AMT Star Trek USS Enterprise (TOS) Classic Model - Questions...

[Albireo]

Building this kit completely as instructed meaning, no modifications (I know it's not accurate) and no lighting etc.

What I'm really curious about is painting and that's the one area in which I might be willing to deviate from the instructions. The instructions list all the Testors colors with their color numbers.
It seems that at best, the ones I could find are all small bottles, meant to be brushed on. But of course, I'm not going to brush paint this whole model.

So, firstly, has anyone seen anything that equates the Testor colors (by number) with say Tamiya, Vallejo, etc.?
Secondly, for those of you who have built this kit, what colors did you use? The instructions call for the bulk of the ship to be a "Light Ghost Grey". It's hard to picture that. I would naturally think white but maybe if it's displayed against a black background (thinking black felt or velour) it might look right.

Thanks!

 

[BOATMAN]

HI well i sprayed my big 1/350th movie enterpries in tamyia perlesence so it looks like it made of a futer derainium metal witch show all colours when the sunlight shows on it an in my opinion its looks great as when you see it in the movies it is a sort of white not light gray an lit it up with about about 100 leds an blue warpin effect in the engine nacceles an to me it looks correct as others who have seen it have said when they come to our house an see it
chrisb p/s what scale is it ?

 

[Jakko]

There was an article in the February 1998 issue of FineScale Modeler about the original filming model, and this says it was indeed painted light grey all over. I suspect this is because under strong studio lights, it appeared white, whereas if they had painted it white, it would have looked extremely bright on TV.

 

[the Baron]

Building this kit completely as instructed meaning, no modifications (I know it's not accurate) and no lighting etc.

What I'm really curious about is painting and that's the one area in which I might be willing to deviate from the instructions. The instructions list all the Testors colors with their color numbers.
It seems that at best, the ones I could find are all small bottles, meant to be brushed on. But of course, I'm not going to brush paint this whole model.

So, firstly, has anyone seen anything that equates the Testor colors (by number) with say Tamiya, Vallejo, etc.?
Secondly, for those of you who have built this kit, what colors did you use? The instructions call for the bulk of the ship to be a "Light Ghost Grey". It's hard to picture that. I would naturally think white but maybe if it's displayed against a black background (thinking black felt or velour) it might look right.

Thanks!

I wouldn't say Testor's enamels in the little jars are meant to be brushed on. Rather, most of us did that when we were kids, starting out, before we learned about airbrushes. But they can be airbrushed as well as any other brand of paint. They need to be thinned for airbrushing, of course. I use mineral spirits. But it's certainly possible.

As far as the colors go, I would use any light to medium grey, akin to the US Navy's Navy grey from the 30s and early 40s. I say that because the studio model itself was in that color (I saw the model at the Smithsonian, back in the day). Under bright light, it looks almost white. We see that same effect with US warships from the 30s. In contemporary photos, the ships look almost white. Same goes with the Enterprise; in the show, it looked almost white, or off-white. There was no "Azteking", either, using different shades to highlight the various panels. Or at least, in the original broadcast version, that's what it looked like. I've only seen a couple of the reworked episodes from the original series, and the reworked content irritates me.

But that's what I would do, if I wanted to use Testor enamel (which I have among my other paints)-use a light grey, or use grey and add a little white till I liked the way it looked, and airbrush it.

I hope that makes sense and helps you.

Best regards,
Brad

 

[BOATMAN]

HI well i sprayed my big 1/350th movie enterpries in tamyia perlesence so it looks like it made of a futer derainium metal witch show all colours when the sunlight shows on it an in my opinion its looks great as when you see it in the movies it is a sort of white not light gray an lit it up with about about 100 leds an blue warpin effect in the engine nacceles an to me it looks correct as others who have seen it have said when they come to our house an see it
chrisb p/s what scale is it ?

WELL i stand corrected then if it was light grey
chrisb

 

[Albireo]

I wouldn't say Testor's enamels in the little jars are meant to be brushed on. Rather, most of us did that when we were kids, starting out, before we learned about airbrushes. But they can be airbrushed as well as any other brand of paint. They need to be thinned for airbrushing, of course. I use mineral spirits. But it's certainly possible.

As far as the colors go, I would use any light to medium grey, akin to the US Navy's Navy grey from the 30s and early 40s. I say that because the studio model itself was in that color (I saw the model at the Smithsonian, back in the day). Under bright light, it looks almost white. We see that same effect with US warships from the 30s. In contemporary photos, the ships look almost white. Same goes with the Enterprise; in the show, it looked almost white, or off-white. There was no "Azteking", either, using different shades to highlight the various panels. Or at least, in the original broadcast version, that's what it looked like. I've only seen a couple of the reworked episodes from the original series, and the reworked content irritates me.

