I like to write, A LOT, so read at your own peril. I do this, because it is a great way for me to work through my issues, and get some feedback from all of the extremely knowledgeable people on these forums. I am posting this in The RPF and Sci Fi Model Action forums.
Some of you may or may not know me. I finished a 1/350 Enterprise a few years ago and sold it. I started work on a 1/72 Falcon and a TOS Bridge build. Both of those projects are sitting on my shelf in various stages of completion. For the Falcon build, I plan on keeping that model in my own collection, so not at the top of my list to work, and, I stepped on the cockpit canopy, crushing it, and that sort of crushed my will to work on the model. She will get finished, just not now. For my TOS Bridge build, I am on the lookout for a new display that will act as my forward viewer for the bridge. I am also thinking of leaving this model in my collection, so not as much enthusiasm to work on it. So, going to work on my two DeBoers kits.
I have the Enterprise with shuttle bay, and the Reliant kits. I plan on building them concurrently. If you have seen my older posts, I try to post EVERYTHING about what I am doing. I will post all of the money it takes me to build it, all of the code work and hardware it takes, of course the modeling ‘stuff’ and anything else needed to complete these guys. Like just about everyone else on these forums, most of my work is derivative, not original. Of course there are some original ideas in here, but a lot of it I learned/gleaned from people waaaay more knowledgeable than I am. Here is a short list:
Simon Mercs – I have his whole video log on his DeBoers Enterprise
Orbital Drydock – he made the 5 color mask kits and has some videos on prep work for these models, I got my material listing for the fiberglass work off of those videos, I don’t know anything about fiberglass, lol.
Boyd at TrekWorks/The Model Shop – I have watched a ton of his videos, and obviously post on his forums J
Steve Neill – love his shows and videos, still sad that many of his vids were taken down, a while ago.
Too many people on this forum have assisted me on my 1/350 refit, looking forward to more awesome suggestions and help!
Where to start these discussions…..ok, let’s start with what is in the pictures. The kits are in great shape, here are some of the items I need to do:
1) Windows need to be drilled and filed out.
2) Structural reinforcement
3) Metal mounting structure – probably use some sort of copper pipe and hand make them, not sure
4) Extra surface area needs to be added to all of the major parts that are getting glued together, nacelles and saucers, especially.
5) Need to build some jigs so I can aim the spotlight effects that go from the nacelles to the saucer section. I REALLY don’t want to have to paint the whole models at the same time, I don’t have a large enough booth to air brush in
6) Take a look and see if how I did the nacelle warp engine effects will work at this slightly larger scale
7) Scratch build an arboretum - Enterprise
8) Scratch build some sort of Office thingy – Enterprise
9) Scratch build two shuttle bays – Reliant – might look for some sort of loading dock model kit in Z scale I think is the scale.
10) Upgrade the Enterprise’s shuttle bay
11) Investigate the possibility of doing a motorized shuttle bay doors on the E, I talked to a mechanical engineer friend, she laughed at me when she saw the size of the area to work with!
12) Light blocking, I used aluminum tape on my 1/350, WON’T be doing that again, adds to much weight. I will test of a couple of different ideas, using different types of paint.
13) Print light boxes – my wife and I want to buy a 3D printer, great use to print out a bunch of light boxes. I don’t like the idea of just using a strip of LEDs to light whole sections. If they are all individual, I can do some really cool effects via my Arduino.
14) Main dish on the E – I want to transition colors on it
15) RCS thrusters - will be on both models during station keeping or impulse movement
16) For the Reliant, I want to do an Evil and Good version. Basically, they used some Red lights to highlight differences on the ship when Khan was in charge, want to make that a switch.
17) Need to go back over my lighting plan, it is attached to this post.
18) I am going to do a 5 color paint scheme on these models. I will be taking another popular 5 color masking set, up scaling it for the E and modifying it for the R and making them. My wife has a computer controlled cutting tool that will allow me to do this, forgot the name of it though. Silhouette I think.
