Group Build "Star Trek Free For All" Early 2006

Masao,

Good point.  I hadn't actually planned on adding a deflector dish, and the shuttle bay was to be at the rear of the ship as normal.  I may end up hanging the deflector off of the underside of the saucer near the front, but that may not look cosmetically 'sleek'.  I'm thinking this may be more of a 'fast attack' cruiser...

Here are some early shots of my concept ship.  Tell me what you think.

I also have most of my other models posted here.

www.goobear.com/hybrid

-Sigh- Hey all!

I need to draw on everyones experience.  How critical is it to put a 'Primer' coat on before you paint the model?  I am using an aerosol can of gray primer and it sucks.  I've tried different brands, and they suck too.  Do they make a primer that I can put in my airbrush?  I'd much rather use it that a clumsy, wide angle, mess up everything, aerosol can.

Thanks in advance!

C2

Thanks Masao.  I hope I can get back to the building of it soon.  Right now I am trying out Woody's technique for making the tapered section of the UES DADEALUS.  Things are coming along slowly.  Work is picking up so more and more over-time is needed.  I will pervail.

Woody, I also tried your home-made putty technique.  It works like a charm.  I am also building a Michael Keaton Batmobile and needed to fill in around the intakes and used the home-made putty.  It work better than the Squadron putty I was using.  Not much sanding needed either if smoothed right.  Thanks!

Masao wrote:

I have it on very good authority that that Starfleet Museum guy is an absolute nut case, so take everything with Lot's-wife–size grain of salt. I figured that these early ships preserved a layout from when the illusion of gravity could be provided, for part of a voyage, by thrust along a ship's longitudinal axis. Even when gravity was later created by generators, that deck orientation remained. I also figure that decks stacked along the longitudinal axis makes more sense for long, cylindrical ships, sort of like a space-going office building.

Masao, I think a lot of us can be considered "Absolute Nut Cases"!  I understand your logic on this is is sound.  The only thing I can not get a hold of is that when the shuttles dock or any other ship dock, they would have to change their pitch to a down (perpendicular) and hope the Bison has stopped or do some very trick manuvering for docking and taking off.  I do like the overall design, which is why I am making a model of it.  Right now my UES DADEALUS Class is taking up most of my time.  One question for you Masao, the nacelle supports (the wings, not sure the technical term) is not shown in any of the orthographic views e.g. - the distance from main hull, do you have something showing what they look like or can I be a little creative in this department?  I am thinking of doing either the Cosmoflot or Lufthansa Starliner.

Welcome aboard.  Got ya on the first page roster message!

That makes you NUMBER 14!

So, how's it going with all you silent ones?  I went into a dormancy but am going to go head-on at the model in the next day or two.  I spend a lot of time vegetating and mulling over these things for day after day before I just explode into a flurry of get-r-done.  And I can feel the flurry slowly coming to the surface...

Hey, am actually getting a hankering to do something different.  I got an old Tech Manual from the library - the original SF Tech Manual from 1970s.  Was sorta thinking it might be cool to try and create the hangar bay alone, or some other TOS ship scenery - with some improv and such, and see what comes of it.  BIG project, but am sure I can land an old shuttlecraft model and go from there, eh?  I remember building the Galileo 7 back as a kid.  Dorky little thing but fun.

More progress on the Lyran. Got shuttle bay doors cut out and glued HO scale corrugated aluminum siding to backside for doors. Glued panels on tonight.

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Hey Masao!

I've been wondering... how's the Cadiprise doing?  Inquiring minds just HAVE to know!

That looks like it would drive me insane!!

Aric, The effect might be doable with pastel chalks or graphite. You might post a Q over at the SM Forum, lotsa help over there.

Here's my latest pic, more panels on: 

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This is similar to the method I used to cut the square windows on my Arcadia. It was still a bear and the windos on the Enterprise B are even smaller...

http://culttvman.com/don_matthys__ent_b_excel_pt_1.html

StevenQ wrote:

Is this what you're aiming for? http://www.starshipmodeler.org/gallery8/gb_entp.htm

That look with the plate lines and all, the overall look of that model is what I am after, yes. 

My biggest challenge in paint scheme is that I am not using airbrushes.  So am thinking on techniques limited to rattle cans and such..

As for windows, am wanting to make some of the windows lit from within if possible, and some will be dark as though the room is not occupied.  Therefore after I have the windows cut right (how ever I end up doing that...) I am thinking of filling the holes with a clear filler, then paint them with the white colored glaze paint similar to what I did with the nacelle dome lighting in previous posting some messages back.  That should give the sense of lighting without being solid looking, but not transparent either.  I did repaint the nacelle dome that had the run in it, and it came out nicely.  The port and starboard lights on the saucer (red and green respectively) will have those small lightbulbs mounted next to them as well to allow them to glow.  I tested that and it works well.  I have to get a replacement red glaze-paint because the container I had as a part of the multi-color set from Michaels was dried up.

