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Posted by 137th Gebirg (Member # 2692) on :
 
Hey all!

Rick Sternbach recently posted these images on his Facebook page - models that are planned for future release in the Eaglemoss official Trek Ships line. The aztecking is a bit cloudy but, on the whole, these are REALLY nice looking ships. And, for the first time, the REAL Nebula-class Melbourne!

Melbourne 1 (Nebula)
Melbourne 2 (Nebula)
Kyushu 1 (New Orleans)
Kyushu 2 (New Orleans)
Chekov 1 (Springfield)
Ahwahnee 1 (Cheyenne)
Buran 1 (Challenger)
Buran 2 (Challenger)

No word on the Niagara or Freedom classes yet, though, although I think I remember that the various Excelsior models that had shown up in the background shots might be considered. Can't remember where, though.

We finally get to see what the area with the 2 rear engines on the Melbourne looks like, potentially ending years of speculation! I'm now wondering if that coffin-box-like thing that they were mounted on was eventually lifted up to be made to look like a smaller sensor pod on the Sisko desk model, after the engines had been removed. Looks like that could be the case. It also appears to be the exact same kind of object that's sitting on the Springfield-class USS Chekov. Thoughts?

Enjoy - these things are awesome!
 
Posted by Mars Needs Women (Member # 1505) on :
 
Thank you for the post. These are amazing! Never knew the Springfield had a split at the front of the pod.
 
Posted by Dukhat (Member # 341) on :
 
Awesome. Just the other day I was doing a Google search on "U.S.S. Melbourne" to see if Propworx had found the original model along with the Buran. And now we have the pre-damaged version! Yay!

Thoughts:

So both pods from the Melbourne and the Chekov were pieces added later by Okuda, and not originally constructed by Miarecki. Okuda says they were cockpits from a Robotix toy set. That probably also means that the smaller nacelles on both Melbourne models were also Okuda additions, the only difference being that the desktop version had the nacelles but not the pod. So Miarecki's original version had nothing where the now-obligatory weapons pod went on the filming model.

And on that note:

quote:
Originally posted by 137th Gebirg:
I'm now wondering if that coffin-box-like thing that they were mounted on was eventually lifted up to be made to look like a smaller sensor pod on the Sisko desk model, after the engines had been removed.

No, because the desktop model in Sisko's office still had the two nacelles, just with a tiny connecting piece added on between them.

I always guessed that the Melbourne's small nacelles were on a separate piece stuck to the back of the saucer, and not at the end of the secondary hull. Turns out I was right, lol.

Also, it looks like the Kyushu's bridge model was a custom-built piece, not the actual part from the 1/1400 model kit.
 
Posted by 137th Gebirg (Member # 2692) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Dukhat:
Awesome. Just the other day I was doing a Google search on "U.S.S. Melbourne" to see if Propworx had found the original model along with the Buran. And now we have the pre-damaged version! Yay!

Thoughts:

So both pods from the Melbourne and the Chekov were pieces added later by Okuda, and not originally constructed by Miarecki. Okuda says they were cockpits from a Robotix toy set. That probably also means that the smaller nacelles on both Melbourne models were also Okuda additions, the only difference being that the desktop version had the nacelles but not the pod. So Miarecki's original version had nothing where the now-obligatory weapons pod went on the filming model.

Tried doing an image search on Robotix toys and I didn't find anything that came close yet. It does look like a hinged canopy of some type, but all the ones I've found are clear, rounded and smooth with no additional detailing on them. I suppose they could have added the greebles and painted it over, but I found nothing yet that matches the base shape. Will keep looking.

quote:
And on that note:

quote:
Originally posted by 137th Gebirg:
I'm now wondering if that coffin-box-like thing that they were mounted on was eventually lifted up to be made to look like a smaller sensor pod on the Sisko desk model, after the engines had been removed.

No, because the desktop model in Sisko's office still had the two nacelles, just with a tiny connecting piece added on between them.
Drat, you're right! Was really hoping that we finally got the answer to that one - it's been hounding me for years. Would still love to know what that little bit is. I honestly wonder why they felt the need to add that, unless the engines kept falling off during filming and they glued that on to give extra support. Kind of like the trapezoidal-shaped piece of wood in the TOS Enterprise corridor holding up that valve thing on the wall that kept falling down.

quote:
I always guessed that the Melbourne's small nacelles were on a separate piece stuck to the back of the saucer, and not at the end of the secondary hull. Turns out I was right, lol.
Indeed you were!

quote:
Also, it looks like the Kyushu's bridge model was a custom-built piece, not the actual part from the 1/1400 model kit. [/qb]
You're talking about this one, yes? I dunno - it looks just like the 1/1400 bridge sitting on top of the 1/2500 hull to me. Why custom build something that was already readily available?
 
