Building and Lighting the Romulan Bird of Prey AMT Model Kit

This video follows the building/lighting of a Romulan Bird of Prey AMT model kit from beginning to end.
Please note one correction, the port holes are separated by 4mm not cm.

[@danbasta3677]

Still say this is a super BEAUTIFUL ship, love the Original Star Trek Series, nothing else can ever top it.

[@wraith20072007]

I think she came out very nice. I agree about the number of windows, your decision was a smart one to limit the amount of windows on the side of the hull, looks much better than the box art and the green lighting on the Nacells is perfect...super job Oggie.

[@InterstellarModeler]

Thanks so much

[@kjwoodward77]

Great job! The green nacelle caps really make it pop.

[@balamx2802]

The device on the ship's prow was a plasma weapon, not a torpedo launcher. Also, the studio model doesn't have the decals on the top of the ship. Love the ship, nice work.

[@InterstellarModeler]

appreciate the comment and info, thanks

[@LodniKranazon]

Brings back some memories! Thanks for sharing!

[@Cabilis66]

FANTASTIC build my friend ! I love it. I saw this kit at my local hobby store for $19.99, I'm going to get it tomorrow. I would love to take a shot at lighting it but I am afraid my skills are far below standard when it comes to lighting. Anyway, please keep the vids coming , I look forward to your next one mate !

[@InterstellarModeler]

Thanks for the kind comments!

[@gaets04]

i can't wait to start mine. I've got one just like it. You gave me great ideas with your build.

[@PanzermansBunker]

Your classic Bird of Prey turned out great. I've got the same kit in the original AMT box. Definitely a future project.....I'll refer back to your video when I'm working on it. Thanks. Bill

[@InterstellarModeler]

Thanks Bill. Appreciate your kind words.

[@Danbo020759]

How did the decals in that old box hold up? My 1970s Enterprise kit's decals dissolved when moistened. Thank goodness for replacement decals from other sources.

[@Dirks_NUMA_Files]

Bravo. Well done. I recently picked this kit up myself with the hopes of making it more accurate. The reality is it really seems like a lot of work to do that so we'll have to see what happens. yours looks great

[@michaelmorgan6180]

looks like lot of fun

[@InterstellarModeler]

Thanks. Appreciate the kind comments

[@phoenixkoa9771]

Instablaster

[@Dr_Robodaz]

Unpopular opinion: still the most elegant TOS ship. Fight me! :) Chang Wah-Ming

[@InterstellarModeler]

No need, its a very cool design

[@trufantom21]

Awesome job.

[@kevinmellander4972]

This is great. I am just getting restarted in modeling after 30 years and this is the kit my wife purchased for me. I am trying to determine how best to determine led/resistor requirements, along with the best way to power the kit (and hide the power source). Thanks!

[@InterstellarModeler]

You're welcome Kevin. Thanks for watching.

[@kevinmellander4972]

Interstellar Modeler In your experience what is/are the best way(s) to conceal a power source? A base of some kind? Thank you!

[@InterstellarModeler]

Kevin Mellander Hey Kevin. If I can house it within the model itself I will...check out my videos for the Seaview, Jupiter II and Forbidden Planet C57 Saucer and you'll see what I mean. If not, then the next best thing is the stand in which I usually run the wires through a hollow brass tube to the base. You have to make sure you have enough room within the base, of course. One easy stand that is cheap and available is the generic stand by Polar Lights. It can accommodate at least a 9V (See the Battlestar Galactica Pt IV video). I found the stand that I used with the Romulan ship at Michaels. Hope that helps.

[@edwardherbert882]

I've started back as well after 30 long years and star trek ships were my go to

[@richardjoganah1871]

Nice model,my favorite romulan ship,I must get this nice model kit ☺

[@InterstellarModeler]

Thanks. Round 2 also released a smaller more accurate version. Just food for thought. Thanks for watching

[@michaelblackwell7408]

I LOVE it! The only thing extra I would like to see was the non canon rectangular reddish orange impulse engines in the back. Also, if my memory is correct the upper wing decals were only on the flagship. Michael McMaster did a wonderful blueprint of it but sadly he died at 26 or 27 I believe in a car crash. He also did the original klingon D6 and D7 blueprint. I remember some of the names he picked for the bop. Emperor Gladiator Illustrious Honor Courageous There were a couple others but it's been too long.

[@InterstellarModeler]

Thank you Michael. Polar Lights eventually released a much more accurate kit but smaller in scale. I may eventually build that one. I really wish we would have seen more of the Romulan ships. Too bad ST Enterprise was cancelled before we could see more. . It would've been cool.

[@Danbo020759]

Nicely done. I used your video help build mine; almost done. I will see if I can get you a look-see when I finish. [I drilled quite few more portholes along the front than you did. :)]

[@InterstellarModeler]

Sounds great!

[@charlesmorgan7219]

Fantastic job. Its my favorite romulan ship. I noticed no impulse engines.

