Detail Sovereign-class WIP

[spaceagent-9]

Studio Perfect !

[Paragon]

The first photo here shows that the aft saucer "wedge" was somewhat concave, so I had to cut in by the primary shuttlebay and slide in some new cardboard formers to push it out some, the result is in the second picture, and it may not look that different due to my poor camera work, but trust me, it was very noticeable in person.

While cutting into the saucer at the shuttlebay didn't actually damage any parts (I cut at a seam) I did use the opportunity to replace the shuttlebay doors with some new ones with layered detail, unfortunately not pictured. I also decided I wasn't happy with the impulse engine exhaust, so I cut out new inserts and used the dull knife to press in the lines on them, as you can see in the third image. I'm significantly happier with these.

The last two images, if you can't tell, are the port and starboard navigation lights, which I decided to add as a raised detail. I also did the same with all the running lights at the front of the saucer, and on the warp nacelles.

[Paragon]

Onto the warp nacelles themselves, and wow did I have a lot of stops and starts on these. In the first image you can see I've layered everything together before actually folding the nacelle into shape. I had several abortive attempts after realizing I had layered the parts slightly wrong, or left on parts I would not be able to trim off without removing printed detail from below. I also made the warp plasma grills custom, and used the dull knife to press in all the lines, and trust me there were several thrown-away screw-ups for those as well.

Anyway, you can see inset and raised detail in the grills, the bussard collectors, the RCS thrusters, etc.

[Paragon]

But construction is complete! Now I have to figure out how I should seal her to prevent discoloration. In the past I've used simple white Elmer's glue applied in a thin layer with a paint brush. I love this option, but not everyone can do it, since it requires a printer that uses pigment based ink that is not water soluble. I'm not sure if this solution will work for me though, as it has a tendency to retain brush strokes, and I'm worried the thickness of the glue may mask some of the surface detail I spent so much effort adding (mostly just the pressed-in panel lines and windows). That said, the glue does have a benefit in that it makes the model feel much more durable, and can trick people into thinking it's plastic as well, which I find a little fun.

The other option is some sort of spray, but I'm worried the paper will be too porous for the spray to really layer on top the way I want it to. I did a test on a nacelle screw-up with Krylon flat clear coat, and it wasn't really satisfactory. I think I may decide to stick with the glue, and simply go back and re-scribe the details that end up getting evened out by it.

[Paragon]

She's got a lot of good angles, especially when you hold her up to the light in a way that highlights the surface detail. After I've finished sealing her up, I'll have to devise a stand!

[Paragon]

She's much better constructed than my first build of the kit, which has yellowed significantly in the decade since I built her, and wasn't built with the same skill. She's also a little more satisfying than some smaller counterparts, like the miniatures from Hallmark or Eaglemoss.

I've decided that next up will be Voyager, mostly just because she'll be a smaller kit (staying in the same scale) and because it won't require as much work to make source accurate as the Galaxy class will, which I do intend to build, with substantially re-worked details, accurate to one of the on-screen models.

[Paragon]

Does anyone have any experience using Modge Podge for sealing models? It popped up on Amazon recently and looked interesting.

[Rhaven Blaack]

This looks AMAZING!!!
The amount of details that you have put into this model is OUTSTANDING!!!

[missileer]

I love doing detail work, so I can appreciate the level of effort you put into that build. The result is truly magnificent!

John

[THE DC]

Exceptional work that changes the way this model will be looked at from now on...