AMT/ERTL STAR TREK 3 PIECE SPACE SHIP SET: USS Faragut NCC-1647 1/1600 scale

The USS Faragut, NCC-1647.  A Constitution Class (Starship Class) fictional spaceship from the original Star Trek series which was mentioned in an episode called "Obsession" where a young Lt. James T. Kirk served on this ship encountering some space-dwelling alien cloud.  So here is the ship:

Now for the size - only 7" long!!!

And here's the really kicker, I started this model in 2000!  I came across it last year, already  built in another model box, with some sections hand painted, long awaiting it's base colour.

This little model was part of an old set which featured a little USS Enterprise, a Klingon Battle Cruiser and a Romulan Bird of Prey.


(original box art - fair use as I don't have the box any more)

It appears that the model(s) were pantographed using the larger 1/650 model kits as the USS Enterprise model contains all of the inaccuracies the larger model has, including raised grid lines.  For my build I had chosen (in 2000) to represent this model as a 'pilot version' as you can see with the raised bridge and smooth end caps on the nacelle.

The above picture show one of many times I had to re-glue the port nacelle on the model.

I had to also sand down, and wash the model of any residue, old paint and primed it gray.  Unfortunately the model is missing it's deflector dish.

For size comparison, here are 3 scales: 1/650 AMT/R2 Reissue, 1/1000 Polar Lights and this little gal at 1/1600.

One part I had to scratch build was the shuttle bay.  The kit part lacks detail and is smooth.  Also, I had to add all of the navigational 'bumps' (lights) by using bits of sprue, sanded down.

As this is a 'pilot version' (main differences are an oversized bridge, an oversized deflector dish, different end caps, painted/vs. illuminated windows and 'spikes' on the front caps, AKA Bussard Collectors).  I used pieces of fiber optic cable, heated the end to create a bulb and with a micro sized drill bit, drilled through the front of the nacelles with a bit of hot glue to hold them in place.  Regular model cement eats fiber optics (learned that lesson the hard way, many times).

Once I was happy with an a car body smooth finish, I started to add the remaining details.  For the Bussard Collectors I painted them copper as a base coat and add clear red to the top which gives it some depth.  The messy clear red was cleaned up later on.

The decals - custom made with a bit of help using existing plans of the USS Enterprise available online.  The font is called Airborne and this was all done in Photoshop and printed on clear decal film.  I did get a bit of help using some other decals as reference and adjusting for the size.  The trickiest one to apply were the 3 concentric rings on the underside of the saucer.

Printing your own decals is not an exact science, especially in the application.  You need to spray decal bonder onto the printed decal film so the decal doesn't wash away.  Too much makes a durable decal but will leave a thick layer of film.  Too little and the decal will tear.  I ended up using close to a whole sheet putting the 100 or so markings (windows included) on this tiny model.  I also had to use special magnifying goggles to get everything straight.  Once I was happy with that, I still had one remaining task - building the dish.

I used a left over 1/1000 scale 'series' dish and sanded it down to the approximate shape.  I then used a piece of 1/16" or 1/32" (unsure) brass as the shaft and needle.

 The grey splotches are from a primer can which exploded...

A little bit of hot glue nicely forms a backing.  The black  'ring' is a tiny piece of shrink tube, layered over the shaft.  For the tip i used a tiny amount of Tulip fabric paint.

In final clean up on the model, I learned a valuable lesson.  There were water marks all over the model and rinsing it under cool, clean water wasn't helping.  So I thought about using a tiny bit of white vinegar to clean the model.  It did a great job, but it removed some decals too...

So back to Photoshop...

These next few images aren't exactly canon with the original series and are contemporary with the feature films, these are to represent a docking port on the port side of the ship.  Since on the original series only the starboard side of the ship was ever photographed and finished, we never saw the port side. Watching enough Star Trek over the years, every ship has a docking port on the port side, so these decals are to represent them.  (Geeky detail, I know.)

I left USS Faragut as the last decal to re-apply...

A few light coats of dull coat and there you have it.  The stand btw, is a simple steel rod and a small piece of oak I had.  There you have it!

Cheers!!  Happy Modelling!

Hobbycraft's 1:72 scale Avro Arrow: Update #10

All good things must come to an end...The Avro is finally done!!  And how appropriate as it was 55 years ago today in 1955, then Canadian Prime Minister John Diefenbaker cut funding from the Avro project and order the dismantling of all the airframes. This also meant 30,000 people lost their jobs that day too, called 'Black Friday'.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avro_Canada_CF-105_Arrow#Cancellation

So I finally got this model finished.  I would have got this done sooner but I've had a shoulder injury and staying seated has been challenging.  I'm on the mend.  Unfortunately I didn't take enough pictures of the decal process but needless to say, there all there.

I decided to use some subtle weathering to get rid of the 'toy look' and a clear matte top coat to seal the decals and weathering.  I find that even with a matte coat, there is still a satin-like finish which is what I've been going for.

FINAL ASSEMBLY

The last thing to be addressed with the model is the base.  The switch is a simple toggle switch with a 9V clip-on battery (+) soldered on to it.

For the top of the base I had a few touch ups on my custom decals.  Some of the edges rippled causing the the black ink to chip off so I touched it up using 'Tulip', a fabric paint which is also a great paint for 'light blocking' when building an illuminated model.  Also really good for creating bumps like rivets.  I then used 5 coats of Rust-o-leum clear matte finish, and 0000 steel wool to remove any bumps or crumbs that are airborne.

To connect the model to the base, I used very light weight wire nuts so the model can be detached, if necessary from the base in the future.  The 9V batt is attached by a velcro strap which is hot-glued in place. 

FINISHED MODEL

In these pictures you can see the cockpit lighting - too bad the canopy is 1/16" in thickness.

Here are the Iroquois Engines lit up and you can barely see a white dot on the top of the tail section.  That blinks via fiber optics cable along with red & green for port & starboard navigation lights.

I you enjoyed this build up, even if it took a heck of a lot longer than I thought it would (difficult to pursue a hobby like this when you're freelance).

I leave you with a final image as I close this chapter and move on to finishing two different scaled Star Trek TOS USS Enterprise models in different scales (1/1000 & 1/1600).

Happy modelling!!

Hobbycraft's 1:72 scale Avro Arrow: Update #9

Greetings, it's been a while...

Life has been really busy and well, I ended up ordering replacement decals for this project.  I really wasn't pleased with their appearance from the original kit and I was less pleased when I tried to remove them.  My custom decals came off easily with Micro Sol.  The kit decals nearly ruined the paint job.  It not only dissolved the decal but the ink in the decal ran all down the model.  I gave it some serious thought about repainting them I took high tack tape to it and it came off easily.  I ended up having to touch up the heirloom white and re-clear coat it with gloss to make it work.
 
The decals I ordered are from Canuck Models.  They are made in Ontario and reasonably priced.  For quality and accuracy, I'm really impressed. 

The instruction sheet folds open with more of the model's panel lines marked off, something I wish I would have known of when I started this project.  The most difficult decals to apply are the 'walk lines', the black striping along the wings which denote safe areas to walk on the aircraft.

I replaced all of the decals with Canucks.  Unfortunately I had one tear on the 'flash' markings.  I can repair that with another decal.




This is where I am with the model.

I'm really impressed with all the minute markings, it adds to scale and realism.

I have finished the port side of the aircraft and still have to put the remaining decals on the starboard side as well as wire the model in it's base.

I should have a completed model by the end of the weekend...stay tuned and happy model building.