1/350 Scale Scratch Built Star Trek Voyager

[erospawn]

Hey Guys,

I haven't posted a lot because the main reason is I have spent most of my modeling time working on this 1/350 scale Voyager scratch build.. I've spent countless hours working on this and I am almost done! One reason I didn't post it sooner is I sort of had plans for this and since I don't do this full time..I wanted to get far enough ahead of the game before I posted it .. well, that time has come. All the parts were made by hand.... except the sensor array parts. I'm working on those now.. but have been unsuccessful in identifying the correct model parts for those.. so, Im sort of mixing and matching stuff together to make it work..

I've made plenty of mistakes on this.. and corrected plenty of mistakes.. and some, well, I'll just have to live with....For my 2nd major scratch build, I consider this a success. Plans are to mold and cast this.. Mold it in Fiber Glass, light it up and then we'll have the beauty that is the Voyager ship... I do have to say that I miss buildining plastic kits.. Here goes

       
       
       
       
       
       

[erospawn]

More photos. Im not really adding descriptions to each picture because it seems for the most part self explanatory.. If you have any questions.. just shoot


       
       
       
       
       
       

[JAWS]

Bout time Ron! Looking good mate. I know what youmean about building a simple out the box styrene kit. I built 2 today that were Secret Santa gifts on RI's Secret Santa. Was actually relaxing to build straight out the box again. Just gootta paint the suckers now 7 thats the fun part. Nice build mate. Hope you get this kitted.

[erospawn]

I guess I accidently closed the thread? It should be unlocked now.

[erospawn]

(12-29-2009, 05:44 PM)jasonwright.1972 Wrote: Bout time Ron! Looking good mate. I know what youmean about building a simple out the box styrene kit. I built 2 today that were Secret Santa gifts on RI's Secret Santa. Was actually relaxing to build straight out the box again. Just gootta paint the suckers now 7 thats the fun part. Nice build mate. Hope you get this kitted.

I ran out of testors cement yesterday and decided to go and get some more.. and suddenly, I found the local Hungates hobby shop closed.. for good it would seem. That means that the closest hobby shop that I know of is about 80 miles away!

[erospawn]

Here's a few more:


                                               

[erospawn]

OK.. Here's a few more... remember, if there are any questions, just shoot.


                       

[erospawn]

I work really really fast Here's some more

                                           

[427 Cobra]

I thought this was done. I guess I was wrong. Anyway, where'd you get those little pictures glued to the balsa that you used for scale references?

[erospawn]

(12-30-2009, 12:12 PM)427 Cobra Wrote: I thought this was done. I guess I was wrong. Anyway, where'd you get those little pictures glued to the balsa that you used for scale references?

Uh it is almost done.. I just haven't posted all the pics yet..

[dbhs]

How did you get started using wood? Are you more comfortable using wood than styrene? I've used wood before making a remote control glider and found it a great material to use but I never tried it on a sci-fi build before.

I like the first couple where the texture is really rough and there's still some openings in the hull. I know that's part of the progress but those shots remind me of the ship during the 'Year of Hell' episodes.

What is the gray material you are using over the wood? How thick are you putting it on?

[erospawn]

I am almost done.. here's some more pics...

                                               
   

[erospawn]

Here's some more

                                                               

[Wombat]

Gee,that is one damn big Starship and again,how you guy's can create such thing's from scratch is just awesome!

I can see a lot of fan's liking something like this in there collection's.
Must be very impresive to see with your own eye's?The size is pretty much perfect as it's not to big to be able to display,yet big enough to be jaw dropping for someone seeing it.

[erospawn]

(12-30-2009, 12:57 PM)dbhs Wrote: How did you get started using wood? Are you more comfortable using wood than styrene? I've used wood before making a remote control glider and found it a great material to use but I never tried it on a sci-fi build before.

Well.. Wood just seemed the natural material to use.. easily sanded, durable etc etc.. But, to tell you the truth, I'll probably be doing something a little bit different next time..Modelnutz was telling me about a material that was like a combination of styrene and balsa..thats sounds pretty nice.

(12-30-2009, 12:57 PM)dbhs Wrote: I like the first couple where the texture is really rough and there's still some openings in the hull. I know that's part of the progress but those shots remind me of the ship during the 'Year of Hell' episodes.

The good news.. once it is cast into a kit, pretty much what ever can be done to it can be done .. My goal here is to make a kit out of it.. and then build it and light it up.. and hopefully sell a few while I am at it.. who knows though.

(12-30-2009, 12:57 PM)dbhs Wrote: What is the gray material you are using over the wood? How thick are you putting it on?

Basically, I built it out of wood.. and filled in the gaps and errors etc with spackling material.. I also tried a little bondo on the warp engines as well.. It works well, but not nearly as easily sanded as the spackle material. The rest of it is basically gray primer..

[erospawn]

(12-30-2009, 01:38 PM)Wombat Wrote: Gee,that is one damn big Starship and again,how you guy's can create such thing's from scratch is just awesome!

I can see a lot of fan's liking something like this in there collection's.
Must be very impresive to see with your own eye's?The size is pretty much perfect as it's not to big to be able to display,yet big enough to be jaw dropping for someone seeing it.

Thanks for the compliments man! It's 3 foot long and at its widest point is 14 inches wide. It'll go nicely next to you Polar lights Enterprise! Actually, its pretty suprising to realize that this ship is actually bigger than the PL 1/350 Enterprise..

[Wombat]

^
I like ya thinking!!
If i ever do build that PL Enterprise i'll make sure i have enough room leftover to display that beast of your's alongside.Of course you can just forward it to me in the meatime and i'll make sure i leave room for the PL instead!

