Constitution Class Refit USS OLYMPIA Polar Lights 1/350 scale UPDATE #23

Greetings!

This entry is going to cover the remaining wiring to be done to connect the saucer section to the engineering hull.

My first step after testing the saucer's wiring was to get up close and personal with the model.  That also meant taking off the nacelles (which were taped on).

A rats nest of wires.

Once I separated the saucer and neck wires, I wrapped them around the neck.  Then I tested the lighting in the engineering hull.

Once I isolated the saucer's wiring, I then isolated the main wiring to the nacelles.

 Then I retraced my steps, looking for short wires.

The wires which lead to the hangar bay, the blue forcefield (I'm assuming that's what they are) and the the windows (in red) over the hangar deck broke off a long while back.  I had to add a new lead.

Next, I then moved onto hooking up and testing the nav lights.

Once I knew they worked, I moved onto soldering them.

Next, I started to hook up the remaining circuits, starting with the spot lights.  Those are the yellow wires coming out from the front of the fuselage.

And now, spot lights and hangar deck lighting.  Notice how there is a light leak around the secondary hull windows.

Next, the main lights (windows).

At this point, I realized not having the nacelles built presents a problem if there is a break in any wire and I have to re-route the electricity through another source.  So I am not soldering any common wires that are common to the nacelles.  This includes the ground wire, the spot lights, the RCS (reaction control system) thruster.  This a real world term for all space craft as this how a space craft maneuvers.  The space shuttle had it, the Apollo capsules had them, Soyuz capsules, etc.  Even the sci-fi-fi TV show Space 1999 had them on the Eagle Transporter.  I think that will be my next build.

The next set of photos show the various lights on.  Enjoy!

I still can't  locate the wiring for the neck, so I might need to insert some extra LEDs in there.  I haven't wired the main light up for that reason.

Note, the plug for the shuttle bay is in place.

I have now switched the impulse engine to the blue mode.  The Enterprise was depicted with blue engines in Star Trek V: The Final Frontier and some promotional pictures for Star Trek The Motion Picture.   

This shot kind of reminds me of the Enterprise in Star Trek V confronting the 'Great Barrier'.

Next up, build the nacelles and a really good clean-up of the work bench.

Happy model building!!

Star Trek and all related marks, logos and characters are solely owned by CBS Studios Inc. This fan blog (production) is not endorsed by, sponsored by, nor affiliated with CBS, Paramount Pictures, or any other Star Trek franchise, and is a non-commercial fan-made blog intended for recreational use.  No commercial exhibition or distribution is permitted. No alleged independent rights will be asserted against CBS or Paramount Pictures.

Constitution Class Refit USS OLYMPIA Polar Lights 1/350 scale UPDATE #22

Greetings!

This is just a brief update from some photos I took last night.  For the last 6 weeks, the model has been sitting on my very messy work bench.  The epoxy has clearly hardened and the nacelles are still just taped on for the time being.

Life and work has been beautiful and busy and my next major step is to hook up all the lights from the saucer with lights from the body.  It looks like a rats nest of untamed wires.  That is a big daunting task which I need time to do properly. Before I hook them up, I need to test them.  So here goes the tests on the saucer...

This somehow reminds of seeing the Enterprise in V'ger from Star Trek The Motion Picture

Unfortunately one of the lights at the back of the bridge i burned out.

And now in regular shop lighting...

Can't wait to wire up the whole ship now, and that's next!  This wraps up this brief update.

Happy Model Building!!

Star Trek and all related marks, logos and characters are solely owned by CBS Studios Inc. This fan blog (production) is not endorsed by, sponsored by, nor affiliated with CBS, Paramount Pictures, or any other Star Trek franchise, and is a non-commercial fan-made blog intended for recreational use.  No commercial exhibition or distribution is permitted. No alleged independent rights will be asserted against CBS or Paramount Pictures.

Constitution Class Refit USS OLYMPIA Polar Lights 1/350 scale UPDATE #21 - The Joining

Greetings!

So the time has come to connect the saucer with the body of the ship.

So this is the start of this build, back in November 2015, just a mock-up of the model partially together.

Now, on with the final steps to attach the saucer/neck to the body.  First for me was to repair the broken wires from the torpedo launchers.

On the secondary hull, I opened up the hole to receive the wiring.

Using an unbuilt neck,  I was able to figure out where the neck meets the hull so I can scrape the paint in areas to let the glue better adhere.

I also added another LED strip just aft of the hole in the upper secondary hull.   I used hot glue as a lens to the LEDs and then put a dull coat on it.

So the process begins...

The long lead of wires are being inserted into the secondary hull.

I used Testors liquid glue in the holes of the secondary hull.  Surrounding the perimeter of the base of the neck I used a two part 15 minute epoxy.  I taped off the entire area of neck connection with yellow 'Frog Tape' so the epoxy wouldn't ruin the paint.  Then putting on a pair of latex gloves, pulled the remaining wires through the hole and gripped the base of the neck and plunged it into the secondary hull.  I then used my hands to clamp down on the secondary hull.

As it start to set, I would walk the model into a mirror to ensure the saucer is indeed perpendicular to the secondary hull and therefore level.  I held that position for a good 30 min while the epoxy set.

So after many long months, the ship is whole.  I have it on it's rod, in a block of 2x10 with a 5 pound weight for balance right now.

The nacelles are there for both balance, weight and to see if it's straight and true. 

After I clean-up the connection where the neck meets the hull and the electrical, I'm onto working on the nacelles, a new part of the build! And finally of course the deflector dish.

Happy Model Building!

Star Trek and all related marks, logos and characters are solely owned by CBS Studios Inc. This fan blog (production) is not endorsed by, sponsored by, nor affiliated with CBS, Paramount Pictures, or any other Star Trek franchise, and is a non-commercial fan-made blog intended for recreational use.  No commercial exhibition or distribution is permitted. No alleged independent rights will be asserted against CBS or Paramount Pictures.