Mutara Nebula Battle - Re-Imagined w/ Motion Controlled AMT Model Kits

I thought I would take a crack at this legendary scene from "The Wrath of Khan." Its not meant to be accurate with the movie, just loosely based on it for the practice.
If you love what I do and want to help me get better and NON-DROOPY Star Trek models, please consider a Super Thanks or donating at:
ko-fi.com/njmp...
Music Credits to the great James Horner!
How it's made: • HOW IT'S MADE: In-dept...
How it's composited: • How I Composited the M...
Tutorial: • Tutorial on how I comp...

[@Brofisticus]

CGI can never replace the beauty of a good practical model. Well done, chief.

[@internationaldonuts]

James Horner’s score is sooooo good

[@dr.zippymcscoots8725]

Exactly. James Horner is legendary

[@HachimanMVP]

The best

[@Mr-Garibaldi]

👌 I’m probably the only one that plays ST2 stuff to wake up in the morning.

[@stahlgott]

Holy moly, this is incredibly well shot. The only reason one may realise this is fanmade are missing shots of the bridges and crews. Hollywood heavily relies on its actors 😉

[@nmphoto37]

Just need to find a cast and crew for the next one! 😉

[@wootube]

That, and the shots of the ships blowing pieces off of each other too (which is understandable lol)

[@DanielS2001]

No school like old school! This is proof that model miniatures still have their use today, and that even someone with a limited budget can make amazing sequences like this with regular off the shelf model kits. Well done! :D

[@FekLeyrTarg]

"The Mandalorian" used a lot of motion controlled spaceship miniatures including the Razorcrest herself.

[@adamwhitehead7289]

​@@FekLeyrTarg Foundation mostly uses actual models as well.

[@Chobittsu]

40 years ago this would have passed for cinema-quality, excellent work

[@tehcheef]

Oh hey!!!

[@dailyqwikbytes]

Better than most CGI NOW.

[@trainsplanesmore]

We honestly need to go back to traditional visual effects work of models, matte paintings, etc.

[@BaronFeydRautha]

@@Chobittsu It still does

[@tikvision]

It IS Quality NOW

[@dankaynie]

Amazing work, I am a life long trekkie and this made me feel like a return to the golden age - The Mutara Nebula sequence is my favourite battle sequence of all trek, sailing ships of the stars pitted against each other in a storm - perfect!

[@royelle1]

So am I and I couldn't agree more that this is amazing

[@iainmcclumpha]

The majestic appearance of the movie Enterprise really benefits from using real models rather than digital where the temptation to turn her into an X Wing zipping about would be too great. The style of filming is perfect. This is just beautiful.

[@nmphoto37]

Thanks and totally agree!

[@DougZbikowski]

That's what they did in the Kelvin-verse movies. Very off-putting. These ships are huge and aren't supposed to move like fighters.

[@RonColeArt]

I loved the entire thing and I literally felt chills go through my entire body when the Reliant emerges out of the glare in the shot that starts @2:36 !!! and I'll dare say I prefer it to the shot to they used in the actual film. For those who don't know, in the film this shot is seen from inside the bridge on the main viewing screen. We see it from what I believe was Kirk's point of view and there's also a lot of static on the screen. In this version, we see the exact same action but as an exterior shot looking over the top of the Enterprise... BRILLIANT! 🖖

[@nmphoto37]

Ahhh thank you!! I'm glad this is giving you chills 🤣

[@aaronmurphy9353]

VERY well done. Congratulations, you definitely have future in this. Hope to see more from you.

[@muaddib7356]

NICCCCEEEEEE!!! This is a 40+ year old movie...and I NEVER get tired of watching it or seeing new videos or clips about it. WTG, NJM!!

[@dominickberarducci1183]

So happy on a Sunday, thank you. For the love of all holy, one of you nerds watching please lend this man a polar lights enterprise.

[@nmphoto37]

OMG pleeeaaaassseee 😁

[@SylvainBeaudoin-dd1oy]

@@nmphoto37 Which Scale models did you use?

