Aztek Dummy Update 9/20/19 - 1/2500 Enterprise from Discovery

this one week build is the Round 2 1/2500 scale tiny USS Enterprise from the second season of Star Trek Discovery - lights and all!
plus I modify the D7 base from last week to make it more stabe

[@federationshipyard4073]

Awesome build Lou I have to agree with you that the Enterprise is the most beautiful ship out there.

[@AlbertoRodriguez-zb3iu]

This design is superior to the Jjverse enterprise. Awsome work building that model 👍

[@slighter]

48:00 Thank you for buying that small kit an supporting it. Maybe because of people like you we all can anticipate the launch of the bigger kit this month. Your idea seems to have worked out after all. Thank you alot!

[@calvinroestudioworks5222]

Thanks as always for making your videos. Very enjoyable.

[@WarrenFahyAuthor]

The color and the lighting on that thing makes it look like a special effect in the first couple minutes.

[@michaelbradley7529]

Nice job salvaging the painting snafu.

[@rwheatley0206]

Very nice build. I love the Enterprise model best of all.

[@mikegilliam]

Good thinking on the D7 base modifications. Adding that piece of wood was simple but effective. The "Little E" turned out nicely. Your LED work always amazes me especially in something so small. I saw a recent video of a guy using stick on copper strips in a small model instead of wires. Those strips are paper thin and conducts the current to power the LEDs just fine. Maybe you can try that one day.

[@WarrenFahyAuthor]

So great! From macro to micro! I think one ship that might be an amazing addition to your viewsium (maybe hanging from the ceiling!) would be the Valley Forge. Love watching the magic you produce, Lou. Thanks!! What a Wonderium you create each week for all of us to wonder upon. What a great treat! Am I right?

[@aztekdummy]

Warren, can you find me a VF kit that wouldn't start to bend under it's own weight? At least the Discovery had a steel rod for a spine.

[@GregsModels]

Looks nice! The lights really bring life to the Enterprise. As for gloss I always use Vallejo, my weapon of choice.

[@matthewpoe1056]

Whoa! That still looks like the filming miniature.

[@SpencerWolfe]

"There's nothing prettier than a freshly painted Enterprise" ... Amen to that!. Interesting about the Tamiya-Krylon interaction. Never saw that one before. The Vallejo varnish is pretty robust though, especially when you let it completely dry.

[@ncc1701chris]

Looks great. Nice work. The refit Enterprise from Star Trek the motion picture always be my favorite but this model looks great I kind of like how this ship looks from Discovery everything that made the original Enterprise is there except it looks a little more modern

[@CProton69]

Nice one Lou? I can’t wait for the Nautilus build!

[@captpuke01]

Bravo! Wonderful review of the Discovery era ships. I was on the fence about purchasing these and lighting them. I think I will pass on these ships and focus on something else. Tamiya TS-13 works great for me before decals. Expensive..yes but wonderful clear finish. I have had bad experiences with rust-oleum gloss clear 2X ultra cover. It had the same effect you encountered. Even over enamel base.

[@ramonbodie513]

i know I'm kinda randomly asking but does anyone know a good site to stream newly released tv shows online ?

[@strikeeaglemodels1588]

Good video and great progress buddy 🍻👍

[@sciwolf359]

I am not a fan of Star Trek discovery. It’s really the only installment of the franchise I don’t like. But I do have to admit, the ship design from the show is extremely sexy! Great work Sir!

[@Aleksandar6ix]

That's fair. I keep an open mind and I enjoy for what it is. I think it needs to be different from the rest - each series has to stand out differently from each other otherwise it gets quite boring. Doesn't have to be identical for me to accept something as canon. But the things I don't like, I REAALLLY don't like in Discovery (and no, I'm not counting the Klingons).

[@MiniModelPaint]

Have you looked at conductive paint, Lou? It might be a good solution for future tiny ships...

[@OtakuBuilder]

Beautiful job! I was considering building this model kid last week but after discovering the size of it. It's a bit too small for my taste. Hopefully down the road Mobius will get the rights for the Enterprise down the road.

