Enterprise NX-01 Refit---NEW VIDEO!

[Quaralane]

Re: Enterprise NX-01 Refit

More excellent ideas on this

 

[Grendels]

Re: Enterprise NX-01 Refit

Nice bit of work!

 

[trekriffic]

Re: Enterprise NX-01 Refit

Thanks guys! ;D

Progress over New Years...

We ended up spending New Year's Eve and half New Year's Day with my mother-in-law so finding modeling time was tough but I got one warp engine done and the second is wired and just needs the other half of the nacelle attached...

For the blue nacelle trench lights I used these little lighthouse style LEDs. I had to trim off the barrel and press them into the trench in the cover that replaces the clear part in the outer nacelle halves for the refit version of the NX:


IMG_6204 by trekriffic, on Flickr

Three LEDs fit in the trench wired in series (negative leg to positive leg). I spaced them so they sit behind the three cavities where the reactor control loops legs are inserted so they didn't sit directly behind the clear blue panels and create hot spots:


IMG_6207 by trekriffic, on Flickr

The three trench LED's were wired in series to a round bussard LED. I calculated needing a 1 ohm resistor for the circuit but didn't have one so just went without it and it lit up fine:


IMG_6203 by trekriffic, on Flickr


IMG_6202 by trekriffic, on Flickr

I glued the other half of the nacelle in place afer backing the blue tinted clear panels with diffusion material and got a nice, even blue glow from the white LED's:


IMG_6210 by trekriffic, on Flickr

On another note, I just love this little mini-spatula tool my dentist gave me. It's great for applying and smoothing AVES sculpting putty:


IMG_6190 by trekriffic, on Flickr

Comments WELCOME!!!

 

[Quaralane]

Re: Enterprise NX-01 Refit

Nice work on getting those LEDs into the nacelle

 

[trekriffic]

Re: Enterprise NX-01 Refit

Thanks Q! This is a great kit even with some of the atrocious seams you have to fill; chiefly around the impulse engines and the connecting dorsal. As if that wasn't enough, I've made a lot of special modifications myself.

Here's a pic of the diffusion material I put behind the nacelle panels to even out the glow from the LED's:


IMG_6211 by trekriffic, on Flickr

The fiber for the rear flasher on the nacelles was glued in with 5-minute epoxy. I used tape to hold the fiber in a vertical postition as the epoxy dried:


IMG_6215 by trekriffic, on Flickr

After some cleanup with files and sanding sticks I finished masking off with Tamiya tape and Microscale liquid mask before giving her a shot of Duplicolor automotive primer:


IMG_6218 by trekriffic, on Flickr


IMG_6219 by trekriffic, on Flickr


IMG_6222 by trekriffic, on Flickr

Tomorrow I'll give her a shot of black. That should take care of any remaining light leaks. Then she gets a coat of silver.

 

[Quaralane]

Re: Enterprise NX-01 Refit

She's looking really good

 

[nicholassagan]

Re: Enterprise NX-01 Refit

Finally! Can't wait to see paint!!!!

 

[Glorfindel]

Re: Enterprise NX-01 Refit

That's a tiny lit up ship. It's going to be pretty cool when done.

 

[Grendels]

Re: Enterprise NX-01 Refit

PAINT!!!!

(Just say it with Kirk's voice just like Kahn!)

 

[trekriffic]

Re: Enterprise NX-01 Refit

So after more work cleaning up the seams on the nacelles I finally called it good and gave her a spray of Tamiya Gloss Black lacquer:


IMG_6226 by trekriffic, on Flickr


IMG_6225 by trekriffic, on Flickr


IMG_6223 by trekriffic, on Flickr

Once this dries I'll shoot her with Tamiya Bare Metal Silver. Got a fresh can of it on Monday.

 

[nicholassagan]

Re: Enterprise NX-01 Refit

Oh beautiful....

 

[Glorfindel]

Re: Enterprise NX-01 Refit

Now that is crisp and sharp.

 

[trekriffic]

Re: Enterprise NX-01 Refit

Thanks guys!

Here are a few pics after spraying the model with Tamiya Bare Metal Silver. I was a little worried but it went on fine over the areas I lightblocked from the outside with the Tulip paint:


IMG_6227 by trekriffic, on Flickr


IMG_6228 by trekriffic, on Flickr


IMG_6229 by trekriffic, on Flickr


IMG_6231 by trekriffic, on Flickr

 

[Quaralane]

Re: Enterprise NX-01 Refit

Looking really good

 

[trekriffic]

Re: Enterprise NX-01 Refit

Thanks Q!

The tale o the tape...


This is a pic from a few days go.
Applying all these little bits of tape is the most tedious part of the build.
I'm giving this ship a modified aztec pattern.
The pattern is random for each side but is mirrored from one side to the other:


IMG_6233 by trekriffic, on Flickr

From time to time I find little specks of dried putty under the coat of silver paint.
After removing it I have to respray the Tamiya silver.
Luckily it's lacquer so dries within minutes and I can continue masking.

As of today, I have completed the upper saucer:


IMG_6234 by trekriffic, on Flickr

Now I start on the underside.
Hopefully I'll be all done with the masking by end of next week at the rate it's going.
Pray for me...

 

[Quaralane]

Re: Enterprise NX-01 Refit

Yikes....
Now, I remember why I tend to use aztec decals instead of masking and painting them

 

[Glorfindel]

Re: Enterprise NX-01 Refit

Slow and steady. She's coming along.

 

[trekriffic]

Re: Enterprise NX-01 Refit


Short update...

Finished the lower saucer:


IMG_6235 by trekriffic, on Flickr

And the dorsal:


IMG_6240 by trekriffic, on Flickr

 

[Grendels]

Re: Enterprise NX-01 Refit

A lot of work there....

 

[Quaralane]

Re: Enterprise NX-01 Refit

--shakes head--
Yep....definitely decalling my aztecs if I decide to go that route.

You are far more patient than I am to be doing this