Building the USS Enterprise 1701-A - 1/537 Scale: Part Three

[@dansmodeluniverse]

Thank you to Nowak below who pointed out the registry wasn't centered! How did I miss that! All fixed now anyway.

[@NYCITYKID97]

You're welcome, otherwise a beautiful model!!! Nice work, I preciate that 👍

[@jedarsena3001]

WOW! My eyes almost exploded out of my head when I saw the thumbnail image for this video. The paint job you did in the hull is exquisite. Job well done sir!

[@dansmodeluniverse]

Thank you kindly, it was a labour of love..

[@riastradh2]

Jesus the only way Dan's mix tape could have been better was that you do Starship models!! That's a Christmas treat, you absolute mad Lad!!

[@dansmodeluniverse]

Thank you :) I'm currently building the 1:400 scale Titanic, but after that is the 1:32 scale Galileo shuttlecraft and the 1:1000 scale Voyager.

[@daimyo2k]

Well done! I have that same model (for many many years) haven't put it together yet... but those built-in panel line just give me the willies!!

[@bentstrider]

I picked up a lights and sounds, AMT/ERTL 1/537 1701-A a few weeks ago. I read around on a few other YT vids about people sanding down the grid lines and then applying the Aztec decals. After looking at your model, I think I'll forego the sanding and apply the Aztek. The effect with the existing grid lines is astounding here!!

[@dansmodeluniverse]

Yes, I think the grid lines make the aztecs look great. Good luck with your build.

[@R_T_Ralph]

Really nice finish, well done

[@dansmodeluniverse]

Cheers

[@odxn3503]

Amazing work!

[@SNAKE_PLISSKEN1979]

Nice job man!! This is my next project.

[@dansmodeluniverse]

Good luck with it..

[@MoonjumperReviews]

You are extremely talented, my friend.

[@dansmodeluniverse]

Thank you kindly.

[@MoonjumperReviews]

@@dansmodeluniverse - I can’t imagine my hands or fingers ever being that steady!

[@rossmain9120]

Excellent work Sir.

[@dansmodeluniverse]

Thank you Ross

[@rossmain9120]

@@dansmodeluniverse Most welcome, it was a pleasure to watch. Your video spurred me on to get my build rolling.

[@thecaptain2521]

WOW, STUNNING!!! Beautiful work!!! Turned out awesome!!!

[@dansmodeluniverse]

Thank you

[@sdmproductions2949]

Looks great well done.

[@dansmodeluniverse]

Thank you, love your builds.

[@HobbyLinkInternational]

Beautiful build! You did an awesome job :)

[@MagicAl5F4781]

I didn't have aztec decals when I was a kid so I painted my Enterprise-D with a toothpick.

[@dansmodeluniverse]

Fair play, that must have taken some time..

[@lestermatos2989]

I really like the peaceful music

[@OldGamingGeezer]

Really nice job.

[@dansmodeluniverse]

Thank you

[@cwam1701e]

It is very hard to get Aztec decals right for this scale - they nearly always turn out too dark, imo, but yours have turned out really well - maybe the best I have seen! Good job with the work on photoshop to lighten them!

[@dansmodeluniverse]

Thanks. Yes because I used white as the colour for the model, I had to brighten them up. Similar to the 1:1000 Enterprise D, the aztecs for that one are blue! That one got a similar photoshop intervention :)

[@22esprince]

In a couple of shots there it kinda looked like there was an issue with the registry numbers on the top of the saucer being pretty off-center. I hope you were able to correct that.