[@nmphoto37]

@SylvainBeaudoin-dd1oy I used the 1/537 scale for both models

[@TK42138]

That Enterprise fly over shot at 0:35 seconds is gorgeous.

[@deanlawson6880]

Yes! Absolutely Excellent!!

[@ElijahRock92]

That was my favorite shot.

[@Mr-Garibaldi]

It is Perfect, just like in ST2. Flat earthers would say this is all AI generated.

[@HachimanMVP]

Love the old school phaser sound effects. Another true Star Trek fan showing their passion.

[@Renserin]

I know someone has done really well when I get a delightful case of the shivers, just watching it. Even your attempts at weapons fire looked really authentic.

[@bluearcher1559]

This is the future of cinema. You've just proved it my good sir. Simply incredible.

[@nmphoto37]

Thank you!!

[@ryanclark4674]

I see the Enterprise's starboard nacelle took some battle damage in their initial encounter... I think that's about as good as these models can look. Great job.

[@HawkGTboy]

That bugged me to no end when I was a kid. I had the 24” Enterprise A model. It was huge and those nacelles drooped horribly. I tied them together with fishing line so that they’d stay in alignment. I wish AMT had done a better job there.

[@xenomorphphantom8852]

@@HawkGTboy I always reinforce them with metal pipe and epoxy,on my models there MUST not be any droopity. Never again!

[@gregbaird1338]

I. Also noticed the drooping Engine. on the enterprise. And I also have that same AMT model kit. I had the same problem 25 years ago when I built it.

[@SeansModelBuilds2017]

@@HawkGTboy I had to fill in the gaps between the tabs with styrene for my nacelles to remain aligned correctly.

[@WinterRoseASFR1]

@@xenomorphphantom8852 The old A model I had was from the old Motion Picture molds, which had all the channels for the old xmas lights they used to come with. I made armatures out of wire hanger to reinforce mine. That one fell from a high shelf a few times, and survived a tornado.

[@OzarksVHS]

"...Jim, I think you better get down here..." 🥺 Took me back! Fantastic work, amazing models!

[@IntotheUnknownAStarTrekChannel]

This is amazing. There something about the physicality of models that juts looks right to the eye. And always great to see a Miranda and Connie refit on screen.

[@voltijuice8576]

Beautiful work! Real miniatures with modern digital compositing is an underrated combination

[@MarkHoneyborne]

This is just awesome. Brings shivers down my back, well done with the model work. Whilst there's no battle damage I did notice that the one light coming from the working torpedo tube on the Enterprise!

[@nx1379]

As a lifelong Trek fan...i want MORE!🤣 i wish we fans got together and re-did or re mastered the old FXs. Fans know what makes Starships feel realistic.

[@robkb4559]

That nacelle was obviously damaged in the ambush! Splendid work - you could edit these scenes into the original footage and no-one would bat an eyelid. The lighting is great, very atmospheric. Thanks for posting!

[@KevinCooper-eo3dx]

The texture and illumination are amazing. Beautiful lighting too. Making the nebula three dimensional instead of a flat background is so nice. I liked seeing the ships immersed in the clouds (as it should have been). Wrath of Khan has been my favorite movie since it premiered. It is great seeing people like yourself with the time and talent remake the best parts of the film and pay homage to it.

[@jerrettfarmer]

Everything about this is flawless and gorgeous at the same time.

[@krazyglue60]

I literally JUMPED at 2:06 when the Enterprise first fired on the Reliant! That was fantastic! 👏🏻 Another amazing shot at 2:21 where you begin to see the pulsating light reflect off the Enterprise, and it gets steadily brighter until you switch to the reverse angle shot and we see its source… 🤯 MASTERFUL! 🙌🏻 Also, I’m glad you didn’t blow apart your models. They’re too beautiful to destroy. 😍

[@rochedl]

That looked amazing, the ONLY way I could tell it was model ships and not CGI was the details on the saucers, but it shows practical effects still have a place in this modern world.

