Star Trek DS9:- Operation Return Diorama - 'micro' build log

Rhaven Blaack

!!!THE MAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN!!!
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It looks like you are off to a good start on the Defiant.
I am looking forward to seeing how it will turn out.

As for the USS Bannockburn, I checked out your blog and took a look at the pictures. You did a GREAT JOB on it!!!
You should post the photos here (in its own thread, of course. ;)).
That was a GREAT TRIBUTE!!!
 

linweseregon

Senior Member
@spaceagent-9 Just like Kirk in The Enterprise Incident ;)

I joined the parts for the superstructure of the hull following Ninjatoes' instructions:-
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I then attached the shuttlebay and engines:-
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finishing with the upper deck containing the bridge. This gives me a USS Defiant measuring 18mm (<3/4") from tip to tail:-
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Now it's time for my Nemesis - the Excelsior class :grumpy:. When I built Wolf 359 this ship was a royal pain in the ass. And now I've got four of the damned things to build :arghh::bawling::banghead: ;). Oh well, here goes...
I'm using Clever Santoro's designs again, starting with the design for the USS Excelsior. I don't need to change any names or registries as they're illegible this small. I'm starting, as always, with the saucer:-
06.JPG
 

Rhaven Blaack

!!!THE MAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN!!!
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You did a GREAT JOB on the USS Defiant. At only being 18mm long, It is AMAZING that you are able to make it look so good at that size.

I am looking forward to seeing the Bannockburn.

KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK!!!
 

linweseregon

Senior Member
I joined the primary and secondary hulls and that left me with the nacelles to cut, build and connect:-
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I used the edge of my steel ruler to shape the nacelle halves and a toothpick point to shape the upper ends. This gives me two MkI Excelsior class ships at a length of just over 2" (52mm):-
10.JPG
 

Rhaven Blaack

!!!THE MAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN!!!
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The Excelsior looks GREAT!!!
Your skills (in building these micro machines) are GREATLY IMPROVING!!!
I am REALLY ENJOYING watching these build threads!
 

linweseregon

Senior Member
Many thanks guys :D
I made a start on the Mk.II's today, but I'm already pulling my hair out -lol. There are just too many pieces that are miniscule, and the saucer rings don't want to behave. I've still got parts left from the Mk.I so I'm going to try a mix 'n' match - the only real differences are the additional impulse engines and that weird bulge on the secondary hull. If my plan fails then I'm off to Utopia Planitia for a crash course in starship construction ;).
 

linweseregon

Senior Member
@spaceagent-9 I thought Frank Zappa was the mother of invention ;)

I redid yesterday's saucer with a mix of parts from the Mk.I and Mk.II:-
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As the top of the saucer has a smaller diameter than the bottom, I stuck it onto a thick piece of card so that the rim could be angled properly. The photo shows the top part from the Mk.I, but I swapped this for the top from the Mk.II then connected all the rings, the two halves and the extra impulse engines. I then cut the rim and the parts for the sensor array and bridge superstructure:-
12.JPG
I used the Mk.I impulse engine block as the Mk.II version was too fiddly to work with: one edge would've been <0.5mm wide.
 
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