AMT/ERTL USS Enterprise NCC-1701-A Project

Kai112086 · Post by **Kai112086** » Tue Aug 25, 2009 9:54 pm

I'm going to build the AMT/ERTL USS Enterprise NCC-1701-A. I plan on getting some DLM parts for more accuracy and lighting (first lighted model by the way... I'm gonna get electricuted... ), and drilling out accurate viewports. I also have these photos to go off of (http://www.starshipmodeler.com/trek/movietech.htm).

Here's what I'm getting from this DLM (http://www.dlmparts.com/amtrefitreliant ... scale.html):
1. - USS ENTERPRISE REFIT & NCC-1701-A MOTION PICTURES ERA to ST:TMP-STVI:UDC
2. - HANGER BAY END PIECE WITH INTERIOR PARTS (in Opaque Gray Resin Walls)
3. - WINDOWS AND PORTS Surounding Primary Hull (in water clear resin)
4. - Refit Impulse Deck (in water clear resin)
5. - UPPER DECKS CORECTION PIECE (in water clear resin)
6. - INTERIOR PARTS FOR VIP WINDOWS (either the VIP Lounge or Officer's mess)
7. - WARP ENGINE LIGHTING GRILLS Flux Chiller Grills
All of that totaling over $100.00... Awesome...

Ok... Time for the questions...
1. - I can't find any Aztec templates for the 1/537 Scale Enterprise A. Does anyone know where I can find the templates?
2. - Is the Enterprise A an actual white color or is it a very light gray?
3. - The Enterprise A has multiple strobe circuits. Is there a way to find out the intervals the light strobe on and off?
4. - I plan on having spotlights to illuminate the ship. Should the light actually shine out of the ship or illuminate it from the inside?
5. - What is the best way to lightproof a model from the inside? Paint the inside black to prevent light penetration or paint it something reflective to make sure all of the light is used at the viewports?
6. - Call me a n00b, but what is the best and easiest way to scribe the model?
7. - What would be the best grain of sandpaper to use to remove all of the incorrect paneling on the hull?
8. - I have a friend helping me out with the electronics, but are there any pre-assembled lighting systems for the Enterprise A 1/537 scale?

I think that's it for now... Any help will be appreciated.

brt · Post by **brt** » Wed Aug 26, 2009 8:35 am

PM sent.

Kai112086 · Post by **Kai112086** » Wed Aug 26, 2009 9:47 pm

Coolness. Now for the strongback, should I use a metallic shade of blue as the base coat, or just a medium blue?

crowe-t · Post by **crowe-t** » Sun Aug 30, 2009 6:48 pm

Get the Warp Engine grills for the Reliant from DLM. The Enterprise grills DLM sells are direct replacements for the grills on the AMT/ERTL kit. The grills on the AMT/ERTL kit are a bit shorter then they should be.

Kai112086 · Post by **Kai112086** » Sun Sep 06, 2009 10:25 am

Ok, here we go with the start of the project... I don't have a camera, but I'll see if I can borrow a friends so I can give picture updates.

The model finally came in the mail. The first thing I did since I'm getting the replacement DLM pieces was remove the Impulse Dome and the A and B Decks. I didn't sand them down yet because the DLM pieces haven't arrived yet and I want to sand the saucer down to as close of a fit as possible.

Casualty Report:
1 broken drill bit

crowe-t · Post by **crowe-t** » Sun Sep 06, 2009 1:01 pm

Kai112086 wrote:Casualty Report:
1 broken drill bit

Poor little guy!

I can't wait to see some pictures.

irishtrek · Post by **irishtrek** » Sun Sep 06, 2009 4:42 pm

Just so you know the saucer bottom has incorrect landing pad detailing, the shoud be a bit longer and the are also a bit too wide.
there are also only 3 when there should be 4 and at least 1 of them is in the wrong position, it needs to go out towartd the rim by 1 'ring'.

crowe-t · Post by **crowe-t** » Sun Sep 06, 2009 6:46 pm

Did you have a Star Trek The Motion Picture version (smoothie) or one of the later kits with the paneling?

Kai112086 · Post by **Kai112086** » Tue Sep 08, 2009 6:31 am

Unfortunately, I don't have the smoothie, and I didn't know about the landing pads though. Thanks!

But I just started sanding last night... After about 2 and a half hours my arm started cramping up, so I called it quits after 3 hours of sanding.

irishtrek · Post by **irishtrek** » Tue Sep 08, 2009 4:17 pm

What grade sand paper are you using?

Kai112086 · Post by **Kai112086** » Tue Sep 08, 2009 5:07 pm

irishtrek wrote:What grade sand paper are you using?

150 grid, and STILL TAKING FOREVER! If I don't have huge biceps from this, I'm suing my body for not bulking up.

irishtrek · Post by **irishtrek** » Wed Sep 09, 2009 3:36 pm

Heck, why not use some thing like 60 grade? It'll go a bit faster and when you get the extra scribed lines off that Ertl put there then switch to a larger numbered grade sand paper like 420 or larger, believe me it goes a lot faster and is much easier to get done.

Kai112086 · Post by **Kai112086** » Wed Sep 09, 2009 11:58 pm

60 grid takes off the plastic too unevenly for my taste. I use that to get down close to where I want and then use the 150 to sand it little by little and as evenly as possible. Since the Enterprise has all of those pain-in-the-royal-buttocks panels that are incorrect that I'm removing, it isn't taking long to remove them, it's just tedious work.

irishtrek · Post by **irishtrek** » Thu Sep 10, 2009 5:31 pm

Are you putting any putty in the panel grooves?

