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                        Update: My Polar Lights 1/350 Refit repaired, and back together..

                        7706 views
                        58 replies
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                        12
                        Chris_in_Japan
                        • Member since
                          November 2004
                        • From: Fukuoka Japan / Brisbane AUS.
                        Update: My Polar Lights 1/350 Refit repaired, and back together..
                        Posted by Chris_in_Japan on Monday, May 23, 2005 6:53 AM
                        Update info and pics on page 3:

                        Hi guys.. I havnt been around for a while, as I have been busy with 2 projects.. My 1/32 RAAF Hornet. And my new PL 1/350 Refit..

                        As I have been looking around to see what everyone else has done. I started to notice that not too many people had either started thiers, or are ready to show pics yet.. Well, I am not the greatest builder around, so I wanted to be the first to show an update of some sort..

                        As for mine, it will be lit, and I am in the process of building the wiring and lighting. I have built the shuttle bat, and am just about finished painting the secondary hull and nacelles.. So here are a few pics of what I have done thus far.. I hope you like!

                        I decided to build the Enterprise- A




                        I wanted to have a lit hanger.. I will be using magnets to detract the bay doors for view...


                        The guts of it, plus botanical gardens to the front.. Before shuttle bay and wiring.


                        Currently the nacelles are drying and are ready to be wired up.. I have had fun, although alot of time spent on the secondaty hull.. And to be honest, i am not looking forward to doing the saucer section.. The paint job I have done so far, in my opinion has been somewhat limited, so the saucer is really scaring me! Updates to come!

                        Chris in Japan

                        On the bench:

                                                  1/48 RAAF 3 Sqn F/A-18B

                                                  1/150 /1/160 N Scale Japanese Rail diorama.

                        Report Abuse
                        J-Hulk
                        • Member since
                          February 2003
                        • From: Tochigi, Japan
                        Posted by J-Hulk on Monday, May 23, 2005 9:28 AM
                        Looks great so far, Chris!
                        How long has this kit been out? Haven't seen it in the shops yet.
                        ~Brian
                        Report Abuse
                        Chris_in_Japan
                        • Member since
                          November 2004
                        • From: Fukuoka Japan / Brisbane AUS.
                        Posted by Chris_in_Japan on Monday, May 23, 2005 10:16 AM
                        Dont think we will get it here Brian.. I had a good friend send it to me from the States!

                        Chris in Japan

                        On the bench:

                                                  1/48 RAAF 3 Sqn F/A-18B

                                                  1/150 /1/160 N Scale Japanese Rail diorama.

                        Report Abuse
                        philp
                        • Member since
                          December 2002
                        • From: USA
                        Posted by philp on Monday, May 23, 2005 4:40 PM
                        My son picked one up last week at a LHS here. Starship Modeler and Culttvman have them FS in their shops and have seen a few other online shops advertise them. Good luck on getting one. The kit is awesome and builds up to 34" long when done.
                        Phil Peterson IPMS #8739 Join the Map http://www.frappr.com/finescalemodeler
                        Report Abuse
                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Monday, May 23, 2005 8:30 PM
                        A few months ago I saw a 1/1000 TOS Enterprise kit selling at a large hobby store here in Tokyo ( Mr. Craft in Ebisu) for 3980 yen. Although they're not selling the refit yet (as of last week), they'll probably have a similar mark-up. I wouldn't be surprised by a price of 20,000 yen.
                        Report Abuse
                        Griffworks
                        • Member since
                          June 2004
                        • From: The House of Blues Clues
                        Posted by Griffworks on Tuesday, May 24, 2005 12:15 AM
                        Nice job thus far, Chris. I especially like that view straight back from the shuttlebay area. Still haven't gotten mine and prolly won't start on it for at least a year, regardless. Always nice to be a voyeur to others work.

                        The greatest measure of a man is his children and what kind of people they are.

                         

                        Report Abuse
                        Chris_in_Japan
                        • Member since
                          November 2004
                        • From: Fukuoka Japan / Brisbane AUS.
                        Posted by Chris_in_Japan on Tuesday, May 24, 2005 2:06 AM
                        Thanks Jeff, appreciate it!.... I sat looking at it for a few days, and wasnt sure of how I was going to go about it.. The saucer section is always my biggest challenge, but I have made up my templates, and have done a practice run.. Hopefully it will turn out the way I want.. I have been doing so many military fighters and choppers lately, I just had to start on this one!..

