Enterprise Model Photos

Number of images: 17
Created on: Tuesday, September 13, 2011

These are photos of the AMT/ERTL 18 inch classic model of the Star Trek original series Enterprise. I originally assemmbled this kit during the seasonal airing of the original series so it was pained white because I viewed the series only on a black and white TV. Later, when I realized the enterprise was really a lighter shade of gray, I restored it as follws below. Click on any picture of the model above for a full size photo.

The model was glued and assembled exactly as originally produced and not "accurized". All seams were filled with plastic putty and fillets provided around the warp drive engines, warp drive towers and saucer to secondary hull interface areas.

Then entire model was sanded smooth, checked for flaws and primed. Any flaws observed were repaired then received a final smooth sanding. Several coats of light ghost grey paint were then applied with fine sanding between coats. The paint instructions provided with the kit were not accurate so I researched pictures of the series production model to repaint her more Accurately.

The front of the secondary hull and sensor dish were painted copper. The highlite color used was dark ghost grey and applied using the cloudy looking Scotch Tape precut to shape for masking with an airbrush. White was used for the bridge dome and under the saucer center. I used red for the front of the warp drives since this was a "keep it simple" build rather than an "accurization" project.

The only area that might be considered accurized on this model were the decals I purchased from Thomas Models rather than using the few supplied with the kit. Following decal application, the model received several coats of clear semi gloss more toward flat paint to seal the decals. I used the clear on the flat side to keep camera reflection light to a minimum and I don't think the "real" Enterprise would have been real shinny following it's five year mission.

This was a simple project and overall I am quite pleased with the results. I have several more of these kits and I may attempt to accurize at least one as the Enterprise. If accurization is of interest, see the origianl series 22 inch cutaway Enterprise that I am in the process of accurizing and assembing as a complete ship rather than a cutaway.