Last week I just completed the TMP version of that model. I also left the aztec decals off, and painted it with a pearl white, and used the Enterprise-A decals. Maybe not screen accurate, but looks great!
The aztecking is way too pronounced at this scale... I love the idea but it really needs to be toned down. Thanks for the video! I very much enjoyed it.
The decals too pronounced due to the white base color. It should be a light grey as it appears on screen. The movie model was painted white so it would appear as grey on screen. The same goes for the Reliant. Alot of modelers will paint the detailing on it blue but appears on screen medium grey. its was done that way on the movie models because of how the colors would translate on film due to blue screen process.
I'd probably spray it with a black primer, then go over the individual panels with a white coat. I'd probably do a couple of layers, then outline the panels with a grey outline. That should give it some texture without it being too pronounced.
@@johnrocha6212I have this kit from about 2008 and actually plan on building in a couple weeks go figure. The problem is the aztecs are literally a wallpaper as he says. The basecoat of the kit is irrelevant because the aztecs cover every square inch save for the nacelle grills and deflector obviously. From my recollection you could essentially paint the model black by time your are done decaling it won't matter. Regardless, you are correct on the base color, I'm going to do that; but the aztecs do need to be toned down. I'm going to "try" to paint the correct base color, decal it, ever so lightly go over the aztecs with my airbrush in the basecolor in an effort to tone them down and then semi-clear. No clue if it will work or look good but will give it a shot.
I don't like the Aztec decals. They stand out WAY TOO MUCH against the pearly white hull surfaces. The entire ship should be painted a couple of shades closer to gray before applying those Aztec decals. As it is, it looks like the hull surfaces have the measles.
nice review: one thing that I wish the manufacturer would do is to include a set of white window decals. The model they have always offered, including this issue, is a white base with black windows.-I guess all the lights are off on this model. The "E" never looked like this in the movies. The lights in the windows were always on and I made my model to look like this. So if the whitest white are the windows the rest of the ship has to be darkened accordingly. So mine is a grey/light grey color. I know that is not the true color of the ship but to me that is how it looked on screen. Making the ship grey also serves to tame down the aztec pattern. painting those little white dots and dashes (windows) was pain staking. I have never found an after market white window decal sheet either. So if you know of one.....
The plastic model bug bit me when I was a kid and my most recent non-flying model obsession has been Star Trek. I bought this kit as a companion to the Polar Lights TOS ship and I started looking up videos for insight. Yours has been very helpful, especially in deciding to spend the $25 for the custom decals. I was considering spending another $50 on a plug and play lighting kit, but when combined with the kit itself, I will have spent over $100 and that seems a bit much for something that doesn't actually fly! I also love your 1/1000 collection. That is the collection I'm aiming for!
I’ve heard a lot of enterprise builders refer the impulse deflection dome as the crystal. I know I sound like that Star Trek geek type. 😄. I think it’s a nice build, but polar lights need to make the aztekking a little more subtle. It’s way too dark for that scale. I have the acreation decals for it but it too has the same issue. Trying to light it is a nightmare
Great review/build ! Just got my W of K Enterprise and the decals are on its way from Cultman. Thank You for the build wonder if the Reliant will have damaged decals ? take care , Tony
For a Star Trek 2 set. The Aztec decals are wrong. The aztec pattern on the secondary hull is the enterprise A. Also it’s to bold. The color is still the same from TMP just dulled down. If there was a mask set I’d paint instead. I may just get the decals and paint on top of it.
Great video thank you for putting it up! I would love to purchase the Aztec decals you used but I am not able to find them anywhere, can you point me in the right direction?
I think they just hit stores this week, so hopefully local hobby shops will have it on shelves in the next few days, Culttvman.com has some on their online shop www.culttvmanshop.com/USS-Enterprise-Refit-Wrath-of-Khan-Edition-2020-11000-scale-from-Round-2Polar-Lights-_p_4934.html www.culttvmanshop.com/EnterpriseReliant-Aztec-decals-11000-scale-from-Round-2Polar-Lights-_p_4935.html
Thanks! I liked that one too, I liked having it look diofferent than most, and I think there are several times in the films where you see the grid lines more than the aztec panels. movies.trekcore.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=54803&fullsize=1
I have the original version of this that I got at a garage sale as a kid. My modeling skills were terrible back them and I used too much glue on the pylons and ruined them. The entire model was a loss and I’ve considered using it for a self destructed version from Star Trek 3.
I just bought this kit yesterday. I noticed the instructions do not say where the decals go, but the decals in the box are numbered. My box doesn’t show them like yours does. How do I obtain the instructions? Also if I buy the Aztec kit, which set goes on first? The aztez set or the set In the box?
I haven’t built a model in years. Did you do spray painting or by brush? Also did you record doing some of the Aztec stickers? I just know I’d mess them up. Thanks for the video
Oh my goodness... so.. much... Aztec. It’s been decades since I’ve done a model. I do like the easy to assemble attribute. Might even pick this up. But I’ll leave much of the decals off. Sometimes less is more. The battle damage does look nice. In any case, thanks much for the video.
