Flare Sci-Fi Forums: AMT/ERTL 30th Ann. Enterprise A Cutaway

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Posted by Harry (Member # 265) on :

I'm thinking of buying the Enterprise A Cutaway (30th anniversary). Has any of you have the kit? What's your
opinion about it? Is it easy, does it fit, does it look right *and* is it actually canon?

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Posted by Masao (Member # 232) on :

I don't have the kit, but I hear it's longer (22" vs 18", has accurately tapering nacelles, and the correct font for decals. The cutaway is based on the cutaway poster prepared by Sci-Tech Pub and is therefore just as noncanon. Here are some links about the kit you might find interesting: http://www.culttvman.com/modelingtosenterprise.html - CultTVman's original Ent page, at which you can find:
http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Dunes/2876/bench.html - An article about converting the kit to the 2nd pilot version.
http://192.234.159.2/~utopia/workbench1.htm - A review of the kit.

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Posted by Savar on :

The 22" cutaway model is as close to canon as you are going to get. As is the case with any AMT/ERTL model, there are inaccuracies. You can fix these details yourself, or purchase extremely well made replacements from Don's Light & Magic. Don offers top notch replacement parts for just about every injection-molded and vacuform Star Trek model out there. If you haven't discovered Don's site yet, visit soon. All items are reasonably priced and there are plenty of photos so you can see what you will get. Don's service is top of the line, as well. You won't wait long to receive anything you order from him.

I have the 22" Enterprise. My personal opinion is that it is quite a workable kit. The cutaway feature is a gimmick, however. I built mine for lighting. If you opt to ignore the cutaway design, you will have to take time to re-integrate the upper and lower primary hulls and a section of the secondary hull. This will mean a bit of reinforcing and seam-filling. The trickiest part will be re-scribing the three sets of rings on the lower primary hull. it can be done, however. I also highly recommend looking up the reviews mentioned by Masao

Unless you're a novice, buy the 22" Enterprise. With a good investment of time, and some of Don's fabulous parts, you can have the Big E looking fantastic. Don even offers a circuit board for lighting, including instructions to make the spinning light effect behind the bussard collectors. Put it next to your Enterprise-A (same scale finally!) when you're finished. Here are some other Trek modelling links:

Ken Huegel's Ultimate Nacelle Lighting Page hosted at CultTVman. You've got to see this. You can even download a small mpg of the lights in action.

Accurate Part - based in Australia, most of these parts are available through Don's Light & Magic.

ST Modeler - offering Trek decals, including original 1701 decals with gold borders as seen on the first pilot version.

Thomas Models offering every model imaginable plus, at last count, 29 different decal sheets for any Trek model you can imagine. Expect 4-6 weeks delivery.