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My 1/350 TOS ENTERPRISE In July's Reader gallery!

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  • Member since
    December 2013
My 1/350 TOS ENTERPRISE In July's Reader gallery!
Posted by Jim Kirk on Wednesday, June 17, 2015 8:41 PM
Hey Guys! FineScale put one of my composites of the original series 1/350 Enterprise builds in the readers Gallery for the July issue! I am very humbled they saw fit to publish my work a second time. The first was my rebuild of the MPC Millennium Falcon in the March 2013 issue. Here is the Picture they chose to publish...  I thought I would share How I did the Photo. The photo was a tribute to the original series special effects. First I puttied and sanded smooth the grid lines. I also used Paint Masks for the Registry, Banners etc. While still utilizing several of the kits decals. I also used the Polar Lights Lighting kit. However, I adjusted the lighting to reflect correct scale, a pet peeve of mine is an overly lit model! For the engine caps I used the RED lighting kit supplied lamps. I also dropped the power in the Nacelles to get the effect you see in the picture! I don't recommend this as I almost ruined the lighting board! To be honest after the picture was taken, I didnt like the look so I removed the red Lamps and put the Orange ones back in... I also used a different set of domes. Both the outer and Inner spinning domes. While installing the outer domes I damaged them. Both were cracked. I removed the three tabs that are part of the dome detail and sanded the areas flush. I also sprayed clear Tamiya red, slightly darkened in the top dome. I then sprayed the spinning domes Clear Tamiya red. as they were warped and I was getting replacements, I thought I would see how it would look. The warped inner dome caused the swirly effect. When I removed the outer domes to replace the Red lams, they broke completely ,However I still have the warped Clear Red Domes with the fans. This photo was taken using Incandescent lamps(There was an incandescent light to the rear of the upper saucer, You can see the reflection)as well as several LED lamps...which gives the model it's bluish tint. NOTE...The nacelle lighting CHANGES based on what light source you use... The model was air brushed a mix of Tamiya and model master paint through my Iwata Air Brush system over a base coat to give it depth. I used reference material I have collected over the years on the actual filming miniature. It was also weathered to scale, again, per the filming miniature. Of course since my Local hardware store doesn't stock Phasers(yet), they were digitally added as was the star field. The grain was the final step to pay tribute to the effects of the original series! The grain actually darkened the image a bit which you will see here... OK... Here I am recreating My composite photo seen in the totally awesome July Issue of Fine Scale Modeler! First I am NOT using the red lamps as I did in that Photo... I did not step the power down in the engine caps either as I did for that Photo. The engines look wrong to me in that photograph...way too dark. Also notice the replacement domes! The outer one has the correct Three Tab detail and is NOT air brushed Clear Red. Neither is the inner dome! I prefer this better! The Lighting used here is different than what I used for that picture so it doesn't have the Bluish tint that one does. This photo was taken utilizing as much natural sunlight as possible(the way I prefer it). So here is the model against it's appropriate background. Internal lighting to scale, external lighting correct...  Step 2 the model is placed in a TOS era Star Field .  STEP 3 Since I can't find real phasers at Home Depot I need to add them into the shot. url=http://s1165.photobucket.com/user/ELVISMAJORS/media/STEP%204a_zps6qpgfwld.jpg.html] [/url] STEP 4 She's in space firing her phasers now I need to add Film Grain to pay homage to the TOS...  And here is the model on a recent trip to my Local Hobby shop! You will notice how the exterior lighting affects the Nacelle engine lighting here!!   Since submitting that first picture to FineScale I corrected the Light on the Saucer, between the upper and lower Hull lights was wrong so I filed it in. Also catching the upper and lower hull formation lights on is a talent unto itself!!They blink you know!! Hopefully this info will inspire you guys to try your hand at Model Photography!!
  • Member since
    September 2003
  • From: AandF in the Badger State
Posted by checkmateking02 on Wednesday, June 17, 2015 9:57 PM

Saw this in the magazine.  It's really great work.  It looks like it came right out of the TV screen.  You should receive a Starfleet commendation.

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    December 2013
Posted by Jim Kirk on Wednesday, June 17, 2015 10:01 PM

Sincere Thanks! I just wanted to point out...without giving away all my secrets, How I did the Photograph.

  • Member since
    July 2014
Posted by modelcrazy on Wednesday, June 17, 2015 10:13 PM

SWEET! looks fantastic Jim. Beauty work man, I don't have words.

Your a genious with the photo thing. The best I can do is my Galaxy SIII.

Steve

Building a kit from your stash is like cutting a head off a Hydra, two more take it's place.

 

 

http://www.spamodeler.com/forum/

  • Member since
    December 2013
Posted by Jim Kirk on Wednesday, June 17, 2015 10:19 PM

Many thanks indeed sir! Your too kind! No genius here...much, much more to learn!

  • Member since
    September 2006
  • From: Ridott, Illinois
Posted by Banshee1000 on Thursday, June 18, 2015 12:24 PM

That's a beautifully done model!  And the photography is excellent, thank you for sharing.

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: SW Virginia
Posted by Gamera on Thursday, June 18, 2015 1:03 PM

Really sharp work, I'd swear it was a clip from the series! I saw her in the magazine but thanks for walking us though how you photographed her, I think I need more help with my photos than even my modeling.

"I dream in fire but work in clay." -Arthur Machen

 

  • Member since
    December 2013
Posted by Jim Kirk on Thursday, June 18, 2015 1:53 PM

Thank you very much indeed!

  • Member since
    December 2013
Posted by Jim Kirk on Thursday, June 18, 2015 1:54 PM

I am really humbled FineScale decided to print that Picture. Sincere thanks Sir!!