                        I have used my Bandai refit as a template for the paintwork.. The reason I did this was because it is basic and subtle.. There are people that have the ability to produce a paintjob fit for a studio model. But I simply dont have that kind of skill and am happy to admit it. So I decided on the bandai as my template... The colours seem bright, because its a bigger model, and I dont know why, but it appeals to me.. Its not canon I know, but it will make a great display piece!

                        Chris in Japan

                        On the bench:

                                                  1/48 RAAF 3 Sqn F/A-18B

                                                  1/150 /1/160 N Scale Japanese Rail diorama.

                        Report Abuse
                        J-Hulk
                        • Member since
                          February 2003
                        • From: Tochigi, Japan
                        Posted by J-Hulk on Tuesday, May 24, 2005 9:53 AM
                        QUOTE: Originally posted by Masao

                        A few months ago I saw a 1/1000 TOS Enterprise kit selling at a large hobby store here in Tokyo ( Mr. Craft in Ebisu) for 3980 yen. Although they're not selling the refit yet (as of last week), they'll probably have a similar mark-up. I wouldn't be surprised by a price of 20,000 yen.


                        Ouch, Masao! We had the 1/1000 TOS Es and Klingon Cruisers here in Osaka for 1,600 yen each! Sounds like Mr. Craft is way overpriced. Do they carry PL stuff at the Shibuya or Shinjuku Hobbitts? I'll bet they'd be a lot cheaper there.
                        Never went to Mr. Craft when I lived in Tokyo. Nice shop?
                        ~Brian
                        Report Abuse
                        roosterfish
                        • Member since
                          November 2003
                        • From: Stockton CA USA
                        Posted by roosterfish on Tuesday, May 24, 2005 10:07 AM
                        You are ahead of me on the model; I'm still looking in the box. You've done a great job so far and I look forward to seeing more of your model as it gets put together.

                        I'm going to light my model and I'm figuring out the lighting areas. My plan is to be able to light up the model with 1.5V for about 6 hours. I'll use a Luxeon LED in the saucer dome with the standard LED emitters in the engineering and garden section. The light will be the easy part.

                        I'm trying to figure out how to paint the saucer; that saucer is big! I might have to buy a can of spray paint.

                        Your ship is looking good.
                        Winners never quit; quitters never win.
                        Report Abuse
                        46 mech
                        • Member since
                          August 2003
                        Posted by 46 mech on Tuesday, May 24, 2005 9:50 PM
                        Chris, that is awesome, love your hangerbay. Thanks for showing us your build. Look forward to your next photos. Great job Thumbs Up [tup]
                        Report Abuse
                        Chris_in_Japan
                        • Member since
                          November 2004
                        • From: Fukuoka Japan / Brisbane AUS.
                        Posted by Chris_in_Japan on Wednesday, May 25, 2005 8:32 AM
                        Thanks guys... I have just finished doing the aztec for the upper and lower saucer sections, and it has turned out great.. I spent all last night cutting out a plastic template to spray over.. It was well worth the work, rather than masking off each section with tape! I will post pics tomorrow.. I strongly suggest making up a template of some sort in plastic if you want a quick and easy solution... It sounds hard to do, but the results are great!.. But I will say, just take your time!!!

                        Chris in Japan..

                        On the bench:

                                                  1/48 RAAF 3 Sqn F/A-18B

                                                  1/150 /1/160 N Scale Japanese Rail diorama.

                        Report Abuse
                        Chris_in_Japan
                        • Member since
                          November 2004
                        • From: Fukuoka Japan / Brisbane AUS.
                        Posted by Chris_in_Japan on Thursday, May 26, 2005 3:13 AM
                        I took the time and patients to cut out a plastic template for my aztec.. The effort was well worth it.. I am very happy with the result and the appearance of it.. Still have some details to do on the bridge dome, and then the saucer will be done...



                        Chris in Japan

                        On the bench:

                                                  1/48 RAAF 3 Sqn F/A-18B

                                                  1/150 /1/160 N Scale Japanese Rail diorama.

                        Report Abuse
                        madmike
                        • Member since
                          July 2003
                        • From: Perth, Western Australia
                        Posted by madmike on Thursday, May 26, 2005 7:42 AM
                        Chris

                        Looking good mate, well done!

