Polar Lights 1/350 U.S.S. Enterprise-A

[cmckenn]

Is it possible that the studio model was painted a certain color(s) in order to make it appear on film to be the "correct" color? I assume you would want to match the color of the actual ship and not the model.

[UniTProductions]

@cmckenn I'm not terribly familiar with analog film compositing because it involves a lot more actual chemistry than I know. But they did use some kinds of pealescent paints that otherwise show up white, but reflect light in different colors from certain angles.

As for color matching to model or appearance, it totally depends on what you're after. I made this thing before I knew anything about anything.

[realphake]

WHAT. SO DETAILED.

[Mr77Magic]

My model arrived this morning. I was surprised it got delivered on a Sun. It's bigger than what I thought. Your video doesn't do your model justice for people to appreciate how big it is. I'll read over the instructions a few times before I get started, I'm more than happy with the kit.

[UniTProductions]

@Mr77Magic Good to hear! And Sunday is unusual.

Online research will help you quite a lot with getting ideas for this kit. Whereas the manual can only tell you which pin goes in what hole.

Best of luck!

[Hpynos2010]

The actual filming model had a complex Aztec paneling scheme that used pearlescent paints of many different shades, over a basic gray/duck-egg blue color. It was never actually completely white...that's just how it was viewed on he big screen. I just took delivery of the Polar Lights 1/350 'Big E" and was considering the internal lighting. but I just may concentrate on painting and accurizing it and order a second model later for illumination.

[UniTProductions]

@Hpynos2010 "Pearlescent" That's the word I was forgetting and called it Magic Pixie instead.

But I must contest your statement about the base color for it was indeed quite white. and nothing much more. Based on uncomposited photos of the real thing at least.

[Mr77Magic]

I thought it was a plain white model. I know when they film it with different lighting conditions it may look slightly different. But that was the plan to do a plain white one. I've built a few of the Tamiya rc cars in the past so I'm familure with their products. I want to keep it simple as possible & concentrate on the detailing. Nothing has arrived this morning in the post, maybe tomorrow I'm hoping. There must be some weight to that kit when it's built? Thanks for the tips.

[UniTProductions]

@Mr77Magic There's some kind of magic pixie paint they used for the "Aztec" panels that reflects light in different colors from certain angles, but is otherwise white/clear.

I actually have a bottle of this in a singular color, I haven't tried mixing it with others to see if it does anything special, but I don't have the slightest clue where it can be found otherwise.

[Mr77Magic]

I ended up buying Dr Who's Airfix Tardis kit as well yesterday, so that's my xmas money well spent I think. What colour do you prime the model in & what colour do you finish with over all? It's the painting part that scares me as it's so big. I'll do my own lightening from my local electronics shop, I'm just keeping it basic. I'm eagerly awaiting the post man today or tomorrow. I've been after this huge kit for a while since I came across it online by chance. It looks a thing of beauty.

[UniTProductions]

@Mr77Magic Well, paint theory is something I didn't apply to this kit. But generally, the primed color will affect the finished coats in subtle ways, so it's really up to you if you're into mixing primers.

The studio model was just plain white with few coloration changes here and there. I would give it a coat of Tamiya white 1000 surfacer. Tamiya or Gunze Sangyo (Mr. Hobby), both Japanese brands are far superior to any sprays made in the US. But you'll have to import. Try a site called Hobbywave

[Mr77Magic]

I ordered this model today online, can't wait for it to arrive. I'm so excited.

[UniTProductions]

@Mr77Magic Nice!

Take care when building to see its full potential!

[uzimodem]

excellent!

[SFVAfilms]

Don't worry. Hindsight is always 20/20. Nice job on the landing bay!

[neveruseq]

so I have the model and I'm ready to build this thing, but the lights is what gets me.... and forgive me for sounding like an amateur but where do these lights come from? Separate kit? Somebody's garage? Were they supposed to be in my box??

[odcoolshark75]

They lights come with the Polar lights model kit.

The Bandai model kit has lights too, however its already painted. All you need to do is install the wires and snap it together .

[UniTProductions]

No lights come with PL kits as standard. You need to buy LED's separately or salvage them from old toys or something. So you7re better off buying them as the PL 1/350 will use a bunch.

Dandai does have its ownlights, but they're little bulbs, which I replaced with LED's on mine.

