Scratch-built Exploration Set

[Shaw]

So like many of us, I get into a nostalgic mood from time to time. And recently I was thinking about the old AMT Exploration Set kit that I built as a kid. I noticed that Round 2 had re-released it and I took a long look at some photos of the parts to pre-plan what I might modify if I bought one.

Then I saw the price... ummm, I couldn't afford it.

But I never let that stop me before, so I tried to figure out if I could scratch build the set. There are tons of full size prop replicas out there, so I decided to attempt to match the AMT kit's scale (about two-thirds from what I could tell). I gathered together drawings and photos and started in.

Not having a printer (or at least ink for my printer), I just freehanded the shapes and started building masters.

I started with elements of the tricorder and communicator...

And later jumped into doing the phaser (I wasn't as worried about that as I've built a few of them in the past).

I made molds of the main tricorder parts and did a test pull to see how it was coming together (below is just a quick-n-dirty assembly of those test parts). I also have made some good progress on the phaser masters.

There is still a long way to go... but it is a start.

[scifidude79]

Nice start. I looked at those a while back on Ebay, and the price was prohibitive for me too.

[scifieric]

Shaw, you Sir, are a talented model maker!  I've got your phaser (type I) right here on my desk!

[Shaw]

Thanks guys!

I looked at those a while back on Ebay, and the price was prohibitive for me too.

Exactly!

I mean it isn't like they hadn't made a ton off those molds back in the 1970s (where toys like the propeller disk phaser, the light phaser and the Star Trek Utility Belt were all the same as the AMT Exploration Set kit). And Round 2 didn't change anything with the dies... so why are they so expensive?

Oddly enough, this is also why I scratch built my shuttlecraft models.

Here are the first pulls of my phaser parts...

Click to enlarge

... except for the emitter assembly, that is the master painted silver. The first emitter assembly is being made in clear and has to cure for a few days.

I've got your phaser (type I) right here on my desk!

I'm actually not spending as much time on these as on yours... partly because their smaller and partly because the end goal of these is to be elements of shadow box displays.

[scifieric]

Wow, I'm very happy with this phaser!

Your new phaser looks spectacular!

[scifidude79]

The phaser is looking great so far.

[Shaw]

Thanks!

Here is a shot of the molds for the pieces and the communicator (with the parts just sitting in place)...

Click to enlarge

[scifidude79]

Nice! I love seeing molds.

[scifieric]

Nice! I love seeing molds.

So do I!

[Shaw]

Thanks guys!

Before I run out of internet time... here is a shot of the phaser body with the communicator (again, with the parts just sitting in place) and the Galileo...

Click to enlarge

I'll post the rest of the phaser the next time I'm online.

[scifidude79]

Those both look fantastic. Plus, I always love seeing your Galileo model.

[Freak]

Very, Very Cool!

[scifieric]

Spectacular!

[Shaw]

I appreciate the encouragement guys!

Here is some more progress shots...

Click to enlarge


Click to enlarge

The communicator lid is actually the shape I'll be using to form a photo-etched screen later on. I just painted it for the fun of it.

[Freak]

I really like the Phaser in the frame.