Kai112086 · Post by **Kai112086** » Fri Sep 11, 2009 6:58 am

Not yet. But I am going to "lower" the bottom of the saucer because the planetary sensor sits too close to the saucer.

irishtrek · Post by **irishtrek** » Mon Sep 14, 2009 5:47 pm

Something eles I remembered this weekend is the running/formation lights on the rim of the saucer top are in the wrong position. They need to be moved to where the engraved ring meets the engraved lines coming from the just below the b/c deck housing.

Kai112086 · Post by **Kai112086** » Wed Sep 16, 2009 10:46 pm

Do you mean the lights on top that are supposed to blink red and green?

crowe-t · Post by **crowe-t** » Wed Sep 16, 2009 11:22 pm

Kai112086 - Will you be posting pictures soon?

irishtrek · Post by **irishtrek** » Thu Sep 17, 2009 4:02 pm

Kai112086 wrote:Do you mean the lights on top that are supposed to blink red and green?

Yes.

Kai112086 · Post by **Kai112086** » Fri Sep 18, 2009 6:32 am

crowe-t wrote:Kai112086 - Will you be posting pictures soon?

As soon as I can get my hands on a digital camera. All I have is a crappy disposable that cost me about $.25.

As an update, I'm still sanding.

publiusr · Post by **publiusr** » Tue Sep 22, 2009 6:55 pm

I'm sure it will look great.

Kai112086 · Post by **Kai112086** » Fri Jan 08, 2010 8:25 pm

Sorry I've bee gone so long, but I decided to hold out for Christmas...

I'VE GOT OL' SMOOTHIE COMING FOR ME IN THE MAIL!!!

Finally... No more sanding... hahaha

crowe-t · Post by **crowe-t** » Wed Jan 13, 2010 3:17 pm

Kai112086 wrote:I'm going to build the AMT/ERTL USS Enterprise NCC-1701-A. I plan on getting some DLM parts for more accuracy and lighting (first lighted model by the way... I'm gonna get electricuted... ), and drilling out accurate viewports. I also have these photos to go off of (http://www.starshipmodeler.com/trek/movietech.htm).

Ok... Time for the questions...
1. - I can't find any Aztec templates for the 1/537 Scale Enterprise A. Does anyone know where I can find the templates?
2. - Is the Enterprise A an actual white color or is it a very light gray?
3. - The Enterprise A has multiple strobe circuits. Is there a way to find out the intervals the light strobe on and off?
4. - I plan on having spotlights to illuminate the ship. Should the light actually shine out of the ship or illuminate it from the inside?
5. - What is the best way to lightproof a model from the inside? Paint the inside black to prevent light penetration or paint it something reflective to make sure all of the light is used at the viewports?
6. - Call me a n00b, but what is the best and easiest way to scribe the model?
7. - What would be the best grain of sandpaper to use to remove all of the incorrect paneling on the hull?
8. - I have a friend helping me out with the electronics, but are there any pre-assembled lighting systems for the Enterprise A 1/537 scale?

I think that's it for now... Any help will be appreciated.

CultTVman.com sells Aztek Dummy templetes for the 1/537 Enterprise.

The Enterprise A is white. I'm painting mine white with a clearcoat with a drop of pearl powder mixed.

In addition to a regular scribing tool I used these micro saws from Squadron to scribe the secondary hull lines and the hatches on the lower saucer. The micro saws are great for scribing lines in putty. The putty won't chip away like it does using a regular scribing tool.

http://www.squadron.com/ItemDetails.asp?item=TC2009
http://www.squadron.com/ItemDetails.asp?item=TC2010

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa23 ... G_8978.jpg
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa23 ... G_8979.jpg

I used Dymo (Embossed) tape to scribe the hull lines and it works great.

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa23 ... re001A.jpg

Kai112086 · Post by **Kai112086** » Sat Jan 16, 2010 1:41 am

Thanks for the tips!

By the way, I'm actually watching how you build your Enterprise in your little corner of the forum asylum. I plan on using some of the suggestions you've got there too.

Kai112086 · Post by **Kai112086** » Sat Jan 16, 2010 1:49 am

By the way, if you go here http://www.virtualight.com/ and click on Reference on the top of the page, and then select the Refit Lighting, it will tell you the blinking intervals of all the strobes of the Refit Constitution starships.

Kai112086 · Post by **Kai112086** » Mon Jan 18, 2010 9:28 pm

Well... I don't have a digital camera... But I'll give a little update anyways.

On the secondary hull, I've filled in all of the portholes and the grid lines. After I let the putty dry overnight, I'll sand it to a nice smooth surface.

On the lower saucer, I've cut out a couple of circles of 1mm styrene and glued them to the bottom (thanks for the tip crowe-t) and I'll let it dry before I putty it and start sanding.

Next on the agenda: sand the inside of the pylon halves smooth.

crowe-t · Post by **crowe-t** » Tue Jan 19, 2010 6:32 pm

Kai112086,

Will you be able to get your hands on a digital camera soon? I'd like to see pictures of your progress.

Kai112086 · Post by **Kai112086** » Tue Jan 19, 2010 6:45 pm

Hopefully with my next project.

I mean paycheck. Derp.

SJM · Post by **SJM** » Mon May 17, 2010 9:00 pm

Love to hear where you've gotten with this

publiusr · Post by **publiusr** » Fri May 21, 2010 1:54 pm

I wonder if that will be re-released at some date.

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AMT/ERTL USS Enterprise NCC-1701-A Project

AMT/ERTL USS Enterprise NCC-1701-A Project

Re: AMT/ERTL USS Enterprise NCC-1701-A Project