19) The bases for both models will be based off of the movie. I really want to be able to play the movie on a display built into the base and have a bunch of cool effects in there. Will draw something up and take some pics of what I want in there.
20) EVERY resistor that is in a model, will have a resistor in series. I will not change this, WAAAY to easy to blow up an LED without this. Also, I used very high output LED lights that will be run in low power to increase their life span, I want over 20,000 MTBF on this guys. I am thinking if I could somehow make them replaceable, not sure if that is possible though.
21) I need photo etch for both of these models. I know that Elliot Brown makes it for the E and has even sold some of these kits. However, he never answers any of my emails, not sure if I am being blocked or he doesn’t like me :O
22) I will be using the McKenzie Polytranspar Super Hide white as my base coat and their iridescent paints
23) I will be using Vallejo acrylics for pretty much everything else. Ease of use and they don’t kill my brain cells is a definite plus on their use!
24) Trek Modeler’s painting guide, a great reference on how to paint this model, and worth the $s to purchase. I really like the green, so probably will do a green on the secondary hull instead of blue. Arguments will now commence, lol.
25) There will be some acrylic work, I have used Laser Fire Creations on multiple projects, great guy and great support.
26) I want to revisit the clear material I used in my port holes. I can go with the resin I used before, but not sure. The holes are a bit bigger this time, so might be easier to do. It was a PAIN to get all of the air bubbles out of the resin last time. I have to go find the name of the stuff, but it can be purchased at Hobby Lobby or Michaels. ClearCast I think.
27) I bought some new air brushes, I was using cheapo ones before, and they always had troubles working. I now own some nice ones, fingers crossed on them working well!
28) Panel lines and sensor lines on the saucer? Not sure on this, I SUCK at scribing. L
29) OH, LASERS, I am putting LASERS in these, not sure how many, how much wattage etc, but LASERS.
30) I am sure there is more!
As I purchase stuff, I usually link where I bought it, so you can hopefully either save time or let me know of a better place to go get it!
Some of you may or may not know me. I finished a 1/350 Enterprise a few years ago and sold it. I started work on a 1/72 Falcon and a TOS Bridge build. Both of those projects are sitting on my shelf in various stages of completion. For the Falcon build, I plan on keeping that model in my own collection, so not at the top of my list to work, and, I stepped on the cockpit canopy, crushing it, and that sort of crushed my will to work on the model. She will get finished, just not now. For my TOS Bridge build, I am on the lookout for a new display that will act as my forward viewer for the bridge. I am also thinking of leaving this model in my collection, so not as much enthusiasm to work on it. So, going to work on my two DeBoers kits.
I have the Enterprise with shuttle bay, and the Reliant kits. I plan on building them concurrently. If you have seen my older posts, I try to post EVERYTHING about what I am doing. I will post all of the money it takes me to build it, all of the code work and hardware it takes, of course the modeling ‘stuff’ and anything else needed to complete these guys. Like just about everyone else on these forums, most of my work is derivative, not original. Of course there are some original ideas in here, but a lot of it I learned/gleaned from people waaaay more knowledgeable than I am. Here is a short list:
Simon Mercs – I have his whole video log on his DeBoers Enterprise
Orbital Drydock – he made the 5 color mask kits and has some videos on prep work for these models, I got my material listing for the fiberglass work off of those videos, I don’t know anything about fiberglass, lol.
Boyd at TrekWorks/The Model Shop – I have watched a ton of his videos, and obviously post on his forums J
Steve Neill – love his shows and videos, still sad that many of his vids were taken down, a while ago.
Too many people on this forum have assisted me on my 1/350 refit, looking forward to more awesome suggestions and help!
Where to start these discussions…..ok, let’s start with what is in the pictures. The kits are in great shape, here are some of the items I need to do:
1) Windows need to be drilled and filed out.
