Columbia & Challenger...the NX-Class Sisters UPDATE #5

Greetings!

This is only going to be a Challenger update.  As I said previously, I finished Columbia.

This model has been a 'donor' kit to all the missing pieces on my Columbia build.  And it too was missing one piece, the deflector dish spike for the secondary hull.  Still figuring out a replacement.  So this means I've had to either re-cast parts or scratch build sections.  This is making for a unique build.  

On reflection, I think I might build this kit again, but take it a step further to fill in the grid lines, remove the saucer deflector, and sand down the details to leave the surface 'clean' like the TOS USS Enterprise.  On to the build!

NACELLES

As of the last build, they were perfect!!

I think I was in a rush to attach the Bussard spikes. The port nacelle rolled off my table to the floor on my anti-fatigue mat.  When I picked it up, the spike was bent and breaking off.  I tried to use a drop of liquid cement and the whole thing broke off.  I tried to drill out the centre of the base of the spike and made a big mess.  So I'm contemplating three options: 1) bore out the centre and insert a metal spike; 2) remove the spike entirely and us a TOS spike instead (they aren't glued in); 3) cut my loses and leave it be.  Let's see what happens...

SECONDARY HULL

This was complete as of the last build report.

So I applied Rustoleum's Clear Gloss and it had a very bad reaction to the paint on the port side of the  model.  The clear coat rippled.  I didn't have the heart to take pictures...I ended up repaint the whole thing.  After much work, it looks again like what is seen above, with a new gloss coat.  It's weird when that happens.  Just remember, when a model you have laboured on breaks, the paint fouls up, etc. - it's just plastic and it can be fixed.  Or re-purposed (example my Constitution Class USS Excelsior with a broken nacelle pylon will be a part of a space battle diorama).

PRIMARY HULL

When I last reported, I applied a final coat of red putty to the nacelle pylons and had a perfect paint job otherwise.  Here is the result:

Part of the reason I had issues with the nacelle pylons was I used to heavy of a grip with a strong liquid glue.  The details melted.  On my Columbia build I had to repeatedly re-glue seams.  Next time I will used masking tape with that glue...I digress.

Since this paint job is an homage to the TOS Enterprise, I figured it needs to have a 'rust ring'.  It's part of the weathering pattern on the Enterprise.

Since there is a prominent gridline pattern, this was easy to map out.

I sprayed the section very lightly with copper paint by Rustoleum.  I did it as light as possible.

A bit dark, I used the base colour in light coats to tone it down.  My Enterprise model saucer/primary hull is covered in a very fine wallpaper decal with gridlines and rust ring.  Could be darker for my taste.

For the remaining parts on the Primary Hull to be painted, I masked off as much as I could in one pass.  It's easier to do this and uses less tape.  I coverd up the parts per which colour I'm painting.

The first colour I'm painting is 'Winter Gray' by Rustoleum.  (Despite recently getting an airbrush, all of my TOS models have been painted with sprays and I haven't gone out to buy more paint.  Also, I do most of model building in the evening hours.  Using a compressor wouldn't be appropriate until the weekend.)

Now the first coat of gloss aluminum on the bridge dome, dome on the shuttle bay and the forward dome sections on the upper hull.

I toned everything down with Tamiya Pearl White.  It's translucent paint.

Now the gold sections which are identical to the Columbia.

And now the reveal...

Unfortunately the gold ran...not a big deal, I will fix that along with any other touch-ups.

I was hoping to finish this update with a completely painted model but I have a events to go to over the next few days and few other responsibilities.  So I will probably have one more update before the reveal.

BRATTAIN UPDATE!!

(USS Enterprise-A & USS Brattain dual build)

As I'm working away on the Challenger, I have downtime between letting paint or putty drying.  So I here is some basic work on the Brattain as a bonus.  Since this is a snap-fit model, I have to remove the attachment snaps on the bridge and lower sensor platform, then fill in the openings.

I used scrap plastic to fill in the holes and will fill the external side with Evercoat.  Note, I masked off all of the surfaces that will mate with the lower hull.  Plastic rarely bonds well with paint or primer.  

A bit of light blocking with black primer.

That's it for this update.  Stay tuned for the next update and soon the final reveal.  Until then, LLAP! (for the next while, I think this might be my sign off...RIP Mr. Nimoy).