                        cheers

                        Mike
                        "I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect has intended us to forgo their use." - Galileo Galilei
                        Report Abuse
                        J-Hulk
                        • Member since
                          February 2003
                        • From: Tochigi, Japan
                        Posted by J-Hulk on Thursday, May 26, 2005 8:54 AM
                        Looking good!
                        Nice and subtle!
                        ~Brian
                        Report Abuse
                        Foster7155
                        • Member since
                          July 2003
                        • From: Pensacola, FL
                        Posted by Foster7155 on Thursday, May 26, 2005 8:56 AM
                        Looking outstanding, Chris!

                        Very nice job on the Aztec pattern. After doing my NX-01, I know exactly what you went through.

                        Well done...

                        Robert Foster

                        Pensacola Modeleers

                        Report Abuse
                        Woody
                        • Member since
                          December 2002
                        • From: Third rock from the sun.
                        Posted by Woody on Thursday, May 26, 2005 11:28 AM
                        Very nicely done! I love the aztec. Cool [8D]Thumbs Up [tup]

                        " I wish to have no connection with any ship that does not sail fast; for I intend to go in harm's way." --John Paul Jones
                        Report Abuse
                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, May 26, 2005 12:08 PM
                        Wow. Good job on that saucer. I just bought my refit kit, but the thing is so big and imposing I don' t know when I'll start it. It's cool to see other people's progress on it.
                        Report Abuse
                        Chris_in_Japan
                        • Member since
                          November 2004
                        • From: Fukuoka Japan / Brisbane AUS.
                        Posted by Chris_in_Japan on Thursday, May 26, 2005 5:55 PM
                        Yes it is daunting at first.. But what I did, was I pulled out the tape, and I did a dry fit, and placed it on the stand.. Once you have done that once, you will notice that the construction is quite basic, and it doesnt seem as daunting.. I guess it all depends on how much time, and how much detail you want to put into it... You will enjoy it, believe me..

                        Chris in Japan

                        On the bench:

                                                  1/48 RAAF 3 Sqn F/A-18B

                                                  1/150 /1/160 N Scale Japanese Rail diorama.

                        Report Abuse
                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, May 26, 2005 8:06 PM
                        QUOTE: Originally posted by J-Hulk
                        Ouch, Masao! We had the 1/1000 TOS Es and Klingon Cruisers here in Osaka for 1,600 yen each! Sounds like Mr. Craft is way overpriced. Do they carry PL stuff at the Shibuya or Shinjuku Hobbitts? I'll bet they'd be a lot cheaper there.
                        Never went to Mr. Craft when I lived in Tokyo. Nice shop?

                        I bought a bunch of 1/1000 Es and D-7s when I was back home in Minnesota last fall, so I'm set. I don't plan on buying the refit. Mr. Craft is OK, but their pla mods are on only 1 of 5 floors and the selection isn't so big. They also have the usual die-cast race cars, radio control gear, 1/10 scale dress-up dolls (who buys these things???) , etc.

                        I've never been to a Hobbit store. I sometimes go to the Sakuraya hobby kan or Yellow Submarine in East Shinjuku. When I do buy kits, they're usually Japanese, so the prices are more or less the same wherever you go.

                        By the way, next work on the refit, AusLexus!
                        Report Abuse
                        Chris_in_Japan
                        • Member since
                          November 2004
                        • From: Fukuoka Japan / Brisbane AUS.
                        Posted by Chris_in_Japan on Thursday, May 26, 2005 8:11 PM
                        Another update.. I just applied the upper saucer decals.. The great thing about these, is that they dont need to be left in the water for long, and remove easily.. Once settled, they snug right down and look absolutely great.. I used a damp tissue, and slowly padded them to the surface, and they are simply not glossy.. They have snugged strait over the aztec.. I would suggest cutting them into smaller sections before applying as I did, and it made them a little easier to be moved.. Very happy with them!





                        Chris in Japan

                        On the bench:

                                                  1/48 RAAF 3 Sqn F/A-18B

                                                  1/150 /1/160 N Scale Japanese Rail diorama.