2) Structural reinforcement
3) Metal mounting structure – probably use some sort of copper pipe and hand make them, not sure
4) Extra surface area needs to be added to all of the major parts that are getting glued together, nacelles and saucers, especially.
5) Need to build some jigs so I can aim the spotlight effects that go from the nacelles to the saucer section. I REALLY don’t want to have to paint the whole models at the same time, I don’t have a large enough booth to air brush in
6) Take a look and see if how I did the nacelle warp engine effects will work at this slightly larger scale
7) Scratch build an arboretum - Enterprise
8) Scratch build some sort of Office thingy – Enterprise
9) Scratch build two shuttle bays – Reliant – might look for some sort of loading dock model kit in Z scale I think is the scale.
10) Upgrade the Enterprise’s shuttle bay
11) Investigate the possibility of doing a motorized shuttle bay doors on the E, I talked to a mechanical engineer friend, she laughed at me when she saw the size of the area to work with!
12) Light blocking, I used aluminum tape on my 1/350, WON’T be doing that again, adds to much weight. I will test of a couple of different ideas, using different types of paint.
13) Print light boxes – my wife and I want to buy a 3D printer, great use to print out a bunch of light boxes. I don’t like the idea of just using a strip of LEDs to light whole sections. If they are all individual, I can do some really cool effects via my Arduino.
14) Main dish on the E – I want to transition colors on it
15) RCS thrusters - will be on both models during station keeping or impulse movement
16) For the Reliant, I want to do an Evil and Good version. Basically, they used some Red lights to highlight differences on the ship when Khan was in charge, want to make that a switch.
17) Need to go back over my lighting plan, it is attached to this post.
18) I am going to do a 5 color paint scheme on these models. I will be taking another popular 5 color masking set, up scaling it for the E and modifying it for the R and making them. My wife has a computer controlled cutting tool that will allow me to do this, forgot the name of it though. Silhouette I think.
19) The bases for both models will be based off of the movie. I really want to be able to play the movie on a display built into the base and have a bunch of cool effects in there. Will draw something up and take some pics of what I want in there.
20) EVERY resistor that is in a model, will have a resistor in series. I will not change this, WAAAY to easy to blow up an LED without this. Also, I used very high output LED lights that will be run in low power to increase their life span, I want over 20,000 MTBF on this guys. I am thinking if I could somehow make them replaceable, not sure if that is possible though.
21) I need photo etch for both of these models. I know that Elliot Brown makes it for the E and has even sold some of these kits. However, he never answers any of my emails, not sure if I am being blocked or he doesn’t like me :O
22) I will be using the McKenzie Polytranspar Super Hide white as my base coat and their iridescent paints
23) I will be using Vallejo acrylics for pretty much everything else. Ease of use and they don’t kill my brain cells is a definite plus on their use!
24) Trek Modeler’s painting guide, a great reference on how to paint this model, and worth the $s to purchase. I really like the green, so probably will do a green on the secondary hull instead of blue. Arguments will now commence, lol.
25) There will be some acrylic work, I have used Laser Fire Creations on multiple projects, great guy and great support.
26) I want to revisit the clear material I used in my port holes. I can go with the resin I used before, but not sure. The holes are a bit bigger this time, so might be easier to do. It was a PAIN to get all of the air bubbles out of the resin last time. I have to go find the name of the stuff, but it can be purchased at Hobby Lobby or Michaels. ClearCast I think.
27) I bought some new air brushes, I was using cheapo ones before, and they always had troubles working. I now own some nice ones, fingers crossed on them working well!
28) Panel lines and sensor lines on the saucer? Not sure on this, I SUCK at scribing. L
29) OH, LASERS, I am putting LASERS in these, not sure how many, how much wattage etc, but LASERS.
30) I am sure there is more!
As I purchase stuff, I usually link where I bought it, so you can hopefully either save time or let me know of a better place to go get it!
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