[@ShawnMcClureModeler]

Great build.

[@HillslamsMirror]

Beautiful!!!

[@asakilburn4549]

She looks great

[@dominiksilberhorn7058]

Awesome work, i have lots of problems with this tiny Model. But now exist the bigger Version, looks great, i hope you will build a 1:100 Discovery Enterprise with the lost windows from Strange new Worlds🤗 will be awesome to see what you make with this😃 Greetings from Germany

[@bilgerat7694]

that is something i would like to see is a larger scale of star trek vessels till next time have a good week

[@salc9593]

Great build Lou, I've come to always learn something from your builds. I believe 1:1000 scale should be the smallest scale for Star Trek models at almost $30.00 a pop for 1:2500 scale is way too much and for what one gets is not worth the money. Paying $20.00 to $30.00 for 1:1000 depending on the starship i.e. Enterprise C, D or E would be acceptable and $30.00 plus for a 1:1000 scale kit of the D'deridex Class Romulan Warbird would be will worth the extra cost, as 1:1000 scale would allow for those modelers how have limited space to build, light and pant a nice looking kit. I have to agree with you that the Enterprise is the most beautiful ship out there and it would be really nice to see her in 1:1000 or larger scale. Keep up the great videos.

[@nicholasdickens2801]

Love your videos.

[@bradsoltoff4041]

Thanks for posting these videos, Lou. Your Discovery video led me to a superior looking kit. About to start the Enterprise- watching your painting instructions very carefully. Interesting that you chose light gray shades- some photos of other versions seem to be silver like. But I’ll stick with the light grays- your end results were beautiful. Which specific grays did you use? (Your Discovery video was very exact re paint. ) Thanks again for your invaluable assist.

[@GaddisGaming]

First I just wanted to say that I love your videos. and second I want to say the reason I started watching them because I'm a collector of 1/2500 scale kits I'm not only like to model and display them but I also use them for gaming. So maybe Round 2 also has a secondary market for us gamers that are playing or Star Trek games in that scale which means more models sold then just people that are building large models for display. Just a thought and probably something that you hadn't considered.

[@aztekdummy]

You know, I hadn't thought of that. Thank you. I suppose it's like how moebius chose to use HO scale when they designed their building kits ( munsters etc...)

[@chrisfisher1625]

I'm currently working on this kit.I like your build. I didnt light mine as I felt its a bit too small to detail anyway.

[@chrisflowers-smoker154]

I try to rig the Models I make with Lights also. Had to use Christmas Lights on a 1701 Refit 1/350.........when Completed......it had Issues. LOL. Enterprise-D w/ Fiber Optics I was more proud of. That was much more easier to rig with more Lights. Just wish I could find replacement Impulse Engines for the Saucer Section (Model had them Clear Blue instead of Orange as they should be), and also wondered about where the Captain's Yacht is, forward of it. That should have had 4 Windows and recessed area. Otherwise, took a while with a Dremel, quite a few Micro Drill Bits, but I Cut out close to all the Windows. Looked amazing in the dark :D . Next Project is the 1/350 NX-01 which I will take great care to get it looking as perfect as I can :D

[@toboldlygosmodelworks1973]

I wonder with the announcement of ST Strange New Worlds, we'll get a larger model of Pike's Enterprise? 55" perhaps - Lou builds another model room ;)

[@blainecouch1766]

And with the 2500 scale its to match the 2500 scale enteprise sets and adversary set. Hopefully they make a larger scale in the future

[@jorisammerlaan]

Hey Lou, have you ever looked into aluminium or copper (plumbers') tape for flat conductors? It's basically tin foil with a sticky backing, and I know my brother (an electrical engineer) has managed to solder stuff to the copper version. With struts like that, you could simply cover both sides with a full-width strip, rub it into all the nooks and crannies with a sharpie or somesuch, and have a positive and a negative side. As for painting an aluminized fin... Well, that's your department ;)

[@johngrubb1590]

I agree it should have been1/1000 scale to start with, but great work Lou great work.👍😁👌

[@trippledee351]

TMP Enterprise (refit) will always be my favorite Enterprise design, but the STD Enterprise was probably the one thing they did ok with on Disco. Even though it is different to Matt Jeffries' original design, I think its a tasteful update on the outside. That said, I still dislike the whole JJ verse aesthetic though and your right, the ships do look over detailed. I like the 537 and 350 scale models myself. Id love a decent and accurate 350 scale Reliant that was an off the shelf kit.

