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This
is me with the Polar Lights NX-01. It's such a well detailed
kit...and such a large physical model.
This will undoubtedly be a long in-progress model as I don't see
how this model, with over 200 parts can be finished quickly. I'm
seriously considering lighting this beast...I hadn't lit a model
before, but this one's just asking for it! All of the windows
and most of the nacelle parts are clear plastic.
I'll update with more photos as work progresses.
Incidentally, I am going to name this model Enterprise, but I
got the model on the same day as the premiere of the Enterprise
episode "E2", where they revealed that the
next NX-class starship would be named Columbia NX-02 so I had to
try out the look using home made temporary decals.
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Some
time has passed now and construction is almost complete. The
deflector dish and the details along the nacelles are not glued
in place yet.
Some red filler putty has been used to fix the few seams that
will show. The fit of the kit is fairly good. One thing I wasn't
able to fix was the angle the nacelles are aligned at. The
saucer and nacelles should be horizontal. In reality, they swoop
slightly downward compared to the saucer's centerline.
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The
clear areas for the blue deflector and blue nacelle grilles,
along with the impulse engines and a few other clear details
were tinted with Gunze-Sangyo Clear Blue Tint. Because the model
was not going to be illuminated, I airbrushed Flat White onto
the interior of that blue tint to give some substance to the
clear blue. If I hadn't, the clear blue would look very dark
once the nacelle was glued together. The effect is rather neat.
I'll try to get a good picture to show that effect.
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The
nacelle domes were tinted Gunze-Sangyo Clear Red from the
inside. That way, the tint won't scrape off while handling the
model and it can be masked, also without ruining the finish. The
detail part inside the nacelle cap was left clear plastic.
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Now
the model has a full coat of Gray Primer on it. The impulse
engines have been filled in with Silly Putty and masking tape
was used to cover the nacelle caps, warp grilles, and lower
sensor dome.
I've finally decided the base coat will be Model Master Light
Gray with at least two other darker shades of gray for
subsequent hull colors.
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This
is the logo worn on the shoulders on Starfleet uniforms of
Enterprise crew members.
I drew the logo in Illustrator. I'm contemplating making an
ornate stand for the model using this logo in favor of the plain
silhouette stand that comes with the kit.
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Photos and artwork
by Stephen L.
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