U.S.S. Defiant NX-74205

Development on the Defiant began around 2366 in response to the Borg threat to the Federation.. 

Is this CGI or the actual model? 

I’m always hypnotized by the box art, since childhood.. 

Ok, here is the real challenge.. 

 

 

 

84 multi colored decals.. the horror  

the 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! 

My 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! 

Like so.. 

A look at the lighting challenge. How do I get leds in there?  

One major design flaw is that the the front bulkhead of the nacelle is opaque, not like the aft part.  

As seen here, no light getting to the lens 

The aft part looks right, but the hex post is casting a big shadow. 

I will attempt to mold and cast the parts in clear uv resin. First by cutting away the tabs and then sanding flat. 

Getting ready with the thermal plastic.. 

After 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 problem 

Still not a perfect mold with this technique, but it’s easily repeated. 

After 3 attempts because of bubbles, I have a working mold 

The uv resin is extremely hard, it resists my diamond files 

Pretty good. 

Test fit.. smile on my face.. 

Warp coil light rig Mark I 

Proof of Concept, and so much more.. The post is casting a shadow as anticipated. 

 

It’s a dream come true. too bad only 3 small bars will be lighted from all this effort.. 

Removed the locator pins and posts, leds glued in place 

Port nacelle assembly completed  

Warp drive online  

Masking fluid 

meanwhile, the red leds are test fitted into place 

SSSsss! Cobra! 

You are getting sleepy.. 

First led configuration Mark I 

Test run successful. The blue light reaching the plasma vents is insufficient. Red is satisfactory. I like the overall glowing effect  

Blue Led configuration Mark II 

Better.. 

The light is uneven, needs refinement.  

Led configuration Mark III
Side glowing optical fiber  

Future Starship warp nacelles could be lighted in this fashion.. 

Plasma vent Led configuration Mark III is GO!  

Led Plasma lighting effects rig Mk. III
Bonding with UV resin 

Curing 

Bonding sequence successful  

Plasma light test rig Mk. I Proof of concept successful. Implement procedure.  

Tony Stark ‘flip’ 

Fortunately, while uv resin is very hard and strong, it can still be worked and removed if necessary, similar to hot glue. 

Meanwhile, led test fit in the forward sensor array  

Led calibration. The front posts have to go  

Sensor array light test looks pretty good anyway  

Interesting effect, must make a note of it.  

Vallejo black primer blocks the light very well 

Masked… 

Unmasked. 

Light blocking successfully applied. Red leds installed permanently using uv resin 

The capillary action of the masking fluid works in my favor here. 

Ready for light blocking paint  

This information is ranked Captain and above. 

This information is ranked Captain and above.. 

This information is ranked Captain and above.. 

This information is ranked Captain and above.. 

This information is ranked Captain and above.. 

Meanwhile, Lower Warp nacelle housing glued into place, final electrical conduit routing for the lower Hull  

Preparing to mount the plasma conduits  

Entering into a critical phase, possible warp core breech, brace for impact. 

Matter/Antimatter reaction unstable, losing power.. If I can just.. hold on another few seconds.. 

The operation was a success. Stand down Mister.. Return to station 

Plasma conduits installed.. Qapla! 

Upper hull standing by..