USS Stargazer (Ready Room Model)

[Eric Ardros]

Hi all,

Long-time RPF-er, not-so-frequent poster I'm gearing up to start my own build of Picard's Stargazer, as seen in his ready room on the Ent-D. Mine will differ in accuracy as far as the base kits used; I have two TMP "smoothie" kits on hand, not the later Refit-E release with etched panel lines which is what was used. Thanks in large part to the detailed discussions in these threads:

NCC 7100 Stargazer - From Picard's Ready Room

"Ready Room Scale" Stargazer parts ID and build

And the parts map/list that ProfKSergeev shared in his (second link above), I've been able to source 5 of 6 kits thus far and am awaiting their arrival. I have sourced the sixth kit, but have to wait for that eBay seller to return from vacation until the end of the month before I can buy. Also have the files to laser-cut the top and bottom plates for the main hull, which I'll have done through a local signage shop that I've dealt with.

While I'm working on getting all of the above components gathered, I wanted to put a couple questions out to the folks who have already worked on similar builds. I noticed there was some discussion of which tank kits to use for the tread detail parts for the aft end between the impulse drives and the leading edge of the nacelle strut details just forward of the nacelle pylons on the main hull. My question is this:

In lieu of the Revell 1/72 M48 A2GA2 kit, would the ESCI 1/72 M48 A2GA2 suffice? The only Revell M48 kits I can find on eBay are 1/35 scale, and it appears the 1/72 scale kit has been discontinued. And as for the Revell 1/72 M4 Sherman kit, my eBay searches yield M4A1 kits. I assume those are one and the same? Apologies in advance, but I'm not at all familiar with these tank model kits. Just want to make sure I'm grabbing the right ones.

I've never seen anyone include these additional details:

On their builds before, so want mine to be as complete as possible with the correct tank tread bits. Oh, and many thanks to everyone in the above-linked threads for their efforts in identifying all the donor-kit parts! Sure made my life a lot easier, lol.

 

[Eric Ardros]

And yes, I am aware the TMP "smoothie" kits lack both the ridged grill detail on the nacelles and the phaser array "bumps" on the saucer. I'd accounted for that and ordered two Constitution Refit "Smoothie" 1:537 Kits from Cass at Lake Monster Details and have already received those. I'm going to remove the smooth recesses on the nacelles to accommodate the new inserts.

 

[Eric Ardros]

Btw, I don't suppose anyone who's built one of these before happens to have a couple of those domes for the underside to spare?

Tried ordering some through Plastruct's website: VHE-32

But unfortunately as I'm in Canada I can't place an order. So, I'm hoping maybe someone here has some extras kicking around.

 

[ProfKSergeev]

My builds (the Hathaway and the brace of ready room replicas I'm finishing right now) all have the tread detail. Almost any 1/72nd modern tank will do, as long as the kit has both individual treads and longer unbroken stretches. Mine came from a Revell Leopard.

 

[Eric Ardros]

My builds (the Hathaway and the brace of ready room replicas I'm finishing right now) all have the tread detail. Almost any 1/72nd modern tank will do, as long as the kit has both individual treads and longer unbroken stretches. Mine came from a Revell Leopard.

Thanks for the info! I already went ahead and bought the ESCI 1/72 kit, as comparing the sprues of that and the Revell kit they looked the same so I figured it would work just fine for my purposes. You're working on a number of ready room replicas right now? How kewl is that?!

 

[Eric Ardros]

Alright, got word from the shop that the top and bottom plates for the main hull have been cut. I now have 5 of 6 donor kits in hand, but one was a bust as the front half of the part from the 1/35 Crusher Joe Powered Suit kit was broken off and missing, on BOTH parts. So had to source another.

Waiting on its replacement plus the sixth donor kit to come in, then I should have everything I need to get started. Minus the super-rare Bandai Deformed Hero Series Xabungle, of course. Had one (thanks to ProfKSergeev) once upon a time, but I've been looking all throughout the house and can't seem to find the few parts I'd already stowed away years ago for this project. Just my luck, lol.

In other news, I think I may have identified another detail part that I don't believe I saw discussed elsewhere. It's the small extra detail sitting at the front of the part from the 1/100 Valkyrie kit that goes in the cut-out at the rear of the TMP smoothie saucer:

The stock part from the Valkyrie kit doesn't have anything there; it's just flat. The prop department had to have added that detail there. Comparing the above pic to the donor kits I have, I believe the added detail is the small ship (Part #5) from the smallest of three sprues from the 1/2600 Guramu-Zan kit.

Thought about adding that little bit of info to the NCC-7100 Stargazer thread, given all the discussion therein about parts identification for this model, but as that hasn't been active for 7 years figured that would be a serious necro-post so decided against that Figured it would be just as beneficial posting about it in my own WiP thread, so here we are.