[@CptRanger]

Rarely are there moments in your life that can be recreated. Same chills as when I saw this in theaters. Bravo!

[@SBatts-vn1bd]

I've got to love the addition of the old-style phaser sound effect @2:59. Actually it added a different "feel" to it. Well done!

[@HawkGTboy]

Oof. Nacelle sag. Every Constitution Refit model I ever built suffered from it. I remember wishing that the nacelle struts were a single piece of v-shaped metal.

[@nmphoto37]

Seriously!!! Although I think i just finally straightened them out. Another user suggested heating the struts to bend them. And it actually worked!!!! Of course, after the fact 🙄

[@HawkGTboy]

@@nmphoto37 The original studio model had an internal aluminum frame in order to support the nacelles properly. The forces on that joint where it meets the secondary hull are great.

[@michaelmiller3012]

On the one I built, I reinforced them with a crap-ton of putty and some thin metal strips prior to assembling the strong back on the model. Of course, When I put it together I realized that the angle was wrong, so the nacelles "leaned in" toward each other. The fix for THAT was to cut out the support tabs, literally bend the strong back in at the rear and fill in the giant gaps with a METRIC crap-ton of putty. It took me over a month of careful filling and sanding to shape and smooth this out and it ultimately left a hump where the raised strong back rear blends into the rest of the secondary hull. It actually doesn't look bad at all and I have to point it out to most people for them to even notice it. The only aftermarket part I used on mine was a frosted resin deflector with a more detailed housing. That model is such a pain in the @$$ to build, but the end result is gorgeous.

[@senatuspopulusqueromanus2082]

No, they are so clearly sagging​@@nmphoto37

[@michelguy5569]

Very beautifull, surely lots of work ! The space combat scenes of this movie stay the better I have seen in all SF movie I have seen. Liked and shared.

[@nmphoto37]

I'm happy you're enjoying these!!

[@goodwilj]

I can't believe you used AMT models. Excellent

[@PaulAtreidesMuadDib]

Practical Real effects are far superior to CGI and always will be. GREAT Work!!!

[@flyprdu]

It's been an absolute pleasure to see your progress over the last few years. This one is incredible. Soon... ILM=NJM

[@mr_camper544]

The music is the real hero in this piece. Without it, it’s quite mundane. However with it,it’s absolutely glorious.

[@davidandersen1053]

‼️WOW‼️ This is brilliant work & I think using real model ships adds SO MUCH realism when compared to CGI👍 Thanks 4️⃣ posting this 🤩👌

[@markleblanc6870]

Holy Mutar Nebula Batman!!! This is awesome!.. Dear Directors out there... Call this guy, make it happen...

[@cwam1701e]

This is completely awesome! And all the more authentic because the nacelles on the Enterprise are not quite parallel which is the signature of that kit! And never mind the video skills, the models themselves are excellent. Well done!

[@bhautikj]

Absolute chills - this isn't a recreation, this is a love letter. Beautifully done - kudos!

[@cloverfield911]

Proving yet again that practical models are so much better than CGI! Great work!!

[@jozdundar]

Kudos to you. As a kid/preteen, I've thought about doing this with amc and other kits since the early 90s (when this was the only real way to do space shots) constantly trying to figure out how to shoot it and not go broke with maybe 16mm and even building some sort of optical printer. The tech and funding limitations just never allowed me to really try it out. Glad someone got to do it 👍🏻

[@nmphoto37]

Oh this definitely would not have been possible without modern consumer tech. The thought of actually trying this on film would give me nightmares 😆

[@deanlawson6880]

Absolutely beautifully done!! The models are "pitch-perfect" and look GREAT, and the motion filming is really excellent. The recreation of the iconic angles and shots of the battle in the Nebula are recreated beautifully!! So nicely done!! Thanks for this - Even after all this time this battle in the Mutara Nebula is still awesome!!

[@jamesfenoff]

That music cue at 1:35 is still glorious!

[@rdhqcpro9751]

Music can make or break a movie. The exceptional music soundtrack in this movie further enhanced the already great story and special effects (for the time) making this movie SUCH an amazing experience at the theater. I won't ever forget seeing this at the theater.

