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!!

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