USS Enterprise-B

[Smiffy]

USS Enterprise-B

1:1000 scale AMT/Round 2 Models

The USS Enterprise-B, as seen at the beginning of the movie Star Trek: Generations, is a modified Excelsior class starship. The USS Excelsior first appeared in ST.III: The Search for Spock. It was designed by Industrial Light and Magic model maker, Bill George. At the time, George was very interested in Japanese design. He wondered “what would the Enterprise look like if the Japanese designed it?”. He built a small study model, which was approved by the director Leonard Nimoy and a larger 7.5 foot miniature was built at the ILM model shop. The model would reappear it’s original guise in the next two Star Trek films (The Voyage Home and The Final Frontier), as well as the pilot episode of ST: The Next Generation.

The model was refurbished and some alterations carried out for it’s appearance in ST.VI:The Undiscovered Country. Bill George always thought that the bridge module looked too large, so the opportunity was taken to install a smaller version in an effort to make it look more in scale. Behind the bridge, the ship’s original single impulse crystal was removed and two smaller ones added. The aft crew quarters module was changed to a more angular version. The ship was also filmed in this configuration for use in the pilot episode of ST: Deep Space 9.

It had long been established that the USS Enterprise-B was a ship of the Excelsior class. When it came time for her to make an on-screen appearance in ST: Generations however, producer Rick Berman felt that this class of ship had been overused in the previous movies and TV shows, so it was decided to modify her look. Inspired by the shape of the hull on a WWII Catalina flying boat, a tapered protrusion was added to the forward end of the secondary hull. Two larger impulse engines were added to the rear edge of the saucer section and fins were added to the tops of the warp engines. With these modifications, it came to be known as an Excelsior Class Refit. After filming duties for Generations were completed, it was redressed for use once again in DS9, as the USS Lakota.

The Kit

The AMT Enterprise-B kit was itself a modification of their USS Excelsior kit, which was first issued in 1994. This newly reissued version arrives in the now familiar top opening box. Inside we find 37 parts moulded in white plastic, 12 parts in clear, one of Round 2’s dome bases and a sheet of decals. The instructions are supplied on a large fold-out sheet. The construction sequence is printed on one side and on the reverse, we have a 4 view paint and decal plan

The first stage of the assembly sheet deals with construction of the saucer section. In common with most Federation starship models, the saucer is broken down into an upper and lower half. Looking at the upper half first, the surface detailing is a mix of recessed concentric rings and finely raised panel lines. The edge of the saucer on the old Excelsior kit featured a raised stepped effect, which wasn’t exactly accurate. This kit does not have the same feature, though and it’s edges have a smooth tapered surface, which is much more authentic. The bottom half of the saucer is a newly tooled part from Round 2 and is designed to correct a number of errors found in the old kit. Unlike the upper half, the panel lines on the bottom of the saucer are all engraved. The planetary sensor array in the centre of the saucer has been redone. The old one was too large and shaped incorrectly. The new version is correctly styled and is much better proportioned. The area where the neck joins the saucer has also been revised and now has the cut-out feature added, which was missing from the older version.

After joining the two halves of the saucer together, the centre impulse engine exhaust shroud is added underneath, before the clear inserts for the engines themselves are cemented in place. The secondary impulse engines, which are located on the outer rear saucer edges, are built up next. Once again, clear inserts are provided for the engine faces and these are located in to the engine nozzle parts. The engine housings have their separate lower panels glued in place and then the completed nozzle assemblies can be attached to the saucer.

The secondary hull is a multi part affair. We are supplied with left and right halves, to which a lower rear panel is added underneath. Detail on the outer surface of the hull is represented by very fine raised lines. The interior walls of the shuttle bay area, are embellished with raised ribs and some fine stringer detail. A drop in, one piece insert provides the shuttle bay itself and adds a nice bit of visual interest when viewed through the opening in the lower hull. At the forward end of the hull, the clear navigational deflector is added to it’s housing and cemented in place. The upper deck can then be glued into position.

The neck is a 3 part assembly. The exterior surface features the distinctive ribbed effect, so care will be needed here when joining it together. I’d suggest plenty of test fitting in order to get a satisfactory alignment of these pieces, therefore reducing the need for filling and sanding, which could damage this detail. Once that’s taken care of, the neck slots into place on the upper deck of the hull. It’s location point is recessed, so this should make for a nice sturdy join. At the stern, the one piece rear shroud is cemented into place and that completes the secondary hull.

The warp engines are up next and each nacelle is assembled from 10 parts. Each lower half is moulded in white plastic. Again, more fine raised lines adorn the exterior surface here, in an effort to represent the panelling seen on the filming miniature. The warp drive radiators are added next and they are moulded in two halves, per side. Curiously , these parts are supplied in clear plastic, as is the upper field generator cover. I say curiously, as these areas were not actually lit on the original studio model, they were painted a black/dark grey colour and a turquoise shade, respectively. There was a smaller studio model built several years later, which was used in ST: Voyager and that model featured lit engines. So we do have the option of lighting available, if so desired. The nacelles are completed with the addition of the end caps. The forward ones are assembled from 3 parts per side, while the aft ones are a single moulded piece, to which a vertical fin is added.

The warp engine pylon is broken down into 2 parts, an upper and lower. It may be worth just checking these pieces for some warpage. I do remember having some issues with the old Excelsior kit, here. Although it has to be said, there is no evidence of the same problems on the review sample of the Enterprise model. In actual fact, they are dead straight, so it could have just been an isolated problem with the older kit. Still, forewarned is forearmed. The last thing you’d want is a wonky warp engine on your latest pride and joy. The warp pylon seats on an intermediate 2 part base, which features the same ribbed effect as seen on the neck, so careful alignment and clean up will once again be required. As with the neck, the pylon base locates into a recessed slot to ensure a good strong attachment. With the pylon seated in place, the warp engines can be added. They locate onto the pylons with slots and tabs. The saucer fixes in place on the top of the neck and the last part to add is the rear torpedo launcher, which is fitted underneath the aft end of the secondary hull.

The paint guide helpfully supplies FS numbers for the required colours, although I suspect the Duck Egg Blue shade suggested for the saucer and warp engines, is more appropriate for the Excelsior. When they repainted the studio model to become the Enterprise-B, these areas look to be more of a turquoise colour. A quick google should supply plenty of reference pictures of the studio model, to study.

The decal sheet is very nicely printed and supplies the names (Enterprise and Lakota), registries, pennants and pin striping, as well as the windows, phaser banks and manoeuvring thrusters. Everything looks to be in excellent registry and carrier film is extremely thin, so should disappear under a good gloss coat. It is certainly a massive improvement over what was supplied with the previous versions of this kit.

Conclusion

Another gem from the AMT back catalogue makes a very welcome return, thanks to Round 2.

The old kit built up into a very nice looking model of this attractive starship. The newly tooled lower saucer is a very pleasing addition and results in a much more accurate replica. Once again, this shows the efforts Round 2 are prepared to go to, in order to provide the modeller with a much better quality product. More power to them and long may it continue.

Review sample courtesy of

UK distributors for