discussion Stefees Revell 1/600 Star Trek USS Enterprise with extras

[Guest]

Oh! I have an article in an old issue of FSM about the original model used for filming, and IIRC it talks about colours used. This is from the TV show, right, not the first movies?

Looking it up, it seems the original model built for the show was about 90 cm long, and the 1966 AMT kit was based on it (but inaccurate). This model had “disappeared” by the time the FSM article was written in 1998, but the article mentions several AMT kits were used later on in the show. They also built a 3.4-meter-long model for close-up shots, which is the one the article is about. It has some colour profiles showing which colours go where, though only in generic terms like “light gray” and “red”, but I could scan them if you want.

 

[Stefee]

I prefer the grid lines to be honest however the primer , colour and clear coats will lessen their effect. Watched a few builds of this kit and I agree with you that a smooth body looks toy like and boring.

 

[Stefee]

though only in generic terms like “light gray” and “red”, but I could scan them if you want.

Thanks for the offer but a general consensus among builders is that the plastic colour is quite close to the TV series rendition but, as has been mentioned several times on this site, colour perception varies wildly due to many factors. When I was a car spray painter I went on a course where it was explained that EVERYTHING on this planet is white as is light, the colour we perceive is that colours wavelength in white light being absorbed and reflected back to our eyes.

 

[Guest]

If you really want to get technical, then colour only exists in your brain. Your eyes register that light of a certain wavelength falls into them, signal this fact to your brain, and that interprets it as “this bit there is light blue” (or whatever). There is no such thing as “everything is white”, because again, that’s all between the ears. All that is entirely irrelevant to painting things, though, IMHO

 

[boatman]

WELL GUYS on the original series the ship is white so go with that as ive seen a model painted light grey an it looked terrible so i think satin white is the way to go as remember the ship is built of duraimum a futer metal made for starships lol
chrisb

 

[peterairfix]

This might help I have used it many a time.
https://culttvman.com/main/a-modelers-guide-to-painting-the-starship-enterprise-by-gary-kerr/

 

[Stefee]

This might help I have used it many a time.
https://culttvman.com/main/a-modelers-guide-to-painting-the-starship-enterprise-by-gary-kerr/

Peter, thanks very much for linking that very interesting article which is extremely detailed if somewhat daunting. I think I will find suitable Tamiys Acrylic colours and mix them to look right.
Regarding the logistics of painting I have decided to primer the exterior parts after necessary repairs, filling etc. Then light block the internal surfaces black followed by white. After fixing in all windows, electronics etc. I will have 3 sub assemblies, nacelle and pylons, secondary hull and saucer. After fixing and re primering the joints etc. I will then paint the various top coats, decal and satin clear coat. Due to the number of windows I have ordered the Green Strawberry masking set.

 

[peterairfix]

Peter, thanks very much for linking that very interesting article which is extremely detailed if somewhat daunting. I think I will find suitable Tamiys Acrylic colours and mix them to look right.
Regarding the logistics of painting I have decided to primer the exterior parts after necessary repairs, filling etc. Then light block the internal surfaces black followed by white. After fixing in all windows, electronics etc. I will have 3 sub assemblies, nacelle and pylons, secondary hull and saucer. After fixing and re primering the joints etc. I will then paint the various top coats, decal and satin clear coat. Due to the number of windows I have ordered the Green Strawberry masking set.

There is a part somewhere that does list tamiya as I use mainly tamiya myself so I will see if I can find it
One suggestion that cropped up a number of times is XF12 JN grey for the main overall colour of witch I have used on a few enterprise builds

 

[boatman]

HI Peter well this is my conclusion of my thoughts after reading all that was said an to try an copy all the colours that were mentioned you would end up in a rubber room but this is my take on the models colours as ive found out on my big warships when sailing on the pond its all too do with the light shinein on the model as i painted my ships humbroll no64 matt light grey an when the ships on the water if it was a dull day the ship would look a dark gray but when the sun came out an shone on the model it would look an very light grey even towards a whitetishs finish so its really all to do with how much light is shineing on the model so in reallity there is NO correct COLOUR thats my take on the subject an Peter many thanks for showin this link as i enjoyed the readup on garry keer's concloushions
THANKS
Chrisb

 

[Stefee]

A long delayed update.
I have decided to build this as a general representation of the Enterprise as seen in the pilot episodes and the original series so the exact colours and their placements are not true to one particular screen presentation.
The nacelle electronics and PE grilles have been fitted and the seams sorted for more primer. I had a self inflicted issue with the "rotating" collector lights that Gary at starshiplighting sorted by sending another voltage regulator completely free of charge - top marks for customer service which needs to be applauded.
The electronics and Liquid Gravity weight along with the PE shuttle bay just fit into the engineering hull. The saucer lights all fitted and the PE bridge has a dimmer glow which works well.
4 small resin/PE shuttle craft to sorted and decalled.
Loads of photos to follow and a further update in 3 weeks after returning from my holiday as no internet on the high seas.
Thanks for looking and all comments welcome.

 

[Stefee]

Some more photos.

 

[Stefee]

You can never have too many clamps!

 

[HAWKERHUNTER]

Shaping up nicely. Will look amazing when completed.

 

[Stefee]

Well after a long time away some progress to report on the build.
Many many hours of joint fettling, filling, sanding then hours of masking for the umpteen different colours and masking every window using Greenstrawberry's excellent mask set I have achieved the following. When the weather improves I will apply a matt varnish with a little gloss in it.
The model is an amalgam of the 2 pilot TV episodes and the first series and so is not "true" to any of them but I like it.
Next on the agenda is buttoning up the main hull and getting it to this stage.
Thanks for looking.

 

[Miko]

Brilliant work! Love this kit, I build the base kit, it's an impressive model when complete

You can never have too many clamps!

No wonder the stores are out of clamps, you have them all!! Ha!

Miko (I painted my NCC 1701 with Halfords primer grey!)

 

[Stefee]

On the home stretch now. All the hull finished, just got to decal and clear stand, solder final wires and assemble.
Thanks for looking.

 

[Stefee]

Finally built, painted and decalled the stand and the Galileo and Columbus Shuttle Craft.
If all goes well should complete the build over the weekend.

 

[scottie3158]

Looking very nice. Some really nice additions I like the bridge especially.

 

[Stefee]

Well after a 4 month absence due to health issues and a major kitchen revamp (including
demolishing a wall) I have just completed this kit. I am very happy with the overall
appearance but mightily disappointed with the lighting result as this took me ages. When I put this away in December all the lights were working but today I plugged it in and the rotating bussards and lower hull lights are inoperative and there's no way I am going to open it all up to investigate - peed off but c'est la vie!
Great kit to build, PE and resin parts from Green Strawberry were excellent if a little fiddly and the electrics were a first time attempt - not sure I want to that ever again.

More pictures in completed section. Thanks for following this build and the kind comments.

 

[flyjoe180]

Looks great Stefan. A shame about the lights but it doesn't detract from the excellent finish you achieved.