U.S.S. Defiant NX-74205
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October 26, 2021Development on the Defiant began around 2366 in response to the Borg threat to the Federation..2
October 26, 2021Is this CGI or the actual model?3
October 26, 2021I’m always hypnotized by the box art, since childhood..4
October 26, 2021Ok, here is the real challenge..5
October 26, 20216
October 26, 20217
October 26, 20218
October 26, 202184 multi colored decals.. the horror9
October 26, 2021the Defiant will be my first lighted starship, dammit.. The line must be drawn here! No further! If You can’t get past this Cadet challenge, You will never progress to the upper ranks!10
October 30, 2021My idea of drilling out the hex posts revealed that the model can then easily be taken apart and reassembled. Silly Rabbit, Snaps are for Kids!11
October 30, 2021Like so..12
October 31, 2021A look at the lighting challenge. How do I get leds in there?13
October 31, 2021One major design flaw is that the the front bulkhead of the nacelle is opaque, not like the aft part.14
October 31, 2021As seen here, no light getting to the lens15
October 31, 2021The aft part looks right, but the hex post is casting a big shadow.16
October 31, 2021I will attempt to mold and cast the parts in clear uv resin. First by cutting away the tabs and then sanding flat.17
October 31, 2021Getting ready with the thermal plastic..18
November 1, 2021After boiling in water on the stove the plastic is hot and gooey and can be pressed over a part to form a mold. Bubbles pose a problem19
November 1, 2021Still not a perfect mold with this technique, but it’s easily repeated.20
November 4, 2021After 3 attempts because of bubbles, I have a working mold21
November 1, 2021The uv resin is extremely hard, it resists my diamond files22
November 1, 2021Pretty good.23
November 1, 2021Test fit.. smile on my face..24
November 5, 2021Warp coil light rig Mark I25
November 5, 2021Proof of Concept, and so much more.. The post is casting a shadow as anticipated.26
November 12, 202127
November 12, 2021It’s a dream come true. too bad only 3 small bars will be lighted from all this effort..28
November 22, 2021Removed the locator pins and posts, leds glued in place29
November 14, 2021Port nacelle assembly completed30
November 14, 2021Warp drive online31
November 4, 2021Masking fluid32
November 5, 2021meanwhile, the red leds are test fitted into place33
November 5, 2021SSSsss! Cobra!34
November 20, 2021You are getting sleepy..35
November 20, 2021First led configuration Mark I36
November 20, 2021Test run successful. The blue light reaching the plasma vents is insufficient. Red is satisfactory. I like the overall glowing effect37
November 20, 2021Blue Led configuration Mark II38
November 20, 2021Better..39
November 20, 2021The light is uneven, needs refinement.40
December 7, 2021Led configuration Mark III
Side glowing optical fiber41
December 7, 2021Future Starship warp nacelles could be lighted in this fashion..42
December 7, 2021Plasma vent Led configuration Mark III is GO!43
January 15, 2022Led Plasma lighting effects rig Mk. III
Bonding with UV resin44
January 15, 2022Curing45
January 15, 2022Bonding sequence successful46
January 15, 2022Plasma light test rig Mk. I Proof of concept successful. Implement procedure.47
January 15, 2022Tony Stark ‘flip’48
January 15, 2022Fortunately, while uv resin is very hard and strong, it can still be worked and removed if necessary, similar to hot glue.49
November 12, 2021Meanwhile, led test fit in the forward sensor array50
November 12, 2021Led calibration. The front posts have to go51
November 12, 2021Sensor array light test looks pretty good anyway52
November 12, 2021Interesting effect, must make a note of it.53
January 15, 2022Vallejo black primer blocks the light very well54
January 15, 2022Masked…55
January 15, 2022Unmasked.56
January 15, 2022Light blocking successfully applied. Red leds installed permanently using uv resin57
January 15, 2022The capillary action of the masking fluid works in my favor here.58
January 15, 2022Ready for light blocking paint59
January 20, 2022This information is ranked Captain and above.60
January 20, 2022This information is ranked Captain and above..61
January 20, 2022This information is ranked Captain and above..62
January 20, 2022This information is ranked Captain and above..63
January 20, 2022This information is ranked Captain and above..64
January 20, 2022Meanwhile, Lower Warp nacelle housing glued into place, final electrical conduit routing for the lower Hull65
January 22, 2022Preparing to mount the plasma conduits66
January 22, 2022Entering into a critical phase, possible warp core breech, brace for impact.67
January 22, 2022Matter/Antimatter reaction unstable, losing power.. If I can just.. hold on another few seconds..68
January 22, 2022The operation was a success. Stand down Mister.. Return to station69
January 22, 2022Plasma conduits installed.. Qapla!70
January 22, 2022Upper hull standing by..
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2 April 2025, 01:19 -