Rewrites: NONE YET
We are getting SOOO close to the last Official Starship Collection model. There are two more to go after this review. Out next review is of a ship that didn't really exist. While it looked and felt real enough, it turns out, it was just an illusion.
We first get to see this starship in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode called "The Survivors".
Per Memory Alpha and Beta, "The Delta Rana warship was an illusory starship created by the Douwd who had taken the form of Kevin Uxbridge. He used the illusion as a form of planetary defense system for Rana IV against the USS Enterprise-D. It was noted to have five times the mass of the Enterprise."
In the episode, the ship is never classified as being from a known Star Trek race. Since the illusionary ship was created by "Kevin Uxbridge" I have decided to classify it under his race, which was stated to be Douwd.
If you would like to read more official stuff on this type of ship, feel free to check out the following links:
Husnock Warship Information: Memory Alpha LINK and NO Memory Beta LINK
The studio model for this ship was one that was reused several time after its appearance in the "The Survivors" episode. Eaglemoss reproduced two of the models that this ship later became.
Issue #101 - Bajoran Freighter (Antares Class (Bajoran))
(Read my review at THIS LINK)
Issue #105 - Smuggler's Ship
(Read my review at THIS LINK)
According to THIS Ex Astris Scientia article, the Husnock studio model made 22 appearances in Star Trek in various different forms. That was one well traveled model.
Under the wrong lighting conditions, and from a distance, the model doesn't look that interesting. Sure, you can see the sharp looking weapons prongs, but the model just looks washed out in grey.. You really need to move in closer to it and check it out more thoroughly to enjoy its subtleties.
Up close, the sculpt and mold work looks great on the bottom of the model. The details look nice and crisp and you can clearly make out the panel lines and vents.
The top of the model though bears some less precise details. It looks like the Eaglemoss Melted Marshmallow Syndrome has returned after a long break. This is a term that I came up with a long time ago to best describe this look. Eaglemoss Melted Marshmallow Syndrome, or EMMS for short is best described as a softening of details where they appear more rounded, less edgy and a bit out of focus. Sort of what happens to a marshmallow as you heat it up to it's melting point on a camp fire.
Eaglemoss did recreate the very menacing looking weapons prongs in the form of some well placed greebles. The main one on the underside of the model looks good, both in mold work and paint work.
The two side weapons prongs do well to complete the ensemble of a heavily armed ship who's main purpose to to drive away unwanted visitors. All three weapons look sharp, and edgy, just the way they should appear.
The the join seams are visible around the model, however, they are placed along some natural lines of the ship, and end up blending in nicely.
The paint work is a pleasant surprise with this model. As I stated earlier, from a distance, you don't really notice much, but upon closer inspection, you notice that there is a light aztec pattern across the ship. The ship's main bridge is highlighted with painted windows.
Speaking of windows, the underside of the model is covered with a plethora of multi-colored tiny windows, which gives you a sense of just how large this starship was.
The rear of the model bears several areas with additional paint work, including the endgines.
While it is nice to see some additional color on the model, I feel like the painted details on the rear of the model, are not as crisp or precise as they could be. The paint work back here has an almost rushed feeling to it.
And that is all the pictures and comparisons I have to share on this ship at this time. At the time of me writing this article (February 12th, 2021), you can get the model from both eBay as well as Eaglemoss' US based Webstore for $25. Shipping is included with that cost on eBay while you will have to pay additional costs to receive it directly from Eaglemoss.
While there is nothing seriously wrong with the model to make me say that it is not worth the $25 price tag, I just am walking away from the review of this one feeling like Eaglemoss just sort of phoned in the work. I have reviewed better reproductions from them. I guess that after producing 177 model, they were bound to get tired.
As always, I hope you found this article useful and informative. If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please feel free to comment below.
So for now, "Live long and prosper!!!"
Additional Links To Photos Of My Collection:
No comments:
Post a Comment