Posted by Dukhat (Member # 341) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by 137th Gebirg:

Tried doing an image search on Robotix toys and I didn't find anything that came close yet. It does look like a hinged canopy of some type, but all the ones I've found are clear, rounded and smooth with no additional detailing on them. I suppose they could have added the greebles and painted it over, but I found nothing yet that matches the base shape. Will keep looking.

Okuda said that he added the detailing to the pod himself. So it was probably just a smooth cockpit originally. The front pronged piece looks like a computer keyboard foot that was added on.

quote:
Would still love to know what that little bit is. I honestly wonder why they felt the need to add that, unless the engines kept falling off during filming and they glued that on to give extra support.
Yeah, that's probably the reason. In-universe, I suppose it could be a Reliant-type weapons pod and pylons attached to the nacelles...

quote:
You're talking about this one, yes? Looks just like the 1/1400 bridge to me. Why custom build something that was already readily available?
If you look at the Kyushu dorsal pic, you can see that the bridge detailing is completely different than the 1/1400 bridge module pieces from the Buran, Chekov, and Ahwahnee. At one point this was the reason why I thought the Kyushu was actually made from a 1/1400 kit.
 
Posted by Dukhat (Member # 341) on :
 
Actually, when you compare this pic:

http://i767.photobucket.com/albums/xx320/gebirg137/Star%20Trek/kyushu1_zpspq5zrb87.jpg

to this pic:

http://www.ex-astris-scientia.org/articles/wolf359/chekov-paul.jpg

Does it look like the Kyushu is larger than the Chekov?
 
Posted by 137th Gebirg (Member # 2692) on :
 
Y'know, now that you mention it (and I'm assuming you're basing this on the comparative scale of the coffee mug in relation to the model sitting on it) it does appear to be much bigger, especially since everyone's been saying that these photos are all supposed to be of the upcoming Eaglemoss models, which should be at least half the size of the originals. Based on these photos, that cannot possibly be true. Maybe this is why the bridge module looks different than the 1:1400.

Maybe it's a 1:2500 bridge on a yet-smaller model, like a Johnny Lighting or Hot Wheels E-D? That would explain the even more drastic change in scale. Or am I going in the wrong direction with that one? Maybe some off-scale resin kit bashes? I'm really confused.

I'm also kind of creeped out that it appears to be the same exact flippin' mug, almost 25 years later! Both pics must have been taken by Mr. Sternbach, but the question does remain, how big are these things? I am at a loss on that one...
 
Posted by Dukhat (Member # 341) on :
 
^These photos are of the actual models used for BoBW. They're not the Eaglemoss models. The pic of the Chekov and these new pics were taken at the same time, since they're pre-damage.

It's possible Miarecki just made a scratch bridge module for the Kyushu (one larger than the 1/1400 module if the Kyushu was already 1/1400 scale.)
 
Posted by 137th Gebirg (Member # 2692) on :
 
AH! That makes sense then. Everyone that's been talking about these on other forums seemed to think these were prototypes or masters of the Eaglemoss models.
 
Posted by Andru (Member # 2145) on :
 
These two pictures from the same Facebook thread are pretty amazing too:

Miarecki's original Buran (Challenger)
Miarecki's original Melbourne (Nebula)

As well this comment from Mr Okuda, I wasn't aware that the models weren't built on purpose for BoBW:

"Rick and I were always trying to talk our producers into doing more starship models, instead of always recycling the Excelsior, Grissom, and Reliant miniatures. I commissioned Ed Miarecki to make a number of study models to show how Enterprise-D components could be used to create other Federation ships. One of those models eventually turned into the Nebula-class ship. And several of them found their way into the Wolf 359 graveyard."
 