[@dpearlstein]

Congrats on taking your first steps as a film maker.

[@pex_the_unalivedrunk6785]

ILM would have charged like half a million dollars for this back in 1982...and now people are doing it for a tiny fraction of the cost. Great work, this is amazing! 🖖🏼

[@micdeole-2099]

Great work! I love how you can feel the size of the ships and how they move through space. I can't imagaine the amount of work that went into this.

[@BattlestarPacifica]

Hey NJM! Man, you outdid yourself with this one! Absolutely NAILED these shots, especially at 00:29 and again at 00:36 ! Awesome work!!!!👍👍🎥🎞

[@nmphoto37]

Thank you very much!!! I was so excited when the shot at 0:36 turned out, because that one was a pain in the neck to film 🤣

[@Saint_Anger79]

You did an awesome job Captain but tell Mr. Scott he's gotta do something about that starboard pylon drag 😂😂

[@nmphoto37]

I'm sure he's giving it all he's got

[@stephenmccagg]

This is stunning, the Enterprise is a truly beautiful ship!

[@TheSpiritOf97]

Man seeing these 80's era ships back in action was amazing! Thank you for this!

[@gregbirger5810]

Brilliant job, truly well done. Remember it took a company like ILM with dozens (hundreds?) of people working on these scenes to get the reference movie original. They did such a great job, its still one of the high bars of space combat ever filmed, but they had millions of dollars and specialized cameras and equipment. What you did here is extraordinary and I agree with others that real physical models still impart a sense of reality and "gravity" in a way CGI just cannot do.

[@DrDnd4nyer]

Agree this was great! I especially loved how you made the ships seem in the nebular, with the wisps of particles showing in front of the ships - done much better than the original!

[@benruniko]

Thats some dang beautiful work! Wow!! This kind of sfx never goes out of style in my opinion

[@kmdrfarsight]

That thing in the Mutara Nebula

[@nmphoto37]

🤣

[@Vitriolblog]

You don't even need any dialogue if you've watched the scene 100+ times. Executed to perfection!

[@williamripke982]

I loved the use of "old school phasers" before Reliant limps away. Very cool 😎😊

[@nmphoto37]

I'm glad you noticed! Just a subtle little callback to TOS 😁

[@Taz.B]

Wow. Amazing work you;ve done! Truly appreciate the efforts and love you've placed in the video!

[@jamiekarpency2576]

I thought it was cgi and was expecting phaser and torpedo hits. Nicely done!

[@mikep8442]

Great show! Music is timed very well for model motion and angles. Lighting is beautiful too!

[@CD3WD-Project]

Holy moly man that's better than most special effects nowadays.

[@SylvainBeaudoin-dd1oy]

I own the 1:350 Ent model (was a gift to myself a while back) but never finished the assembly. This gave me the bug to start working on it again! Thanks.

[@Josh_Fredman]

You did an amazing job with the lighting! These are possibly the best amateur modeling effects I've ever seen. They're certainly up there! Also, my Enterprise when I was a kid had the exact same issue with the nacelles not lining up quite right. They're notoriously hard to get perfectly right! 😅

[@nashbridges120]

Better than the silver screen. Awesome.

[@f4fwildcat29]

I actually cried while watching this. These shots are beyond fantastic! Your ability to use real models and augment them with CG lighting of the nebula makes this as good, if not better than the original film!

[@Naisium]

Man the Enterprise looks really sharp! Nice work!

[@guysevedz3581]

That was beautiful, loved how the models had beautiful colors

[@NikStamps]

This was soOo good it made me cry, amazing work... I always wanted to do this with my models that I built!

[@DrDeepspace]

'Explain it to them'. Great work on those models. Heroic salvage of the questionable AMT products.

[@nmphoto37]

This is spot on! 🤣

[@petefrenzel7296]

I really liked the cloud/mist effects, very well done!

