PURCHASED:
071103

BEGUN:
071108

CONSTRUCTION LOG



071103
I'd been wanting to pick this up for some time now. There's recently been some debate at Atomic City about the 'original' studio model.  Two large ones were made back then.

The first, 'the Studio model' eventually went to the Smithsonian but was taken apart and molds were made for the ST Phase II project. It was also painted in a tri-tone scheme of greens and greys, from the original TV two-tone; which itself was changed from the medium gray it left the AMT studios as. 

The 2nd, 'the Roddenberry' was specifically built to be the prototype for this AMT kit. It is reputedly in private hands now.

Next came this kit's mass release to fandom. I had at least one as a kid, probably two.  I now see that their poor engineering likley caused me to do poorly on them and therefore got few.

In the 1990's, modeler Greg Jein made a new ship from the Studio molds for one of the DS9 episodes.

All four (Studio, Reoddenberry, Kit and Jein) are different from each other. And none is accurate to Matt Jefferies original concept!

This kit is pantographed directly from the Roddenberry.  Yet, there are several distinct differences.  This kit may actually be closest to the design concept created by Matt Jefferies. And in that regard, this kit is the most accurate.  However, in regards to the Studio or Roddenberry, it is as innaccurate to either as either is innaccurate to each other.

This also will complete my 'D-7 collection'. I will not be pursuing the KBoP or any other ships from any series.  This is the classic design!


071107.20
Arrived today already!  Will have pix posted this weekend. All the pieces look to be there. 

After working on the original for so many weeks now, it is amazing to see how tiny this thing is!  That this is exactly one half the size of the studio ship seems impossible, yet must be.


071109.14
Spent some of last night and this morning gluing, shaping and prepping the body for paint.  This afternoon, I began priming in a basic gray to kill the brown plastic.  Also managed to throw some green down on the hull and boom.  There is still more work to do on those parts, but it was good to see the basic color on there.

There are three pieces missing afterall. One is the green doodad that goes into the fore cabin.  The second is the back panel for the starboard impulse engine. And the third is the lower base boom 'grate'. This I have no idea how to replace... The impulse panel can easily be cut from some styrene.  The green bulb can also be replaced.  I have to look around, but I already have several options in mind to test.


071110.18
This kit has flown along. I never knowingly intended to take it this far. I am into lots of final paint.  There's some minor putty work.  But that is about it.  One note is about the sensor tube...

I couldn't get it to set in a reasonable time with the CA, so I blobbed some putty inside the bulb to give the tube a cushion.  I was also uncomfortable trusting only the glue bond had it succeeded.  It coud have fallen loose and I'd never get it back in place. The Squad putty went in nicely on the starboard side.  Next day, I blobbed a bit in the port side and glued the two halves together. 

The port side putty had a heat reaction and the exterior bulb softened up where the putty rests.  That has now solidified.  This is exactly what happened with the Drydock project.  But it's not consistently reliable. I now have to reform the curvature there. Otherwise it nears completion.

Also, the sage green stayed tacky for a full day and a half. The gray I got was dry w/i the first hour.


071115.22
The green dries faster now that there is already some on there.  I need to learn to stop using the phrase 'final paint', as it never is.

The mods I'm doing will make this kit accurate to none others.  I am taking some details from the Roddenberry, Studio and Kit to make a hybrid version that is my own.

I've had to put a significant effort into the putty phase.  Seams on this model are horrible.  But it has paid off well as it is really looking nice.  Far nicer than if it had simply gone together as is.

The putty pit on the Bulb has been successfully repaired.  That took several applications of the putty/sand/ paint routine to get it looking as good as it does -which is invisible at msot angles.  I could keep going, but the bulb will start to lose its curvature with much more sanding.

All the green that is going on, is now on.  I need that to dry for later tomorrow afternoon so that I can mask off areas for the gray.  Funny -the last of the gray went on the Studio kit this afternoon and the last of the green is now on this one; both need the color scheme of the other and they are each done with the painting!

Starting to put the silver bits on here and there. There's no reason why this should not be done and hanging this weekend.

The missing impulse back panel was easily cut from styrene and is ready for paint tomorrow.  The fore cabin doodad replacements I had in mind did not pan out.  I can't use the one doodad as the other is missing, I therefore must replace both of them.  The round head of a very big pin might work, however I have none, so that is out the door.  But that is the sort of thing I need to find...


071117.21
Everything has proceeded with ease and clarity.  Have to determine replacements for the cabin ports. Will also need to reconstruct the bottom grill at the boom base.

The neck was glued to the body this afternoon.  Gotta drop the impulse on the top and the grills on the side of that. The fore bulb needs a green touch up near the sensor tube. Silver and copper spot paint. Decals. Done.


.22
Finished.  All parts are now glued on.  I do not have replacement cabin ports yet and may leave them empty until I come across the perfect fix.  Why not?

The seam along the bottom impulse deck is not great.   There are other things that can be changed. However that would constitute a major implementation and be a huge phase of detailed work.


To truly be finished:
1. Spray cobra bulb one last time.
2. Spray bottom green one last time.
3. Spot paint.
4. Decals.
5. Photo Doc.
6. Hang.

Will post final photos when all is dry tomorrow.


.23
Over the entire work period I have been struck on how immensely helpful building the CC D-7 has been in helping me with the AMT.  I would suggest to folk that if they are thinking about buying Scott's D-7, that they pick up the AMT to practice on. It is eerily similar in many situations. Different enough to throw some curves at you though.


071118.14
Taping went without incident which gave me relief when I first pulled the tape off the grey, fully prepared for a rip or blemish.  There were none.  I am still going to wait until TGiving to tape off the Studio!  I've had too many probs with that hull top than I care to recount.

No overspray anywhere! Good surface, no paint issues. Once dry tonight I can decal and do the spot paint as well. Done.

1. Spot paint.
2. Decals.
3. Photo Doc.
4. Hang.


.18
The decals disintigrated.  I will have to seek replacements from JT Grpahics most likely.  Still ahve to do the silver paint, but am marking this kit done.  Will polish off tonight and have it hanging by tomorrow.


080226.00
Decals arrived today! Very nice! There are two sets of windows for the D-7, all 'lights' are on or off. I will look closer later.


080229.00
I'm fixing up a few melt-spots from the putty inside the head. As it cured, cooled and shrank over the last month or two, it warped the exterior plastic. I did the body decals, leaving the neck and head still to do.


080304.22
When moving it last week, it fell and broke at the shoulder, but is otherwise fine. I blacked it up this morning, then Greened it up an hour ago -- twice. It looks good. Tomorrow it gets the decals and is glued back together regardless of paint condition. This one is done -- again. When the Romulan gets detailed, that will be all three TOS ships done and hung. As a kid, I only ever had any two at a time. Likely only one at a time despite several dozen Enterprises. This is only my second or third D7, and the same for that Romulan.