Model Specifications:
Scale = 1/535
Length = 57 cm
Width = 27 cm
Height = 13.5 cm
The
second Federation starship Enterprise was commissioned as a
thank you for the efforts of Admiral Kirk and his senior bridge
staff in saving Earth from an alien probe that was inadvertently
destroying the planet.
This model was built straight out of the box with no modifications, putty work or sanding - I wasn't yet "brave" enough (nor did I have the skill) to tackle eliminating all those "panels" that are etched into the hull. As I still lacked an airbrush, it was painted with spray
cans.
I
had managed to get my hands on a modeling reference book called "Starfleet Assembly Manual 4" which is a detailed reference for building and detailing an electronic Enterprise. My focus was on the paint scheme, specifically the infamous "Aztec"
pattern.
I used black spray paint first, followed by one coat of spray white, which gave me a grayish-white appearance. I hand-cut three-inch masking tape (no p/e templates), transferred the tape-pattern to the hull to mask off the "Aztec" pattern, and then applied a second coat of white, which was enough to produce a two-toned panel effect for the Aztec pattern on the primary hull, and for the remainder of the model.
The remaining paint details were hand
painted.
This
is the commissioning plaque for the USS Enterprise-A.