But that's what I would do, if I wanted to use Testor enamel (which I have among my other paints)-use a light grey, or use grey and add a little white till I liked the way it looked, and airbrush it.

I hope that makes sense and helps you.

Best regards,
Brad

Thanks Brad. I don't airbrush currently. I only recently got back into modeling and I've seen too many good modelers online that use only rattle cans so I'm going that route for the foreseeable future. Never say never though.

I'm going to lean more towards maybe an off-white as I won't be displaying it with any strong lighting on it.

 

[Albireo]

HI well i sprayed my big 1/350th movie enterpries in tamyia perlesence so it looks like it made of a futer derainium metal witch show all colours when the sunlight shows on it an in my opinion its looks great as when you see it in the movies it is a sort of white not light gray an lit it up with about about 100 leds an blue warpin effect in the engine nacceles an to me it looks correct as others who have seen it have said when they come to our house an see it
chrisb p/s what scale is it ?

It's 1/650. Are you referring to the Tamiya TS-65 Pearl Clear? I can't find any listing for a "Perlesence"

 

[BOATMAN]

It's 1/650. Are you referring to the Tamiya TS-65 Pearl Clear? I can't find any listing for a "Perlesence"

HI Yes i think thats the paint but you need to give the model several coats but i think it looks great but just my opinion but i made mine 20yrs ago an if i can find up the pic i will post it for you sir as there is one on here somewhere goood luck with your model
chrisb

 

[Albireo]

HI Yes i think thats the paint but you need to give the model several coats but i think it looks great but just my opinion but i made mine 20yrs ago an if i can find up the pic i will post it for you sir as there is one on here somewhere goood luck with your model
chrisb

I see. Since it's clear it would go over a color correct? Like light grey.

 

[BOATMAN]

I see. Since it's clear it would go over a color correct? Like light grey.

I DONT know about that as what colour plastic is your ship as mine was made in pure white plastic so the pearl colour went on well an it was a tamyia rattle cans had to use about 3 cans before i got the nice peal efftect though but she looks good all lit up which i find strange as to me this is just me but if you dont add some form of lighting it will look a dead ship but its up to you sir but i geuss i always light up up my modes as itt brings them to life but again this is just me but you build it how you want but MOST IMPORTANTLY HAVE FUN DOIN IT
chrisb

 

[BOATMAN]

HI again well here is a pic of my USS MOVIE ENTERPRISE spray painted in pearl tamyia paint but the pearl effect wont be seen easy till its got sunlight on it then it looks great sorry pic not great as had to take a pic of it off my computer with my camera an then download it as the real picture is on the IMGBB SITE an i cant remeber how to down load it derict from the site an this is a big model about 3 ft long in 1/350th scale by polar lights an if you dont want this pic on your thread just say an i will remove it ok chrisb

 

[the Baron]

Thanks Brad. I don't airbrush currently. I only recently got back into modeling and I've seen too many good modelers online that use only rattle cans so I'm going that route for the foreseeable future. Never say never though.

I'm going to lean more towards maybe an off-white as I won't be displaying it with any strong lighting on it.

Yeah, I started off with rattlecans and still use them. I practiced some things with them, when I decided I wanted to start using an airbrush, things like applying an even spray, and a light touch. And I still find the general maintenance on an airbrush to be more effort than I generally want to spend. Though I recognize the effects you can get with the airbrush. It's a dilemma!

If you want an off-white or something close, you might like to use Tamiya's Fine Surface Primer, the light gray shade as opposed to the medium gray shade. It covers well and has a matte finish.

 

[Albireo]

Yeah, I started off with rattlecans and still use them. I practiced some things with them, when I decided I wanted to start using an airbrush, things like applying an even spray, and a light touch. And I still find the general maintenance on an airbrush to be more effort than I generally want to spend. Though I recognize the effects you can get with the airbrush. It's a dilemma!

If you want an off-white or something close, you might like to use Tamiya's Fine Surface Primer, the light gray shade as opposed to the medium gray shade. It covers well and has a matte finish.

I have that primer and will likely use it as a primer for this model. I just, finally, found an online source that maps colors from various manufacturers, specifically Testors and Tamiya. So for the main body, the Testors colors "Light Ghost Grey - 1728", the Tamiya equivalent is XF-66. Now there is a TS-66 (spray can) but it's not clear from photos online, that it's the same color as the XF. So a trip to my local hobby shop is in order.

 

[the Baron]

You're more particular than I. I use the Mk I eyeball and if it looks right to me, I use it