Posted by Shik (Member # 343) on :
 
After closer examination of the Kyushu pix, I'm forced to rescind my belief stated in another thread that the model was made using 1/2500 parts like Buran, Chekov, & Ahwahnee, & instead agree with Dukhat that it was constructed from 1/1400 parts, as with Melbourne. The picture above with the original Miarecki small-engined Buran supports this as well, as you can see Kyushu's saucer bow in the foreground.
 
Posted by Dukhat (Member # 341) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Andru:
These two pictures from the same Facebook thread are pretty amazing too:

Miarecki's original Buran (Challenger)
Miarecki's original Melbourne (Nebula)

As well this comment from Mr Okuda, I wasn't aware that the models weren't built on purpose for BoBW:

"Rick and I were always trying to talk our producers into doing more starship models, instead of always recycling the Excelsior, Grissom, and Reliant miniatures. I commissioned Ed Miarecki to make a number of study models to show how Enterprise-D components could be used to create other Federation ships. One of those models eventually turned into the Nebula-class ship. And several of them found their way into the Wolf 359 graveyard."

Well, that's a ton of info that we never had before!

Aside from finally putting to rest the size of the Kyushu model, we also now see the Buran in its original Miarecki configuration. I had a feeling that it originally had smaller nacelles, but they're in the same configuration sans submarine pylon. I actually think Okuda's modifications made it look better.

It looks like Miarecki did originally paint his models, and Okuda/Sternbach added the names and registries later for BoBW. So it's possible that when the BoBW script called for three ships named Chekov, Kyushu, and Melbourne, Okuda just chose three models at random to represent those ships instead of having them specifically designed.

It also looks like I was right in my speculation that Miarecki's original Melbourne had no pod at all.

Finally, I had no idea that most of these models were not originally meant to be BoBW ships, and that Miarecki might have built more designs that didn't make it into the episode. I know of at least one design (the double-saucer, one-nacelled ship I'm going to be building this year to represent the Tolstoy (I even ordered the decals [Smile] )

EDIT: Looks like some guy named David Hirsh posted those two photos of the Miarecki models, not Sternbach. I have no doubt the photos are genuine, but I would have liked to see more [Frown]

[ January 13, 2016, 04:30 PM: Message edited by: Dukhat ]
 
Posted by 137th Gebirg (Member # 2692) on :
 
Seconded! I'm drooling over these new pics and info. Looks like I have some more schematics that are in need of being drawn this year...
 
Posted by Starship Freak (Member # 293) on :
 
the Miarecki models, I actually did not see them in the thread and the Buran looks weird as does the setting. Are we sure they´re genuine and not some fan-work?
 
Posted by Dukhat (Member # 341) on :
 
They're genuine. David Hirsch was one of the writers of the now defunct Star Trek The Magazine. I'm sure he got those pics from some production person's photo archive. Plus, the window layout on the saucer to the left matches the Kyushu's perfectly.
 
Posted by Starship Freak (Member # 293) on :
 
Nice. I do like the fact that his Buran differs from the later, onscreen version.
 
Posted by 137th Gebirg (Member # 2692) on :
 
The Kyushu is coming, along with a bunch of others! Woot!!
 -  -
 
Posted by Capt. Kaiser (Member # 10511) on :
 
Cool pics ^_^
 
Posted by Mars Needs Women (Member # 1505) on :
 
The Daedalus class is also coming too!
 
Posted by Peregrinus (Member # 504) on :
 
Pretty sure the Kyushu model was made with the 1:1400 E-D saucer, custom secondary, and altered 1:1400 E-D engines... and the bridge I speculate (but would need measurements to verify) was a re-pop from the recently-built four-foot E-D miniature.

--Jonah
 
Posted by Dukhat (Member # 341) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Peregrinus:
Pretty sure the Kyushu model was made with the 1:1400 E-D saucer

Yes.

quote:
custom secondary
Like the Buran, the secondary hull was lengthened but still used some of the original kit parts.

quote:
and altered 1:1400 E-D engines
Looks like the engines were lengthened at the ends by adding back pieces from another set of 1/1400 engines, and then the nacelles were either sanded flat or puttied to make them look flat.

quote:
and the bridge I speculate (but would need measurements to verify) was a re-pop from the recently-built four-foot E-D miniature.
I'm not sure how Miarecki would have gotten hold of anything done by Greg Jein, who built the four foot model.
 
Posted by 137th Gebirg (Member # 2692) on :
 
Found some more pics here. That gadget supporting the Melbourne's mini engines is positively odd looking. This is looking more and more like a detachable mini-starship, around the size of a Defiant by scale, looks like. Seriously what in the world IS that thing??
 