[@aaronvandoorn6347]

I ordered one for myself and one foor my father. But I just wish it was bigger hopefully some time it might come bigger size

[@thunderbird885cc]

The kits are small, but think of sitting one on the dash of your car, perfect size for that =)

[@joe51261]

Outstanding! Question though, no talk of power source and resistors. Don't know how much to tune down power, or what kind of bulbs you used and where to find said? Help? Please!

[@aztekdummy]

9v battery. all leds were pre-resisted to 9v . bought at evans lighting . evandesigns.com/

[@joe51261]

@@aztekdummy thanks so much!! I cant say thanks enough! Your the only creator that's answered me! Love you're work. I'd give anything to be able to finish my 350: Enterprise. My backs been injured and I'm not able. My hands don't work well anymore. I wish I could pay to have it finished, just too poor right now. Well thanks, I still pull it out and try,,you never know...

[@p40f20]

Lou, my two cents on clear coat for Tamiya paint. Pledge Floor Care. Formerly known as Future.

[@aztekdummy]

I'l go for that next time, tho I'm worried about it yellowing. I have a bottle of Future that I've kept under the sink forever and its a lovely shade of amber now. I still use it for cockpits, but I wouldn't put it over white or light gray paint

[@p40f20]

@@aztekdummy Once it is on and dry it does not yellow over time. It is durable, yet so easy to apply. You can put it straight into your airbrush, or apply it with a paintbrush. I've been using it since the 70's.

[@SeansModelBuilds]

I have had good luck with Tamiya Clear so far.

[@tachi98lep]

Beautiful kits, but you are right about the scale size. The kits should be bigger.

[@petergreen8674]

Lou, you weren't specific as to how your oiginal nacelle lighting arrangement failed to work, but I'm going to guess that the red LED lit up while the blue and white ones didn't? That will happen if you wire them in parallel and use a single current-limiting resistor for the whole set. Red LEDs conduct at a lower voltage than blue ones, so once the red LED lights up, it locks the voltage drop across the whole set at the lower value which prevents the blue/white LEDs from working. The options are to add individual limit resistors, which is what you appear to have done, or connect the LEDs and the single limit resistor in series and then use a supply voltage that is at least the sum of the three forward voltages. That's about 1.8V for red, and 3.3V each for the blue and white, making 8.4V, so use a 9V supply and a very low-value resistor to mop up the odd 0.6V.

[@aztekdummy]

well, orange, but I'm guessing it is as much a voltage hog as a red would have been

[@petergreen8674]

​@@aztekdummy Yep. From www.evilmadscientist.com/2012/resistors-for-leds/: Standard red, orange, yellow and yellow-green LEDs have a Vf of about 1.8 V, while pure-green, blue, white, and UV LEDs have a Vf of about 3.3 V

[@davidrandolph9397]

Very nice, definitely above my skill level! What color did you use for the body?

[@aztekdummy]

Tamiya sky gray

[@jameshoward4096]

What about adding more weight to the back of the ship so that it balances.

[@aztekdummy]

That just makes a bad problem worse.

