A beginning is a very delicate time.

2016, along with being the 400^th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death, is also the 50^th anniversary of Star Trek’s premier on NBC. Most people who know me know how important Shakespeare is to me. I grew up watching his plays at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, and due to that, and many other factors, I am almost finished with a Ph.D. in English and the Teaching of English which focuses on Shakespeare.

            Star Trek has played an important role in my life as well. Among many other things I credit Star Trek for making me an optimist, as few other Science fiction universes show a future where humanity has evolved beyond the petty bickering that dominates our society now. Though my political views deal with the reality of our world, my underlying liberal philosophy is one shaped by Star Trek, among other things.

            Star Trek and Shakespeare have always shared a bond. Several early episodes have titles from Shakespeare quotes, and one original series episode even shows scenes from Hamlet. So Star Trek and Shakespeare are not all that disparate.

            I have been working with the Marshall Public Library and ISU to set up a number of events to celebrate Shakespeare, but I have not done much of anything to celebrate Star Trek’s 50^th anniversary. This blog is an answer to that. I recently purchased a recreation of the original Enterprise model kit offered in the ‘60s (1:650 scale). This is not the most accurate model, but it is a good one. Over the next few months, hopefully ending in September when Star Trek originally debuted, I intend to build this model, complete with lights.

50th Anniversary box

With the plastic slip cover off

I’ve been building models off and on for most of my adult life. I am just not too good at getting them finished, though often things like a move have caused me to stop work. I am pretty good with the construction and wiring, but painting has always been a bit of a chore, mostly because I do not have an airbrush. Brush painting models always makes them look a bit, well, modeled. So, along with the construction of this model I intend to purchase and learn how to use an airbrush.

I hope to make weekly updates on this project, but as my schoolwork comes first that may not happen. I will try and post pictures of the project as well, though often when I do get into building a model I will sort of zen into the process and not notice that hours have passed. I ask for your indulgence as I begin this project.

Parts laid out

First, as hard core Trekies know, there are several versions of the original Enterprise, the “Cage” pilot version, the “Where No Man Has Gone Before “pilot version, the standard production version, and the recent GCI version used to the remastered collection of the original series episodes. Mine will be a standard production with lighting and painting inspiration from the GCI version. So what I have done so far? Well a lot of pre-construction work. I have pulled out the parts and instructions and looked them over, giving me a sense of the order of construction, as well as how much room I have for wires, circuit boards and lights. The model comes with opaque Bussard collectors and an inaccurate bridge and B and C decks, so I have procured some accurate pieces that allow for lighting from Don’s Light and Magic (see links to the right). I have gathered some reference shots online from the Smithsonian model, as well as screen captures of both the original series, and the recent remastered version of the show, and even a few pictures of other models. I also have some brass tubing and some styrene sheets on the way for the base. Finally I have begun to think about prototyping the circuit board for the Bussard lights and the blinking beckons on the saucer section. 

All of this is well and good; however, to really work on this I need a work space. My first real project will be to convert a corner in our cluttered garage into a work space. This, I hope to have done this weekend.

My present work space

Other projects

As I have a number of models in different states of completion I expect I will tinker with those as well as I work through the Enterprise. Most of these are built, they just need painting, and will offer some good practice before I get to painting the Enterprise. These include an original series Romulan warbird, a Klingon D-7, and a pair of kit bashed First Contact style federation ships. If they turn up while I am clearing out my space I also have a kit bashed Matrix style hover craft, a Star Wars inspired fighter I call the M Wing, and a number of BattleTech like robots I have kit based over the years. Finally I have a plethora of Gundams that I have built over the years, some may get painted. A few need to be built, among them a Klingon bird of prey with a number of heavy modes, as well as a heavily modified X-wing. Both are mostly complete and may end up finished when I have lulls in the Enterprise build.