[Chris Ford]

I'm thinking about building this kit straight out of the box - something I haven't done with a kit for a long time. So opening the box I was surprised to see it has some chrome-like pieces to be attached. Is this correct? Are these parts of the kit supposed to be chrome? Did the original have these as chrome? I ask this as if I can finish it it time, I'll enter it in the IPMS Nats Comp here in November. I plan to paint it a pale-mid flat green totally, like the 3 ft model on display in London (UK) at the Star Trek exhibition back in '95. That model certainly didn't have any chrome parts on it. I have the pics to prove it. I don't think a chrome-look would go well with the overall green paint scheme I plan. Your insights into this is most welcome.

 

[John P]

What, ya think they chromed it accidentally?

Remember it's not a reproduction of the AMT kit, it's a brand new kit, designed from scratch, by PL. Supposedly the filming miniature had some chromed parts, so PL decided to chrome those parts.

Most of the purists out here are removing the chrome and repainting the parts with metalizer. Me, I haven't gotten around to it yet.

 

[PerfesserCoffee]

I lightly sanded over and painted primer and base coat (Krylon Pewter Gray) over my D7. I'm going to paint those areas with a gunmetal metallic, something a bit less shiny. The original apparently had some mylar covering those parts as well as a multi-color paint scheme as described in the PL directions.

 

[soloboy5]

The original model had pieces of silver mylar tape, I beleive, applied to it in the chrome areas. So it is technically correct but for a closer finish to the studio model they should be toned down a bit. I coated the pieces on mine in dull coat and gave them a black wash and found it sufficient, but MANY others have found that it is more worth it to take the time to strip the chorme off and paint it anywhere from flat aluminum to gunmetal. Whatever tickles your pickle basically, so long as you have fun building it!
Dang perfesser coffee posted just before me!

 

[PerfesserCoffee]

Dang perfesser coffee posted just before me!

I thought I was hearing an echo :jest:

 

[Guy Schlicter]

Klingon Battle Cruiser

Hi, Did you know A.M.T. made the actual studio filming minature of the Klingon Ship for the Original series! and their kit was supposed to have been tooled from the studio minature.In 1966 AMTs USS Enterprise sold very well and AMT wanted to do a follow up kit so Matt Jefferies did the sketches and gave them to AMT and AMT financed the construction of the Klingon Ship for the show and made the model kit too.Too bad the Klingon Ship didn't appear earlier in Star Trek,I would have loved to have seen an all out battle between the Original USS Enterprise and an Original Klingon Battle Cruiser,and I'm thinking of doing as you,just building one straight from the box, cause it looks good enough and if a model is molded in the proper color and has certain colored parts such as chrome then take a breather from painting,Thanks, Guy Schlicter.

 

[John P]

Yes, we did .

The way we heard it when first discussing the PL kit, back when it was in development, there were two Klingon miniatures - one built for filming, and one built as a pattern for the AMT model. There were subtle differences, which is why the AMT kit is not a strictly accurate model of the ship you see in the show.

 

[sbaxter]

I brushed on some Testors "Burnt Iron" as a wash on these parts, and it looks fairly good -- I was going for a "these parts used to be pristine chrome, before they were used and abused" look. But here's a question -- On the chromed inserts for the engine pylons, there's a raised trapezoid-shaped area. I have never been able to tell whether those areas are chromed (or whatever) or painted the hull color. Anyone know?

Qapla'

SSB

 

[charonjr]

I brushed on some Testors "Burnt Iron" as a wash on these parts, and it looks fairly good -- I was going for a "these parts used to be pristine chrome, before they were used and abused" look. But here's a question -- On the chromed inserts for the engine pylons, there's a raised trapezoid-shaped area. I have never been able to tell whether those areas are chromed (or whatever) or painted the hull color. Anyone know?

Qapla'

SSB

Don't know if this was ever answered eight years ago: the trapezoid is gold. This was true on both version of the D7. The left pic is the one used for the model kit panagraph, based on the engine's rear chrome mod. The profile is from Elaan of Troyius, depicting the onscreen D7.

 

[jbond]

The original AMT kit did have the chrome parts...

 

[Gemini1999]

I remember back when the original AMT model of the Klingon Battle Cruiser came out, it did have a few chrome bits. If I remember correctly, there were 2 chrome bits for each of the engine nacelles and 2 larger chrome bits on the sides of the shuttle bay housing. I didn't realize that contemporary versions of the TOS Klingon were still including those...