[erospawn]

Alrighty... Here's some more pics


                                                       

[erospawn]

Here's a few more:

                                                       

[erospawn]

And I believe with the addition of these pics, we are all caught up to date

                                   

[erospawn]

Here are the latest and most up to date pics! Gotta love 'em

                       

[427 Cobra]

I didn't know that you were having trouble with Bondo,Ron. I use Elmers brand woodfiller. I SWEAR by it! This stuff dries fast,it sands easily,and it fills the tiniest cracks,and gaps perfectly. It's waterbased,and it can be removed if you make is mistake without ruining your model. It's also very maleable (soft),so that you can sculpt with it. You'll have to add a little at a time to build up large areas,but it dries hard as a rock in a week,so you don't have to worry about it falling out. Best of all,it won't ruin soft plastic parts,and it can be painted with automotive acrylic,or lacquer,enamel,or waterbased acrylics.

[erospawn]

thanks for the advice.. the stuff Im using works quite well too. and can be painted sanded etc...The bondo was ok.. but was not as easily sanded etc..

[JAWS]

Looks tight. Good work Ron.

[Wombat]

Those latest pictures do look good!
It's a pretty good looking build your coming up with there and i hope your desire to kit it works out the way you intend.I'm not sure how these big starships are viewed,but if i was a Treckie fan i'd be wanting one looking like that and in that size also!It's actually a pretty good shape this one!
Another to be really proud of i'd say,Ron!

[erospawn]

Hey thanks for that.. I would like to make it a kit.. but ya know..I just got started in all this because I wanted an Enterprise E Judging from the compliments I've gotten so far on this one... I think it'll do pretty good.. but to be honest, I would still spend the money needed for the materials to both teach myself a skill... and to have one of those beauties hanging from my cieling and all lit up anyway.. So, if I actually sell a few to boot..that would be awesome too!

[scratchy]

I've been seeing a lot of great looking star trek builds lately, and this one is right up there with them, great job!

[erospawn]

I haven't exacly had a lot of success id'ing the parts that make up the sensor arrays.. so I've been making them by scratch...


           

[erospawn]

so, here's an update.. although almost done.. I decided to redo the sensor arrays on the side of the ship.. I ended up making the parts by hand. I designed one peice, molded it, and then cast several copies..
The pics below show the original along with a copy.

   

[427 Cobra]

WOW!!!! You're definately not the modeler I once thought you were! I'm speechless at the moment. After seeing everyone elses work here,I never realised the scope of your talent,Ron - especially in this scale. I now see that you are indeed one of us,meaning that you are a rare scratch building bird amoung the crowd! While everyone else is kitbashing,or building straight out of the box - the few of us here showing our work,are really starting to shine through the rain of massproduced kits!

I hope that this will be a desireable kit in this scale. After all your hard work,I'd hate to see all this effort into kitting this end up in a closet for another day! I see that you're now a member of the RPF. I thought you had gotten in with the last group. Either way,you can sell this on there once you get your 90 days in. I don't think you'll have a problem with getting 20 posts under your belt,once the Trekkies on there see this build,they'll definately be impressed! I personally don't really care for Star Trek anymore,and I haven't for a long time,but even I'm impressed with the workmanship you've displayed in this piece.

I know that everyone wants a big model,but I have nowhere to keep anything like this where I live now - meaning,it's time for me to move to a bigger place!

[dbhs]

Very nice work. It keeps looking bigger and bigger with the added details.

[JAWS]

Hey Ron isn't it wicked to do castings!

[JAWS]

Any word on the kit Ron?

[erospawn]

Its moving along. I spoke with him, maybe last week??, and he mentioned that the smaller parts had been done but that he was working out how he was going to do the main body.. Something about having to engineer something or other

[427 Cobra]

I know for a fact that you are a brilliant modeler, Ron! I'm hoping to see a lot more from you soon. I know that this will be offered in a kit form for everyone. I liked seeing the kit on here, but I really want to see this in its' finished form. I can't wait to see what you do with it.

~ Cobra Chris

[erospawn]

Wow.. I stumbled across this thread while looking to see how my site showed up in searches...I clicked on an image of my Voyager which ended up taking me here!  Ok, so I gather you all know by now...There will be no Voyager in the foreseeable future. Reason being is someone scared me straight about Paramount Pictures tendency to go straight for the throat instead of issuing a cease and desist...As a result I was like, "Yeah, think I'll avoid that"... I also sold the masters I had for the Sovereign Replicas Enterprise E to Ed Holt of Monkey Works.. or whatever he calls himself now.. I suppose there will be a reissue of this kit...and I have no idea how that's going either.  

   I haven't stopped building, I just got interested in a different subject matter...Now I'm scratch building Scale Jets and Helicopters. Currently working on a scale F-100 Super Sabre that I hope will have it's maiden flight in late February.. Starting off with electric and if all goes well, moving on up to Turbine.   Then I can get caught up on all the other projects I have lined up...

  Ps. it occurs to me you might not know what that is...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0UYrhuXIlE

[JAWS]

Hey Ron. Welcome back stranger!

[Jessie White]

WOW! I was going to say, "Teach on Master - teach on!", but I didn't know that you sold this to someone else, and therefore it will never be a kit. I know that I hardly ever post on here because RC cars, and planes are my bread and butter. Regardless I love watching all these wonderful builds when I can. I'm currently going to school so every free moment is precious. Thank you for posting this. I only wish I could've seen it in its finished form.