Posted by Dukhat (Member # 341) on :
 
Sweet! Finally some pics of the Chekov's underside where we can clearly see the secondary hull and pylons. It looks like instead of two pylons on each side, it's just one with a black line in the middle that fooled us into thinking they were two separate pieces.

The piece in question on the Melbourne is a cockpit from a Robotix toy set. I actually saw it on eBay along with a million other Robotix parts someone was selling. Unfortunately the guy was selling the whole lot as one for a pretty expensive price [Frown]
 
Posted by 137th Gebirg (Member # 2692) on :
 
I'm also curious what they made the Chekov's secondary hull out of. Doesn't seem to be a standard Galaxy-style, even modified. It also seems to be suffering from Oberthitis, with a lack of a meaningful way of getting down there easily via central connecting dorsal. Then again, these ships are much bigger and I guess you could fit a turbo shaft down either side of the pylons.

And yes, interesting optical illusion that was done there with that black line. SO happy we're finally getting to see these things up close for the first time.
 
Posted by Shik (Member # 343) on :
 
Ventral Kyushu! SIDE VIEW OF BURAN!!

Looking at the Chekov pod (which I'd hoped was a detachable mission-specific pod but now looks to be standard issue with an unseen deflector—annoying), I'm wondering if the piece might be a cut-down airplane fuselage with appropriately-reshaped wings. Also, I don't think it was part of the original model, because either there's a TON of transporter emitters there for some weird-ass reason, or about half of them are acting as stand-ins for lifeboat hatches, which is weird as there's proper ones on the rest of the model—unless it's an add-on piece.

So not only does Buran actually have an oddly-staggered nacelle placement, there's not even any pylon for the ventral nacelle?? I think ASDB designer-engineers were doing a whooole lotta space crack in the 2340s.
 
Posted by Andru (Member # 2145) on :
 
Wow, it's mind-boggling to think that it took like 25 years for good pictures of those ships to surface. Thanks Mr Sternbach.
 
Posted by Dukhat (Member # 341) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Shik:
Looking at the Chekov pod (which I'd hoped was a detachable mission-specific pod but now looks to be standard issue with an unseen deflector—annoying), I'm wondering if the piece might be a cut-down airplane fuselage with appropriately-reshaped wings. Also, I don't think it was part of the original model, because either there's a TON of transporter emitters there for some weird-ass reason, or about half of them are acting as stand-ins for lifeboat hatches, which is weird as there's proper ones on the rest of the model—unless it's an add-on piece.

I think you're right. I do recall reading somewhere that Miarecki did build it like that because he wanted to ship to resemble the Grissom, but now that I see the model up close, that was probably just bullshit someone made up. It totally does look like an add-on part that wasn't on the original design, and it certainly doesn't look like it came from the original Ent-D model kit as was previously thought.

quote:
So not only does Buran actually have an oddly-staggered nacelle placement, there's not even any pylon for the ventral nacelle?? I think ASDB designer-engineers were doing a whooole lotta space crack in the 2340s.
Yeah, I wonder why Okuda didn't use another sub conning tower as the pylon for the second nacelle. It's not like he wouldn't have had any handy, since he said he and Sternbach bought a bunch of sub model kits.

On that subject, I hope that in the future there are uncovered photos of the Mars defense perimeter drone. That's the one ship we haven't gotten good pics of yet.
 
Posted by 137th Gebirg (Member # 2692) on :
 
IIRC, that drone was mostly a Typhoon-class sub with nacelles.
 
Posted by Dukhat (Member # 341) on :
 
Oh yeah, I know what it was made from. We just have never seen photos of the actual model other than screencaps from the episodes it was used in, the best of which was the Soliton waverider:

http://www.ex-astris-scientia.org/observations/newground/24-newground-r.jpg

On the subject of BoBW, its looks like we've managed to identify every object seen at Wolf 359, whether it be a ship or just random wreckage, except for the object directly above the Kyushu in this pic:

http://www.ex-astris-scientia.org/observations/thebestofbothworldsii/08-thebestofbothworldsii-3-r.jpg

It was filmed with the five other Miarecki-built models, and it looks more like a small ship than a random piece of wreckage.