[@MrChief101]

Your soap box chat is very though provoking. I agree with a lot of what you say-- I more disagree with Round 2 et al, about "supporting" the smaller ships in order to get to a bigger one. I think the difference in the size of the decal sheets alone reduce their profit percentage no matter how high the larger model price tags are. Consider the practicality of having both scales on display in a conventional household (and not Mr. Dalmaso's House of Plastic! (Which I consider a wonderland, don't get me wrong.)) That's a lot of volume to place somewhere. Again, practically, how many regular modelers would wait for the larger scale in the first place? So, what then, the question is begged: Round 2 hopes that enough warrior modelers (such as yourself) would buy enough to justify the $3-400K investment in international effort for a larger scale. That's a lot of Dalmaso's out there for that to be true. I believe that the methods involved in making models currently would allow both sizes at once. And no reason to suppose that market forces would not do well for either scale. The serious Trek modeler would have multiples of both scales, the casual modeler would get the one that fit their idea of shelf space and grandparents would get the one they felt was right for the abilities of their g-kids. As I understood 'box scale" it was all about actual shelf space allotted to a specific shelf system in use at the time. Those boxes had to stack with little wastage. Thus the model was calculated backwards from the largest piece that would fit. Cart... horse... Anyway, nice finale!

[@aztekdummy]

and yet Round 2 is releasing yet another size Eagle from Space: 1999. They must have done their metrics on what they think will sell.

[@MrChief101]

Hmm. Would love to be a fly on various walls. It's got to have something to do with licensing fees and terms. There *is* an international market for both families of kits. But I would suppose that 1999 stuff was smaller by far.

[@AvengerII]

Star Trek is NOT in a great place in retail right now. They couldn't get retailers to jump on board with Discovery or the Picard show. I'm sure CBS ended up cutting some deals to get SOME product out because nobody wanted to make this stuff for 2 years! Aside from tin toys from Eagle Moss and a few model kits from Round 2, WHAT is being sold that's based off the streaming series OR the JJ movies? The retail side tells you about the health of the franchise. In other words, to sell toys and models, you must first produce TV shows and movies people actually like. We can talk about franchise fatigue all we want -- which is Disney's excuse for why they can't sell THEIR Star Wars movies to people -- but if people actually liked those movies don't you think Bandai would have concentrated its efforts on the Sequel film vehicles instead of the Classic Trilogy?

[@aztekdummy]

@@AvengerII Wow, do you work in the retail toy business? What's the parking like? Of course, much of what you are spouting is pure BS, but please carry on. The metric that a series is only successful if there are toys for it hasn't been true since about 1995. Plenty of popular shows have no merchandising at all

[@AvengerII]

@@aztekdummy Whatever, Lou... Keep sticking your head in the sand. It doesn't mean I'm not right about the state of Star Trek. It's in a BAD place. CBS and the showrunners from Bad Robot put it there. The fandom is very divided over this series, a lot of people feel it's subverted what Star Trek was about, and it's not a very good show, period. It's not going to hold up like the original show did. It's not something many people want to make fanfilms of if they were even allowed to make much of anything after the Axanar lawsuit. The licensing companies didn't want to sell product based on Star Trek Discovery because it's not popular. The show split the fanbase and the DVD and Blu ray sales for STD aren't exactly setting the world on fire, either.

[@userwhistler]

Hey there. I'm about to tackle this build and the things I was probably most curious about seem to have been done off camera. How did you take care of the seams down the back of the secondary hull / where the saucer is joined / nacelles? I have some Mr Surfacer that I might use but I'm worried about overspray the clear caps with primer. In summation: how the hell do you join and fill parts when some of the components that are different colors have to go in first?

[@aztekdummy]

i don't remember filling those joints. they were a darn good fit right out of the box. i leave the bussard caps off till the end to keep them clean and clear

[@userwhistler]

@@aztekdummy Thanks Lou :) I tend to agree that it's not a bad seam... its a fairly simple kit though so I wanted to use it as practice of a sort. I will have to see if I can manage to get the caps in there while the nacelles are togerher... thus far I have to take them apart to get the fit. Worried about breaking those clamps!

[@SeansModelBuilds]

This 2500 scale ship will complete my 2500 scale Enterprise Fleet. With the 7 ship set and the 3 Enterprise Cadet Series kit, I will be able to build one as the Enterprise-A. Now I can add the Disco-Prise and hopefully get it signed by Anson Mount.

