Phase II Enterprise Study Model
- Thread starter Shaw
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Shaw
Well-Known Member
Thanks!
I've shared some of my progress with Price, but I really wish I could have shared this with Jefferies (and asked him questions about his views of the Enterprise verses the rest of the production team of Phase II). I'm constantly amazed at how passionate he was about this design even though he wasn't attached to the series (just moonlighting while doing Little House).
Would you guys be interested in a model kit of the Phase II Enterprise?
I'm talking with Jim Key of Custom Replicas about the possibility of building a kit, at either 1/350 or (more likely) 1/500 (the size of this study model). The kits wouldn't be cheap (maybe in the $250 range if we go with a 1/500 scale version), but the quality of them would be nice.
Jim was talking about casting the hull elements in clear to make it easier to light the model, including doing the nacelles as part amber and part blue.
What do you guys think? Is this something you'd be interested in?
Even at 1/500 scale I'd be making new masters, so this would be a lot of work and a lot of money to make this happen, so there'd need to be significant interest to make it workable.
While I'm here, a few more shots of the model assembled (I'll be getting back to work on it soon)...
And I finally got around to finishing the decal graphics and sent them off to JT Graphics. Here is the final version...
I've shared some of my progress with Price, but I really wish I could have shared this with Jefferies (and asked him questions about his views of the Enterprise verses the rest of the production team of Phase II). I'm constantly amazed at how passionate he was about this design even though he wasn't attached to the series (just moonlighting while doing Little House).
Okay, since you brought it up...
Would you guys be interested in a model kit of the Phase II Enterprise?
I'm talking with Jim Key of Custom Replicas about the possibility of building a kit, at either 1/350 or (more likely) 1/500 (the size of this study model). The kits wouldn't be cheap (maybe in the $250 range if we go with a 1/500 scale version), but the quality of them would be nice.
Jim was talking about casting the hull elements in clear to make it easier to light the model, including doing the nacelles as part amber and part blue.
What do you guys think? Is this something you'd be interested in?
Even at 1/500 scale I'd be making new masters, so this would be a lot of work and a lot of money to make this happen, so there'd need to be significant interest to make it workable.
While I'm here, a few more shots of the model assembled (I'll be getting back to work on it soon)...
And I finally got around to finishing the decal graphics and sent them off to JT Graphics. Here is the final version...
BOLD #1: Like you'd even have to ask, lol. Given the interest expressed by others (and myself) in this thread alone, I think you've got your answer. A most emphatic YES!
BOLD #2: Given the rarity and uniqueness of such a kit, I think that'd be a fair price range for something like this. And with you doing it, we all know it would be a true depiction of the Phase II E.
BOLD #3: Again, like you'd even have to ask
I'm sure you'd get enough interest to carry the project through. Who wouldn't want one of these?I think either scale would be suitable, though a 1/350 Phase II Enterprise would nicely compliment both of R2/PL's 1/350 TOS and Refit Enterprise models.
That would show a really kewl design progression from TOS up to TMP at that scale, imho.
Good work on those graphics, btw. They look great! I like that you added the docking port detail (was wondering if that would be present or not).
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Short answer: Yes?
Shaw
Well-Known Member
Well, maybe getting to about 30 kits won't be as hard as I thought. I'll have to figure out what I can include as details on the major pieces and what will need to be separate pieces.
For example, on my nacelles I left off any details that ran along the center plane on the master because I didn't want to have to figure out how to save the detail work while bringing together the two sides. So things like the upper channel and rear nacelle details were put off until later (I actually worked on the rear nacelle details this last week).
I'll also have finished plans to work from rather than building, researching and drawing all at the same time. Considering this model's role as a research tool, I'm actually quite happy (and surprised) that it turned out as well as it has.
So here are some more test assembly shots showing the additional nacelle details. I realized the last time I put it together that I really didn't need as much tape as I had originally used, the model actually fits together pretty nicely. The nacelle carriages are still drying and I didn't want to play with them too much right now, so I didn't attempt to correct their alignment. I mainly wanted to see how the model looked with them in roughly the right positions.
