Klingon D-7 Class - Coloration

In terms of color, I wanted to orientate myself on the TOS filming miniature and at the same time build a bridge to the IKS Gr'oth from the DS9 episode "Trials and Tribble-ations".

The hull color of the Klingon D-7 class consists of two colors.
A lighter one:
+ 50% US Grey Light (71045)
+ 10% Gunship Green (71014)
+ 40% USAF Medium Grey (71120)

And a darker one:
+ the color I had mixed before
+ 20% Medium Sea Grey (71049)

While the ship in TOS has a rather blue-gray basic shade, the makers of Star Trek chose a rather green-gray shade for the DS9 episode. I also like that more, because the ship then fits better with the other known Klingon ships, which all have a green basic tone.

screencapture by trekcore.com (DS9 "Trials and Tribble-ations")

Klingon D-7 Class

As seen in Star Trek TOS - this is the Klingon D-7 class resin kit in 1/1400 which I bought. It's a detailed kit with small parts and 16.8cm in length.

This sketch of Matt Jefferies is somewhat rudimentary than the final design. But the early stage of development for this Klingon D-7 is very clear.

design sketch by Matt Jefferies

The kit is pretty accurate. I only added a few details to the head and the disruptors.

USS Enterprise - TOS - Starship Hull Color

Paul M. Newitt has worked out a very good reference for the hull color of the classic Enterprise NCC-1701. The hull color is  "... a light grey color with a light tint of green." Here is his full report.

Important for my spaceship models is how the Enterprise looks in space.

screenshot by trekcore.com (TOS "Balance of Terror")

For my Enterprise model I used the Vallejo Model Air Color:

Barley Grey 71051 (50%) + US Light Grey 71045 (50%)

USS Enterprise - TOS

Art Director Matt Jefferies created the Constitution Class for the TV-Show:

"I was concerned about the design of ship that Gene told me would have warp drive. I thought, ‘What the hell is warp drive?’ But I gathered that this ship had to have powerful engines — extremely powerful. To me, that meant that they had to be designed away from the body."

Concept art by Matt Jefferies

I bought the resin model kit of the USS Enterprise NCC-1701 from the original Series in 1/1400. The ship is 20,7cm long when build and very accurate. I only filled some lines which will be replaced by Decals.

Romulan Bird of Prey - Shades

I have added some shades on my model. They are handpainted with Vallejo Model Color:
Gunship Green 70895 (40%) + White 70951 (20%) + Glaze Medium (40%)

Romulan Bird of Prey - Coloration

I wanted that this Bird of Prey visually fits better in the Romulan fleet. This is the reason why I have used as basic hull color a greenish steel color.

For all my models I use the Airbrush color from Vallejo (Model Air).

basic hull color

Steel 71065 (70%) + Yellow 71002 (15%) + Olive Green 71007 (15%)

I love the Aztec look of this vessel as it can be seen in the remastered TOS episodes.

• dark Aztec color
  Steel 71065 (30%) + Olive Green 71007 (70%)

• light Aztec color
  US Grey Light (30%) + Thinner (70%)

• Aztec details
  Aero Shine Silver (100%) from Schmincke

The end caps of the Warp nacelles and the Torpedo launcher is 100% Steel 71065.

Romulan Bird of Prey

I bought the romulan Bird of Prey resin kit (Star Trek - TOS "Balance of Terror") in 1/1400. It is a 8cm long beautiful model on which is nothing to to expect to glue the parts together.

There are only two changes that I have made:
1. I have cutted the Bussard Collectors to replace them with clear half round pearls like it had the original studio model.
2. I drilled a hole in the end of each Warp nacelle.