Here it is again directly under the Ent-D's saucer:

http://www.ex-astris-scientia.org/observations/thebestofbothworldsii/08-thebestofbothworldsii-10a-r.jpg


For years I've been wracking my brain trying to figure out what that thing is. I assumed everything from the Kotoi shuttlecraft, to the Surak shuttle from TMP, to a Klingon K'T'inga (all available AMT model kits at the time), to an undocumented Miarecki model, to something from another production, to something Okuda or Sternbach might have thrown together at the last minute. Unfortunately, in the Bluray special features, this object is still not seen clearly at all even during the different VFX passes shown.
 
Posted by Trimm (Member # 865) on :
 
I'd bet solid money on that object being the back end of a K'Tinga.
 
Posted by Dukhat (Member # 341) on :
 
^The problem with that is that I have an unbuilt Klingon battlecruiser model kit, and I can't arrange or rearrange the parts to make it look like the object in that screencap.
 
Posted by Capt. Kaiser (Member # 10511) on :
 
Supposdly the object your discussing is the Soup Box TNG shuttle from the Art of Star Trek book
 
Posted by Dukhat (Member # 341) on :
 
Soup box shuttle? Do you mean the damaged shuttle model Greg Jein built? Pretty sure that's not it.
 
Posted by Capt. Kaiser (Member # 10511) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Dukhat:
Soup box shuttle? Do you mean the damaged shuttle model Greg Jein built? Pretty sure that's not it.

Yeah that
 
Posted by Jason Abbadon (Member # 882) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Peregrinus:
Pretty sure the Kyushu model was made with the 1:1400 E-D saucer, custom secondary, and altered 1:1400 E-D engines... and the bridge I speculate (but would need measurements to verify) was a re-pop from the recently-built four-foot E-D miniature.

--Jonah

NO.
It's a 2500th kitbash.

Okay, I realise you're not all model builders, so here goes:
The 1400th model was BIG- and covered with raised aztec patterns which would have needed many hours od painstaking sanding down to get smooth (as my modeler bretheren will tell you- it's a nightmare).
Also, did I mention how BIG the thing is? Far to large for even the biggest stabilo markers to work as those pods.

And there's the stuff that's inaccurate on the 2500th model kit which is part of the New Orleans model- mainly that inaccurate impulse engine at the base of the "neck" and the too-sharp edge of the saucer.

Next is the New Orleans bridge- which really IS a 1400th scale part (the only one)- complete with the (inaccurate) recessed (on this part only) bridge detail and too-large skylight (which has it's tiny clear bit of styrene missing on the NO build).

For the NO to have used 1400th saucer, secondary hull and nacelle parts, they'd have needed maybe five hours to sand it all smooth, then they'd have had to scratch up a custom bridge (compete with matching 1400th scale kit inaccuracies- only larger), they'd need to sand off the 1400th kit's impulse engine and scratch up an inaccurate one to match the misplaced and mis-detailed 2500th version, sanded the inner saucer down to be so thin and lastly...

They have had to fill in the HUNDREDS OF RECESSED WINDOWS on the 1400th scale kit. Seriously deep recessed windows. All over the kit.
Hours more work to just do that alone.

Remember guys- the whole point of buying store-bought kits was that time was a critical factor, so using a 1400th scale kit makes zero sense.
 
Posted by Dukhat (Member # 341) on :
 
Sorry Jason, but it's been definitively proven that the Kyushu was made with 1/1400 parts and heavily modified by Miarecki to look the same size as the Ahwahnee, Chekov and Buran. Photos of the models confirm this.

[ March 05, 2016, 05:38 PM: Message edited by: Dukhat ]
 
Posted by MinutiaeMan (Member # 444) on :
 
I'm not going to address the scale issue directly (not enough experience), but I'll point out that the Kyushu pods are definitely NOT the markers that were used for the Chekov and Ahwahnee nacelles.

Edit: never mind, I just checked EAS and those are just different markers. Don't mind me.
 
Posted by Shik (Member # 343) on :
 
Jason: look at the shuttlebay doors; you can see they're separate recessed pieces. Look at the saucer rim & the way it blends into the dorsal, & look at that main impulse deck as well as the saucer ones. Finally, you can see how the warp field grilles in the nacelles have those pain in the ass gaps up front we all hated.

