What better way to end the decade by putting together a blog entry.
So this entry is more of a milestone celebration. 100 posts! Not too shabby, however I thought entry #100 would have happened sooner, but my life has been a lot busier than when I started this humble blog back in October, 2013. https://fordosmodels.blogspot.com/2013/10/the-beginning.html
I started this as an outlet to share my creations and hopefully inform, much like some of my favourite model builders do on Youtube. I chose to blog vs. vlog because editing is a bitch and I'm too much of a perfectionist to actually sit down and edit my posts. Instead, I've been taking pictures and go about it that way.
Here are some of the projects I've completed:
Vulcan Warp Shuttle 'Sheppard' USS Reliant NCC-1864/7
The Vulcan Shuttle was actually built before I started this blog, but for content sake, I showed the finished project.
https://fordosmodels.blogspot.com/2013/10/a-warp-back-to-first-modelvulcan-warp.html
Hobbycraft 1/144 Avro Arrow
This was a gift to my dad, who loves airplanes. Built stock, with added lights and upgraded decals.
https://fordosmodels.blogspot.com/2014/02/hobbycrafts-172-scale-avro-arrow-update_20.html
AMT 1/1600 - USS Faragut - from the Star Trek 3 Piece Space Ship Set
This was a small model I started years ago, and finished during the start of 2014. I'm reserving the Klingon ship for a diorama. The Bird of Prey is missing parts and won't be finished.
https://fordosmodels.blogspot.com/2014/03/amtertl-star-trek-3-piece-space-ship.html
Polar Lights 1/1000 USS Enterprise Space Seed Edition
A fun little build, completed in June 2014, with lights.
https://fordosmodels.blogspot.com/2014/06/polar-lightsround-2-uss-enterprise_16.html
AMT/Ertl 1/1400 Galaxy Class Tesla (USS Enterprise-D)
This was a gift to a close personal friend, but blogged about how I built it, prior to starting this blog.
https://fordosmodels.blogspot.com/2014/10/retro-build-amtertl-galaxy-class-tesla_12.html
AMT Star Trek 3 Piece Space Ship Set
This was a project where I wanted to stay true to these cute little models, flaws and all and not try to accurate them as a fun little build. Turned out great, unfortunately recently I broke a nacelle off of the Constellation :( I have a future repair to do, might blog it, who knows?
https://fordosmodels.blogspot.com/2014/12/star-trek-space-ship-set-amt-11600_31.html
Polar Lights NX-Class Sisters 1/1000 scale
This was a dual build, and quite a fun one. Columbia NX-02 and Challenger NX-03. The Challenger is actually what is being called the NX-Refit Class as it adds a secondary hull to match the formation of the TOS USS Enterprise. I started Columbia years ago, again before I started this blog but sadly lost some parts and had to cast new ones off of the NX-Refit model. I still love how they turned out!
https://fordosmodels.blogspot.com/2015/04/columbia-challengerthe-nx-class-sisters.html
AMT/Round 2 USS Defiant 1/650
This build really took me back as I remember so well building this one as a kid. One of my favourite builds that went really well. And since it's glow in the dark plastic, no painting!! (almost). Also my first Diorama.
https://fordosmodels.blogspot.com/2014/10/amtround-2-uss-defiant-as-seen-in.html
AMT Romulan Bird of Prey 1/650
This was supposed to be a fun, quick build, and it was for the most part, as a distraction from my complicated 1/350 Refit USS Olympia, but it has had it's problems, some blogged about, a lot instagrammed about. A lot of the problems with this model, the BOP has broken from stress points and me repeatedly dropping it (after some libations...yeah I know someone out there is judging but model building can be hell at times ;) ) but I'm pleased to say this one is my most recent project completed! I still have yet to photograph it properly, but here it is!
https://fordosmodels.blogspot.com/2019/06/romulan-bird-of-prey-1650-vintage.html
Now for the ongoing projects...
Dual build, Polar Lights 1/1000 USS Enterprise-A & USS Brattain
I stopped all work on this project because I was commissioned to build the big 1/350 for a 'friend' but that friendship fell though and I turned it into a project for me. Not sure when I'll return to this project at this point, but hope too soon. The problem is once you start to light models, regardless of scale, the build time takes much longer. In this case, you have to drill out all of the windows. A 1/1000 scale model will have nearly the same amount of lighting as a larger kit, so you have to draw a line at some point.