  • Member since
    July 2014
Posted by modelcrazy on Thursday, June 18, 2015 2:33 PM

Jim Kirk
Step 2 the model is placed in a TOS era Star Field .

Wait, where did you get the star field? did you Photoshop the shot with the ship in front of the black? I'm going to build the Romulan Bird of Prey from TOS and it would be great to do something like this. Adding a Plasma torpedo in the shot would be even more awesome.

Steve

Steve

Building a kit from your stash is like cutting a head off a Hydra, two more take it's place.

 

 

http://www.spamodeler.com/forum/

  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: East Bethel, MN
Posted by midnightprowler on Thursday, June 18, 2015 5:04 PM

Scotty would be proud!

Hi, I am Lee, I am a plastiholic.

Co. A, 682 Engineers, Ltchfield, MN, 1980-1986

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 1 Corinthians 15:51-54

Ask me about Speedway Decals

  • Member since
    November 2007
  • From: Wisconsin Rapids, WI
Posted by moose421 on Thursday, June 18, 2015 7:08 PM

That is awesome the FS is publishing your build.  Then again its' an awesome build.  I am just working the kit and lighting into my budget.  MMMM my birthday is coming up. Maybe I can talk the wife into some of it.

Awesome build and great job.

Moose

  • Member since
    May 2013
  • From: Indiana, USA
Posted by Greg on Thursday, June 18, 2015 8:01 PM

So glad you posted this. The picture in FSM definitely caught my attention.

Your post is the treat of my night. So cool to see your setup and what you did step by step. Thanks, Mark!

  • Member since
    December 2013
Posted by Jim Kirk on Thursday, June 18, 2015 9:34 PM

Again many sincere and humble thanks!

  • Member since
    December 2013
Posted by Jim Kirk on Friday, June 19, 2015 8:43 AM

I have collected and or made several dozen back drops for dropping my models in to show them doing their thing! I honestly don't remember how I came by the star field. I have several. The only backgrounds I can tell you where I got them from are Ocean vistas that I took on Family trips for my Seaview/Flying sub and U-Boat builds!

  • Member since
    December 2013
Posted by Jim Kirk on Friday, June 19, 2015 3:15 PM

Here is a picture of the Tamiya clear red inner domes used in the FSM Photo. The inner rod is warped.

  • Member since
    July 2014
Posted by modelcrazy on Friday, June 19, 2015 3:35 PM

Cool, so that's how you did that. I thought so, but wasn't sure.

Steve

Building a kit from your stash is like cutting a head off a Hydra, two more take it's place.

 

 

http://www.spamodeler.com/forum/

  • Member since
    December 2013
Posted by Jim Kirk on Saturday, June 20, 2015 10:13 AM

Guys for more example of my work, please feel free to check over my Face-Book Page...

www.facebook.com/.../251549648289041

And thanks again and one more thing...BUILD A MODEL!

  • Member since
    December 2013
Posted by Jim Kirk on Saturday, June 20, 2015 6:13 PM
OK, FOR FUN I am showing you how (exactly) I did the pic for FSM. First here's the set up...I have an LED high powered light hitting the rear of the saucer...same as I did in the FSM PHOTO. I also used the same inner fan domes. The outside domes are my current domes with the three taps and sprayed clear flat...I am not damaging another set of domes.  The first picture...  The same picture Cropped(you can still see the stand)  Put in the starfield with the phasers firing..  And the Final shot with the grain added to get the TOS effect..
  • Member since
    May 2013
  • From: Indiana, USA
Posted by Greg on Saturday, June 20, 2015 6:24 PM

Thanks for sharing the more detailed version, Mark.

Adding the grain was an awesome touch. Subtle, yet extremely effective.

I am curious, did you have to show the staff at FSM your in-process shots to prove you actually did that yourself? I'm asking because IMO your work is that good.

  • Member since
    December 2013
Posted by Jim Kirk on Saturday, June 20, 2015 7:39 PM

Thanks Greg.

No I just wanted to use the opportunity to show how it was done.

I actually would have loved to have written a how to article for FSM.
  • Member since
    December 2013
Posted by Jim Kirk on Saturday, June 20, 2015 9:42 PM
  • Member since
    December 2013
Posted by Jim Kirk on Monday, June 22, 2015 6:39 AM

And a fun video showing her in action...

www.youtube.com/watch

  • Member since
    July 2014
Posted by modelcrazy on Monday, June 22, 2015 1:34 PM

You outa make your own Star Trek episode.

Steve

Building a kit from your stash is like cutting a head off a Hydra, two more take it's place.

 

 

http://www.spamodeler.com/forum/

  • Member since
    June 2015
Posted by xfinity on Monday, June 22, 2015 8:26 PM

Thanks for sharing these behind the scenes pics. I get what you did with most of the set up in these shots, but what's the amber light for? Were you originally going to put a larger Sun-like star near the ship?

  • Member since
    December 2013
Posted by Jim Kirk on Tuesday, June 23, 2015 7:46 AM

Just for additional lighting. It was a mistake. After I did the final Picture I thought it looked wrong. I didn't realize it would stand out so much!

  • Member since
    December 2013
Posted by Jim Kirk on Monday, June 29, 2015 8:13 AM
  • Member since
    July 2014
Posted by modelcrazy on Monday, June 29, 2015 9:11 AM

That's pretty cool. Now you need a Klingon Battle cruiser to do battle with.

Steve

Building a kit from your stash is like cutting a head off a Hydra, two more take it's place.

 

 

http://www.spamodeler.com/forum/

  • Member since
    December 2013
Posted by Jim Kirk on Thursday, July 2, 2015 2:45 PM
  • Member since
    December 2013
Posted by Jim Kirk on Saturday, July 4, 2015 7:59 AM
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