[@Danbo020759]

Technically, the nacelles **are** the impulse engines. In "Balance of Terror," Scott opined, "No problem; their power is simple impulse." That always stuck in my craw, as how did a sub-light drive ship get so far from home without being multi-generational? But no matter --- according to non-canonical sources the Romulans eventually retro-fitted their BoPs with warp drive and added impulse engines along the back. I think they called them "Imperator-class vessels."

[@Nibenonn]

Great build, it turned out pretty good, I still haven't finish building my own yet. I don't mind the inaccuracies, it's still a good looking model. Thanks for sharing:)

[@InterstellarModeler]

Appreciate the compliment. Thanks!

[@LuisVazquez-hx3bk]

You can use plastic milk bottles strips for the windows. They are already frosted white and you can paint them in transparent colors.

[@InterstellarModeler]

Interesting idea. Someone told me those aren't supposed to be windows. I always assumed they were, however I've always thought they were weirdly placed if they're supposed to be view ports. Thanks for watching

[@stevenewman1393]

🖖😎👍Very cool and very nicely well done and it came out very great looking indeed and love the green bussard collectors a very spectacular job indeed, and just to let you know the JT Graffics decals comes with with all the windows and impulse engine decals as well for the rear as the total bird design for top and bottom of the ship, And if you decide to buy the Polar lights 1:1000 scale kit it comes with the accurate angled upper hull with the windows up raised?,And the decals have the complete bird ones for upper and bottom with windows for around the smooth sides of the hull and clear domes for the engines and it is very reasonably priced!,👌.

[@InterstellarModeler]

Thanks and I appreciate all the info. Thank you for watching

[@veedubb67]

Great build. I love the idea of diffusing the windows with wax paper! Rob Iwata Padawan

[@MoonwalkerModels]

Oggie, you did a great job on a not so great kit!! Looks good!!

[@InterstellarModeler]

Thanks. I actually was very bummed when I opened the kit and realized they had done nothing to make the hull more accurate. I did what I could. Thanks again for the kind comments

[@danbasta3677]

Interstellar Modeler As far as I'm concerned, BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL job very well done! Love it.

[@jimpyre5038]

You are awesome. Just needed to be stated...

[@InterstellarModeler]

Jim Pyre thank you

[@timkey4080]

I recently bought two of these, now i want to light them.

[@InterstellarModeler]

tim key Thanks for watching.

[@timkey4080]

Your video's make an awesome guide.

[@danbasta3677]

tim key Whare on earth can you get them at? Always loved this ship as well as the whole Original Star Trek Series, the Constellation class Starships and the D 7 Klingon Battle cruisers. Never cared though for anything that came out on that next grneration stuff though, they should have cancelled that after the first episode, to space boy space toy garbage fantasy for me to look at.

[@SHONNER]

9:40 I put that kit together back in 1977. And I remember my model having gaps also. 13:58 Cool! Decals for the top now! 15:30 I never cared much for AMT kits. They were never as good as the Monogram kits for that time. But they cost less than $3.

[@danbasta3677]

Shawn Driscoll I've seen the AMT model kits of this as well, they really arn't that bad, however never seen the Monogram kits either, so, can't truly make much of a comparison.

[@randykerr1060]

sweet.

[@InterstellarModeler]

Thanks

[@jimmyjimmy17]

maybe you mean 4MM not CM ? sorry great vid mate just taking the mick

[@AvengerII]

The original Bird of Prey model was supposedly destroyed by its designer/builder after a dispute between the propsman union and Desilu Studios. Eventually, the suit was settled but they couldn't pay the model builder because he wasn't a member of the union and it would violate the settlement if they DID pay the modelmaker. The model was returned to its creator AFTER all the stock footage was shot with it. He was so furious about the situation AND not being paid that he allegedly took a hammer to the model and destroyed it in the backyard of his home. ************************ There have been rumors of the model being in private ownership but that's never panned out It's more likely that it was thrown away after being shot on the miniature stage. The builder himself, Wah Chang, admitted to the deed of wrecking his own creation in a radio interview on NPR in 1992... The guy was highly thought of by Robert Justman who considered Chang's work superior to anything the prop guild ever produced for the original Star Trek.

[@danbasta3677]

AvengerII Yes, read all of that. It was a shame as it truly was a really beautiful ship and a BEAUTIFUL work of art. And yes in a fit of anger he did destroy the paper mache model he created, after all, after being treated in such a fashion, i think if this had happened to someone else, they to would feel burned out over it as well to.

[@punkrockpub]

Although, with its inaccuracies, I still love this ship! The ROMULAN BIRD OF PREY is one of my ALL TIME FAVOURITE space vehicles! I got lucky and found 3 originals, only in sealed plastic bags, with no boxes, off of eBay for $20.00! I must say, that I don't care so much for the original 1975 ship's stand. Also, where did you purchase your lighting system for this kit please,

[@InterstellarModeler]

These were left over strip lights from my Polar Lights Enterprise but you can easily get them at culttvman or HDAmodelworx if you search for strip LED lights. The nacelles were slit with 3mm pre-wired warm LEDs that you can find on Ebay. Thanks for watching.

[@hgbarnes1584]

HEE HEE !!!!!! You must be happy!

