U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701 (TOS) in 1:1700

[cMags]

Finally tackling the one that started it all. Going all out using the vectorized update to Ron's great model (was it Mike Hungerford that did it? I forget). At 1:1700 I was afraid this would be quite tedious, but it's not too bad if you take your time. Following the instructions on this one, and its going quite smoothly.

Start with the secondary hull aft:




And a size comparison to my 1701-A test fit:



Next was the bridge. This is very fiddly at this scale. I cut off all the joining tabs for this and used edge-gluing primarily, with a few joining tabs underneath:



And then onto the primary hull. Again I used edge-gluing for this, which came out nice and clean for me, with the exception of the top of the hull because I had tried the tabs first, then cut them off when it didn't line up right:



(The N in NCC does line up correctly when viewed from above or the starboard side - the the scale is so small that even the thickness of 65lb card is enough to make it look misaligned when viewed at an angle! )

More to come! :D

[Millenniumfalsehood]

For a 2cm bridge module, that is one *extremely* clean build!!! I'm very impressed so far. Keep 'em comin'! :D

Also, your first instinct was correct: Ron Caudillo made that kit, and he did a fine job of it.

[cMags]

Thanks for the compliments! It is tiny, isn't it?

I know the designer was Ron, his name is all over the parts pages. But I was also able to confirm that Mike Hungerford was the one to vectorize the model and update the graphics. That was the part I wasn't sure about, but am now.

[Sidewinder81777]

Very nice build so far Chris, as we have all come to expect from you.

[Ron Caudillo]

Thanks for showing us your build; it's looking GREAT. Mike made a wonderful enhancement and I like seeing how others have modified my original model, Jon Leslie started it.

Best Regards,

[jacberk]

Your builds are always an inspiration & each, always a step up. Very clean work!!

It nice to see the builders advancing the state of the hobby, & the designers rooting them on!

Thanks to everyone involved in this model.

Jack

[cMags]

Originally Posted by cmags

Following the instructions on this one

So yea, scratch that. :p Next up was the primary hull lower section. I'm never any good at cutting sections out of an already-built part, so I opted to cut the pylon hole out before assembly. I also cut off all the tabs and added my own using bond paper for better fit. I'm glad I went this route because the graphics didn't line up quite right on one of the sections and I needed to remove a small sliver.






With the upper and lower hull sections complete, I added my favorite method of ST saucer section creation. I add thick card pieces along the edge, just a single card thickness in from the edge. I then glue the upper and lower hull together using the provided supports and edge-glue the saucer edge trim in place up against the thick card sections. This results in a nice clean edge and allows for a nice smooth round side rather than folds along the tab edges.






Completed primary hull (minus the impulse engine and fairing):

[cMags]

Installed primary hull pylon and built up forward secondary hull. Attached pylon in between secondary hull halves - it all went together nicely.

[silveroxide]

Coming along real nice. Do you have Pylon support built inside the pylons for supporting the nacelles?

[cMags]

There's an X shaped pylon support inside the secondary hull to maintain the 45* angle of the pylons. The pylons themselves in the oval shape I feel will be sturdy enough to not have any issues supporting the nacelles. They're already stronger than Chippy's 1701 I built before (check my sig) which only butt-glued to the hull and pylons and that's been holding (at full size) for 6 months now with only a slight sag.