Its good they let you apply the damage decals since the model on the box had the damage in the wrong place (that kit also looks like it can recreate the ST3 damage which I dont think has been done before outside of custom kits)
Hi, for this kit and the reliant did you use a white base coat and or primer and if so which colour? I was thinking a white primer following by a pearl white gloss. Thank you
I think most modelers will agree that a gloss finish on any Enterprise kit will look funky. Obviously, if it appeals to you more than a flat finish, go for it!
@@markpr73 haha I needed this a year ago. I did do a gloss fonishnandnit actually looks fine. I am finishing off the reliant. Probably a silly question but can you spray matt over gloss or is that a terrible idea?
I'll show how to do that that when I do the video for the Reliant, because I made one of those un azteced as well. What I did was a "pin wash" I paint with Acrylics, and I airbrushed the entire ship white( water based Acrylics). Then I used a thin wash of enamel (oil based thinned grey paint.) you get it really thin and use a brush to put paint into the panel lines. Now the nice part is oil based thinner cleans up enamel but doesn't interact with the acrylic at all. So you can clean up any enamel that spills out of the panel lines, with oil based thinner on a q-tip and it won't hurt the base coat.
Last week I just completed the TMP version of that model. I also left the aztec decals off, and painted it with a pearl white, and used the Enterprise-A decals. Maybe not screen accurate, but looks great!
The aztecking is way too pronounced at this scale... I love the idea but it really needs to be toned down. Thanks for the video! I very much enjoyed it.
The decals too pronounced due to the white base color. It should be a light grey as it appears on screen. The movie model was painted white so it would appear as grey on screen. The same goes for the Reliant. Alot of modelers will paint the detailing on it blue but appears on screen medium grey. its was done that way on the movie models because of how the colors would translate on film due to blue screen process.
I'd probably spray it with a black primer, then go over the individual panels with a white coat. I'd probably do a couple of layers, then outline the panels with a grey outline. That should give it some texture without it being too pronounced.
@@johnrocha6212I have this kit from about 2008 and actually plan on building in a couple weeks go figure. The problem is the aztecs are literally a wallpaper as he says. The basecoat of the kit is irrelevant because the aztecs cover every square inch save for the nacelle grills and deflector obviously. From my recollection you could essentially paint the model black by time your are done decaling it won't matter. Regardless, you are correct on the base color, I'm going to do that; but the aztecs do need to be toned down. I'm going to "try" to paint the correct base color, decal it, ever so lightly go over the aztecs with my airbrush in the basecolor in an effort to tone them down and then semi-clear. No clue if it will work or look good but will give it a shot.
I don't like the Aztec decals. They stand out WAY TOO MUCH against the pearly white hull surfaces. The entire ship should be painted a couple of shades closer to gray before applying those Aztec decals. As it is, it looks like the hull surfaces have the measles.
Your non-aztec version looks perfect.
nice review: one thing that I wish the manufacturer would do is to include a set of white window decals. The model they have always offered, including this issue, is a white base with black windows.-I guess all the lights are off on this model. The "E" never looked like this in the movies. The lights in the windows were always on and I made my model to look like this. So if the whitest white are the windows the rest of the ship has to be darkened accordingly. So mine is a grey/light grey color. I know that is not the true color of the ship but to me that is how it looked on screen. Making the ship grey also serves to tame down the aztec pattern. painting those little white dots and dashes (windows) was pain staking. I have never found an after market white window decal sheet either. So if you know of one.....
My favorite kit of all time... I wouldn't change a thing about it! I especially love the Aztec decals. Thanks for sharing
Where do you buy the aztec decals?
Can't find any anywhere.
I so hope they will do an Enterprise C in the 1:1000 scale
The plastic model bug bit me when I was a kid and my most recent non-flying model obsession has been Star Trek. I bought this kit as a companion to the Polar Lights TOS ship and I started looking up videos for insight. Yours has been very helpful, especially in deciding to spend the $25 for the custom decals. I was considering spending another $50 on a plug and play lighting kit, but when combined with the kit itself, I will have spent over $100 and that seems a bit much for something that doesn't actually fly!
I also love your 1/1000 collection. That is the collection I'm aiming for!
Wonderful ship sir,
Very fortunate to have the Bandai 1701, everything pre applied and painted.
The Bandai kits have all gotten insanely expensive...triple digits on the secondary market, all of'em...some crazier than others.
I’ve heard a lot of enterprise builders refer the impulse deflection dome as the crystal. I know I sound like that Star Trek geek type. 😄. I think it’s a nice build, but polar lights need to make the aztekking a little more subtle. It’s way too dark for that scale. I have the acreation decals for it but it too has the same issue. Trying to light it is a nightmare
You could battle damage the Reliant from on screen references with some of the extra transfers.