[@waylowsworkshop]

Funny how I don't have any interest in a kit, then you build it and I want one...

[@InterstellarModeler]

Lol...I know what you mean. As I mentioned, I had little interest in this kit either but looking at the back of the box I thought they had made a lot of revisions. I just did what I could to make it better. Thanks for watching.

[@LeeJackson01]

I've never added lights to a model before. Can you recommend any videos or resources to learn how to add lighting properly? Thank you! (Love your videos!!)

[@InterstellarModeler]

Look up Model Man Tom. He's got a few videos. I also posted a 3 part series on my channel last month. Thank you for watching. Great to hear from you.

[@ste309w]

Hi, How did you find the decals in your kit? I've started to apply the ones on my build and I'm finding them very thin and brittle. They constantly break apart and refuse to conform to curves. They also seem to be resistant to Microsol and Set decal solutions. I also had the same problems with the decals in the Vulcan Shuttle reissue. Do you have any hints on working with their decals? Thanks

[@InterstellarModeler]

Hey there....I used the ones that were included with the kit and also had problems with them. I would recommend the set from JTGraphics. Although I didnt use them here, I have used his products before and they're much better. They're still available on culttvman's website. Here's a link and hope that helps: www.culttvmanshop.com/Classic-Bird-of-Prey-replacement-decal-from-JTGraphics_p_1992.html

[@ste309w]

@@InterstellarModeler thanks, I think I will get those. I've used JT and PNT decals on previous projects and they are much better. Has AMT not resolved the fragility problems with their decals?

[@kevinmellander4972]

Hello again! Sorry for all the questions. What did you use to thing the cancelled green? Thanks!

[@InterstellarModeler]

No problem. I frosted the exterior of the bussard collectors with dullcoat then painted the interior with white. The green was achieved by using Tamyia's clear green on warm 3mm LEDs. You can do the same thing by just using green LEDs. I just didn't have any at the time and decided to tint the clear warm ones that I had with the Tamyia clear green. I'm just not sure that the intensity or shade of the green would be the same (with a green LED).

[@danbasta3677]

Kevin Mellander I will say though, in the Original Star Trek Series aired versions from the 60's, which were great, all these ships were white in color, thry looked much better in a black setting with what looked like stars and planets also in white all around them. Cant beat the Original Star Trek Series, best Star Trek Series of them all out there! Never cared much for anything else that followed it, just wasen't Star Trek as I've known Star Trek to be.

[@punkrockpub]

@@danbasta3677 likewise as well. I like the TOS & TAS. After that, it kinda lost it's magic.

[@hobby-duke8575]

Did you cut out the windows your self or did come that way

[@InterstellarModeler]

I had to cut them out myself using a dremel.

[@PhuVet]

What colors did you paint it?

[@InterstellarModeler]

Phu Vet testors light gray

[@hobby-duke8575]

The romulan ship in star trek enterprise with captain archer The romulan ship was puke green

[@InterstellarModeler]

+bill miller Not 100% sure but I think they did that since the Romulan ships in TNG were green.

[@hobby-duke8575]

The original star trek they where white The one's for the with captain archer was green And the for tng was green

[@3ccdmike]

Glowing nacelles is not good for stealth.

[@AvengerII]

This ship is a weird design... It LOOKS wrong from some angles. You look at the box art and you see that it looks like one nacelle pylon is a far greater/steeper angle than the other! It's just an illusion due to the angle of view at but it looks as if they model has partially folded up on itself! The sweep angle on the pylons isn't at great. It's WAY less than 45-degrees... It's probably on the on the order of 15-20 degree angle sweep-up. The original AMT model and many of the other representations have TOO shallow an angle in the sweep -- 12 degrees or less you think? It's definitely NOT flat with the hull... On the other hand because of foreshortening effects (which can be enhanced by camera lens distortion to a small degree), it can look like it's sweeped higher than it ought to be. It looks this way in stills from the original broadcast version of "Balance of Terror." I don't think it's a drawing error if PHOTOS of the shooting miniature look this. You can't blame it on camera lens issues or some sort of manipulation... The design just has had this peculiar trait since the first time anyone glanced on the original finished miniature from multiple angles!

[@andrewlawton6671]

Ok So Hate to Rain on your parade , But you portholes Are not Portholes, Not Even Holes, They are passive Sensor array receivers, This ship was like a Submarine, "Balance of Terror," was supposed to be like "The Enemy Below" So the Romulan ship was supposed to be like a Submarine, NO Windows, Passive Sensors when Cloaked, Also the Engine Pods Are not Warp drive the "Simple Impulse (But still capable of Warp 4 by the original concepts of 60's Trek) , So no glowing bussard Glass ends, All their is to Illuminate would be the plasma launcher and the tail end of the impulse pods , Look up the original Blue prints Though they represented a Warp Engine refit version published when the model was First released, Later re works including th CGI Remaster of 60's trek add changes that are simply wrong for the Original ship, Is a Sub Traveling Slow And Submerged! ;)

[@InterstellarModeler]

Wow…lots of good info here. It sure makes sense…i always thought the “portholes” were oddly positioned. Thanks for all the other details too.