This is my take on Round 2's much-lauded repop of the old AMT Galactic Cruiser Leif Ericson---which I first encountered in my LHS, back in the '70s, as the glow-in-the-dark 'UFO Mystery Ship.' Originally intended as the first of a series of 'Strategic Space Command' models from AMT---and advertised on the box-sides of the first-release Star Trek kits---this was in fact the only kit of that envisioned 'side-series' ever released.
It was designed by Matt Jefferies---the same gent who designed Star Trek's TOS Enterprise. When Round 2 brought them back, I thought I'd do at least one to honor its prolific designer by putting it back squarely in the 'Star Trek' universe---as a historical antecedent of the TOS-era, a pre- (or early-) Federation survey vessel named after---who else?---the 'father of the Jefferies tube.'
Build was mostly OOB, though I built a new 'box' for the internal scout-ship bay to add access hatches and a bit of detail. I blanked off the open engine shrouds with some 'waffle' pattern styrene sheet I had---part of some long-forgotten packing material for something or other---and painted it metallic red for the 'intakes,' and metallic blue for the 'exhaust.' I used kit parts for the engine core as external detail on the 'wings,' but I didn't want to add too much surface detail---wanted to keep the 'uncluttered' TOS design aesthetic. Photoetched hatches were a small sheet from Paragrafix, though I'm not sure it's still available---didn't find it in a 'quick glance' at their website.
Decals/markings were made up from online images and printed on my trusty HP inkjet. The 'United Earth Space Probe Agency' was quoted at least once in an early TOS episode as the 'operating authority' for the starships---I think before the writers had settled on 'Starfleet'---so I used some of the neat insignia folks have devised and shared online, and made mine an older UESPA vessel.
A fun project. Hope you may enjoy the photos.