Accurate Parts for your AMT/ERTL Excelsior and Enterprise B

Wow, my highlight for the AMT Round 2 USS Enterprise B apparently must have upset quite a few people judging from some of the email feedback I received (and how fast I am getting them). Apparently many were not aware of some of the discrepancies found on the older kits (AMT/ERTL Excelsior and Enterprise B) and wants to know where they can get aftermarket parts. Some have even felt "cheated" having bought a sub standard kit. I can understand the frustration.

Though I welcome requests, feedback and comments, I would also appreciate it if a few of you could refrain from using very strong profanities even if you're talking about the old AMT/ERTL. I know they're not directed at me, its just that I don't find them constructive and its only going to make you more upset. 

BTW .. ahem, just to be clear, I'm not affiliated in any way with Round 2 or ERTL/AMT, so I can't speak for them. But what I will say is that it is better to have a "not so accurate kit", than to have no kit at all. In some of your cases where you have already build yours, there's really not much you can do unless we're talking about "salvaging her"? For those others who have an unbuild Excelsior or the older Enterprise B kit, well, you're in luck.

What I can do is to list down some of the accurate aftermarket parts that are available to you, but do take note, these accurate parts do not address ALL the parts you may need. Some may require you to get those parts from other kits as I know of no aftermarket parts made for them. And yes, I agree that buying a second set of AMT Round 2 Enterprise B is a waste if you're buying her just for spare parts.

From Don's Light and Magic (DLM)

I can vouch for Don's Light and Magic as I have ordered direct from him and I am a very happy and satisfied customer (and no, he's not paying me for this either. Credit goes where credit's due). His resin casts are VERY detailed, with no air bubbles and flashes to clean. Comes highly recommended if you want a more accurate kit. So if you're building the USS Excelsior/Enterprise B/Lakota, and looking into lighting her and adding detailed parts:

EXCELSIOR CLASS LIGHTING AND DETAIL PARTS
The Excelsior Parts consist of:
Bridge Piece, Clear Resin
Planetary Sensor Array Spotlights (6) Clear Resin Parts
Impulse Engine Crystals (Clear Blue resin)
Photon Torpedo Launchers (2) Forward, gray resin
Photon Torpedo Launchers Aft, gray resin
Phaser Emitter Bumps (20 on a thin sheet)
Warp Engine Dekoids (2)

ENTERPRISE B LIGHTING AND DETAIL PARTS 
The Enterprise “B” set consist of:
Bridge Piece, Clear Resin
Planetary Sensor Array Spotlights (6) Clear Resin Parts
Impulse Engine Crystals (Clear Blue resin)
Navigational Main Deflector Dish, Clear Blue Resin
Photon Torpedo Launchers (2) Forward, gray resin
Photon Torpedo Launchers Aft, gray resin
Phaser Emitter Bumps (20 on a thin sheet)
Warp Engine Bussard Collectors (2) Clear Blue Resin

EXCELSIOR CLASS NON-LIGHTING AND DETAIL PARTS
These parts are for model builders who will not be lighting up their Excelsior Class Starship. Made of solid gray polyurethane resin. The parts consist of:

Photon Torpedo Launchers (2) Forward, gray resin
Photon Torpedo Launchers Aft, gray resin
Warp Engine Dekoids (2)
Phaser Emitter Bumps (20 on a thin sheet)


1/1000 scale Excelsior/Enterprise B/Lakota Decals
Check out the amount of details on the decals from Don's Light and Magic for the 1/1000 scale Excelsior/Enterprise B/Lakota Decals. You need to know that Round 2 have not announced anything on coming out with a separate set of those "Aztec" decals even for their new AMT Round 2 kit. You may want to get these.

That's about it and I'll let you all know if there's anything else new coming from DLM for the ERTL/AMT Excelsior/Enterprise B kit.

**********************************************************************************
Excelsior/Enterprise-B Replacement Neck/Saucer/Bridge
To correct the older Excelsior/Enterprise B lower saucer section, neck and bridge, you're going to need this set from Starship Modeler

Replacement one-piece neck, lower saucer and bridge for the 1/1000 AMT/ERTL Excelsior and Enterprise-B kits.  The replacement for the underside of the saucer corrects the planetary sensor array and includes the "trench" around where the neck connects. It also has engraved instead of raised panel lines.
These are drop-fit replacements; only very minor kit surgery required for use.  Master patterns by Brent Richter.

I just checked that site and WOW .... there's only 1 unit left. First come first serve guys.

