The company behind the long-running Official Starships Collection has expanded to their next level of Star Trek model: a do-it-yourself, extra-large build of the hero Next Generation starship — the Galaxy-class USS Enterprise-D!
After initially testing the waters for such a program more than a year ago, Hero Collector today officially announced the launch of their Build the Enterprise-D subscription program, set to officially debut in March 2021.
Fans who subscribe to the four-times-monthly delivery plan will be able to build a 27″-long, fully lit and saucer-separable model of Captain Picard’s starship — the USS Enterprise-D — over a 2.5-year construction plan that will kick off in the new year.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73QFY1nNOEk
A hybrid design of the three different Enterprise-D filming models used in Star Trek: The Next Generation production — the two, four, and six foot models — the Hero Collector build-up model uses elements from all three versions of the ship to be a faithful to the overall on-screen look of the ship as possible.
The subscription program is expected to run for 120 issues, with 4 issues arriving monthly — for 30 months of deliveries in total — with each containing a portion of the model kit and instructions on how to assemble the new components. (Each issue is $12.90 plus shipping, which at 120 issues is certainly a commitment of both time and finances.)
Subscribers who stick with the program will receive several ‘free gifts’ along the way, including a binder for each month’s magazines, T-shirts, a display stand for the starship model and more. The weekly magazines also include a history of the Galaxy-class design (both real-world an in-universe), as well as construction guides.
Here’s the official press release on the new program:
Build Your Own U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-D With Hero Collector’s New Star Trek Build-Up!
“Let’s make sure that history never forgets the name… Enterprise.”
(London, UK) – Hero Collector – designers, manufacturers, and publishers of high-quality collectibles from across the worlds of pop culture – are ready to launch Star Trek fans on a new voyage with the Build the U.S.S. Enterprise-D subscription program!
Whether you’re a collector, model-maker, hobbyist, or simply a Star Trek fan, you’ll soon be able to construct your own U.S.S Enterprise-D right at home. Subscribers will receive regular deliveries of parts and simple instructions, but there’s no need for glue or paint (or a degree in starship engineering) – every component of this easy-to-build starship model comes pre-painted, and will simply click or screw together to form your own U.S.S Enterprise-D, ready to be displayed on its model stand.
At over two-feet long, the complete model is an exacting replica of the iconic starship from Star Trek: The Next Generation. The legendary Dan Curry, VFX producer on The Next Generation, as well as Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Star Trek: Voyager, and Star Trek: Enterprise, says that this “beautiful model” was “such good quality that we could have used it for some of the shots we created for The Next Generation. Nowadays visual effects are mostly done with CG. This reminds me of the incredible models we used to work with for traditional effects, which were built by master craftsmen.”
Based on a careful study of the different studio models used in filming, the model replicates every last detail of the U.S.S. Enterprise-D, from its phaser strips and RCS thrusters to the captain’s yacht, including:
– Expert color-matching to the starship’s on-screen appearance
– Decals to capture the tiniest details of each component
– Saucer and stardrive sections that can be cleanly separated for display, just as seen on screen
– Working internal lights that match the original studio model, illuminating the ship’s windows, engines, navigation lights, and main deflector
– Separate power sources for the stardrive and saucer sections, to keep both litEvery issue in this subscription comes with simple instructions, labelled and color-coded for ease of assembly – and is also packed with extra features for Star Trek fans. With each delivery, you’ll build a collector’s guide of behind the scenes information, insightful interviews, and astounding art from the people who made TNG, starting with how Andy Probert designed the U.S.S. Enterprise-D itself!
If you’re looking to dive into this giant build, you can head over to the Hero Collector site today to preorder the first few issues ahead of the March 2021 launch.