Hi guys, I just wanted to show my 1:350 TOS Enterprise WIP. Forgive me for starting this in the middle of my build, but I have had this on another site for the last two months without a lot of response except for my own. So, I’ll try and spare all the gory details up to this point and just show you the highlights and issues I’ve come across. I’m using the Polar Lights light kit and Photo Etch, Paragraphix photo etch detail set and the Aztek Dummy window masks and registry markings masks. I am still up in the air on whether I will be using the weathering decals or just using paint and pastels and I am sticking mostly to the Model Master and Tamiya paint callouts included with the kit instructions.
So, without further ado…..beginning with the shuttlebay: This is a fairly straightforward assembly. Mask off the areas that will get PE, light block, finish paint, attach PE and decals. A few things to point out….
As the individual parts need to be painted and decals applied before assembly you need to be precise and go easy with the glue and try to avoid any squeeze out because since this area will be lit, you will definitely see any imperfections.
I ended up with some horrid light leaks at the seams of the walls and ceiling, however these were easily fixed with a combination of Mr. Surfacer and foil tape applied from the outside…just continuously check your progress with a flashlight.
The lighting kit instructions call for the top two LEDs to be placed all the way forward in the channels. I found that the light I got in the shuttlebay was insufficient for my tastes, so after some experimentation I ended up placing them at the very back of the channels. This seemed to provide much more light through the clear roof panels. I’m not sure if this is exactly screen accurate, but I was happy with the results.
To get the high shine on the shuttlebay deck I shot two coats of Future (after finsh paint and decals) followed by Model Master Acryl Gloss.
My apologies in advance if I have left any details out. I'll be posting more in the following days.
Thanks for looking and any feedback, comments, questions or constructive criticism are most welcome and appreciated!!!
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So, without further ado…..beginning with the shuttlebay: This is a fairly straightforward assembly. Mask off the areas that will get PE, light block, finish paint, attach PE and decals. A few things to point out….
As the individual parts need to be painted and decals applied before assembly you need to be precise and go easy with the glue and try to avoid any squeeze out because since this area will be lit, you will definitely see any imperfections.
I ended up with some horrid light leaks at the seams of the walls and ceiling, however these were easily fixed with a combination of Mr. Surfacer and foil tape applied from the outside…just continuously check your progress with a flashlight.
The lighting kit instructions call for the top two LEDs to be placed all the way forward in the channels. I found that the light I got in the shuttlebay was insufficient for my tastes, so after some experimentation I ended up placing them at the very back of the channels. This seemed to provide much more light through the clear roof panels. I’m not sure if this is exactly screen accurate, but I was happy with the results.
To get the high shine on the shuttlebay deck I shot two coats of Future (after finsh paint and decals) followed by Model Master Acryl Gloss.
My apologies in advance if I have left any details out. I'll be posting more in the following days.
Thanks for looking and any feedback, comments, questions or constructive criticism are most welcome and appreciated!!!
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