Fan art design Baker Class built in 1:1000 scale as a client build up to be the ‘USS Ripley’. 

The model will consist of production and after-market kit parts, as well as scratch built components. The final model will be painted and decaled. A Polar Lights kit stand will be used for displaying the model.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Using drawings supplied by the client, the saucer section is cut down to size.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After joining the hull section together, the locator pins were sanded flush and the outer wall added. The existing coat of paint & primer were also removed by carefully sanding and using denatured alcohol to get the deflector grid lines cleared out.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A new B/C deck & lower sensor dome is added and a pair of torpedo tubes are added to the bow. A new bridge is located to the B/C deck.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The secondary hull is made from styrene sheet and the saucer is modified to accept it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To fill the gap between the hulls, details are added.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As the model stands now, the pylons have been created, and both hulls joined. Part from a 1:1000 Reliant model and after-market impulse engines have been added. After-market warp engines have also been modified and detailed to represent the Baker class engines.

( pylons & engines taped in place )

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The assembled model is in primer white as a base coat for decals.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Decals in progress; The client requested that there not be the typical decal sheets of hull plating applied. Instead there are plates that suggest critical equipment and access bays in different areas of the hull. When studying large naval war vessels that are painted a single hull gray, there is not a hull plate pattern. Most everything is painted at the same time in the same color. Some access hatches are different colors on real ships, that is the intent here.

You can guess from the name of the ship what the over-all theme of this build is….

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All decals have been applied, now the model is sealed with clear coat. Using Testers spray-bomb for the first time on something this small made me a little nervous, but it covered perfectly. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dulcoat is next and them some detail painting & weathering………….

For size comparison, the 1:1000 Ripley next to a 1:1000 Miranda class;

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The warp engines are masked & painted.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Time to give the Ripley a service record with a little weathering. ( as per requested )

Weathering achieved using pastels, enamel & acrylic paints. I started with very small and lightly indicated streaking and marks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The client wanted the Ripley to look she was returning from a long deployment, well seasoned, ready for rest & resupply. So the weathering went on a bit heavier…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The completed model;

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

USS Ripley is ready for her next duty station, her owner’s starship fleet;