PURCHASED:
070826

BEGUN:
070830

CONSTRUCTION LOG



070904.11
Originally, I got this kit to slice it up and into Project: Drydock.
I only took all the interior parts. I decided that this body is too nice to scrap. This is the 1701 I had dreamed of in my youth!

The AMT model was always a liltle too puny and inaccurate. This one is still inaccurate, but in other ways that are less noticable. The saucer is a great size and the whole thing simply has that much more bulk to it.

Contemplating lighting this one as it comes with clear bussards and every window is easily drilled...


070923
Threw some putty along the seams and packed away in a new box with Project Drydock and Post-Cbt Reliant.


080113.12
I didn't expect work on this one at all. I broke open the trek box to have a look around and noticed that the saucer needed some small filling from the last putty job awhile back. That was a couple days ago.

Since then, I went with a major putty, sand, prime routine over the whole body. Most of that was done today. It's in pretty good shape, but it will need some finesse.

The secondary hull is in moderate shape as well as the nacelles. I glued those parts together. There was one bussard that was split in half and was quite a bit of work to get smooth and round again.

I'm going to pursue this one as my primary focus as it got very far along, very fast.
Overall build: 70%.
Overall project: 50%.


080114.22
Looking nice. Looking big. The canvas white gave a luminance to the silver below for a very Pearl look. Nice, but not this ship.

I put the coat of putty on the seams that were still apparent. A couple spots on the nacelles. The starboard hull needed it thoroughly. Underneath, it was only around the hangar deck that needs it.

The primary hull needed it across every top and bottom seam. A number of areas around the rim also needed it.

It's very close. I think I'll need to purchase the decals. I may go with the Excaliber. The Republic is possible, but we'll see. Republic would obviously go better with the Constitution, but I don't see me buying any more of these to do any other ships. With one exception...

Thomas Models is releasing a three foot version of this ship! It's going to be modular based on which of the three original models there were: Pilot 1, Pilot 2 or Filming Model. I will be quite psyched and this will be a purchase for the ages! With one exception..

There is a very outside shot that I can acquire one of the very few fivepoint five foot Enterprises on the market! Half of the original 11 foot size! Wow!!!!!!! Back to Bandai....

Once these current areas are finaled, I will glue the saucer on putting that into place. From there, it's final paint, decals and done. It will be soon, probably this weekend. We'll see. Maybe final paint on the following weekend.


080124.19
It's very close. It seams needed very heavy painting to hide them. There is a coat of Rustoleum on there now. I need to go black, fill up any scratches and then it's on to final paint. Probably finish sometime in February.


080203.23
I've thrown many, many coats down on the whole. This evening I threw down much of the final coat. Camouflage Gray spray from Model Masters. There's more touchup details to go, but it's close. Got to figure out the details... I'd like to make the ship the Republic or Excalibur.


080204.23
Yes, yet again I thought I was putting the final coat down, but it turned out to be another preliminary coat. This one coat cost me six dollars as it was a can of model masters!

And the neck needed just a little more work which required one more touchup black cover, which meant painting the whole thing yet again. I'll put the final black cover on tomorrow. Then, I got to buy another can of something. This camouflage gray was good, but perhaps something lighter/whiter. All my repairs look pretty good and I'm happy with my improving skills!

080212.00
I studied the neck seam. It then went black. I'm broke out a fresh can of cold gray from model masters. It looks great! I blobbed the hangar deck bottom. : (

The whole ship is fully coated now. The primer under the hull needs a light sanding and will get the last of the can as I put most of it down already.

I don't know where I will take the kit next offhand. Some details I would guess. It's about time I ordered some decals for several kits now.


080213.23
I don't know why I thought this was a Bandai kit for so long, it's ertl. I put down the last of the gull gray I had this morning. I need details now. If I find a better color before the decals arrive, I'll do it. Otherwise this is it.

Research shows that some folk fill in the windows and paint or decal them later. Too late for this one to do that now. Which is fine. I don't want to spend another $15 on window decals!


080218.00
I did a lot. I grabbed some dark gray markers and did lots of paneling. I've glued the last engine bits on. I also gave the bussards and the sensor dish some red. I put some copper detailing around where appropriate. Also, I painted the underside of the bridge white and glued that on. I also glued the dish onto the body and the aft beacon. All it needs now is the decals I ordered on Friday.


080226.00
Decals arrived today! Very nice! The 1701 -- T2 has several options and all are nice. Oh, also now refer to it as the Excalibur -- 1664


080229.00
I decaled it up last night. Before sealer, I have to wash it all, the solvaset stains and a few windows bled. It's been very difficult to attach a line behind the bridge. It's good enough to hang, but will still need some work. Mainly windows and cleanup.


080322 .
I finally found the white paint pen I had been looking for for months hiding in a greeblie box. The windows work will be fun. But it will be awhile before I do that.


080324.10
The next kits of this class of the ship will get the following names. Exeter, Lexington, Republic, Intrepid.

The balnce of the names being: Enterprise, Constellation, Potemkin, Defiant, Kongo, Farragut. I already have the Excalibur and the Constitution, of course.