33 inch Enterprise Studio Scale Replica (2019)

[Shaw]

Introduction

This is going to be a little backwards... I'll start with images of the finished model (completed back in 2019), and then I'll hit on some of the interesting aspects of building it. It should be noted that I had tried out a lot of the techniques I used on smaller models to make sure that they would actually work before trying with this one (models like my USS Columbia and Phase II Enterprise).

The project itself started out more as reverse engineering plans of the original 33 inch model (back in 2007), mostly in the hope that someone with some real talent would attempt either a physical or CGI version. While I had built models throughout the 70s, 80s and early 90s, I didn't think I had the ability to attempt such a build. I finally decided to make an attempt at a two-thirds scale version in 2009 as a means for checking my work (shots of it can be found here), and after I made corrections I tried again in 2010 (shots of it can be found here).

During that time I was also researching the history of the model (my most recent version of my findings can be found here). Because of the overlap of the history of the 33 inch model and the design of the Phase II Enterprise, I also had quite a bit of information on that subject as well (including cleaning up some of Jefferies' plans, here). I got a little sidetracked building a Phase II Enterprise study model (shots of it can be found here, and a brief history document here).

The building of the model started in 2015 and finished in 2019, and I continued to research the model during that time. Here is a color version of a couple views from my 2018 plans...

 

All of that having been said, here are some shots of the model itself...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And some more recent images...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[phantom]

Love it.

[southwestforests]

Good looking model, taking the dive and building it produced a grand result.

[Shaw]

Thanks guys!

My reservations weren't just me doubting my abilities. By 2007 I had seen a number of people attempt a 1/350 scale version with mixed results. The worst being the Unobtainium models which generally ended up like these...

 

What changed my mind was watching Thomas Sasser work on a 1/350 scale model in 2007 and Steve Neill working on a half-studio scale model in 2010. Between what I learned from them and a few strategies I had come up with, I figured I might have a chance at building a decent model.

One tool I developed was an alignment box. I used my Phase II Enterprise as a test (it was always going to be harder with the angled nacelle supports), and then I built a larger version designed for the 33 inch model's elements.

 

 

I also got sick in 2016 and had to stop model building for a number of years, and I decided in 2017 to just leave the model assembled (but not glued together) until I could get back to it. By the time I had started back on it, the model had been standing holding its own weight for 18 months.

 

I was pretty sure when I finally glued it together in 2019 that all the parts could support themselves.

 

 

One of the elements I needed to research for this model was the decals used on the original. This included not only finding good shots of the model, but also reference images of the original decal sheet (which included the elements for both the 33 inch and 11 foot models).

The method I decided on was to draw every letter/number rather than using a pre-existing font. My first attempt at this was with my research on the 1966 AMT Enterprise model kit. I traced all the decal elements from the original decal sheet and also made window decals for the model from rubbings I took of the model's surface.

This is the resulting decal graphics...

 

All of this was part of documenting that version of the model because it had been used in the second season of TOS for studio models. These are the plans I reverse engineered for that model...

 

Oddly enough, my first attempt at the letters/numbers was used on my Phase II Enterprise. Eventually I was able to make all the decal elements for both the 33 inch and 11 foot models...

 

And I also replicated the decals used on the shuttlecraft studio model...

 

 

Oh, and here is a picture of my model from yesterday (I was just looking at it and decided to snap this shot)...