NCC-1701: Enterprise
Review by AJProDie-Cast
Hey, it is in my name, I crave diecast collectibles in all shapes and sizes of things I love. Surfing the online arena, I came across this twelve inch and 80% diecast rendition of Star Trek's NCC-1701 Enterprise. Made by Franklin Mint, this version of the true iconic ship came out in 1993. Even new untouched ones online have no packaging... so I have no idea if it came in a box with pictures or anything.
It does come with a nice solid faux-wood stand, miniature shuttle craft, and a removable bridge area.
It has a stark white paint scheme, with a golden saucer array, and red plastic warp cylinders.
Franklin Mint has created a really weird diecast ship...
The lines are great.
The shuttle bay is nice and the cool metal Galileo seems great.
The bridge detailing is incredible. It even has control panels and the red ship map and golden plaque near the red elevator doors.
With all this detailing and quality, however, this ship has some very strange and glaring omissions/continuity errors.
First let's start with the paint scheme and shuttle design (I also hate how the windows are white on the craft(s)). They match the NCC-1701 refit from the movie, but the nacelles, BRIDGE, and saucer array best match the TV show... weird.
In addition, the underneath saucer section has annoying, small little stickers for the ship instead of being the same as top section. The white bridge seats seem so wrong with the amount of details on the rest of the bridge... especially Kirk's chair!
I do love the size, same as the plastic (and better painted) Art Asylum Enterprise.
Overall, you can get this for like 90 USD plus shipping and I do like it. The lines, look, and extreme heft of so much metal are great.
I just wish all the details were "correct" (I tried to add red to impulse engines and they came out pretty pathetic).
I know if I had chachipowers' expertise [see his Rodimus Prime in the Wheelie review],
I could paint black onto the chairs and shuttle/ship windows, and add gold to the ends of the engine nacelles. That still would not fix the missing large numbers underneath, the "60's" nacelles, or a "classic" bridge on a refit colored Enterprise. The ship has a nice place in my collection and I don't regret buying it, BUT it seems like the ship was designed by someone who took great pride in their craft but had never watched the show...
"Live long and prosper"
Posted 9 October, 2011 - 22:03 by AJProDie-Cast |
Comments
4 comments postedAwesome review!
These were heavily advertised on television and print during the 1990's, I'm sure a commercial might be available on YT. I'm sure the lack of box was mostly due that these were essentially mail order items and generally not sold in stores. I remember the radar dish was advertised as karat gold plated, although it might be the pewter Enterprise Franklin Mint made.
Although the bridge access area is quite cool Is the scale of the bridge correct? I'm thinking its too big for the rest of the ship, especially of they tried to go to lower levels and the rear of the ship.
Although the details are a bit mucky I do admire that the Franklin Mint put out some effect to make these as items such as these were not really being produced in the late 1980's early1990's.
You should definitely be proud to have this in your collection!
Cheers!
LF
also searching for the enterprise d...more $ and want a decent price
Nice review of this piece, I never got into Star Trek but watched it once in a while and sorta dug the Enterprise. I almost got a small diecast Matchbox one the other day for 3 dollars. I wouldnt mind too much to own this especially being diecast and big. I just dont have enough nostalgia for it, oh and thanks for the Rodimus shout out, I have to keep myself from wanting to paint all my toys now.
Too bad youre not local, I'd help you get it legit, I can make water transfer decals in high resolution. Thats how I did the flames for Rodimus
If we ever have another get together at Josh's house again or CDX summit...we can do it up!