enterprise construction Posted March 17, 2014 Share Posted March 17, 2014 (edited) Hi everyone. Here is my attempt at the refit USS Enterprise from Star Trek: The Motion Picture. I have used a flat white base and mixed up Pearl Ex pearlescent interference powder with clear acrylic to airbrush on the detailing. It will not be finished for a very long time but here is the progess so far. Edited March 17, 2014 by enterprise construction 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravens Posted March 17, 2014 Share Posted March 17, 2014 Looking great so far; can't wait to see the end result. Ross. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prowler0000 Posted March 17, 2014 Share Posted March 17, 2014 Agreed, That is an ASTONISHINGLY good result! Is this Pearl stuff available in the UK? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
enterprise construction Posted March 17, 2014 Author Share Posted March 17, 2014 Yes it is online. I'll have to dig out the name of the place but they're based in Hertfordshire. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plasmahal Posted March 17, 2014 Share Posted March 17, 2014 Nice............ The lower dish looks amazing. I have one of the original releases in the stash and want to have a bash at something similar. Looking forward to the link and hopefully some details on how you did the paint mixing etc for airbrushing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
enterprise construction Posted March 17, 2014 Author Share Posted March 17, 2014 (edited) The lower dish took ages. I have tried to replicate every panel detail down to the colour which meant I was squinting a lot at the paused BluRay. I was extremely pleased when Paul Olsen who did the original said I was pretty close. I used Tamiya clear and mixed in the Pearl Ex powder, 5 shuttlecraft scoops ( yes I used that) to 7 cc liquid plus some thinners. I sprayed with the trigger pulled back until I got the sheen I wanted, it seemed how far back I pulled it affected how shiny it ended up and I didn't want gloss. Edited April 11, 2014 by enterprise construction Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sidders Posted March 18, 2014 Share Posted March 18, 2014 Beautiful work so far. Can I ask what paint/shades of green used on the engineering hull? Also, what Pearl Ex colours did you use for the aztecing and from where? Many thanks, Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
enterprise construction Posted March 19, 2014 Author Share Posted March 19, 2014 The engineering hull green paint is Humbrol acrylic 30 ( the green for a Spitfire ) mixed with Tamiya matt white acrylic. I used various proportions to get the various shades. The Pearl Ex powder is available online from rainbow silks(www.rainbowsilks.co.uk). I used red, gold, blue and green interference powder but I've been through about five airbrushes! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plasmahal Posted March 19, 2014 Share Posted March 19, 2014 Have you seen the web interview with Paul Olsen that trekworks did? I found it really interesting and a lot was about how he became an airbrush artist and all the work he did with the rock stars of the day. I'll find a suitable link and post it up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plasmahal Posted March 19, 2014 Share Posted March 19, 2014 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
enterprise construction Posted March 19, 2014 Author Share Posted March 19, 2014 Thanks for that plasmahal. Paul is a great guy and has been fantastic with giving me advise, tips and encouragement. He is very approachable and has been a great help when I've asked questions. He has written a book "Creating The Enterprise" which is a fascinating read into the history of the model's creation. According to him I was the second person on the planet to buy it, just beaten by a Texan a few minutes before! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
enterprise construction Posted March 20, 2014 Author Share Posted March 20, 2014 (edited) Today I had a set back again thanks to the Tamiya TS27 spray matt white spray. From my perspective I do not believe it is fit for the purpose of being used for the base white for this kit as it can be scraped off with a finger easily after even a year ( yes the surface was prepared etc). I started this kit nearly a decade ago and it has taken this long because Tamiya were forced to change their formulation by the EU and it just does not work as it used to. It doesn't seem to go hard. It remains tacky and can be scraped off easily with a finger even over a year later. It is matt until you handle it to mask areas, then it goes super-glossy. It can move with pressure applied, for instance when holding the model to paint another area. The best description of the consistency is to say it is almost as if it was designed to be spray-on rubber insulation for electrical wires. The result is I have to redo the starboard hull and hold this kit so gingerly. If you are serious about making this kit and live in the EU I would not recommend using this paint for the base white colour. The Tamiya customer service representative even suggested that as it is not a Tamiya kit the plastic may not be compatible. However their spray should adhere to their own primer. Can you see the finger print indents above the black text? The old paint was perfect, really annoyed that the EU banned it. Edited April 11, 2014 by enterprise construction Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plasmahal Posted March 21, 2014 Share Posted March 21, 2014 Arrived today.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
enterprise construction Posted March 22, 2014 Author Share Posted March 22, 2014 Today I took a break from the painting of the warp pylons and am in the process of extending the base (I have a couple of spare I can cannibalize). I managed to cram thirty wires through the hollow metal tube I have used instead of the solid metal pole supplied in the kit and I have to find space for about twenty potentiometers. A lot of the finished kits I have seen look like Christmas trees with the lights on maximum super-brightness, if you look in the film the lights can look quite dim especially in the dry dock sequences.. I want to have total control to cater for daytime/night time etc.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khitomer Posted March 27, 2014 Share Posted March 27, 2014 Superb work on the finish, one of the best I've seen on any forum. Take a look at scifiaction forums for a lot of builders slowly progressing their 1701a's. I have four of these kits and can't bring myself to start one, keep hoping for early retirement as I want to do at least one of them justice. Any chance you could post a youtube video of your methods? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
enterprise construction Posted March 27, 2014 Author Share Posted March 27, 2014 Hi Khitomer, When I am finished I will probably film it and post on Youtube. I am hoping to do some effects work with it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caerbannog Posted April 10, 2014 Share Posted April 10, 2014 Excellent! :goodjob: :goodjob: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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