EMvTW 166 - Tamarian Deep Space Cruiser (Darmok Class)

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

Rewrites: NONE YET

“Mirab, with sails unfurled.”  We set forth on this Standard Edition review with the Tamarian Deep Space Cruiser, also known as the Darmok Class in the non-canon resources.

Note: The picture above actually shows the MicroMachine model of a Klaestron Ship.  Apparently, the filming model was reused for both races.  Since it does not seem like we will see a Klaestron model from Eaglemoss, I figured that I would share it.  As for the actual Eaglemoss model of the Tamarian Deep Space Cruiser, we first get to see this starship in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode called "Darmok".

Per Memory Alpha and Beta, "The Tamarian deep space cruiser was an advanced starship-cruiser design utilized by the Tamarians in the 24th century. Information on this class was sparse. Tamarian deep space cruisers were armed with phasers and were comparable in size, but superior in power, to that of a Federation Galaxy-class starship.  Tamarian technology allowed Tamarian starships to create a particle scattering field in the ionosphere of a planet. By projecting a particle sustaining beam into the upper atmosphere of said planet, they could effectively inhibit transporter and communication technology to or from the planet's surface. The field was created with a polarity coil generator, which was located on Tamarian starships in a heavily shielded section, aft of the warp drive."

If you would like to read more official stuff on this type of ship, feel free to check out the following links:

Darmok Class Information: Memory Alpha LINK and Memory Beta LINK

Before we get into the meat of the Eaglemoss review, here is one quick look at the Klaestron Ship MicroMachine model.

 

I do not normally review models that are this small, so I will simply share those two shots of the MicroMachine model and then move on.  And now with that out of the way, let us prepare for the concert of the quadrant.

 

Ever since I saw the episode, I always found the concept of a concert humorous.  I actually own the t-shirt above.  Now enough of that silliness, let us move on to the actual review.

The sculpt and mold work is pretty cool on this model.  The entire surface is covered with tons of tactile details.  

The join seams are a bit more noticeable on this model, appearing along the bottom part of the ship, starting with the nose of the ship and running back through the main body.  The joins are also a bit noticeable on the warp nacelles.

Every inch of the model is covered with those molded details including the rear of the vessel.

The paint work is very simple on this model.  The entire model is done up in a light grey with a slightly darker grey aztec pattern scattered across the ship.

The central part of the ship has quite a few panels and grills painted in a light tan paint scheme.

The impulse engines are painted on, however, they almost look like stickers.  I carefully checked with a knife and they are indeed painted on.  This is the second Standard Edition model in a row where Eaglemoss used this sort of "trickery" and I quite like the effect.  Well done Eaglemoss, well done.

The last cool thing to report is that Eaglemoss used a lot of clear red plastic on the nacelles.  It makes for a rather striking effect.

And that is all the pictures and comparisons I have to share on this ship at this time.  As for pricing, I will continue with the tradition of looking up pricing on eBay and finding the most inexpensive Buy-It-Now prices at the time of this article's writing.  Prices were researched last on July 19th, 2020, and as of the writing of this article, I was able to find the model from a seller for around $29 (shipping included).  You also can currently order the model right from Eaglemoss' US WebStore for around $25 (shipping unknown).  As a side note, you may get the MicroMachine model of the Klaestron Ship for around $11 (shipping included) on eBay.

When I review the Standard Line of models, I am used to paying up to $30 for them.  That means that this model is right in line with that price range.  That being said, the model is OK and I feel it is worth the money, however, it doesn't come off as one of those shining examples of Eaglemoss work.  The model is pretty much a mirror image if you flip it over.  The join seams are the only thing that can tell you winch side is the top.  In the end, I feel that Eaglemoss has made us better models, but this one does fill a gap in the collection.  If I was collecting on a tight budget, I might have saved my money for a different model that comes along.

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, "Darmok and Jalad on the ocean", and as I started this article, I shall end it as well with “Mirab, with sails unfurled.”. (Source: Memory Alpha - Tamarian Language)



Additional Links To Photos Of My Collection:

Eaglemoss     Comparative Pictures
MicroMachine (Klaestron Ship)

Other Reviewers Take On The Eaglemoss Model:
Some Kind Of Star Trek