And because I really wanted to see this model in action, even though it isn't finished yet, I threw together an artistic interpretation of how it might eventually look...
For example, on my nacelles I left off any details that ran along the center plane on the master because I didn't want to have to figure out how to save the detail work while bringing together the two sides. So things like the upper channel and rear nacelle details were put off until later (I actually worked on the rear nacelle details this last week).
I'll also have finished plans to work from rather than building, researching and drawing all at the same time. Considering this model's role as a research tool, I'm actually quite happy (and surprised) that it turned out as well as it has.
So here are some more test assembly shots showing the additional nacelle details. I realized the last time I put it together that I really didn't need as much tape as I had originally used, the model actually fits together pretty nicely. The nacelle carriages are still drying and I didn't want to play with them too much right now, so I didn't attempt to correct their alignment. I mainly wanted to see how the model looked with them in roughly the right positions.
And because I really wanted to see this model in action, even though it isn't finished yet, I threw together an artistic interpretation of how it might eventually look...
Me too
I take it, since you estimated pricing for a 1/537 kit at $250.00 it would be safe to assume a 1/350 kit would be about double that?
Love those beauty shots, btw! I can tell that's going to be build up into one helluva display model.
Shaw
Well-Known Member
I'd love to do it at 1/350. I still need to send Jim the details of the main parts, but he believes that at that scale the molds wouldn't fit in their vacuum chamber and would require being laid up rather than cast. That was the main worry about there being a significant jump in price going from 1/500 to 1/350. The other aspect I was worried about (lighting the model) was addressed when he said we could cast the parts in clear (and colored) resin.
It is still a long ways off... and no matter what, I'm going to build my one-to-one scale replica of the original 33 inch Enterprise first. But if the interest in a kit of the Phase II Enterprise grows, then maybe the number of people willing to buy one will off set the additional cost of doing a larger version. If nothing else, it'll help bring down the price of the smaller version.
Part of the reason I like seeing my models in these early primer stages is that they are still raw sculptures of sorts. That is the aspect of model building I like the most (and why I enjoy scratch building these things). I just hope that I don't screw it all up while painting and applying decals. :eek
This work on the model really didn't need a test assembly, the main change was that the ribs on the nacelle grills are now part of the nacelles. There are a few other small details that were worked on, but nothing much to show.
The reason for the test assembly was that I started work on the display base and wanted to see how the model and base looked together (the base still needs a lot of work and the support post needs adjusting).
Here are some more shots (at a higher resolution)...
It seems to be coming together about the way I envisioned it, though there is still quite a bit of work to be done on the base before it is finished.
It is still a long ways off... and no matter what, I'm going to build my one-to-one scale replica of the original 33 inch Enterprise first. But if the interest in a kit of the Phase II Enterprise grows, then maybe the number of people willing to buy one will off set the additional cost of doing a larger version. If nothing else, it'll help bring down the price of the smaller version.
Wow, thanks! That is a huge compliment.
Part of the reason I like seeing my models in these early primer stages is that they are still raw sculptures of sorts. That is the aspect of model building I like the most (and why I enjoy scratch building these things). I just hope that I don't screw it all up while painting and applying decals. :eek
This work on the model really didn't need a test assembly, the main change was that the ribs on the nacelle grills are now part of the nacelles. There are a few other small details that were worked on, but nothing much to show.
The reason for the test assembly was that I started work on the display base and wanted to see how the model and base looked together (the base still needs a lot of work and the support post needs adjusting).
Here are some more shots (at a higher resolution)...
It seems to be coming together about the way I envisioned it, though there is still quite a bit of work to be done on the base before it is finished.
Shaw
Well-Known Member
Thanks!
Started in on painting the model and got a little more progress done on the display base.
For the fun of it I modified Jefferies' Phase II diagrams a bit to look like the TOS Writer's Guide diagrams and set them up for a comparison...
It also helps in showing the relative sizes of the two... the design was scaled up (to an even 1000 feet long) when converted to the final TMP version.
Started in on painting the model and got a little more progress done on the display base.
For the fun of it I modified Jefferies' Phase II diagrams a bit to look like the TOS Writer's Guide diagrams and set them up for a comparison...