[@dansmodeluniverse]

I did. Though I didn't realise the mistake until the video was published! By the time I fixed it, the video already had 200+ views and I didn't want to delete it and republish. I stil kick myself for such a stupid mistake. You know how it happened? me tyring to not get in the way of the camera, so I was standing to the side of the hull. We live and learn :)

[@Barbariandisks]

I remember having to yellow paint the phaser banks and the thrusters

[@pitifulgore01]

I’ve watched countless vids on how to do this, yours being the best so far. But please could you tell me how you painted it and with what paints?? Thank you! 🙏🏻

[@dansmodeluniverse]

Thank you. For the most part I use Tamiya for spraying, just because its what I’m used to and I think it works well. Light blocking, is just a standard black (ts-6) and silver (ts-30), I use silver as I think it reflects the light better. The first coat is a white or grey primer, in this case, white, and the main colour I used for the saucer, nacelles and hull was a pearl white (ts-45). The colours of the nacelles were xf-27 black for one side and the lighted side, clear blue x-23 (and for the deflector) and xf-26 copper. x-25 clear green and x-27 clear red for the port lights. Everyone could argue “what is the colour of your favourite star ship?” My answer -whatever colour you think it is!

[@pitifulgore01]

@@dansmodeluniverse Wow!! That’s awesome!! Thank you soooo much!! 🙏🏻

[@pitifulgore01]

@@dansmodeluniverse Thank you! I tried Starship Modeler’s website for the Aztec decals but out of stock, I also sent a message but no reply. Do you know where else I could try for the Aztec decals please??

[@dansmodeluniverse]

@@pitifulgore01 email me at [e-mail] and I'll send them to you

[@owennikish7995]

Getting ready to build this kit and the light kit you used looks good. Just a question does it come with all the lights you used? I ask because on the website doesn't say anything about the deflector dish light? Great video and build by the way!

[@dansmodeluniverse]

Thanks Owen, yes the light kit from StarTrekLighting comes with everything you need

[@lawrencebrewer8769]

Wow ❤

[@kherei72]

thank you for sharing your experince. Could anyone please help me where to get the aztec decals for this model?

[@dansmodeluniverse]

Right here, www.starshipmodeler.com/tech/cz_mask.htm

[@kherei72]

@@dansmodeluniverse thank you 🍀

[@kherei72]

@@dansmodeluniverse is it safe to assume the ERTL kit is 1/537? I've really been all over the pics I've found on the internet and they don't tell, thank you so much

[@dansmodeluniverse]

@@kherei72 It is yes

[@ashb1502]

Where did you get the decals from ?

[@dansmodeluniverse]

The aztecs? starshipmodeler.com

[@dcdrew3]

You mean you didn't want to paint some of the Individual panels of the hull?

[@SeansModelBuilds2017]

I did that on mine.

[@TrekBuilder]

Wow! Excellent job. I recently just got back into modeling after an 11-year hiatus, and found your channel. Very nice job explaining everything. I do have a couple of questions if I may. What brand/model of decal paper was used for this build? There are a ton of different brands, and I want to be sure to find a good quality brand like what you've used. Did you print these with inkjet, or laser? Also, one other question that I have. I noticed many Star Trek builders always paint the parts in advance, so what I often don't understand is then what is the method of gluing the parts together? I mean, I'm told that model glue should not be used over painted plastic, so how are these parts glued together, unless you are not using model glue?

[@dansmodeluniverse]

I use Hayes Paper Company waterslide decal paper, both white and clear; depending on what’s required. In this case, it was the clear sheets. And I have a Colour Laser printer. So, the way I approach it is, I will first study how the parts fit together. What can I build as one piece before priming? Before priming I mask the areas that are to glue together, making the bond cleaner and neater. Now, saying that, there will always be times you have to glue over painted areas; in that case I always use Tamiya extra thin cement. For me, it works a treat.

[@TrekBuilder]

Thank you sooo much for the quick response. The one thing I don't quite understand, lets take the saucer section for example. Say that you're going to light it(or not), you paint each half separately, then what?? I mean, what confuses me is how do you glue the two halves together now that paint is sprayed all around each half? In all the videos I've watched where builders paint each half of the saucer section, I never see a strip of masking going around the entire lip where it would normally be glued, so how is this being glued when there is paint around the entire thing? I hope my question is making sense, lol.

