This version of the famous starship is the refit seen in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.
The model is lighted with a lighting kit built by Trekmodeler.
I am also using photo etch details made by Paragrafix.
Last update: 8/6/2022
This is where it all starts - light blocking the pieces where lights will be installed. I started with a sand color; the final coat is a silver that will help reflect light to fill the body.
Starting work on miniature interior details...
The botanical gardens...initial painting...prior to adding walls and landscaping... This is just the "underlayment."
Adding photo etch detail pieces to the hangar/cargo bay walls...
Painting of hangar/cargo bay floor and ceiling pieces...
Initial painting of the officers' lounge...
Completed officers' lounge and botanical gardens.
Wiring running lights in the shuttle bay floor.
Testing the lights...
Assembled shuttle bay.
Putting the secondary hull together.
Assembled.
Neck wired and attached.
First color of hull painted. Next will come applying aztec masks.
Aztec masks applied. Ready to paint second color (flat white).
White layer painted...masks removed...
Very fine coat of white overlay to blend the colors a bit...
Secondary hull finished (needing only marking decals).
Working on the upper saucer.
Long delayed update.
Painting the saucer.
Not much left to do. Mainly decals and the warp nacelles...
Wiring up the warp nacelles.
She is officially 95% complete.
The nacelles are obviously not attached, but the only thing left to do after waiting for decals to set for several days is to fill in the windows (I use Micro Krystal Klear).