The Building of a (Trek)Starfleet

Chadepotts1273

Chadepotts1273

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Feb 9, 2015
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Greetings all! I've decided to start a thread of my various Star Trek builds, starting with the Phoenix, designed by Skip. I think every Star Trek story should start with Zefram Cochrane's Phoenix, the first prototype warp ship. This particular model was one of my first builds, about 2 years ago, so it's a little rough around the edges. Thought I'd start with some finished pics, but I will likely build it again soon with some progress pics accompanying it. I have been busy with my Battlestar Galactica build thread, but I am building just as many, or more Trek ships than Galactica ships. So, I thought it would just be easier to start a separate thread. I have many ships I'm planning to build, & I will do my very best to supply progress pics of those builds. Hope you enjoy! :) image.jpgimage.jpg image.jpg image.jpg
 
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It looks really good!
You could really greeble this out and make it to where the arms and nacelles to fold into the body of the ship.
 
D-WHALE said:
your build looks a bit wrong to the original! how would the arms go in?
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Well, like I said, it was one of my first builds & I originally wasn't going to post pics of it.I did wonder about that though. I used that same pic for reference & it was the only one I could find when I was building it. The picture seemed a little vague to me on where exactly to position the nacelles.I almost positioned them above those side pieces, as the pic seems to suggest, but it seemed off balance to me when I did. If & when I build another one though, I'll look into it a bit more.:)
 
Chadepotts1273 said:
Thanks for the link, I'll definitely use it on my next build of this ship! I guess I interpreted the picture differently, but I can see what you're saying. :)
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Ok, I totally see it now. I should've inverted those 2 side parts. It's so simple, I can't believe I didn't see it before.:headbange: Now, I'm really wanting to rebuild the whole thing.:hammerhead:
 
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and a little hint: you can use a half of a little plastic pearl for the bussard collectors! looks much better! i did it for a Romulan BoP (the grey one on the right)
 

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I was considering starting this build thread with a build of Marko's U.S.S. Excelsior, but now I'm feeling strongly motivated to do a re-build of the Phoenix. I apologize to you all for posting pics of a model not built accurately. At the time I built it, the way I put it together made sense to me. But, it wasn't right. So, now I'll get no peace till I do build it right! Also, Rhaven Blaack mentioned greebling potential for this model as well as retracting warp engines. So, I've been looking at this model thinking of how best to go about that. Any ideas of how to "hinge" the warp engines so they retract would be welcome. :)
 
Chadepotts1273 said:
I was considering starting this build thread with a build of Marko's U.S.S. Excelsior, but now I'm feeling strongly motivated to do a re-build of the Phoenix. I apologize to you all for posting pics of a model not built accurately. At the time I built it, the way I put it together made sense to me. But, it wasn't right. So, now I'll get no peace till I do build it right! Also, Rhaven Blaack mentioned greebling potential for this model as well as retracting warp engines. So, I've been looking at this model thinking of how best to go about that. Any ideas of how to "hinge" the warp engines so they retract would be welcome. :)
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I would suggest rewatching Star Trek (First Contact again and study the ship fully. After that look closely at the parts concerning the retracting engines. I took you last photo and marked the areas where you can make the changes.
image.jpg
 
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Wow! This should be interesting!! :)
 
the F14 tomcat plastic model has a duel toothed gear hinge joint [?] so both sides move when you pull one out into position, you can probably make that out of matte board or that foam stuff for poster boards, if that works for you. also I saw something about paper mache' where you laminate a wire, or if a paper purist [gotta love those guys] maybe a wooden coffee stirrer, with card stock and glue to stiffen up that whole area so it can move in a sturdy fashion. good luck on that!! I know what its like to have a model bug ya until its right!
 
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It's not a toy, I wouldn't sacrifice build time and effort, for something that may cause more trouble than it's worth. One idea could be to put a metal rod into the rear of the ship as a mount, and attach the rod so that it pushes and pulls, and that causes the nacelles to open and close. Some simple experimentation to get it right, and you would have a mechanism. You will have to extend the pivot point on the main mounts, and use string to open the nacelles, with rubber bands to give tension to retract. Much work. I'd go the manual position route.IMHO. :)
 
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Thanks for the tips guys! & the links, they will help. I appreciate all the input. I'll try not to get too carried away when I commence to building the new ship. (Though I really could!:bulgeeye:) I'd like to keep the greebling & the retracting warp engines on a moderate level, but still try to keep it interesting.;) It will likely end up hanging from my ceiling anyway. I've been trying to determine where exactly the pivot points will be for the engines, & how to make the hinges. I am considering all the suggestions above. Thank you for those! I am not a paper purist, but I have a very healthy respect for not offending the delicate sensibilities of those who are, so I'm seriously considering wood ( toothpicks or dowels possibly)in the hinge making process.
 
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