Last EMvTW BLOG entry for a while...

Life comes at you pretty fast... if you don't duck once in a while, you might get hit in the face...

Or something like that.

Actually, the quote is...

I've been collecting and running this blog since March 19, 2014.   During that time, I've been through several break-ups, monetary challenges, several moves and even a job loss.  And through it all, I've managed to keep collecting and writing, and not making a single penny from it.  That's pretty impressive.

This last year has been EXTREMELY challenging though.  It was supposed to be an AWESOME year for me.  I was going to get married, buy a house, go on a fantastic vacation with the family.  And then the afore-mentioned job change redirected me in ways I never imagined.  At the end of the year, I feel like I have failed on several different levels.  I never achieved this year's goals.  And that has made me re-think quite a few things.  I need to regroup and refocus.

Which means that for a while, I need to stop collecting things and I need to stop writing about those collected things.

This isn't a forever goodbye.  The one thing I have learned over the years from running this blog is that while one month seems like the sky has fallen and the world has ended, a few months will pass, the sun comes up on a fresh new day and everything continues on like nothing ever happened.

So, without driveling on to much, I hope that when I resume writing, I find that my readers have faired the time off and come out a little bit more healthy,  wealthy and wise.  and in the infamous words of Spock...

EMvTW 147: Baran's Raider (Fortune (BC-01) (Virayllan Class, Theta Class, or Ma-Karn Class)

NOTE:  You can click on most pictures to get a larger view of them.

The second model up for review in my Eaglemoss vs. The World series is Baran's Raider.  This model gave me a bit of a headache when it came time to looking online for canon and non-canon data on this ship.

We first get to see this starship in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episodes called "Gambit, Part I" and "Gambit, Part II".  sometime later, the ship type or model makes an appearance in Star Trek: deep Space Nine's episode called "Vortex".  While the ship type showed up in two different series, the model was never really modified to look different.  It is therefore assumed that they are indeed the same class.  HOWEVER, as you will soon see, non-canon sources often have their own ideas.

EMvTW 146: Fesarius

NOTE:  You can click on most pictures to get a larger view of them.

A new month is upon us and this of course means it is time for two more reviews of Eaglemoss' Standard Line of models.  The first of our two choices this month is the Fesarius.

We are introduced to this ship in the Star Trek: The Original Series episode called "The Corbomite Maneuver".

Vanguard Class Carrier Prototype

NOTE:  You can click on most pictures to get a larger view of them.

I put a lot of work into my original Lexington Class kitbash, and I REALLY wanted to do a similar build with the Vanguard Class carrier.  This is that story...

EMvTW 145: Nightingale

NOTE:  You can click on most pictures to get a larger view of them.

The second U.S. release this moth was the Kraylor "Medical Ship" which was renamed to the Nightingale.  We are introduced to this ship during the Star Trek: Voyager episode called "Nightingale".

As we get into the high number releases for the Eaglemoss Standard Line of models, we are now seeing some one-off ships that other manufacturers have not produced in a pre-built and pre-painted format.

EMvTW 144: Gomtuu

NOTE:  You can click on most pictures to get a larger view of them.

A new month is upon us and even though the U.S. Post Office re-routed my package to me by way of old fashioned Pony Express, AND completely damaged one of the model's boxes, I now have two, surprisingly undamaged, models to review.

Just in time for the U.S. celebration of Easter Weekend, we get to look at the egg shaped starship called Gomtuu.  We are introduced to this starship in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode called "Tin Man".

This is an interesting first for Eaglemoss as they tackle a "living" ship in their standard line of models.

EMvTW 143: Merchantman (Monarch Class)

NOTE:  You can click on most pictures to get a larger view of them.

The second ship from this month's Eaglemoss release of Standard Edition models, is a ship simply known as the Merchantman, a vessel that meets a quick demise in the movie, "Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984)"

When it comes to colors, this model/ship is the exact polar opposite of the Promellian Battle Cruiser.

EMvTW 142: Cleponji (Promellian Battle Cruiser)

NOTE:  You can click on most pictures to get a larger view of them.

It is a new month, which brings us two more Standard Edition models from Eaglemoss.  First up for review is the Promellian Battle Cruiser, called Cleponji.  We are introduced to this ship in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode called "Booby Trap".

I'll be honest, I wasn't sure what to expect with this model from the initial promotional pictures.

EMvTW Special 16: V'Ger

NOTE:  You can click on most pictures to get a larger view of them.

With the Standard Edition Collection getting close to the end with only about 20 or more models to go, it seems like Eaglemoss has been working overtime to get their Special Edition models out to us a bit quicker.  It feels like I was just reviewing Spacedock a month ago.  Well, it was more like 2 months, but they are still producing them faster than before. Which brings us to the next in line of the Special Edition models, V'ger.  We get to meet this "living" vessel in the very first movie, "Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979)".

The Eaglemoss model is a one of a kind.  I don't know of any other manufacturers that have produced this ship in a pre-built and pre-painted model at this scale.  And I have to tell you, the model is pretty darned long, measuring in at just shy of 9 inches.

EMvTW 141: T'Pau NSP-17938 (Apollo or Merchant (Vulcan) class)

NOTE:  You can click on most pictures to get a larger view of them.

