While I wait on the decals for my TOS USS Enterprise, I figured I would go and build the old AMT USS Deiant from DS9. I remember buiilding this years ago when it was first released, what I don’t remember is the seams. I might have blocked out that painful memory.
It came toget really quick, so the next step is to tackle the seams.
I see lots of filler and sandpaper in your near future! But it is a nice-looking ship, reminds me somehow of the “Spindrift” from Land of the Giants. I look forward to seeing it done.
I built this kit when it first came out, but it was one of the Star Trek kits I never finished. I remember it being soft in detail and giant gaps that I got fed up with filling and sanding.
Mustang, I admire your tenacity and willingness to build this kit. I bought this same kit at a swap meet six months ago not really knowing what I was getting myself into. When I opened the box and saw how big it is, I just closed the lid. I passed off the kit to a friend who is an internet reseller. I’m waiting for Modelpalooza in October to find a 1/1000 Polar Lights Defiant kit. Much more my size and speed. Keep us posted as your build progresses. I really want to see how the Defiant looks when you’re finished.
…and the build continues. Worked on the seams using Vallejo putty. First time using it, not bad. Have to remember how to work with water based putty versus Tamiya’s putty.
Okay, so I had to breakdown and use some Tamiya putty for the nacelles and the nose section. Still coming along alright. I "attempted"to airbrush Vallejo’s Model Air Copper. yeah, that didn’t go so well.[:'(] For some reason, I just can not spray their metallic colors.
Buddy, my hat’s off to you; that kit looks just like I remember it when it arrived in the late 90s. Squadron white putty was used throughout the hull halves. I always thought it would have been neat if they had issued this kit in clear plastic like they did with the Enterprise-C as the Yamaguchi. That way we could have done a “cloaked” version.
I thought the USS Excelsior was the best starship kit that AMT/Ertl produced. The Enterprise-B being just as good and the -C/Yamaguchi being close in quality.
I have the Enterprise B and the C somewhere in my stash. I might have to tackle those soon. Even with the putty it’s easy to assemble, just all of those seams! [t$t]
I’ve half a mind to find mine, tear her back apart and try to light her. I still have a FSM issue where a guy did a really cool job on his with fiber optic cable and LEDs.
Finally have something to show. Started to prime the model and worked more on the stand. Taped off the gold and started to spray the silver down. Also had to remove the paint on the bussard collectors and redo it, this time using silver as an undercoat instead of black.
The black undercoat makes her look like she’s from the Terran Empire from the Mirror Universe though! (Yeah I know they did have a Defiant and they used the same stock footage so she was the same Federation pale grey).
Here we go, primer is done and setting and just awaiting the application of the base coat. The silver is done for the display case. The bussard collectors look better in person then how the pictures came out. One thing, I found some tutorials by Don Suratos on how to thin the different Vallejo paints that was a life saver.
Thanks for the reference to Don Suratos recipes for thinning Vallejo paints. It’s something I have been experimenting with to get the right consistency.
Oh those seams! I cringe just looking at them, but they are still better then what they were when I started the build. As for the Vallejo putty I used, I am on the fence on how it came out. Maybe with another build using it I will have a better idea on how I feel about it. Personally I feel it’s operator error! [A]
As for this build, a couple of coats of the base color have been applied. A couple more to go.
Regardless of challenges with the putty I think it is coming along nicely.
I am just starting to learn how to use putties and gap fillers on my current build and can sympathize. My model has spots were it worked and others, well not so much. Puttying seems to be another art to master like painting.
…and the painting continues! Base color done, now on to the panels. Currently working on the “B” colors from the instruction sheet. Plan is to do everything in shades of gray. Plus this was an good chance to use my new double action airbrush. So far, I am impressed even if it’s a cough knock-off.
[/url]SAM_8437 by Darren Keller, on Flickr
SAM_8436 by Darren Keller, on Flickr
SAM_8435 by Darren Keller, on Flickr
SAM_8434 by Darren Keller, on Flickr
SAM_8433 by Darren Keller, on Flickr
SAM_8430 by Darren Keller, on Flickr
SAM_8428 by Darren Keller, on Flickr
SAM_8427 by Darren Keller, on Flickr
SAM_8426 by Darren Keller, on Flickr
SAM_8425 by Darren Keller, on Flickr
SAM_8424 by Darren Keller, on Flickr
SAM_8422 by Darren Keller, on Flickr
SAM_8420 by Darren Keller, on Flickr
SAM_8438 by Darren Keller, on Flickr
Even with the putty it’s easy to assemble, just all of those seams! [t$t]
