I recreated the effects seen in the episode "METAMORPHOSIS"using my 1/350 Polar Lights Enterprise and customized engine nacelle effect.

1/350 TOS ENTERPRISE ENGINE EFFECT. A short video showing the engine effect on my 1/350 Enterprise per the actual studio miniature effects...I customised the effect to reflect the actual filming miniatures engine effect(NOT the remastered). I posted this boring desk top video first a better video is up next. Notice the "scale" lighting (NOT overly lit) to preserve the illusion of scale. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3B5r8DGW8f0

Another re creation beauty shot with my 1/350 Build up...As I continue to work on the correct engine effect as seen on the original Miniature.

Here are more pictures of my 1/350 build...

A tribute to one of my favorite episodes, "The Corbomite Manuaver"...same build up.

on display for a recent class I conducted on Sci Fi Model Building.

Here is a you tube link to the model in action...Again, many thanks indeed!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZ5wGSZiCMQ

And a screen capture from the video...

More pictures and exciting news to come!

Wow, that's awesome! Congrats!!! 

Another nice honor!

Michael L.Stribling, Artist, Asked to use an Image of my 1/350 TOS Enterprise build for the Gold Key Star Trek Comics archives VOL 5. You can see my build on the beautifully illustrated cover here...And a Link to purchase!

http://www.amazon.com/dp/1631405985/ref=cm_sw_su_dp

Here is the Book cover and My Build up...

I was recently given the OK to share some exciting news. My 1/350 Polar Lights original series Enterprise will have a page in the Star Trek "Ships of the Line" Calendar available around August/September of 2016. Through a collaborative effort with Jeff Summers from Media One Visual Arts(Jeff and I collaborated on my 1/35 Jupiter 2 image seen on the Moebius box and lighting kit box art) and because Doug Drexler (visual effects artist for Star Trek, Battlestar Galactica, and many others) , had the idea of using my practical Build up in a publication that usually employees CGI rendered Starships. Doug saw something in my build up that fueled the idea of using my actual build up in the Calendar.Jeff Summers put my build up in an image that is sure to fire the imagination. Both Jeff and I are honored to be Part of Star Trek's "Ships of the Line". Many, Many thanks to Doug Drexler for this incredible oppertunity! The actual image will only be seen in the Calendar.

A little update on my 1/350 Enterprise in "Ships of the line"...The photo composite illustration for the Star Trek Ships of the Line calendar was approved by CBS, but is being pushed back to the 2018 issue. CBS likes it, but they are dedicating the 2017 calendar to specific episode themes for the 50th Anniversary of Star Trek, so the Composite illustration using my 1/350 Enterprise build up will be delayed until the following year.

Some more pics from my Jersey Fest class as well as a short video...

Again, many sincere thanks!

Superb build !

It was a toss up for a while over which astonished me more:

the wonderful work on that kit..........

or the fact that you have a hobby shop in your neighborhood

Fantastic build, and fantastic photography.  Congrats on the FSM Reader Gallery! I am enjoying your builds. 

Steve

Congrats again! Gee, I'd start on mine if I could get it to look half as good as yours. 

Another pic from one of the guys in my class of my 1/350 build...

Here are a couple pics from one of the guys in my Class at Jersey Fest of my 1/350 Build...

Having seen Jim Kirk's fabulous starship "live" this past Friday at the equally fabulous JerseyFest class given by Mark Myers

Jim Kirk

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!!

 

Jim Kirk

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!!

 

Jim Kirk

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!!

 

I just conducted a class of 20 at this Years "JERSEY FEST" On how to build/paint and light the Polar Lights 1/350 TOS enterprise you guys see here. I had a great time teaching fellow modelers the how to's to get their personal builds to look like mine! I'll post pics from the class if there is interest here! Thanks again for all the kind words and again, a Huge thanks to the best modeling mag Finescale for posting my work! Now stop reading and build a master piece!

www.youtube.com/watch

www.youtube.com/watch

I custom Mixed Tamiya and Model Master paints. Shot through my Airbrush, over a base coat.

What color paint did you use on it?

John