EMvTW Extra 23 - Friendship 1 (UESPA-1) (Deep Space Probe)

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

Rewrites: NONE YET

The next Bonus Edition model to come out of Eaglemoss was not a starship at all, but rather a deep space probe called Friendship 1.

We first get to see this deep space probe in the Star Trek: Voyager episode called "Friendship One".


Per Memory Alpha and Beta, "Friendship 1 (UESPA-1) was a deep space probe launched by the United Earth Space Probe Agency in 2067 with the purpose of finding other species. The probe contained a great deal of technological, scientific, and cultural information, such as translation matrices, data on computer chips, transceivers, warp drive, and Vivaldi's The Four Seasons. As only four years had passed since first contact, Humanity was keen to find other intelligent lifeforms, but they were aware that the lifeforms they intended to find may be unaware of how to create a means of contacting Humanity, so the probe was equipped to inform any lifeforms on how to design communication arrays...  Starfleet lost contact with the probe in 2248. Friendship 1 eventually landed on an unidentified planet in Grid 310 of the Delta Quadrant. The planet's natives reverse engineered the probe and learned of its antimatter and applied the technology to their planetary power grid. However, they lacked the technological expertise to utilize it safely and antimatter was accidentally released, causing a nuclear winter and contaminating the surface with antimatter radiation."

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

Friendship 1 (UESPA-1) Information: Memory Alpha LINK and Memory Beta LINK

This is a very interesting model that Eaglemoss has produced.

 

 

 

 

The paint work on this model is very well done and serves well in convincing us of the age and heavily damaged state of the probe.  Besides the dirt wash paint, there are also scorch and burn marks scattered across the model.  I also like the Starfleet pin-striping that is painted on the primary hill and warp nacelles.

Other areas of the ship are painted in a darker grey to help represent reinforcements along the entire probe.  The paint work is not perfect in some places, but this only enhances the old look of the probe.

The sculpt and mold work are fantastic in a beat up sort of way.  Eaglemoss did a fine job of representing a vehicle that has traversed across the galaxy.  They have molded all sorts of little details everywhere on the model.  You have to turn the thing over and over in your hands to take in all those tactile details. 

The warp nacelles continue the tradition of the great mold work and equally nice paint work.

 Nacelle: Outer Surface

Nacelle: Inner Surface

For those familiar with this series of articles from me, you will know that I typically go in for a close-up of the Starfleet ship's deflector dish.  In my opinion, you can tell a lot about a company's attention to details by just looking at this area of the ship.

While the next two areas were not labeled as deflector dishes, they do serve as sensors and antennas, so it seemed fitting to talk about them here.  The front of the probe is taken up by this huge dish assembly with antennas jutting out from it.  The main mechanics of the dish are rendered out in fantastic detail.

This part of Friendship 1 is very reminiscent of our own Voyager I space probe which is still transmitting to this day.  We still have to wait until Voyager 6 to eventually be launched so that we can anxiously await the return of V'ger.  Why is it that our deep space probes cause so much trouble?

Image Source: SPACE.COM

I particularly like the mold work on this primary dish.  The blast holes in in the dish are a nice touch.

On the rear end of the probe is the long distance antenna array, responsible for transmitting data back to Earth.  Once again, Eaglemoss did a good job of rendering out this detail.

Located just behind this antenna array is the antimatter pods and antimatter generator ring.  These were molded well and the paint work helps them stand out as being an important part of the probe.

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 26th, 2020, and as of the writing of this article, I was able to find the model from a seller for around $54 (shipping included).  You also can currently order the model right from Eaglemoss' US WebStore for around $30 (shipping unknown).

I am glad that you can get this model right from the Eaglemoss WebStore.  For the price, it is a fantastic little piece or work.  If you are like me, and a fan of technology from the early days of Starfleet, then this model is a must have for your collection.  Eaglemoss did an amazing job with the sculpt and mold work and gave the model an equally great paint job.  In the end, I have an amazing model on display among all of my early era starships.

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:

Eaglemoss   

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