Starship Modeler Discussion Forums

I discovered that the LEDs that I started out with for my K'tinga kit had a different shade than ones I got later which were more bluish in color when compared with the others. I have not seen a true white LED except for the 3 color ones that require all three lit and even they seem off. the warmer ...

With the K'tinga model I used white paper to lessen and diffuse the light so I wouldn't have bright spots.

I have heard of stuff used to fill in windows that dries clear. But that means it would have to be masked over if there is any painting,

For the interior, paint it black while holding it up to bright light. When the light is completely blocked then you have enough paint. Any black modeling paint is fine. Paint first or cut out windows? Good question. I would cut, then paint. Since there is no lighting kit for this model I assume you ...

Is the entire ship illuminated? Fiber optics can illuminate but the light is very small and directional. It works best with windows and such An SMD LED might work but the light is also very directional. You will have to wire it to a battery, a 1.5 button cell should be fine and would eliminate the n...

I wish I knew about the Scalecoat. Several years ago I had to strip some chrome parts and I used the old standby Brake fluid. I had to soak the parts for over a week and then had to dig off pieces with a stiff brush and toothpick.

I don't think I have ever painted enamel or lacquer over acrylic. I have painted acrylic over these paints. Since acrylics are water based they don't interact with enamels. Whether acrylic would protect plastics by forming a protective coat over it is another thing. The basic problem is the solvent ...

Try using the air from an airbrush to dry out around the details. Also q-tips and tissue paper twisted into a wick.

Does your meter have a diode check function? This is what I use to check diodes when working with them and making sure I have wired them correctly. In the forward biased condition the voltage drop is typically between 5.5 and 7v, with 7v being the ideal condition. Reverse biased they show an open. A...

I have modified the lighting circuit for my K'tinga cruiser. to fit my needs. All the lights on a particular string are wired in parallel with a single current limiting resistor on the connector. This means that all the LEDs have source voltage across them but minimal current per LED, yet they seem ...

Can't really say since I don't pay that much attention to it. I guess typically I use a higher pressure. Experiment on a scrap piece and see what works for you. When I spray Dulcote I typically hold the airbrush about a foot or so away from the surface to get a light even coat and avoid excess build...

I cut my Dulcote with Lacquer thinner maybe about 30-50%, so it comes out much thinner and easier. This allows me to use my regular pressure and I then apply several light coats.

I've never seen that shot. The one I recall is the classic promo shot that was on the model box which is the pilot version. Since there were few shots of the first pilot ship because The Cage was re-made into the Menagerie, it wasn't until much later that the differences were pointed out, like the s...

https://time.com/5619823/paint-fumes-harmful-research/ "The new study isn’t proof that paint and related chemical exposures cause autism, and should be “interpreted with caution,” the authors write. But the findings are in line with previous studies that found an association between paint chem...

As you go along with this model you will discover the things that need fixing and then have to adapt to them.

I love the "pics" of the Kodak films! Looks like test shots of the model made back then!

Now can you photo shop one of the actors from the show with the model.

My reasoning is this: light will get into the engine through the clear rod, hopefully with enough transmitted to charge the GitD paint. The GitD paint would then glow, and it would light up the clear "lens" end. Before I go out and buy some, has anyone tried this? Am I making the least bi...

I have a set of compasses and calipers that are part of my father's architect set that I used to scribe lines in precise dimensions. Probably your best option is to use a set of plastic circles as a guide to scribing lines.

Interesting about the hangar doors. Those B/W pics really give it a retro look.

Great work! But where are the shuttle deck doors? Did the studio model not have them?

Future applies like water and I believe that any acrylic based paint would mix with it for a tint effect. If the paints are enamel or lacquer then I would apply them first and then Future over the paint to get a shiny effect. The main thing to remember is to apply tints in light coats. Like everythi...

Try asking the person who made the Sulaco 3D kit in the On the Bench thread. He might find it challenging. As for small detail parts, the sources for that can be almost anything but most people use 1/72 scale kits. Tank kits are the best source for small detail parts to use. You won't be able to fin...

You are starting at what is going to be an awesome project. Right now you have just started thinking about all the details and work involved. If this was 20 years ago your only option would be to re-create the pats out of styrene and other small parts. Right now I suggest you find a friend or someon...

AAAAWWWWSome!

Nice phaser one models. Not many people know that when the phaser originally conceived Roddenberry proposed a pop up targeting display that was the grid. If you look closely at the episode, The Man Trap, you can see this when they fire their phasers. I guess the idea was dropped due to the props bre...

I had the Vulcan shuttle re-pop and the decals were so fragile they broke up before I could apply them. To solve this I had to spray the sheets with Testors GlossCote several times to make them thick enough to stay together. Unfortunately this meant I had to trim every decal close to the edge prior ...

I was recommended Tamiya Fine White primer. It is a lacquer and I used it to get a satin smooth finish for my Proteus model.

My personal favorite is Super Glue. I dries as hard or harder than the plastic. I can sand it to a mirror finish and it can be scribed.

Is Plastruct plastic weld similar ? This glue was made for Plastruct plastic which is ABS and not styrene. Regular plastic glue like Testors will not give good results as I discovered many years ago when I tried to use it on an ABS kit. I don't know how well it works on styrene. A friend made the T...

Plastic model glue works by partially melting the contact surfaces so that when the glue dies so does the styrene, creating a welded joint. Similar glues are MEK ( methyl ethyl ketone) and ABS glue, good for ABS plastics which are different from styrene. Super Glue doesn't interact with most surface...

I'm not sure how enamel washes would work on top of enamel paints since you are using thinner that will affect the paint. One thing is to be sure the existing paint is dry. I would wait 24 hours minimum for this. Then I would apply the wash LIGHTLY over the surface, making sure it doesn't pool, run ...