Great review/build ! Just got my W of K Enterprise and the decals are on its way from Cultman. Thank You for the build wonder if the Reliant will have damaged decals ? take care , Tony
Yes it does
My local Hobby Lobby doesn't carry the Star Trek series models. I'm still trying to find the kits for the collection. What should I do?
😊
You did a great job of it but MAN, it looks awful! The aztec are barely noticeable on extreme close-ups. This looks like the ship has chickenpox!
For a Star Trek 2 set. The Aztec decals are wrong. The aztec pattern on the secondary hull is the enterprise A. Also it’s to bold. The color is still the same from TMP just dulled down. If there was a mask set I’d paint instead. I may just get the decals and paint on top of it.
Excellent, helpful video. Thanks very much!
I believe that was Admiral James T. Kirk, not Captain Kirk, who yelled KAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN!
why are the pylons painted different to the hull section? one is teal the other is blue...
What color of blue did you use for the Enterprise and reliant
Question what colors did you use to make that blue
This really needs a matte clear coat applied
Great video thank you for putting it up! I would love to purchase the Aztec decals you used but I am not able to find them anywhere, can you point me in the right direction?
I think they just hit stores this week, so hopefully local hobby shops will have it on shelves in the next few days, Culttvman.com has some on their online shop
www.culttvmanshop.com/USS-Enterprise-Refit-Wrath-of-Khan-Edition-2020-11000-scale-from-Round-2Polar-Lights-_p_4934.html
www.culttvmanshop.com/EnterpriseReliant-Aztec-decals-11000-scale-from-Round-2Polar-Lights-_p_4935.html
Great video! What color did you use for the hull on your excelsior? I love it.
I wish I remembered, I think it was colors I had already mixed for a star wars project around the same time.
Thanks for the video .
Btw the NO aztec version looks a lot more nice , :)
Thanks! I liked that one too, I liked having it look diofferent than most, and I think there are several times in the films where you see the grid lines more than the aztec panels.
movies.trekcore.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=54803&fullsize=1
Just picked up this one and reliant. Me and my son are going to do them together. I'll be posting other vid, and link your video if thats OK.
I have the original version of this that I got at a garage sale as a kid. My modeling skills were terrible back them and I used too much glue on the pylons and ruined them. The entire model was a loss and I’ve considered using it for a self destructed version from Star Trek 3.
They look really nice. Too bad these are no longer available. I’ll probably just go with a white pearl iridescent and the decals.
I just bought this kit yesterday. I noticed the instructions do not say where the decals go, but the decals in the box are numbered. My box doesn’t show them like yours does. How do I obtain the instructions? Also if I buy the Aztec kit, which set goes on first? The aztez set or the set In the box?
I haven’t built a model in years. Did you do spray painting or by brush? Also did you record doing some of the Aztec stickers? I just know I’d mess them up. Thanks for the video
On the box, it should be Admiral James T. Kirk. They got this rank wrong.
Oh my goodness... so.. much... Aztec.
It’s been decades since I’ve done a model. I do like the easy to assemble attribute. Might even pick this up. But I’ll leave much of the decals off. Sometimes less is more.
The battle damage does look nice.
In any case, thanks much for the video.
Its good they let you apply the damage decals since the model on the box had the damage in the wrong place (that kit also looks like it can recreate the ST3 damage which I dont think has been done before outside of custom kits)
Back in the day, amt/ertl wanted you to paint the yellow on the phasers and the thrusters, no decals.... Ah the good old days
Those panel lines look super deep though. Is this just an old kit, or am I spoiled by highly engineered Japanese kits?
The "Phaser Bumps" are well out of scale anyway (AFAIK).
Now they need a way to make it purlescent purple
I sprayed mine with a clear matte to get rid of the shine. Turned out really cool. Thanks for the video.
The paneling decals on the dish of the model make it look way too busy.
Well that was a great video the two models turned out awesome👍👌🍺🍺🍻😎🇿🇦
Hi, for this kit and the reliant did you use a white base coat and or primer and if so which colour? I was thinking a white primer following by a pearl white gloss. Thank you
I think most modelers will agree that a gloss finish on any Enterprise kit will look funky. Obviously, if it appeals to you more than a flat finish, go for it!
@@markpr73 haha I needed this a year ago. I did do a gloss fonishnandnit actually looks fine. I am finishing off the reliant. Probably a silly question but can you spray matt over gloss or is that a terrible idea?
How did you highlight the grid lines on the non azteced version ?
I'll show how to do that that when I do the video for the Reliant, because I made one of those un azteced as well.
What I did was a "pin wash" I paint with Acrylics, and I airbrushed the entire ship white( water based Acrylics). Then I used a thin wash of enamel (oil based thinned grey paint.) you get it really thin and use a brush to put paint into the panel lines.
Now the nice part is oil based thinner cleans up enamel but doesn't interact with the acrylic at all. So you can clean up any enamel that spills out of the panel lines, with oil based thinner on a q-tip and it won't hurt the base coat.
Star Trek Model Kit Previews thanks
Did you paint it with a paint brush ?