, I got a fair amount of prep work done on the secondary hull last night and the test fits with the shuttlebay are going well. I sanded back the stems on the two protruding "ion pod" lights in the secondary hull before gluing them in and so far the shuttle bay still seems to be fitting fine. I've got two minor light block touchups to do in it, but once those are done, I start mounting the LEDs to get this bay lit.
 
Re: Work started on my 1/350 TOS Enterprise (series version)

Nice work so far Jay!

I still have to watch some of your videos so I don't know if you mentioned anything about the paint/color you'll be using.

Will you be using Tamiya XF-12 JN Grey for the hull color?
 
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