I started modeling at the delightful age of 10 (for reference, I just turned 40 at the end of April). My dad got me into it. And of course, they were Trek models. As I grew up, I moved on to other hobbies, but always inevitably returned. I built my first E-D shortly after the release of the first kits by AMT/Ertl. That kit has long since vanished to the depths of my childhood closet, and most likely, thrown out by mom. Around 2003 I really got back into the hobby and that lasted about 3-4 years, then again, the drop off.
Fast forward to 2016. A project at work had led me to do some research on TOS ships and one thing led to another, and finally decided to dust off my kits. Of course I decided to start with the good ol Enterprise-D. But I wanted to step it up so I started sanding down the grid lines, because they've always been atrocious, and went to town. There were only so many things I needed to do to accurize it, and sadly, Tetryon is no longer so I had to settle with most of what was in the box. As you can see, I said I started in 2016. November to be precise. And I JUST finished. In between then and now, I had built out much of my fleet (ultimate goal is to build out every ship seen on screen in 1400, sans the DS9 Yaeger. Eff that ship).
It took nearly 2 years of stopping and starting, but, I can gladly, finally, showcase the finished product. Base color is Model Master Acrylic, Light Ghost Gray. Nacelles are Vallejo Red and Tamiya Metallic Blue. The deflector dish is Vallejo Electric Blue, Vallejo Sand for the outline, and Vallejo Brown for the center dish, with a PNT decal over it. The aztecs are via Acreation On Screen Grey decals. Markings and lifeboats are by JT Graphics. Phaser strips and other details are via PNT decals.
Because this is the old AMT kit vs the current Round2 one, the base is still the old horizontal slit one. I tried making a sleeve to fit in the metal rod that comes with the R2 large dome base, but the epoxy wasn't strong enough and broke off. I ended up using a drywall mount and screw from The Container Store and making a brass spacer to extend it some. Because of the curvature of that part of the secondary hull, the rod comes out at an angle. I just purchased the parts today to make a spacer/wedge to keep the rod straight. Otherwise, it's getting an angled rod! I'll post those when I have it done.