[@cjpvideo]

Excellent work, very inspiring

[@lionrampant31]

Outstanding! You really appreciate the scale and "weight" of these ships when they're done with models. The only criticism I have is that the Mutara Nebula needs to be a bit denser to create that "fog of war" feeling.

[@mattdawg83686]

Wow, this is amazing! The lighting is perfect too!

[@preferredimage]

Considering the scale you are working with here, that's really really impressive!

[@ChrisAttebery-v3e]

I guess he wasn't keen on destroying his model kits. Great work!

[@nmphoto37]

Not until I build the 1:350 Enterprise 🤣

[@trevorgautereaux]

Holy mackerel, this is incredible! Fantastic work. Would love to see more behind the scenes for this short specifically.

[@08191906]

Congratulations on a job well done! It was thoroughly enjoyable to watch.

[@richardeckman9273]

Marvelous work! Congratulations! I really loved this. Thank you for sharing it.

[@samgray49]

This goes to show the motion control rigs are still able to hold up incredibly well. I kind of wish star trek would return to using more practical VFX shots like this.

[@Ravege98]

The framing of some of these shots is outstanding. I really like the Enterprise entering the nebula.

[@paulaburrows8660]

This is truly stunning work. Nicely done.

[@TheTiacat]

Love the old timey phaser sound.

[@doswelk]

I was impressed and worried you would be "blowing up" the model at the end, glad you didn't excellent work!

[@spartan.prime.7878]

You could reinvent all tos movie's with this. You rock dude

[@nmphoto37]

@spartan.prime.7878 Thank you!! Definitely think Star Trek V will be a future project at some point

[@spartan.prime.7878]

@nmphoto37 looking forward to it

[@EdwardSingleterry]

I was waiting for the phaser and photon torpedo hits and for the dialog. Well done!!!

[@Mattyorme]

Chef's kiss. No notes. Awesome.

[@survivaloptions4999]

Yeomans work. Well done.

[@Hey_MikeZeroEcho22P]

You Took my Idea!!! Seriously, though, You Did an Excellent Job..... sure the models are excellent too, but the Background.... W O W !!! Granted we don't see the explosions, but HEY....I Don't See anybody else doing what You have Done. Great 'Posting'!!!

[@sfperalta]

Incredible stuff! Hire that person!!

[@StarFuryG7]

This is some pretty awesome work. It looks better than the scenes in the movie. It's amazing, what time and the advancement of technology makes possible.

[@BaronFeydRautha]

DUDE!!!! This isn't a complaint or anything, just a nitpick. I love this The Enterprise should have been damaged prior to entering the nebula. BUT, but these are handmade models and probably display pieces first and foremost. Only an observation. This shit was awesome mang.

[@keenan_k]

Awesome!!! They need 5 more thumbs up buttons on this damn thing! I was having a hard time watching through tears of pleasure. You've outdone yourself, good sir!

[@mattbaker5364]

Extremely well done! Looks amazing!

[@nigelwalker6103]

Brilliantly done! This looks professional.

[@seantaylor1191]

I LOVE this!! Great work! . . I wish I had this knowledge back in 7th grade when I desperately wanted to make a sci fi epic using motion control on 16 mm film. Back then I had no way to achieve anything close to your work. Now, with how well it seems it can be done, I'd love to see what this kind of work would look like if each of your digital frames could be printed on 16 or 35 mm film at 24 frames per second with natural occurring grain. I'd love to see how natural it could look as if it were filmed in 1982!

[@seatofmypants5280]

Better than the original! Amazing work mate!

[@shawncarter5619]

wow. I have been waiting for someone to start doing actual motion controlled models again. This is stellar work (pardon the pun).

[@mattprater5096]

The slow movement of the ships always made it feel like they were so much bigger and menacing.

[@AirSnipers96]

These shots are incredible!

[@matthewguynn1422]

Simply BEAUTIFUL!

[@mikemc7901]

Shocked at how good this looks with AMT models...I was expecting it to not work..but it does.

[@manicpanda8741]

Omg this is so cool, I love the lighting and everything ❤