Sorry, boychik; I believed it was 1/2500 forever as well, but based on those elements (& I AM a modeler, you know that...or was..) I'm forced to agreed 1/1400 parts were used.
 
Posted by Dukhat (Member # 341) on :
 
https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1572/23721357253_90584c059a_o.jpg

The Kyushu is the saucer seen at the left of this pic. It is clearly much larger than the Ahwahnee and Buran in the same pic.
 
Posted by Andru (Member # 2145) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Dukhat:
https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1572/23721357253_90584c059a_o.jpg

The Kyushu is the saucer seen at the left of this pic. It is clearly much larger than the Ahwahnee and Buran in the same pic.

Now that I had a closer look at the picture of the original Miarecki ships above, the saucer at left doesn't appear to match accurately the Kyushu, nor any of the known BoBW ships for that matter. [Confused]
 
Posted by MinutiaeMan (Member # 444) on :
 
I think that unknown ship is the Kyushu with an extra row of windows and escape pods. It's otherwise very close, and there's just enough room on the finished model for that row.

Since the Buran was modified after the shot, why not the Kyushu too?

It's definitely not the Melbourne, though, the Melbourne had no modifications to its saucer.
 
Posted by Jason Abbadon (Member # 882) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Andru:
quote:
Originally posted by Dukhat:
https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1572/23721357253_90584c059a_o.jpg

The Kyushu is the saucer seen at the left of this pic. It is clearly much larger than the Ahwahnee and Buran in the same pic.

Now that I had a closer look at the picture of the original Miarecki ships above, the saucer at left doesn't appear to match accurately the Kyushu, nor any of the known BoBW ships for that matter. [Confused]
Definitely not the Kyushu- too many windows and I think the lifeboats are wrong too.
Back on page 1, there's two pics that show the Kyushu- one on a coffe cup- which would need to be 6" across if the ship uses 1400 scale parts and a top view.
Compare the top view of the saucer with the Springfield top view- tge saucers are identical- right down to the inaccurate 2500th phaser ring and molded on (and too small) saucer impulse engines.
The 1400th scale Galaxy saucer is much different- and, as mentioned, has tons of raised AND recessed details missing from the Kyushu model.


I wish Fructose was still around- or his website was- as he had a brilliant rebuild using 2500th parts. It was an exact match.
 
Posted by Dukhat (Member # 341) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by MinutiaeMan:
I think that unknown ship is the Kyushu with an extra row of windows and escape pods. It's otherwise very close, and there's just enough room on the finished model for that row.

Since the Buran was modified after the shot, why not the Kyushu too?

It's definitely not the Melbourne, though, the Melbourne had no modifications to its saucer.

The black marks at the very front of the saucers are the same. It's the Kyushu. As for the missing escape pod hatches, just look at the Buran. Its hatches were removed too to be able to get the ship's name and registry number affixed, so that's probably what happened with the Kyushu too.

But there's an even easier way to determine this. Take a Shwann Stabilo marker of the kind that Okuda used to make the Kyushu's pods, and stick them on both a 1/2500 saucer and a 1/1400 saucer, and you'll see that they fit the 1/1400 saucer like in this top view:

http://i767.photobucket.com/albums/xx320/gebirg137/Star%20Trek/kyushu2_zpsmzl4bwir.jpg

quote:
Originally posted by Jason Abbadon:
I wish Fructose was still around- or his website was- as he had a brilliant rebuild using 2500th parts. It was an exact match.

I remember that site, and his model, which was made from a 1/2500 kit. I also distinctly remember him saying that he found out later that the original Kyushu was made from a 1/1400 kit. The pods he used on his model were not the Stabilo markers (because they would have been too big) but rather something he came up with himself.

I have pics of his Kyushu model somewhere. I know for a fact that the pods he used did not look like the markers.
 
Posted by Shik (Member # 343) on :
 
Also, in that picture, the portside saucer engine is missing. They're integral on the 1/2500 hull but a separate piece—just like that—on the 1/1400.
 
Posted by 137th Gebirg (Member # 2692) on :
 
^^^ That is a VERY good point. Never noticed that before. Could the base model from this been something else entirely? Were there other lower-scale models or toys of the E-D available at the time that might have had separate engine cowels? I think the only other thing was the Playmates toy - the Diamond Select toys weren't available yet, I don't think.
 