And lastly with regards to the Excelsior's pylon piece, unfortunately I do not know of anyone who has made a replacement part for this. Until there's an aftermarket part made available, I'm afraid you need to ask around if anyone out there has a spare Enterprise B pylon piece they're willing to part with.

My Review of AMT Round 2 Cadet Series 1/2500 scale USS Enterprise Kits

The AMT Round 2 Cadet series is aptly named for its simplicity (very minor painting required, comprehensive decals and simple snap-fit assembly) and I believe these kits were designed to mainly cater to the beginner. But I have found that many professionals opt on getting these as even at 1/2500 scale
(very small), they are quite detailed, and they all come in the same scale, giving them dimensions relative to their actual sizes if compared side by side. Who can say no when these are Starships we have come to love.

The Cadet series is basically a repackaged form of the old AMT/ERTL kits. Set 1 previously came with the Classic Enterprise, the Refit, and the Enterprise D, while Set 2 completed the range with the Enterprise B, C and E.


AMT/ERTL 1/2500 scale Enterprise Set 1 and Set 2



With the Cadet Series, the first set is now repackaged with the Classic Enterprise, the Refit and Enterprise B. Enterprise C, D and E comes in their own separate triangular boxes. They are basically the same, using the same mold as with their earlier predecessor, but they now comes with very comprehensive decals packed together.

The only things that were omitted out from the Cadet Series were the display stands for these kits. In the earlier issues, those fancy display stands took up most of the box space as the ships were relatively small at 1/2500 scale. By removing the display stands, the kits can now come in those cute but unworkable triangular box. I didn't like them for 2 reasons, the first being its harder to keep them among my stash as there's no way to prop the boxes together properly, and second, try putting the parts back in again - especially the Enterprise D. I had to spend some time test fitting its parts still on their Spruce to fit in just nice.

As for their display stands, its looking like you may need to get creative. The Classic Enterprise, Refit and Enterprise B no longer have those gaps underneath so you may need to drill through for a display rod to fit. I do have some suggestions later on in this topic.

My Review of the 1/1000 scale AMT Round 2 USS Enterprise B Kit

Here's a hot one. I know there are many out there that are huge fans of the Excelsior Class starships. I'm one too but unfortunately there aren't many kits out there for these (counting those resin kits as well), and even fewer in large scales. Technically the Enterprise B is a revamp of the Excelsior Studio model, which was later re designated as the USS Lakota (they're similar in design and patterns except for the registry change).

For this review, I will be comparing all 3 available plastic kits that are in 1/1000 scale from ERTL/AMT, PLATZ and from AMT Round 2. Interesting to note that PLATZ is a Japanese brand (I think) and their release merely improved on the decals. The parts' mold remain virtually identical to ERTL/AMT kit

Problem with both the ERTL/AMT and PLATZ kits was that the inaccurate parts are similar since both kits used the same mold. The most significant part in question would be the lower saucer section where the "neck" connects to the secondary hull. Major corrective surgery and aftermarket replacement neck was needed to correct these, but not so with the new AMT Round 2 kit. Those parts were corrected from the mold, hence you get a more accurate rendition of the Enterprise B seen on the movie screen.

From the different brands packaging, I'll vote for AMT Round 2's as the box is sturdier, and the parts fit in snugly inside unlike the ERTL/AMT and PLATZ boxes where there were like 70% empty spaces inside. PLATZ did use better cardboard material for their boxes though.

UPDATE: Aftermarket parts for the ERTL/AMT Excelsior and older Enterpise B kit are highlighted HERE

Round 2's AMT's USS Enterprise NCC 1701 B

Coming this month is AMT's 1/1000 scale USS Enterprise NCC1701 B. She's basically still the same old kit using the orignal mold done in the previous issue, but with some re-tooling done on her neck area for better accuracy.

Measuring a nice 18", she will come with new Aztec Decals as part of its package along with a new dome base.

Actual Studio Model of the Enterprise B

Its basically the original USS Excelsior kit modified to become the Enterprise B. Here's how the Excelsior looks like


USS Excelsior in Star Trek III : The Search for Spock



USS Excelsior in Star Trek VI : The Undiscovered Country



Difference between the NX2000 and NCC 2000



USS Enterprise 1701 B



CGI variant of the Enterprise B



For those who are building the Enterprise B kit, these images should help provide some useful reference. The images below is the same kit but redone to represent the USS Lakota in DS9.

More images after the jump