[@georgegolston5417]

I agree Lou. The scale should have been no less than 1/1000. I’m like you and others here.I must of built the 1/352 scale Original Enterprise to have had my own Star Fleet.

[@SeansModelBuilds]

HDAModelwrox is now taking Pre-Orders for a 1000 Scale Discovery Enterprise.

[@davebolig1989]

Would the wires in the potato peelers have been less visible if they weren't twisted together

[@aztekdummy]

you're probably right. the thing about the magnet wires is that everytime I bend one, I'm afraid it's going to break, so I try to touch them a little as possible. unwinding them is tempting fate, in my eyes.

[@wargodsix]

They should be post with a reverse tripod so it’s got extra support not relying on just the post hole

[@Jedi_Order81]

Lou did you see cultTVman just put up the Polar Lights 1:1000 Discovery Enterprise model with an LED kit available?

[@aztekdummy]

I did! You can bet I'll be first in line for that. I'll wait to see what the lighting kit will be. If it is like the ktinga lighting kit. I'll pass and make my own

[@aztekdummy]

Puts the kit at about 19 inches long. Yowza

[@Jedi_Order81]

Yes please Round Two. Please please please come out with larger scale ships for Discovery please

[@veedubb67]

Lou, would you recommend installing the intercoolers AFTER you put the decals down?

[@aztekdummy]

in retrospect, yes I would

[@cejaprime]

I think the Discovery’s instructions mention to put on the decals in a certain order. The Discoprise should do the same. Cutting the decals to compensate was a good idea!

[@rasmokey4]

Here I am again Lou!!

[@TheRealGraylocke]

What about bending the mounting pole backwards on the D7? Still need to fill that section on your upper support base. I like how you solved lighting the nacelles on the Discoprise. I like the Discoprise better than the TOS. Call me a heretic. The nacelle pylons make more sense than the thin straight ones on the TOS Enterprise. The Movie refit went to those angled, swept pylons. Aescetially, it looks better than the TOS Enterprise. Again, call me a heretic, but to me it looks better.

[@aztekdummy]

Still wouldn't solve the center of gravity issue. The ship would just spin around till the head found the lowest point

[@cougarfarmer]

You need to use wax and grease remover from and automotive paint store or read what base the paint is. It looks like orange peel but it could be a chemical reaction between the paint.

[@PhuVet]

Did you ever think about embedding magnets in it? Tamiya is alcohol based and this year they switched to a different alcohol. You need to let it outgas longer to allow the alcohol to escape. so just let it sit for longer, 8 hours or longer.

[@aztekdummy]

To do what?

[@PhuVet]

@@aztekdummy To hold the d7 to its adapter. It can secure it to prevent mishaps. I have used velcro on filming models so we can shoot them upside down as well. Thank you for the video, its good to see one that is more like real life.

[@aztekdummy]

@@PhuVet but the ship weighs in at a good 10 pounds, easy. the size and number of Magnets needed would not be practical.

[@kenskiffington7419]

Lou what color did you paint the enterprise main color it calls for gunmetal that seams to dark for me ---ken

[@aztekdummy]

Ken, Yeah, I made that mistake on the Shenzhou. the gunmetal is too dark and all of the details in the wallpaper decals vanished. I went with a light/medium gray for the Enterprise. I mixed a tone that would allow the shades of gray on the decals to show up, darker than the lightest decal color but lighter than the main grays.

[@kenskiffington7419]

Thanks LOU

[@Sdreed0733]

@@aztekdummy Lou can you tell me what ratio of colors you used to come up with the base color for the Enterprise as well as the end of the nacelles?

[@aztekdummy]

@@Sdreed0733 hard to remember, but I'm guessing 60/40 sky gray and white.

