How to Build Your Own Star Trek Models
If you're a fan of the Star Trek franchise of television shows and movies, you may also enjoy collecting Star Trek memorabilia. The marketplace is full of costumes, books and other paraphernalia related to the Star Trek brand. Plastic model manufacturers also produce Star Trek models of the U.S.S. Enterprise, Klingon ships and other items related to the series. You can buy a model set, build it and paint it with relative ease.
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Instructions
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Purchase a suitable Star Trek model that you'd like to build. A popular choice may be a small-scale model of the U.S.S. Enterprise, a Klingon ship or a ship used in a Star Trek series such as Deep Space Nine or Voyager. Models of Star Trek space stations are also common. Star Trek scale models are available at hobby stores, gaming stores and some large department stores. They are also available online. Star Trek models are commonly produced in one of six scales: 1:350, 1:537: 1:650, 1:1,000:, 1:1,400 and 1:2,500. Some manufacturers that produce Star Trek models are Furuta, Amarillo Design Bureau and ERTL.
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Read the set of instructions in the model kit before beginning to build the model. It is helpful to get a brief overview of how all the pieces come together before you begin working. Different Star Trek models have various degrees of difficulty associated with them. This "skill level" rating is marked on the model's box and provides the recommended age of the hobbyist.
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Remove the plastic pieces that are required for the model's first step. Typically, you can pull or twist each piece off the plastic frame to which it is molded. If you have trouble removing it, carefully cut it free with a hobby knife. Once each piece is free, it may require additional trimming to straighten any rough edges.
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Place the pieces together according to the instructions. Before gluing each piece, it is important to do a test run. If the pieces don't fit snugly, you may have to trim one of them. Glue the pieces together as outlined in the instructions. Allow the glue to dry before handling the pieces.
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Paint each step's pieces according to the instructions. As you get more experienced in building models, you will develop your own style. Some builders paint each piece prior to gluing them together, while others paint the pieces after assembly. When you should paint depends on the model. Some pieces (for instance, the exterior of a Star Trek ship) can be painted after they're glued. But other, finer pieces may require paint before they're glued into place.
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Fill a small bowl with warm water when you are ready to apply decals to the model. Use the hobby knife or scissors to carefully cut out each decal on the decal sheet. Hold the decal in the warm water until it begins to loosen. When it loosens, apply it to the model by sliding it off the backing. Position it carefully and dab excess water off with a paper towel.
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Tips & Warnings
Apply glue carefully when installing clear plastic windows onto your model. These pieces typically have a small flange around their perimeter for the glue. Make sure the glue doesn't leak onto the actual window, as it will be difficult to remove.
Apply small amounts of glue to each piece to avoid excess glue being squeezed out when you place two pieces together. If this happens, wipe the excess glue immediately using a paper towel.
Handle your hobby knife carefully, as it is extremely sharp. Cut with the blade facing away from you.