[DJsStratoArt]

I bought my lighting kit from Trek Modeler, I am currently building my starship with this excellent lighting kit. Well worth it. Just google, Trek Modeler Polar Lights Enterprise Lighting kit.

[aflyingplastic]

i have the $15 polar lights tos enterprise  from toysrus

[UniTProductions]

I have that one, too. Two, in fact.

I completed one of them, so maybe I'll make a video of that one as well.

[abaddon5]

This is a nice model. Oh, and from reading from your comments, you're going to get another one. Supposedly, the one that they're re-releasing is going to have FULL aztek patterns for the whole model. That will make it more expensive, but probably A LOT more accurate.

[UniTProductions]

That's what I hear. Trouble is, I don't know where I'd put it!

[abaddon5]

(That's what she said)

My dad hangs his from the ceiling. The model is pretty heavy, but it's possible.

[finalfrontier1701]

@abaddon5 GET THIS ONE! IT'S WORTH IT!!!!

[abaddon5]

@finalfrontier1701

I actually have it, but unfortunately I lack the skill to light it. Also, I have one from the first run, so it didn't come with the aztec decals (which means A LOT of masking and painting).

[jimp1102]

I have this model myself and am going to start building it shortly. Yours looks really good, but I'm curious to why you only lit the secondary hull ? That makes it look, odd. Still looks great, just "odd".

[UniTProductions]

Because I was a savage with models when I made this. Haha! I didn't know what light blocking/assisting or what an AIRBRUSH was at the time, and only discovered LED's after I'd done half of it. Sop that'swhy only the secondary hull is lit . . . I really want to go back and do it over as I've greatly improved my abilitysince then. I'll probably upload videos of my new models, with full lights and all that good stuff.

I'll probably buy another Polar Lights Enterprise in America.

[IntermittentSprocket]

Hmm the hanger bay now has removable doors with some interior to it, who makes the model is it AMT? As I've had several AMT U.S.S. Enterprise's in the past, with my, own custom made fibre optic lighting including on the engines and a few other modifications done to. Sadly it got broken back around late 1989.

[UniTProductions]

The manufacturer is Polar Lights.

I hear many bad things about AMT.

[MauricioCasteglione]

The AMT model was awfull to construct and was not accurated. The PolarLights´s Enterprise is such a good model. I bought the De Boer Enterprise model, that is also very good.

Your work is very good indeed. Congratulations.

[dickrichards07]

WOW, INCREDIBLE Model! How did you do the Deflector "fade on" effect?

[UniTProductions]

(Shh! (video fade effect)). ^_^

[WilliamVoyager]

I have one of these, i was half way through it, then my grandma dropped summat on it and it now lays in all the pieces, and where do you get LED lights from to fit inside it?

[jsf525]

that was cgi when you showed inside the hanger doors right?

[UniTProductions]

Yes and no. I used a video fade effect with shots of the hangar both open and closed (removeable door piece). But those lights are real. I put LED's into the secondary hull (but nowhere else sadly).

[jsf525]

are you telling me that the video of the shuttle bay inside is your model. that's fantasic.

[jsf525]

the reason I say this is because inside the bay is such good detail.

[UniTProductions]

The shuttle bay is real. It's part of this Polar Lights kit.

As for the detail, thanks!

[jerryaltman]

When I was a Kid I always wished to had fine models like the ones used in movies.

[jerryaltman]

Polar Lights seens far bether than the horrible AMT models. AMT sucks...

[farevideo]

very good!

[PleasureGirl1990]

Hello, I am LostProphet1776's girlfriend! I can confirm a) yes, I think he is a Star trek nerd, and b) his Polar Lights Enterprise model kits look very nice in our lounge! He has the one on this video, and the really big one called nx 01. Everytime we have visitors, they gravitate towards his model kits and say "those are really cool!"

[LostProphet1776]

This is an awesome kit; mine arrived a few days ago, along with the 1/350 scale NX 01. These kits are BIG!!! They are great conversation pieces, even my girlfriend (who calls me a Star Trek nerd) admits they look cool because they are so big!

[Airportchris2]

Using the model for films? Why not use a CG model. I have a really great CG model. Its almost exactly like the CGI one from the TMP Director's Edition.

[UniTProductions]

I considered using CG, However my knowledge of such is quite limited, if you could help in any way it would be much appreciated.

Besides, models are fun.