It also helps in showing the relative sizes of the two... the design was scaled up (to an even 1000 feet long) when converted to the final TMP version.
Winchester1701
New Member
looking awesome
Shaw
Well-Known Member
Thanks!
Painting is progressing. In the shots below I've gotten most of my first coat applied and have started sanding. I'll go back over it again with another coat (or two) and try to get the surface as smooth/even as possible. once I'm happy with the overall paint, I'll weather the model and apply the gloss coats, then add the decals, another gloss coat and finally a matte coat.
Included in the images is the color sample of Behr UL220-15 Frozen Pond (which is the closest match to the original TOS hull color I could get a physical sample of) for reference. The weathering is going to effect the final overall color, so I mainly wanted to be pretty close to begin with.
The other thing of note in those images is the marker light on the side of the primary hull. That took a while to come up with something I was happy with, but was worth the effort.
Painting is progressing. In the shots below I've gotten most of my first coat applied and have started sanding. I'll go back over it again with another coat (or two) and try to get the surface as smooth/even as possible. once I'm happy with the overall paint, I'll weather the model and apply the gloss coats, then add the decals, another gloss coat and finally a matte coat.
Included in the images is the color sample of Behr UL220-15 Frozen Pond (which is the closest match to the original TOS hull color I could get a physical sample of) for reference. The weathering is going to effect the final overall color, so I mainly wanted to be pretty close to begin with.
The other thing of note in those images is the marker light on the side of the primary hull. That took a while to come up with something I was happy with, but was worth the effort.
steve neill
Sr Member
I have been watching this for awhile now. I have to say you have done and amazing job. I worked on TMP and always wondered about the design on my crew coat I still have because it isn't the refit but his model. I love what my dear friend Andy did with the refit but this is such a nice design too and it's great to see it fully realized.
steve
steve
crackerjazz
Sr Member
The quality of your work is just amazing, Shaw. The way you do things - everything just looks so exact and perfect. Almost like a CG-come-alive kind of thing. Just look at that painting process with the jig. It looks like you don't leave anything to chance and everything is built to specs.
Shaw
Well-Known Member
Wow, thanks guys!
Now I just need to make sure I don't screw it all up.
I do try to make sure to give myself a little room for error when bringing everything together. Which is also why I ordered three copies of the decal sheet from JT Graphics (which arrived last Friday). I wanted backup decals in case I mess up or want to do them differently.
Steve, I still watch your Enterprise (and space clipper) build videos for inspiration. Thanks a ton for those!
I've done a little more painting, some weathering and started attaching the nacelles to the pylons.
I'll give her a couple days to cure and then see how she does standing on her own.
Now I just need to make sure I don't screw it all up.
I do try to make sure to give myself a little room for error when bringing everything together. Which is also why I ordered three copies of the decal sheet from JT Graphics (which arrived last Friday). I wanted backup decals in case I mess up or want to do them differently.
Steve, I still watch your Enterprise (and space clipper) build videos for inspiration. Thanks a ton for those!
I've done a little more painting, some weathering and started attaching the nacelles to the pylons.
I'll give her a couple days to cure and then see how she does standing on her own.
Shaw
Well-Known Member
Thanks a ton!
Okay, another quick-n-dirty test assembly. Things are mostly set or taped in place... just with less tape now that the nacelles can sorta hold themselves up now.
After I took those shots I put her back to rest upside-down. I'm pretty sure the attachments have cured, but we'll give it a while before having her stand on her own for any great length of time.
Okay, another quick-n-dirty test assembly. Things are mostly set or taped in place... just with less tape now that the nacelles can sorta hold themselves up now.
After I took those shots I put her back to rest upside-down. I'm pretty sure the attachments have cured, but we'll give it a while before having her stand on her own for any great length of time.
Shaw
Well-Known Member
Small Update...
I did a little work on the upper surface of the primary hull, I'm still doing a bit of work on the model so I didn't put as many elements in place for this set of shots as before.
I did a little work on the upper surface of the primary hull, I'm still doing a bit of work on the model so I didn't put as many elements in place for this set of shots as before.
