Build review of AMT/ERTLS USS Enterprise D 1/1400 scale: Top Saucer electronics - LEDS!

Build review of my next project, the glorious Enterprise D!
Covering current work in progress for the build to accurize the kit.
Sorry for the waffling in this video, I'll try to do better next time :-)
Aside from the usual kit building element I'll be introducing for the first time the use of Arduino to have this kit all singing and dancing and I'm learning Arduino for the first time.
Useful links for beginners to study Arduino:
KZbin channel: OstrichLongneck - playlist video series 'Arduino for starships'
Phaser array sketch code for experimenting: Virtualight/Jennifer Petkus (Simulating phaser fire with neopixels):
virtualight.com/?p=1927
Reference images of the six foot studio scale model: myenterprised.com/the-six-foo...

[@James-rn7dx]

Looking great! When I did my old 1/1400 Enterprise-D years ago I just went with decals for the escape pods after sanding them all off with the grid lines. The hatches are almost flush and at this scale they actually looked really good. Just in case you didn't realize, the Enterprise-D didn't have the flashing running lights on the saucer, they flashed in some areas and of course the strobes flashed, but the saucers running lights didn't.

[@thekitcave2654]

Thank you 🙏🏻 Progress is slow but steady. I will be going with the decals for the escape pods. I’ve been watching a lot of vids to get the flashing lights accurate and there’s a lot of different variations from tv series to Generations and even Picard, where the the final shot of the D along side the G has them flashing, but static illumination in the tv series, all lights static illuminated in battle mode in Picard (when.flying through the Borg ship) and even some of them not illuminated or flashing at all just after leaving space dock. Bit of artistic license being made here 😁 **just re-watching segments of the final episode of Picard (as I type this and can see that the saucer tuning lights are indeed static illuminated with ‘flashies’ on the bridge and warp nacelles and on the ‘belly’, but then towards the end of the episode, there’s a different configuration of flashing lights. Hmmm got me thinking now 🤔🤔

[@johnatsf1564]

She's coming together nicely!

[@thekitcave2654]

Thank you 😊

[@thekitcave2654]

Thank you 🙏🏻

[@mistakeman]

I had such a big smile on my face after those phaser strips lit up! That looks epic! And thanks for showing how you solder smd LEDs. Using tweezers with helping hands seems so obvious in hindsight, but it never occurred to me. Thanks for that tip.

[@thekitcave2654]

Thank you 🙏🏻 Does look good doesn’t it? I could sit there for hours just pressing the button and watching it 😁 Decided to do the phaser strips in the bottom half of the saucer also 👍👍 Those SMDs are tricky to wire up, just the easiest method I’ve found to do them.

[@davidjames1389]

Wow I'm really loving how smooth that phaser effect looks. I really need to learn how to do that.

[@thekitcave2654]

Thank you 🙏🏻 It’s not as difficult as you may think. The hardest part was learning Arduino for the first time but after doing lots of research and learning, it’s quite straight forward. There are links in the video descriptions to resource vids, web pages, well worth a look at to learn how to do it with open source code freely shared.

[@davidjames1389]

@@thekitcave2654 Thanks. I've created some basic circuits before on a board, so hopefully this won't be too much harder to figure out.

[@thekitcave2654]

@@davidjames1389 I would highly recommend watching the playlist series over on Ostrich Longnecks channel - very comprehensive and easy to understand/follow along. Bare in mind though that his playlist is for Arduino effects for the Ent refit and so some modification is needed for Next Gen ships - but a great start to begin learning from.

[@ptaylor5014]

This build is looking amazing, glad you can make use of the lifeboat decals, i love how you are doing those phaser effects 👍👍👍👍, i have gone the expensive and not so good effects by purchasing the Tenna controls board, wish i had known about this before hitting the buy button lol, maybe next time eh.

[@thekitcave2654]

Thank you 🙏🏻 Still a long way to go but she’s getting there. That’s what I like about the Arduino, it can be tinkered with to tailor it to what is needed.

[@arrrgee]

I think in 1/1400 scale decal lifeboats would work more in this scale, they would be close to flush with the surface. Using the slightly raised parts on the kit and using decals will work well I think. Great progress so far, the modifications are looking good.

[@thekitcave2654]

Thank you 🙏🏻. It’s good to finally start getting some lighting into at least one piece of the kit 😁 I’ll be going with the decals for lifeboats.

[@tintobrass532]

Nice work mate! These kits are stupid expensive on eBay now, probably not many of them knocking around anymore. I bought one still in its shrink-wrap for £80, but they can go for as much as £150-£200

[@thekitcave2654]

Thank you 🙏🏻 Yes, I’ve seen how expensive these old versions are becoming, the clear editions even more so . I’d hold onto your shrink wrapped purchase if I were you, it’ll be worth more in a few years time 😁 Just as well that round 2 did the recent re-release for anyone wanting to build the kit.

[@javiertorres9114]

Now you gotta do the bottom phaser bank.

[@thekitcave2654]

Yup, going too 😁

[@bascodelagamma]

👍

[@thekitcave2654]

Thank you 🙏🏻

[@johnnelson1446]

If you are possibly looking for a Nebula Kit. Lake Monster Models has one out of the US. An upgraded kit originally from Don Mathys DLM products

[@thekitcave2654]

Thank you for the recommendation, that’ll be a future build to consider once I’ve got through my existing stockpile of kits waiting patiently to be built 😁

[@rasmokey4]

The translucent plastic of this Enterprise 1701D model kit is very brittle! At least the upper saucer section! I cracked the top by applying photoetch phaser ring banks! Lightly pressing them down! So be careful!!

[@thekitcave2654]

Sorry to hear it snapped on you, never a good thing when that happens. Very disheartening. Luckily this isn’t any of the translucent versions but the original cast done in grey plastic and not brittle at all. But always sound advise to be careful with kit builds 👍

[@wayne0220]

I have built and designed and 3D printed raised escape pod hatches for this kit. They are molded to the kit decals (the same trapezoidal shape) if built them in groups just like the decals are. I have them in two thicknesses .24mm & .33mm I’ve not been able to decide on which I like better. Let me know if something like this would be helpful for you.

[@thekitcave2654]

Sounds intriguing, thank you for the offer. Think I’ll stick with decals to replicate the 6 foot studio model that were just flat decals/stickers. The raised lifeboats would be great if replicating the later four foot model that had then raised 👍

[@wayne0220]

@@thekitcave2654 I can’t fault you there, I considered the same thing myself. Keep up great work and the content, I feel like I am following right along with you.

[@JamesLeMosy]

@wayne0220 I'm working on this kit as well and would be interested in the raised lifeboats!

[@thekitcave2654]

@@wayne0220 Thank you so much ☺

[@thekitcave2654]

@@JamesLeMosy Oh bugger, have I started something here with the concept of raised lifeboats?? Lol 😄 Fair play to you, hope your build is coming along grand.