[@MrChief101]

"-- under a squirrel..." You could have put several more blue SMD LEDs in the pylons. Using the same methodology, you could add a lot of those LEDs. Each 30ga wire will carry a half an amp or 500 milliAmps. With each LED sucking down 20 mA -- never minding the resistors -- you can see that you could stuff each nacelle with LEDs. I know, I know -- fingers cramping, mind compressing... but two or three might not exhaust the infrastructure. Cheese and crackers! That gloss grit finish is a bad thing. Or words to that effect. Since I completely scramble up the correct order of which goes on top of what, I never mix paint families. It is possible that the "dry" weather has caused the Krylon binder to dry before it hits the model. Too much mysterious chemistry for me. Oooh, interesting that the forward light decal knocked the light down too much. Here's a difficult and audacious idea-- reapply your vinyl paint mask around the window and trace it ever so lightly with a fresh #11. Pull up the vinyl which then should bring along the decal. Maybe. You might need some poking with a toothpick. There is a layer of clear under it-- that may help in releasing the decal. Maybe. But the final shot of the trio is a very nice image to hold in one's mind. I'm of various minds about the show but I highly enjoy the ships. Wonder what Matt Jeffries would think?

[@spacetimegeek]

Oooooo me likey a lot!

[@jeffreyslay1607]

How much would you charge me for you to make me the enterprise refit windows and all a small one 1/1000

[@aztekdummy]

I'm not sure I understand the question. are you asking me to make you painting templates? they are already available commercially at CultTVmans webstore

[@TheCajuntexan]

I wish Round2 would put out a 1/350 Klingon ship …

[@nerdhobbies5865]

this version of the Enterprise is a better rendition of of the original. Some people call it the sexyprise. i think it looks better than the 1966 version.

[@stempunked9688]

What is the stuff you call “Tulip?”

[@aztekdummy]

It is a fabric paint. Tulip is the brand name. You can find it in the craft section of Walmart. It makes an excellent light block

[@stempunked9688]

Brilliant! Thank you!

[@kdryan21]

Is that you, Milton? I have your stapler...

[@chrisfisher1625]

I also agree that these ships are WAAAAAAY too small. specially the Enterprise at the price they're asking

[@yubney]

WOW the E kit is stupid small.

[@blainecouch1766]

Why not just scribe a line and run the magnet wire in that and then cover it and paint it. then no more wire seen. Thats what I did with the AMT Enterprise D

[@gmon78]

Clever.

[@TOSStarTrek]

I did not think they made a Disco Connie kit. Who makes it?

[@aztekdummy]

Round 2. it was just released in the last couple of weeks www.culttvmanshop.com/USS-Enterprise-from-STDiscovery-12500-scale-from-Round-2Polar-Lights-_p_4713.html

[@WarrenFahyAuthor]

How can you vote no on Lou - it's free, folks! :)

[@aztekdummy]

it's gotta be either a camera operator who's envious of my skills or just a Discovery hater

[@kennethdavis7903]

Looked forward to this model kit but it seems not to be worth the trouble it's just way too small 😔 larger scale may be worth the time and trouble sorry and thanks 😝😝😥😔😔

[@nicholasdickens2801]

Lovely model Enterprise, but she is far too small.

[@jeffreyslay1607]

No build me a ship light it up like this one

[@aztekdummy]

ah, I don't think I've ever tried to drill out the windows on a 1000 scale refit. I don't know how possible that would be. I'd have to think on that for a while

[@redgreen09]

YES blind ME with SCIENCE yes like all whader if D 7 say fore show back when thay made the TV show menens design number 7 and thare whas 6 other ones will that be fun to know if look at the model that filmed fore the TV show the thing is huge well will not go on just a think

[@hgbarnes1584]

Wow, 1st view and like. Do I get a prize? HAHA.

[@hgbarnes1584]

Completely agree with the size of the actual kits Lou. Make them larger... we'll pay the difference. Thank you.

[@JeffreyStrader]

Small SUCKS!......................I refuse to purchase any ST model smaller than a 1/537......Polar Lights has gone to the dogs!.....They have down sized in scale simply to keep production costs down, whilst at the same time, they increase OUR costs for those smaller kits. SHAME ON YOU PL!!!!

[@mikeburton8878]

Get to the point will ya???