Thanks for posting that website.  The builder did a fine job, and while he didn't go to building in deep detail, he did show the results and give a general overview of some of his work.  More than anything the detail painting really is sharp, eh?

Is this what you're aiming for?

http://www.starshipmodeler.org/gallery8/gb_entp.htm

I have only attempted cutting out square windows once on the green Arcadia from Captain Harlock. Took a lot of patience and an exacto knife and I finally got tired. All I learned was not to try that again on such a small model. It's about the same size as the 1/1000 Enterprise, however the plastic was much thinner. The plastic on the E is easy to sand but very thick. But still don't give up there maybe a solution. You could cut and place reflective tape in the windows and black out the ones that are unlit. I I think I heard that trick on some site but I can't remeber where. Here is an adavnced way to make windows (complex for me anyway) but it will require masking the area when done.

http://culttvman.com/clear_windows_by_dave_hackett.html

Ummm, Woody... Thanks fer the Ego Boost, but I only have one person that call me Master... and she's not here ;)

ProfKSergeev,
Welcome to the Build! Will get you plopped into the first message with the Roster. 

deathbringer,
Welcome aboard, getting you on the head count.  Any details on model kit, etc?

The count just keeps rising.  It's really too bad that the Star Trek model theme has been run into the ground, eh?  Just kidding.

StevenQ wrote:

....As to the pattern on your Conny, do you mean like on the Defiant in the mirror universe on Enterprise?

I haven't seen the Defiant episode of "Enterprise," but would really like to see that episode as I really liked the "Mirror Mirror" from TOS.  By plate patterns, I mean along the lines of this shot from the Smithsonian Enterprise... like this link:

http://www.culttvman.com/assets/images-STAR_TREK-2005/mwsmithenterprise11.JPG

Of course the scale of the 1/1000 ship means being much, much more simplistic, but I was just now wondering if just using a fine line pencil might look good, and somehow maybe a light rub to fade it slightly.  Maybe a clear coat to seal it on?  What do you guys thing? 

As for my quandary on how to make viable small rectangular windows, am going to try drilling small holes and squaring them on some spare styrene, and if it works draw out the windows and do the same on the model itself.

Woody wrote:

That's great news indeed but Master Aric is calling the shots on this one.

Oops, sorry!  Should have paid better attention to the thread.  Well, Fish-Head Aric, if you'd sign me up, I'd be grateful.  Thanks!

Lauren Oliver

StevenQ wrote:

Fish-Head Aric wrote: Nice to see the step-by-step Lyran coming into shape.  Very cool.  Will really like to see how you use "artistic license" to trick it out and work over detail features.  I used to have a headache trying to figger out how those Star Fleet Battles ships might look way back when playing the game in the late 80s/early 90s. QUESTION FOR THE EX-SPERTS! In doing the 1/1000 Conny-prise, what would you suggest for getting the plate pattern effect on that "just-too-featureless surface?" Thanks Aric. I haven't given too much thought to the sceme. My last one(at 3' long) had a simple tiger strip pattern. I may dig into a "Aircraft of the World" book I have for a scheme. As to the pattern on your Conny, do you mean like on the Defiant in the mirror universe on Enterprise?

Does anyone know where I can find pics of the Enterprise TOS Defiant. I saw the episode and it made me fall in love with the "Old Grey Lady". But I can't find pics.

Hey there new guy here.  I'm in.  I've been meaning to give my first try at lighting a kit and I figure the klingon bird of prey would be a good start.  Lets rock and roll. 

                                                                                    TL

ProfKSergeev wrote:

Woody, sign me up for the Group Build.  I'm working on two subjects: 1. Accurised AMT/Ertl Enterprise D 2. Starcrafts Oberth-Class, marked as the U.S.S. Tsiolkovski

That's great news indeed but Master Aric is calling the shots on this one.

Fish-Head Aric wrote:

Nice to see the step-by-step Lyran coming into shape.  Very cool.  Will really like to see how you use "artistic license" to trick it out and work over detail features.  I used to have a headache trying to figger out how those Star Fleet Battles ships might look way back when playing the game in the late 80s/early 90s. QUESTION FOR THE EX-SPERTS! In doing the 1/1000 Conny-prise, what would you suggest for getting the plate pattern effect on that "just-too-featureless surface?"

Thanks Aric. I haven't given too much thought to the sceme. My last one(at 3' long) had a simple tiger strip pattern. I may dig into a "Aircraft of the World" book I have for a scheme.

As to the pattern on your Conny, do you mean like on the Defiant in the mirror universe on Enterprise?