[@whitewolf3051]

How big is this (in inches) for a room with that's not big and is taken up by a bed as well as a desk? I think the 1/350 is around 34 inches or so long. Does it get smaller the higher the number, or does it get bigger? Someone please answer as soon as possible.

[@dansmodeluniverse]

This one, the 1/537 scale is 22" in length. Yes the higher the number, the smaller the size.

[@whitewolf3051]

@@dansmodeluniverse Hmm, 22" is still too big for me then. What's 1/600 or 1/1000 is when converted? Oh and thanks for your reply.

[@dansmodeluniverse]

the 1/1000 would be about 10/11", for the refit/A.

[@whitewolf3051]

@@dansmodeluniverse Thanks, I think that would be best for me, unless there's something smaller - but affordable.

[@johnbockelie3899]

Beautiful build of the Enterprise A. Was that the AMT / ERTL kit you used?.

[@dansmodeluniverse]

Thanks John, yes the AMT 1:537 scale

[@NYCITYKID97]

The ncc 1701 a decal is to far to the left...it is not in the middle:/

[@dansmodeluniverse]

Thanks for pointing that out, I didn't see it. Perfect timing too, just before I applied the matt varnish. Fixed now.

[@johnbockelie3899]

The NCC-1701 -A is supposed to be centered with the number one on the centerline of the saucer. But you've made a beautiful lighted model look easy to do. Excellent work.

[@dansmodeluniverse]

@@johnbockelie3899 Thankfully John the mistake was noticed before I applied the matt varnish but not before I uploaded the video! I left the video alone because I didn't want to lose the comments and views. Unfortunately, with youTube, you can't edit an existing video ( you can do simple cuts, but not to the extent that was needed).

[@scifiguy26]

Nice 👍🏾 I thought that was the 1/350 scale in the thumbnail now that I know it's not that makes it even better at that scale 🖖🏾

[@dansmodeluniverse]

Thanks Harris. I'd love to get the 1:350 scale, it's where to display it properly is the issue.

[@brianmorrison4330]

This music reminds me of The King's Speech...

[@brianmorrison4330]

Can u make me decals like this?

[@dansmodeluniverse]

The aztec decals Brian? they're available from starshipmodeler.com free of charge.

[@paulg2733]

Hi Dan, Love the channel, but didnt get as far as you with this build at the moment.. Aztec printed decals.. pretty good. Decals with the kit just disintegrated as soon as they were added to water.. totally unusable AMT/Round2 decals were unusable which leaves me with a problem! Just to add to this, i would warn anyone thinking of purchasing a model from Amazon to think carefully before doing so... I'm 4 weeks into this build to find that the decals are just breaking apart and Amazons return policy is "return the whole thing" for replacement. I really an not starting all over again, i only need a replacement decal sheet.. Serves me right, i should have gone to a model shop (that actually stocks it!)

[@dansmodeluniverse]

Thanks Paul. Amazon no, but would Round2 not offer replacement decals? or you can buy them from other sellers, Culttvman or hdamodelworks for example. But yes it is very annoying to see them break apart in your hand.

[@paulg2733]

@@dansmodeluniverse Hi Dan, well without knowing it you have helped already. Based on watching you print your own aztecs, i thought i'd give it a go and its really easy, cant believe i've never tried it before.. So i scanned the rubbish ones i hadnt used, plus found some more on Starshipmodeller and i think i saved it now. If this hadnt worked i would have tried Round2, but it was quicker and more fun this way! Thanks for reaching out and your help

[@tenminutetokyo2643]

Mr.Trek in England is building a 1/25th scale - 40 feet long.

[@dansmodeluniverse]

@@tenminutetokyo2643 Had Mike on the channel last year, kzbin.info/www/bejne/d6OciGCNjbBlbNUsi=1_zzkwaK5tbEbb7H Though he’s building the original constitution class, not the refit/A

[@bravesrule384]

In the words of Captain Kirk at the end Star Trek 4, The Voyage Home - " Let's see what she's got" 😃

[@brianmorrison4330]

Another triumph