Say what you want about the plot of Star Trek: The Motion Picture, but one thing that no fan can deny is what a gorgeous visual feast for the eyes it is.
The Motion Picture asserts that right from the very beginning of the movie: the camera pushes in on a trio of familiar looking Klingon battlecruisers, and in a series of sweeping effects shots we get our best look ever at Klingon ship designs.
Seeking to inspire that same level of awe, Eaglemoss has released the K’t’inga-class Klingon battlecruiser — which first appeared in The Motion Picture — as the second XL-sized Klingon ship in the larger format. The K’t’inga is a familiar shape, based on Matt Jeffries’ iconic D-7 design from the Original Series, but has been significantly upgraded for the big screen (after first being built for the aborted Star Trek: Phase II series).
Interestingly, the K’t’inga name has never actually been mentioned by any canon source. The name — which was later adopted by the Star Trek Encyclopedia by Mike and Denise Okuda — originated with The Motion Picture novelization by Gene Roddenberry. It has become the de facto name for the ship, including in the Deep Space Nine Technical Manual, but when originally designed for Phase II the ship class was known as the Koro-class.
Regardless of what it’s called, Eaglemoss has produced a beautiful model that does real justice to this incredible iconic design. The model evokes all the menacing angles and smooth curves of the original studio model, and is impressive to look upon from any angle. The secondary hull of the ship is metal, while the nacelles and bridge module are plastic.
Across the whole model, there are lines and paneling that provide it visual interest. The K’t’inga is a sharp departure from the disappointing XL-sized runabout model, which lacked many of the smaller details (like panel lines) that would have made that model worth the cost. The K’t’inga, by contrast, is entirely worth it.
There are also small splashes of color at various points around the model, including the red plastic grilles for the warp engine, a large rendition of the Klingon Empire’s logo on the bottom of the ship, and a smaller logo and some Klingon text on the top of the secondary hull.
If there is one area of the ship where maybe there is not quite as much detail as I would have liked, it is the bridge dome at the very top of the ship. In The Motion Picture, the camera pushes into to the dome and much more detail is visible. Though much of that would not have been possible to recreate at this scale, the dome is entirely smooth on the model. But that’s a very minor gripe.
The stand grips the model firmly around either side of the base, and because it is slightly angled and the weight is held mainly towards the back of the ship in the metal aft section, there is little danger of this model falling forwards. The long neck of the ship, because it is plastic, is quite delicate, but there’s little reason to be concerned about it falling from your shelf (well…absent an earthquake I suppose!)
Overall, if you’re a Klingon fan I think you’ll get a big kick out of the K’t’inga battlecruiser — it’s a beautiful ship, and a great model, that will fire the heart of any Klingon wire.
Qapla’!
If you’re a faithful warrior of the Klingon Empire, the K’t’inga-class battlecruiser model is available now to add to your honorable fleet: for $74.95 in Hero Collector’s US webshop, and for £49.99 from their UK store.
Stick around for looks at more of the Official Starships Collection — and in case you missed it, check out our exclusive interview with director Ben Robinson about all the upcoming plans the company has for Star Trek publications!