*another* another lighted Reliant

[toejrb]

3. Yes, this is missing from the kit, that's why I'm just about to release replacement parts.

[/quote]


Hey, nice! These'd solve another problem with the kit part -- the absence of undercuts beneath the surround. Timing?

[toejrb]

OK, here goes with the mystery holes. First, sketch in the radial lines to locate the windows axially, and use a circular scribe to get the correct distance from the bridge. I've already put the centerline hole in place. It's a a 5/16th" hole sleeved with plastic tube that I've faired into place. Inside diameter is 1/16th".

paper tacked in place, radial lines roughed in

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Next, drill 1/16" holes. Then sleeve with aluminum tubing. The sleeves provide perfectly uniform holes, plus if I'm off line then I can overbore the hole and move the tube around a bit.

alu tube

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Bondo fills any gaps around the sleeves, and erases the circular scribe marks.

yay for bondo

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Sand the bondo, scribe the radial lines, and that's that.

primered bridge, plus b/c decks

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Next, I need to add the little squares on either side of the radial lines, then it's on to the b deck windows, and officer's lounge window photoetch.

[MSgtUSAFRet]

Nice solution there, toejrb!

This is looking very good!

Steady as she goes!

Steve

[andyh]

Hey, nice! These'd solve another problem with the kit part -- the absence of undercuts beneath the surround. Timing?

They are ready to cast now. If I had the money for some rubber, I'd have the first set molded tomorrow

I won't have the cash for at least another two weeks, but I expect that's when I'll start molding them

Andy

[toejrb]

A couple years ago the LHS was clearing out old decals. Among the clearance offerings were these decals for the 1/537 Constitution.

old decals 1

The sheet is reminiscent of the one that came with mid-seventies editions of the TOS Connies. But in the refit scheme.

Lots of ship names and numbers!

Significantly for my purposes, in amongst the usual Constitution-class names/registries (i.e., Hood, Farragut, etc.) were a couple of oddballs.

El Dorado!

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Memory Beta says these were https://memory-beta.wikia.com/wiki/USS_E ... non-cannon Constitution ships, emphasis on "non-cannon." Since the Miranda-class is generally described as a contemporary of the Constitution, I feel reasonably within my rights to appropriate a 1720s registry no. and dub *my* Miranda the El Dorado or the Krieger. I lean towards El Dorado. Gives me an excuse to do some gold trim in with the usual shades of blue!

[Moongrim]

Push comes to shove.
It's YOUR Universe of Star Trek. You can name your ship anyway you want to.

Whether it be a 'common' canon name, or your own personalized Mary Sue.

[MEATLOAFr]

why does the last 2 el dorado & kreiger (archer FTW IMHO) have the red outlines and not the others? weird

[toejrb]

why does the last 2 el dorado & kreiger (archer FTW IMHO) have the red outlines and not the others? weird

Beats me!

[toejrb]

I took a break from the bridge and b/c decks to futz with the roll bar. As kitted, the roll bar is too thin, lacks the cut-outs on the leading and trailing edges, and has smooth areas that should be ridged.

Step 1 is to add some styrene strips just inside the leading and trailing edges. This is win-win-win. It makes the bar thicker, provides a landing for the ribbed inserts, and, since set back from the leading edge, can also leave an opening for the cut-outs. It also creates space to run wiring and fiber optics for the little red lights that are all over the thing.

roll bar interior

roll bar exterior

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Step 2 is to drop in the ribbed bits.

roll bar top, with ribbed bit added

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Next I'll put some alu tube into the phaser things so the various roll bar and nacelle struts have something to grab onto. I'll also neaten up the edges of the troughs for the ribbed inserts. And I'll start wiring up the red lights. Thinking a single red LED in the torpedo pod, with fiber optics leading to the various roll bar running lights.

[toejrb]

I'm still deciding what to do about the bridge. I chopped up the kit part, and put on sheet styrene to shrink down the dome, to widen the pronounced "shelf" that's level with the back of the bridge, and to sharpen up the detail aft of the dome. The results are mixed. I may try another round of styrene discs, or just go with the DLM Constitution Refit bridge so I can get on with the numerous other things that need doing. Either way it's been a good learning experience.

bridge bits

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bridge bits stacked

modded kit bridge in place on b/c decks

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