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The 'colors' for the ENTERPRISE model are various shades of gray. Here I'm applying the first coat of light gray to the Bridge
structure - again using my trusty Paasche Model-H single-action spray gun, this time equipped with the 'medium duty' tip.
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I had long ago abandoned 'hobby' paints in favor of the same automotive paints used by the car refinishing industry,
specifically the DuPont, Lucite brand, acrylic lacquer paints. Today, this paint is very hard to secure - thanks in no small part to the get-a-life tree-hugger's out in California! The ChromaSystem paint
replacing the Lucite system is two-part urethane based paint produced by DuPont. You can find the primer, filler, putty, and paints I use under one roof at your local Mitto outlet - check your yellow
pages.
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The painting continued on into the tiny Hangar Bay piece: The forward bulkhead mounted viewer gallery and four overhead control
stations (each vacuformed from clear acetate sheet and back lit by a tiny LED) had their windows masked off before painting. The semi-transparent overhead piece was installed only after all painting and
detailing had been completed to the Hangar Bay sub-assembly.
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The clear vacuformed Warp Engine domes were given a mist coating of the orange/red color - just enough paint to cover, but not
enough to make the domes opaque. When back lit from within by the electronically sequenced array of ten LED's the flashing lights can clearly be seen to 'chase' in a circular direction. Here I'm using a
stiff brush to streak some ground dark colored chalk onto a dome - just one of the 'weathering' techniques used on the ENTERPRISE model.
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The darker shad of gray being applied between two radially wound pieces of masking tape either side of the 'gill slits' just
behind the front of each Warp Engine assembly.
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So, so many guys at the various SF model sites clutter the Internet today. So much talking and shouting about the minutia of the
TOS ENTERPRISE... but so little demonstrated model building going on. Always the same tired eighteen and twenty-two inch long kits being build by the same inept, uncritical kit-assembler's. Seems that
nearly everyone talks about building the 'Ultimate ENTERPRISE', but precious few get past the talking stage! Less gabbing and more practicing of the craft out there, guy's!
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To be concluded in part 10...
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