Return to the BUILD

“Add two further deck panels to the lower saucer, then illuminate a bank of windows in the middle of the battle section.“

NOTE: I will be presenting TWO different paths to build this Enterprise D partwork model. This is because after Stage 58, I completely tore my own model down and started on my Model Remodel journey. However, I have access to a second Enterprise D partwork that is being built in stock form, so I can show both methods here.

• The normal BUILD section below will show the ‘stock’ way of installing the parts with any tips and tricks I find along the way.
• The new MODEL REMODEL section will describe the changes I made during this stage including any painting, lighting, electronics, wiring, etc.

Contents

Parts

Materials: The Lower Skeleton 7 is metal and the other non-electrical parts are plastic in this stage.

Build

Assembling Deck Panel L2-03

Step A

Carefully remove thirteen (13) Clear Windows and ten (10) Dark Windows from their sprues and fit them into the back of Deck Panel L2-03, as shown.

Reminder: The longer ‘lip’ of each Window (arrows below) should face the wider end of the panel:

While not shown here, I still recommend using pieces of black electrical tape or aluminum tape to seal in these Dark Windows to prevent light leak:

Next, fit Reflector Panel L2-03-A and Reflector Panel L2-03-A1 onto the matching posts of Deck Panel L2-03 covering the windows as shown, then loosely secure the Reflectors with three (3) BP screws in the top holes:

Then, slide the LEDs of the two Deck Panel Lights I (84H – longest cables) into the four matching slots of the Reflector Panels, as shown.

As usual, make sure these LEDs are fully seated and locked over the retaining pins inside the Reflector Panels:

After these LEDs are installed, go ahead and add the remaining four (4) BP screws and tighten them all:

Finally, gently bend the leads of all four LEDs up to a 90° angle, as shown:

Plugging in Deck Panel L2-03

Step B

Retrieve your Saucer assembly and place it upside down on a soft surface. Thread the two LEDs of the Deck Panel Lights II (84I – with the medium-length cable) up through these separate openings of the starboard (right) rear Lower Skeleton, as shown:

Route the plug of this cable through the frame until you can connect it to a socket marked ‘A’ on Saucer PCB 3, as shown:

With the Deck Panel L2-03 assembly upside down, feed the plugs of the two Deck Panel Lights I cables down through these adjacent separate openings of the same Lower Skeleton, as shown:

Route the plugs through the frame until you can connect them to two sockets marked ‘A’ on Saucer PCB 3, as shown:

Fitting a Pair of Deck Panels

Step C

Turn your Deck Panel L2-08 back upright and fit the two LEDs of the Deck Panel Lights II into these upper slots of the Reflector Panels.

To make this easier, I temporarily mounted this Deck Panel L2-03 into place by first sliding it into the nearby panel:

And then, loosely securing the free end down with one (1) FM screw as shown. This is your friendly reminder to try using 3-in-One Oil on all screws going into metal:

Again, you can always use a small piece of thin clear tape across the top of these LEDs to help hold them in place. You don’t have to do this, but I feel it makes it easier to get these top LEDs fitted correctly. Note how I also gently bent the leads of these two LEDs down into the interior of the ship. I didn’t want them interfering with the panel we are about to fit:

Retrieve your Deck Panel L1-03 assembly from Stage 81. Fit Deck Panel L1-03 to the inner edge of Deck Panel L2-03 (yellow arrow below). Then, while holding these panels together, slide their tabs under the existing panels to the left (red arrows below), as shown.

I did detach the lower Deck Panel L2-03 from the Skeleton to do this step:

Once happy with the fitment, secure these Deck Panels into place with three (3) FM screws:

Lighting Up a Bank of Battle Section Windows

Step D

Retrieve your Battle Section Middle Panel assembly from Stage 82. Cover the Battle Section Middle Windows Left with the Battle Section Middle Reflector Left, as shown:

Fit the two LEDs of the Battle Section Middle Lights (84G – shortest cable) into the matching notches of the Reflector, as shown.

As always, make sure both LEDs are captured on the pins inside these notches:

Secure the Reflector to the Middle Panel with six (6) BP screws, capturing the Windows in between as shown:

To test these lights, temporarily connect them to a socket marked ‘A’ on the Saucer PCB 3 and turn ON the saucer’s battery switch:

That step ends this stage of the stock build. Below you will find the details on what I changed in this stage as part of my Model Remodel.

Model Remodel

Assembling Deck Panel L2-03

I processed this Deck Panel in the same way as I have been with my Model Remodel:

• The windows were replaced with Solarez Thin-Hard UV resin
• The ‘dark’ windows were painted black according to my Window Pattern Guide

• I removed the silver paint from the Reflector Panels in 70% Isopropyl Alcohol and lightly airbrushed it with white paint to diffuse light

Lighting Up a Bank of Battle Section Windows

As before, I removed the paint from the Reflector Panel in 70% Isopropyl Alcohol and lightly airbrushed it with white paint to diffuse light:

Here is the result of our Model Remodel changes in this stage:

Thoughts

Not much to say here as so many stages are the same steps. But, I am happy to see we are closer to completing the upper hull of our stardrive!

Next Up

Stage 85 – Deck Panel L3-06, Outer Panel L4-06, Escape Pod Covers/Bracket, Battle Section Middle Window Right