NOTE: You can click on most pictures to get a larger view of them.
Rewrites: None
The next bonus/extra model, or what is now being called Shop Exclusive, to come out of Eaglemoss' Star Trek: The Official Starships Collection is a rehash of a previous Eaglemoss model. Let us take a look at the Klingon D-5 Class Tanker.
We first get to see this starship in the Star Trek: Enterprise episode called "Marauders".
Per Memory Alpha and Beta, "Korok's ship was a Klingon D5-class tanker variant in service during the 2150s. Unlike the standard D5-class battle cruisers, the ship appeared to be little more than a freighter and was thought to be no match for an NX-class starship."
If you would like to read more official stuff on this type of ship, feel free to check out the following links:
Korok's Ship Information: Memory Alpha LINK and NO Memory Beta LINK
D-5 Class Information: Memory Alpha LINK and Memory Beta LINK
As I stated early on, this new model is a rehash of an earlier Eaglemoss model, the D-5 Class Cruiser. We saw Eaglemoss do this model back in Issue #102.
This article marks a return of something I haven't done in awhile, and that is doing a side by side comparison. Since this new model is a D-5 class, it was only fair to run it side by side with its predecessor and see how it "sizes" up.
The first thing I will report is that in typical Eaglemoss fashion, they DID NOT take the easy way out and reuse the molds from the original D-5 model. Let's face it, Eaglemoss could have simply taken thier original molds and slapped the tanks on and called it a day, however, it would not have been as screen accurate then. Besides the given tanks being different, there are lots of other subtle difference across the model. The new model is slightly shorter, but appears a bit beefier in quite a few ways.
Looking at the model from all the different angles puts these differences in better perspective.
This model has a lot to look at as Eaglemoss packed a bunch of detail into such a small ship.
We will start with discussing the paint work. The model is covered in the traditional paint colors that we have been getting from Eaglemoss when they produce Klingon ships from this era. This model however, is mottled with some darker patchwork paint, which really helps give it that dirty and heavily used look that we would expect of a Klingon Tanker. The model also bears some tiny white windows that have been painted on to help give you a sense of scale.
The primary intake has been given a quick touch of red paint. This surprised me as on other Klingon ships, the whole assembly is usually painted in. My guess is the budget for the production of this model was running low and they needed to skimp somewhere. While we have our eye on this section of the ship. I'll make a quick mention that the mold work on all of the intakes was nicely done and looks crisp.
The paint work on the wings continues with the shades of green and dirt washing. The consistency of this paintwork across the entire model is a nice touch.
Tucked underneath at the rear of the ship, the impulse engines were painted yellow to help them stand out, and remove the guesswork of where they were located.
The warp nacelles were nicely rendered, both in sculpt and mold work as well as painting. In fact, I would dare say that I like the tanker's nacelles over those of the cruiser D-5 because the paint work is a bit more detailed. The weathering is present on the nacelles, and it even looks like Eaglemoss choose to color in the grills this time around.
D-5 Tanker Warp Nacelle: Outer Edge
D-5 Cruiser Warp Nacelle
Warp Nacelle: Inner Edge
The sculpt and mold work on this model is just as nice as the paint work. From bow to stern, the details are crisp and well defined. Tucked underneath the nose of the ship, you can even clearly make out the forward facing torpedo launcher and what I believe are side docking ports.
The panel lines, intakes and other greebles can be clearly made out.
These details are even nicely rendered on the stern portion of the ship.
One of the highlights of the original D-5 class model was the inclusion of the external pipes and conduits that ran down the neck of the ship and across the rear portion of both of its wings. I loved that with the original model, Eaglemoss reproduced these pipes as greebles rather than just mold pipe like details into the model. The tanker version carries on this tradition. I think that the makers of the ship went with a slightly more simplified approach to the pipes on this tanker ship, and in a way, it made Eaglemoss' job easier to reproduce. For instance, on the original model, the trailing edge of the wings had a angle and bent pipes, while the new tanker version has a straight trailing edge. There also is less pipe work along the neck of the vessel. Regardless, Eaglemoss still did a great job recreating these exposed portions.
Last, but not least, we can discuss the tanker portion of the model. Considering that this ship is a tanker, it only made sense that Eaglemoss would give this part of the ship some extra attention. The hard points where the tanks mount to the hull are nicely rendered and not just some plain old solid blocks. If you look at them closely, you can make out some finely molded details on them. These of course then hold on firmly to the actual tanks, which not only bear some tactile surface details, but that nice paintwork that we find all over the rest of the ship.
Finishing off all the great things I have seen with the model is the fact that I had a hard time seeing the joins and seams on this model. While the join can be easily spotted across the nose of the ship, I feel that it sort of matches the natural lines of the ship and therefore, I really didn't think about it until I started actively looking for it. In other areas of the ship, the join seams are even better hidden into the natural lines of the ship, and you have a hard time spotting them.
And that is all the pictures and comparisons I have to share on this ship at this time. At the time of my writing of this article on May 9th, 2022, you can get the Cruiser version of Eaglemoss' D-5 from eBay for around $30 (shipping included), BUT I was unable to find the D-5 Tanker from any sellers. When I take a look at Eaglemoss' US based WebStore, I find the opposite to be true. They do not have the D-5 Cruiser in stock, while the Tanker sells for $35 (shipping cost is unknown). Those prices from either source are right around what I would expect to pay for the Eaglemoss "Standard Sized" models these days. And honestly, in either case, you get a pretty decent representation of the ship.
The D-5 Tanker is a good solid purchase if you like collecting Klingon ships. While it doesn't appear as deadly as the Cruiser variant, it is probably better made in my opinion and would compliment your Klingon fleet. So if you then ask me which of the two I prefer, the tanker will win that comparison, hands down.
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, "Qapla'!!!"
Additional Links To Photos Of My Collection:
So for now, "Qapla'!!!"
Additional Links To Photos Of My Collection:
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