Posted by Dukhat (Member # 341) on :
 
I'm pretty sure the Playmates Enterprise-D wasn't around yet when BoBW was filmed. The AMT model kits were literally brand-new at the time, much less any toys that accurately represented the ship in that size.
 
Posted by Trimm (Member # 865) on :
 
The Playmates Enterprise D came in 1992 or 93, so it is certainly not in the running.
 
Posted by 137th Gebirg (Member # 2692) on :
 
Intriguing. This feels like another mystery. Was there ever a version of the 3-ship 1:2500 kit where the impulse engines were separate pieces? I don't recall that being the case. I'm really curious about this...
 
Posted by Shik (Member # 343) on :
 
Nope. 1/2500 Galaxys had integral all the way.
 
Posted by 137th Gebirg (Member # 2692) on :
 
Hey all - Valdore over at Starship Modeler found the "coffin box" piece used on both the Chekhov and the Nebula prototype. Link here.
 
Posted by Dukhat (Member # 341) on :
 
The link asks for a username and password.
 
Posted by 137th Gebirg (Member # 2692) on :
 
Oops. Sorry about that. I guess, having an account there, I never noticed it was required just to look at posts. Here's the original post:
quote:
From Valdore:

Hi all,

Ok. So it's 5am. I should be sleeping, but couldn't. So, what better way to to pass the early hours than googling old toys from my childhood. Y'know, as you do.

Anyhoo. Long story short. I found the USS Chekov's pod!!!!!!

Basically, the pod was the cockpit cover from a few of the Scitex toys from 1987. ( In this case the Sand cruizer. The Groster also had that part. ) And looks fairly unmodified. The toys were produced by Tomy. So they're a stable mate for the Zoids brand. Which is why the damn part seemed so familiar to me when the new photos of the Wolf 359 ships came to light. For all I know, the Zoids, and Scitex's may have had interchangeable parts. Lol

Anyway. Spread the word. Just checked eBay, and came up with zip. So even though l think I've found it. It'd probably still be easier to scratch the bloody thing. Always the way Rolling Eyes

Edit: Make that 5:18am. It took me 18 minutes to write the above on my tablet. Lol

Edit 2: Still looking, and the piece was also part of the Tomy Tomics range, as seen here from the site CollectinDX

http://www.collectiondx.com/toy_review/1987/treadmaster

Of note is the cranes arm. That's where the part is. Originally, seems the part was a dark, smoked piece. That's seems to have the scribe lines, hinge, and the square detail underneath, exactly matching the Chekov's pod.

Awesome. I Wonder why they only used that piece though? Bloody thing is packed with usable greeblies.


 
Posted by Guardian 2000 (Member # 743) on :
 
Wow. Amazing catch.
 
Posted by 137th Gebirg (Member # 2692) on :
 
Thanks very much! I can't take full credit for the find, though. Valdore did most of the heavy lifting. [Smile]

In other news, Eaglemoss has released a pic of the New Orleans-class USS Kyushu prototype. Aside from the grid lines and escape pods from being a little overly-pronounced for the scale, it's quite a faithful representation. Quite amazing, considering the analog nature of the source material.

Also note it's sitting on a mug, not unlike the original. Someone at Eaglemoss has really been paying attention - LOVE these guys! [Big Grin]
 
Posted by Dukhat (Member # 341) on :
 
That's the pod/cockpit, all right. And it'll probably be next to impossible to find.

However, on the same subject, I also managed to find an elusive part: the rear piece to the U.S.S. Hutzel kitbash:

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Vwus_QCK5TI/UVtU_k6GjOI/AAAAAAAAA2g/RmW3DcuNeMk/s1600/hutzel2.jpg

It's a part from the Robotix toys. I found them on eBay, but the seller didn't only sell one, so I ended up with like 15 of them, lol. Maybe I can sell them to people who want to build a replica.

http://flareupload.pleh.net/uploads/341/hutzel1.jpg

http://flareupload.pleh.net/uploads/341/hutzel2.jpg
 
Posted by Guardian 2000 (Member # 743) on :
 
Okay, I was trying to avoid and/or divest physical models in favor of digital ones, but I am afraid I will have to own the New Orleans Class. We all have our favorite non-star ships and that frigate is mine. Of course, I prefer her without what I imagine to be the special mission pods, but whatever.

And Dukhat, props (no pun intended) to being unfazed by bulk purchasing requirements. :-)
 


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