Vulcan Shuttle (Surak)
from Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979)
Brand: Round2/AMT
Scale: 1/187
Medium: Injection-molded styrene
Release Date: 2009
Pieces: 29
Life Lost: 60+
Enhancements: None
TSF Rating: * * * * *
CLICK HERE to view some "in progress" pics.
Now this is a kit I had wanted for a long time, and was rather excited when I heard that Round2 was re-popping an upgraded version of her back in 2009. Yes, it did take a while to reach our fair shores, but as with all good things, I was prepared to wait. Well, a little bit anyway!
There is little to be said about this kit except that, apart from the good old "AMT flaws" that so often show up to the party unannounced, Round2 have really done justice to this beautiful craft. While the new dome base and steel rod with adjustable pivot at the top is a great touch, it's the all new "azteking" decals that are the stand-out crowd-pleaser here! They add so much life and realism to the model that it is hard to imagine how any modeller could make this kit look good without them. Well, it certainly helped this average modeller achieve something half-decent for a change!
There is little to be said about this kit except that, apart from the good old "AMT flaws" that so often show up to the party unannounced, Round2 have really done justice to this beautiful craft. While the new dome base and steel rod with adjustable pivot at the top is a great touch, it's the all new "azteking" decals that are the stand-out crowd-pleaser here! They add so much life and realism to the model that it is hard to imagine how any modeller could make this kit look good without them. Well, it certainly helped this average modeller achieve something half-decent for a change!
As nice as the decals were it didn't stop me from making a meal of them. While the warp sled went fairly smoothly I had a bit of trouble applying the aztec decals over the shuttle itself. There were some difficulties getting the decals to settle into corners and recessed detail, but the real issues I found were with sizing and alignment. This was most apparent on the port and starboard flanks where the decals seemed to come up short. Those little yellow vectoral thruster pieces were pretty much impossible (for this modeller!) to get to meet on each corner.
We have separation! Also on the list of sweet bonuses in the box Round2 has offered the modelling masses this time, are two pairs of tiny neodymium magnets. Housed snugly inside the base of the shuttle and under the skin of the docking platform they do a very nice job of holding the shuttle comfortably and securely on the warp sled. Watch out for these humble but powerful wee magnets. They are fast becoming a handy tool amongst the modelling fraternity, being used to hold on to removable panels and hoods, models to bases, spaceships together, and so much more...!
As reported on the "workbench" page, I wanted to pay homage to both the studio model and my memory of the studio model on-screen. The original filming model was actually base coated in a dusty pink colour, and this is nicely replicated in this re-pop by Round2 with it molded in the accurate colour. But like so many other Trek fans I remember my first impressions of the Surak having a light metallic rust or copper finish. After dealing to the kit with so much grey putty I had no choice but to mix a custom batch of matching "dusty pink" for my base coat, and go back over the entire vehicle. Once dry I nervously misted a fine coat of metallic copper over top, and this seemed to create exactly the look I was going for. In certain lights the finish transforms from "pinky/mauve" hues to a "rusty, coppery" sheen. What do you think?