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| Brattain |
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| Enterprise-A |
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| Enterprise-A |
https://fordosmodels.blogspot.com/2015/11/round-2-uss-enterprise-ncc-1701-and-uss.html
Polar Lights 1/350 Refit USS Olympia
This takes up over a 1/4 of my blog in terms of entries, a big 'mother' of a project. I started it for someone else, but that relationship fell through and it became my build, putting all the bells and whistles into it. But, the project has had some problems, including recently some stress fractures in the model. I highly do not recommend pre-painting without masking off parts. Lots of light leaks on this girl. As of writing at this moment, I've fixed a crucial weakness where the stand enters into the body. I'm tempted to cut open the secondary hull and make a new mount, but the jury is still out on this one.
https://fordosmodels.blogspot.com/2017/11/constitution-class-refit-uss-olympia.html
https://fordosmodels.blogspot.com/2018/07/constitution-class-refit-uss-olympia.html
AMT/Round 2 Klingon K'Tinga 1/537 Study model
This is really a study model for testing paints before I commit to my much larger 1/350 K'Tinga I got at Christmas last year. Also it was a lot of fun to build this retro kit. No modifications or lights aside from creating a new torpedo tube as I lost the kit part, recently found. It's actually finished, aside from painting.
https://fordosmodels.blogspot.com/2019/02/klingon-ktinga-1537-study-model-build.html
Polar Lights 1/1000 USS Eagle
This one I did as a companion piece to USS Odyssey for paint tests. It's basically primed and ready to paint for the most part. Been a low priority to finish as I've finished most of USS Olympia, but will finish one day soon.
Projects that have yet to be blogged...
Polar Lights 1/350 IKS Amar - Klingon K'Tinga
I've started work on this beautiful project but just barely scraped the surface. This will have full lighting, including the Tenacontrols lighting kit.
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| paint swatch |
Polar Lights 1/1000 Romulan D7
This is a re-pop of the Klingon D7 with alternate markings and paint scheme. I'm into 'paint mode' on this model. I started this kit to test out Aztek Dummy's masks, same type to be used on my 1/350 K'Tinga.
Polar Lights 1/1000 Grissom & Klingon Bird of Prey
This was supposed to be a quick and easy model, but I've been having lots of trouble with primer lately and have had to re-sand multiple times the hull of Grissom. I have a 2nd kit as well, might do as a dual build. I've ordered a PE set from Green Strawberry for both kits. I haven't started on the Bird of Prey yet.
AMT/Ertl Vintage USS Enterprise from Star Trek III 1/537
I bought this for myself a few years back. I want to do a faithful 1/1 scale prop reproduction of the model as seen in some iconic shots in Star Trek III, especially as it limps towards Spacedock. I've been working on high fill primer techniques to create a 'smoothie' which was most likely used for this movie.
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| nearly smooth on the left |
Bandai Star Destroyer and Death Star II
These are some tiny models I bought on a whim. Star Destroyer is done and Death Star II is primed but still needs to be painted.
Polar Lights 1/350 USS Enterprise 2nd Pilot
This project was going to be an advanced version of the Enterprise, but I think it would be more interesting to be the unsung version of the Enterprise as seen throughout most of the 1st season, with the enlarged bridge, dish and nacelle spikes. This will be lit of course.
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| I've cast a mold of the bridge to add the view screen window for this version. |
AMT/Round 2 Deep Space K-7, debatable scale
I started this project in 2012 and wanted to fix the and accurize it. The proportions are very wrong and the clamshell pods are sinful. Part of my acurization was to rebuild the clamshell sections of the model and replace the tube with brass tubes. Also rebuilt is the shuttle bay and the cargo pod absent on the model. This kit helped me get back into model building and I'm not sure when I will return to it as my skills have greatly developed since then.
AMT/Round 2 USS Constitution (Enterprise)
This kit was a repop of the original AMT USS Enterprise. I started this project in 2012 as a study kit, but decided to make it a 1/2 studio scale of the 3' Enterprise from the original series. The proportions of this model is quite different than the hero 11' studio model. I've dissected this model kit and rebuilt it to those specs, making it a very heavy model. So heavy, I need to reinforce certain elements of it. I need fix certain parts of this, moving forward.
This concludes this entry, lots of good things to come in 2020.
Happy New Years!
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