 

[Clerval]

There are more than six donor kits, so be sure you counted correctly. You'll also be after a Zentraedi kit to get a few of the markings, but no parts. There's an additional small part in the above that you'll get with the kits needed. And yeah that's a Guramu-Zan piece.

My digital ver, based off of the donors. I'm also lucky to have three sets of the Bandai SDH, one unassembled.

 

[Eric Ardros]

That's a beautiful 3D model you've done there, Clerval!

And yes, you're quite right. I should have clarified that when I refer to the six donor kits, I mean the ones that provide the main detail parts.

I have a 1/72 M48 A2 GA2 for the tank tread and a 1/5000 SDF-1 Cruiser Fortress kit for a small piece that details the side of the main hull.

Which Zentraedi kit (and in which scale) are you referring to for decals? A quick eBay search brought up several different ones to choose from.

 

[stevielewis]

If you got the donor kits fully complete, you should have all the decals you need. I found most of them came from the ARII Orgruss Tank 1/48 scale.

 

[Clerval]

I dunno what I was spacing out on yeah it's the :48 Orguss Tank or Gerwalk... cripes I even did an Orguss rewatch not long ago, pfft. Add a Special Heavy Weapon battroid or gerwalk kit for the Valkyrie decals and folded 'backpack'. I know the Max and Hikaru Specials have it all.

 

[Eric Ardros]

I was pleasantly surprised when I opened up my 1/48 Orgroid and saw most of the decals came from that kit However, I feel like a bit of a dunce and realized I picked up the wrong Valkyrie kit as the decal sheet it came with doesn't really have much of what I need.

Luckily, it was the cheapest of the kits so not a huge loss or anything. I've gone ahead and ordered both the Max and Hikaru Specials for the rest. Those have the last few remaining detail decals I'd been looking for. Thanks for the assistance, fellas! Much appreciated.

 

[Clerval]

A note- iirc Arii produced the :170 range in a way that they look very similar. Be sure you pick up the :100.

 

[Eric Ardros]

A note- iirc Arii produced the :170 range in a way that they look very similar. Be sure you pick up the :100.

Don't worry, I was very sure I was looking at the 1/100 Valkyrie kits before I hit the buy button

 

[Art Vandelay]

Hi all,

Long-time RPF-er, not-so-frequent poster I'm gearing up to start my own build of Picard's Stargazer, as seen in his ready room on the Ent-D. Mine will differ in accuracy as far as the base kits used; I have two TMP "smoothie" kits on hand, not the later Refit-E release with etched panel lines which is what was used. Thanks in large part to the detailed discussions in these threads:

NCC 7100 Stargazer - From Picard's Ready Room

"Ready Room Scale" Stargazer parts ID and build

And the parts map/list that ProfKSergeev shared in his (second link above), I've been able to source 5 of 6 kits thus far and am awaiting their arrival. I have sourced the sixth kit, but have to wait for that eBay seller to return from vacation until the end of the month before I can buy. Also have the files to laser-cut the top and bottom plates for the main hull, which I'll have done through a local signage shop that I've dealt with.

While I'm working on getting all of the above components gathered, I wanted to put a couple questions out to the folks who have already worked on similar builds. I noticed there was some discussion of which tank kits to use for the tread detail parts for the aft end between the impulse drives and the leading edge of the nacelle strut details just forward of the nacelle pylons on the main hull. My question is this:

In lieu of the Revell 1/72 M48 A2GA2 kit, would the ESCI 1/72 M48 A2GA2 suffice? The only Revell M48 kits I can find on eBay are 1/35 scale, and it appears the 1/72 scale kit has been discontinued. And as for the Revell 1/72 M4 Sherman kit, my eBay searches yield M4A1 kits. I assume those are one and the same? Apologies in advance, but I'm not at all familiar with these tank model kits. Just want to make sure I'm grabbing the right ones.

I've never seen anyone include these additional details:

View attachment 1821862
View attachment 1821758

On their builds before, so want mine to be as complete as possible with the correct tank tread bits. Oh, and many thanks to everyone in the above-linked threads for their efforts in identifying all the donor-kit parts! Sure made my life a lot easier, lol.

The parts circled in red in the top photo look like tank tread pieces to me.

 

[publiusr]

I guess the little figure was the so-called “transformer toy” I read about once.

I like the Refit impulse right between the nacelles.

Had I the time and money, I’d like to do one with a 45 degree twist to the engineering section to match Krause’s post TOS-lost years version a bit better.

 

[Art Vandelay]

I guess the little figure was the so-called “transformer toy” I read about once.

The figure was a super-deformed robot toy from an anime/manga called Xabungle.