                        Report Abuse
                        jinithith2
                        • Member since
                          January 2005
                        • From: returning to the FSM forum after a hiatus
                        Posted by jinithith2 on Thursday, May 26, 2005 8:32 PM
                        I'm not much of a Sci-Fi builder, but great job anyway!
                        Report Abuse
                        maxx1969
                        • Member since
                          May 2004
                        • From: Oregon
                        Posted by maxx1969 on Thursday, May 26, 2005 10:04 PM
                        Awesome job ChrisThumbs Up [tup] The aztec patern looks great.
                        ~Matt T Meyer
                        Report Abuse
                        Chris_in_Japan
                        • Member since
                          November 2004
                        • From: Fukuoka Japan / Brisbane AUS.
                        Posted by Chris_in_Japan on Friday, May 27, 2005 5:37 AM
                        Thanks again guys.. I have been flat out with this thing.. I hadnt done sci-fi for a while, and this has just been a great load of fun...







                        Chris in Japan

                        On the bench:

                                                  1/48 RAAF 3 Sqn F/A-18B

                                                  1/150 /1/160 N Scale Japanese Rail diorama.

                        Report Abuse
                        Aurora-7
                        • Member since
                          December 2002
                        • From: Connecticut, USA
                        Posted by Aurora-7 on Friday, May 27, 2005 8:18 AM
                        Chris,

                        What's the template look like? A solid pie wedge or multiple panels you place on the saucer?

                         

                         

                        Report Abuse
                        Chris_in_Japan
                        • Member since
                          November 2004
                        • From: Fukuoka Japan / Brisbane AUS.
                        Posted by Chris_in_Japan on Friday, May 27, 2005 9:30 AM
                        I used a 2mm plastic sheet, I transfered the aztec design that comes with the kit, and then cut it into a pie shape, and did one panel at a time...

                        Chris in Japan

                        On the bench:

                                                  1/48 RAAF 3 Sqn F/A-18B

                                                  1/150 /1/160 N Scale Japanese Rail diorama.

                        Report Abuse
                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Friday, May 27, 2005 12:50 PM
                        Wow, it's really coming together. If you don't mind a suggestion, I think you might want to tone down that dark gray a little bit. It seems kinda dark and jumps out a little too much. Of course in person it might look a little different, so who knows.
                        Report Abuse
                        Chris_in_Japan
                        • Member since
                          November 2004
                        • From: Fukuoka Japan / Brisbane AUS.
                        Posted by Chris_in_Japan on Friday, May 27, 2005 4:47 PM
                        Yeah the grey does look dark.. But i am restricted with taking pics with my vid camera.. Both colors are actually a a little different in person.. The blue in these pics look like an aqua, but it is actually a very light blue.. The grey also doesnt seem as dark.. Thanks for your comments though..

                        Chris in Japan

                        On the bench:

                                                  1/48 RAAF 3 Sqn F/A-18B

                                                  1/150 /1/160 N Scale Japanese Rail diorama.

                        Report Abuse
                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Friday, May 27, 2005 5:30 PM
                        Yeah I know how that is. My digital camera turned the burgundy on my TNG bridge into burnt sienna. LOL.
                        Report Abuse
                        Mikeym_us
                        • Member since
                          March 2004
                        • From: Kincheloe Michigan
                        Posted by Mikeym_us on Saturday, May 28, 2005 2:41 PM
                        next thing any kit makers do is to supply Azteking decals for any more Star Trek kits.

                        On the workbench: Dragon 1/350 scale Ticonderoga class USS BunkerHill 1/720 scale Italeri USS Harry S. Truman 1/72 scale Encore Yak-6

                        The 71st Tactical Fighter Squadron the only Squadron to get an Air to Air kill and an Air to Ground kill in the same week with only a F-15 http://photobucket.com/albums/v332/Mikeym_us/

                        Report Abuse
                        Chris_in_Japan
                        • Member since
                          November 2004
                        • From: Fukuoka Japan / Brisbane AUS.
                        Posted by Chris_in_Japan on Sunday, May 29, 2005 1:46 AM
                        People have asked for a picture of the template that I used for my aztec.. Again, it is just a clear piece of about 2mm thick plastic.. I used the template of the aztec supplied with the kit, and painstakingly cut it out with a hobby knife..

                        I then had to cut it in a pie shape in order to get it around the saucer.. It only allows you to do one section at a time, but the result is worth it.. I started with a flat white base, and then with the template sprayed pearl white over the top.. Big secret.. Do it quickly, and with enough paint to put a good coat down.. If you keep spraying, and in the one spot it will run.. Best to practice a few times to get the hang of it first..



                        Chris in Japan

                        On the bench:

                                                  1/48 RAAF 3 Sqn F/A-18B

                                                  1/150 /1/160 N Scale Japanese Rail diorama.

                        Report Abuse
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