After finishing the Original Series Enterprise, I realized that I needed some proper tools before tackling the Enterprise-B. I also got an excellent tip from PoisonFox about setting solution.
 
Applying the decals to the B was quite a bit more challenging than the Original. First there were just a lot more decals. The Original had thirty-six (Clerks!) where the B had sixty-three, and I just realized that those numbers are the transposed versions of one another. Weird.
Besides just the amount, the Excelsior also had some really large decals. The saucer section’s top is three pieces that have to line up together:
 
 
The nacelles’ each had two, one inside and one outside, that had to match up across the top and wrapped around both ends:
 
 
 
There were also some sections where decals are applied as multiple layers. For instance the bottom of the saucer had the base decals with phaser strips and ship name layered over the top.
 
 
The biggest lesson learned from doing decals on this model was to pace myself more. I ended up doing all the decals over two marathon sessions of about three hours each, and I made most of my mistakes during the tail end of each one. All in all, I’m very happy with how the ship turned out, and any mistakes I notice now I consider good lessons for the next model.
One last cool thing about doing these models, I’ve gained a new appreciation for the increase in scale from one incarnation of the Enterprise to the next.
Nice work. I see what you mean about the scale. How interesting.
Wait till I get the Enterprise-D painted and finished, it’s huge.
Looks really good, nice work.
Thanks! It’s definitely been a learning experience, I’m glad I started out with some small ones before I move on to the larger ships that I initially intended to do.
Looking good! If you’re doing more of these I’d love to see a “completed” shot in the future where include something to gauge the scale of the models. I mean, there are hints in the pic like your tweezers or your thumb, but I’m thinking they are actually smaller than I think they are (which makes the detail even more impressive).
The Excelsior is about the size of my hand, but I can see about taking a picture with a pencil or some quarters next to the models.