The second model for this month's Eaglemoss vs. The World series is a ship we finally get to see in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode called "Unification - Part 2".  I am talking about the Vulcan made Apollo Class starship.

While this type of ship is mentioned several times throughout TNG, it isn't until this critical episode that one actually makes its appearance on screen.

EMvTW 140: Starfleet Tug (24th Century)

NOTE:  You can click on most pictures to get a larger view of them.

As the collection gets ever so closer to a hypothetical end, we are seeing some real unique models coming at us from Eaglemoss.  The next one for our review table is the Starfleet tug as seen very briefly in the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode called "A Time to Stand".

I am a huge fan of kitbashing, and have often used this "art form" in many of my own builds over the years.  Having Eaglemoss bring us one of the show's kitbashes was very exciting for me, even if the actual ship was a bit, how shall we say this delicately?  Ugly?

EMvTW Extra 12 - USS Bonaventure NCC-1000 (Bonaventure class)

NOTE:  You can click on most pictures to get a larger view of them.

I have grown very fond of the next type of starship that we are going to take a look at.  And I was rather excited when I learned that Eaglemoss was going to produce it.  I am referring to the USS Bonaventure (NCC-1000), a Bonaventure Class starship.

My fleet of this type of this kind of starship consists of the Eaglemoss model, and two models that I built and painted.

Centaur Class Refit

NOTE:  You can click on most pictures to get a larger view of them.

I love the art of kitbashing.  It has allowed me to populate my collection with all sorts of unique models.  However, given the choice of purchasing a pre-built and pre-painted model over building my own I will often opt for the lazy approach and make the purchase.  Had I known that Eaglemoss was going to produce the this ship, I never would have embarked down the path of building the model.

This is the story of that model build...

EMvTW Extra 13 - USS Enterprise NCC-1701-F (Odyssey class)

NOTE:  You can click on most pictures to get a larger view of them.

It looks like I will be reviewing the Extra Line of Eaglemoss ships a little out of order.  I'll explain more about this a little later in the article.  Whatever the reason, we are now going to take a look at the USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-F), an Odyssey class starship.

This is a non-canon ship from Star Trek and the only place you can currently see it in action is in the online game called "Star Trek Online".  There have also been several books written about it as well.

EMvTW Special 15: Earth Spacedock

NOTE:  You can click on most pictures to get a larger view of them.

The 15th Special Edition model from Eaglemoss is one that I have been anxiously awaiting ever since they released Deep Space 9 (you can read that review at THIS LINK) way back for Special Edition #1.  After seeing what was possible with the larger scale models, us collectors couldn't wait to see the iconic Earth Spacedock as a model.  And then we waited, and then we waited some more.  Just when we were ready to give up hope of ever seeing another station, Eaglemoss came out with their Special Edition model of Deep Space Station K-7 (and you can read that review at THIS LINK).  We then knew that our dreams would soon come to fruition.  And they did... five issues later.

Up until Eaglemoss released their model, my collection of this station only consisted of the tiny MicroMachine model.

EMvTW 139: Vaadwaur Fighter (Pythus Class)

NOTE:  You can click on most pictures to get a larger view of them.

The last of this month's Standard Edition releases is a rather cool looking little fighter that predates our time and actually was in use in the 1400's.

The Vaadwaur Pythus Class Fighter was seen in the Star Trek: Voyager episode called "Dragon's Teeth".

EMvTW 138: USS Lantree (NCC-1837) (Miranda Class)

NOTE:  You can click on most pictures to get a larger view of them.

We are really cruising along with the catch-up writings of these reviews.  The next model under my microscope is the USS Lantree (NCC-1837), yet another Miranda class variant.

This particular ship makes its appearance in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode called "Unnatural Selection".

EMvTW 137: Xindi Humanoid (Primate) Ship (Ateleth Class)

NOTE:  You can click on most pictures to get a larger view of them.

Next in line for the Standard Releases of the Eaglemoss Star Trek Starship collection is the Xindi Humanoid (or Primate) Ship.

We are first introduced to this type of starship in the Star Trek: Enterprise episode called "E2".

EMvTW 136: Cardassian Keldon class

NOTE:  You can click on most pictures to get a larger view of them.

This model has been a long time coming.  Fans have been waiting for it for quite some time and unfortunately, us US collectors are still waiting for it.  As of the writing of the article on January 24th, 2019, the model is still not available on the US Eaglemoss Webstore, and it is now a month overdue, as Eaglemoss has already made the next month's models available.  Luckily, I found it on eBay for a very decent price and am now able to move forward with catching up on several reviews.

I am of course talking about the Cardassian Keldon class starship, which we are first introduced to in the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode called "Defiant".

I currently have two models of this type of ship in my collection; the new Eaglemoss model, and a very old MicroMachine version.

Shadow Empire Constitution Class

NOTE:  You can click on most pictures to get a larger view of them.

It has been a bit since I shared one of my model builds.  With the rewrite of my Eaglemoss vs. The World review of the TOS Constitution Class (you can read that review at THIS LINK), this model came back into the light.

I figured that it was time to give it an article.