# It finally arrived! (my star trek enterprise model) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 19, 2026, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-finally-arrived-my-star-trek-enterprise-model/1028594 "2026-03-19T21:58:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2026, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-finally-arrived-my-star-trek-enterprise-model/1028594/1 "2026-03-19T21:58:58Z")
I cannot ever have another woman over ever but I like it (and I am kidding…I know some women who would like it). I bought this 18 months (or so) ago: > **[PXL 20260319 210830983 hosted at ImgBB](https://ibb.co/V052fwgS)** > > Image PXL 20260319 210830983 hosted on ImgBB > **[PXL 20260319 213518049 hosted at ImgBB](https://ibb.co/QFvbXNyx)** > > Image PXL 20260319 213518049 hosted on ImgBB > **[PXL 20260319 213824041 hosted at ImgBB](https://ibb.co/NhtXwkP)** > > Image PXL 20260319 213824041 hosted on ImgBB ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2026, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-finally-arrived-my-star-trek-enterprise-model/1028594/2 "2026-03-19T22:16:44Z")
Very cool. I’m trying to decide if I should get this. ![https://preview.redd.it/completed-my-first-ever-lego-set-a-saturn-v-v0-hfqqepnhr...](https://preview.redd.it/completed-my-first-ever-lego-set-a-saturn-v-v0-hfqqepnhr8471.jpg?width=1080&crop=smart&auto=webp&s=f4a1ba9f09bf303cd36c1570dc90d08c4c3cdc9b) ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2026, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-finally-arrived-my-star-trek-enterprise-model/1028594/3 "2026-03-19T22:17:20Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > I know some women who would like it) _raises hand_ That’s badass. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2026, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-finally-arrived-my-star-trek-enterprise-model/1028594/4 "2026-03-19T22:22:14Z")
whoops, wrong topic Cool model though, have fun. I had a similar model back in the 70’s tho not so fancy. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2026, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-finally-arrived-my-star-trek-enterprise-model/1028594/5 "2026-03-19T22:28:20Z")
Heck yeah! Very cool (I think) And then do something like this to it! (or not…it is very cool as it is…and building it wold be fun I think) (there are more examples of similar out there…some better but I couldn’t find an image that worked here): - [Reddit - The heart of the internet](https://www.reddit.com/media?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.redd.it%2Fxg5qwjsa4ja41.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2026, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-finally-arrived-my-star-trek-enterprise-model/1028594/6 "2026-03-19T22:50:25Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > And then do something like this to it! That would almost be a prerequisite wouldn’t it! It’s getting past the $300 price tag that I’m struggling with. Maybe if I built the exhaust plume first, it would give me the impetus. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2026, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-finally-arrived-my-star-trek-enterprise-model/1028594/7 "2026-03-19T23:15:22Z")
Pro tip: adoring young two-tone blonde not included. Her father was a child when the Saturn V last flew. That’s a Saturn I, not V. IOW first stage only, adapter, then SM & CM. Which doesn’t match the cover art of the box. As a kid I’d lusted after that model or one like it. My dad the pilot thought all airplanes and airplane models were awesome. Rockets and missiles, real or models, were boring examples of oversized plumbing. So I never got a Saturn. Sigh. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2026, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-finally-arrived-my-star-trek-enterprise-model/1028594/8 "2026-03-19T23:20:43Z")
That’s quite the thing. Congrats; once upon a time I’d have killed for one of those. What’s the story behind the 18 month delay if you don’t mind sharing? ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2026, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-finally-arrived-my-star-trek-enterprise-model/1028594/9 "2026-03-19T23:31:52Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Pro tip: adoring young two-tone blonde not included. Wait, what!? Screw it then. I just grabbed the first image that looked sort of right. My bad, [but this is what I want.](https://www.walmart.com/ip/LEGO-Ideas-NASA-Apollo-Saturn-V-92176-Building-Set-for-Adults-1-969-Pieces/969740382?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=4412&sourceid=dsn_gdn_0c92c416-dbd6-42ec-845c-ecf69af2153d&veh=dsn&wmlspartner=dsn_gdn_0c92c416-dbd6-42ec-845c-ecf69af2153d&cn=0042_fy27_mp_mpa_lo_int_dis_pmax-p13n&wl9=pla&wl11=online&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23148469844&gbraid=0AAAAADmfBIrOzay7VkA7edI9o0pHoM_-u&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI4tzJ846tkwMVQNTCBB1pUiDuEAQYASABEgJ3TfD_BwE) ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2026, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-finally-arrived-my-star-trek-enterprise-model/1028594/10 "2026-03-19T23:35:03Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Rockets and missiles, real or models, were boring examples of oversized plumbing. So I never got a Saturn. Sigh. I saw a movie once where the protagonist had a Saturn V keychain. I really wanted one but try as a might, I couldn’t find one online. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2026, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-finally-arrived-my-star-trek-enterprise-model/1028594/11 "2026-03-19T23:37:31Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > What’s the story behind the 18 month delay if you don’t mind sharing? They crowdfund these. They make a model, tell people here’s the price and if they get enough orders they will make it. If not, you get your money back (the company, TOMY, has been around a long time so reason to trust they will not run with the money). The window to order one is limited. Once closed that’s it. If they get enough orders they finalize the model and deal get a factory to make them. All that takes a lot of time. They were clear the model would not arrive for a year from purchase so no surprise there. But due to glitches in the manufacturing and ironing out some bugs and tariffs changing things the ship date kept moving back. This should have arrived last October(ish). They sent emails keeping everyone apprised of the delays and supposedly added a little extra to the model (and different lighting scheme or something…I have to look it up). Before this they did the same with the ST:TOS model. Recently they just finished crowd funding for a Klingon D7 Battlecruiser. All their models are die-cast metal (although the nacelles on the model I got are plastic). Here is Adam Savage discussing the one I got before it was done crowdfunding: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/Dm2_ZUmZesA/maxresdefault.jpg "Adam Savage's Hands-On with TOMY's 1:350 USS Enterprise Refit Model!") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dm2_ZUmZesA) ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2026, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-finally-arrived-my-star-trek-enterprise-model/1028594/12 "2026-03-19T23:45:42Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > I cannot ever have another woman over ever but I like it (and I am kidding It’s very cool, and no, you cannot have another woman over ever! 😉 > [@Lucas\_Jackson](#): > > Very cool. I’m trying to decide if I should get this. The last I saw, it had been discontinued, sadly. > [@LSLGuy](#): > > That’s a Saturn I, not V. IOW first stage only, adapter, then SM & CM. Which doesn’t match the cover art of the box. Very observant! I don’t know where that thing that she’s looking at came from, but the Lego Saturn V kit (with precisely 1969 pieces for historic reasons!) did indeed build a Saturn V. My son built one years ago. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2026, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-finally-arrived-my-star-trek-enterprise-model/1028594/13 "2026-03-19T23:50:12Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > They crowdfund these. They make a model, tell people here’s the price and if they get enough orders they will make it. If not, you get your money back (the company, TOMY, has been around a long time so reason to trust they will not run with the money). The window to order one is limited. Once closed that’s it. If they get enough orders they finalize the model and deal get a factory to make them. All that takes a lot of time. There was something similar going on with miniaturized PDP-8 and PDP-11 computer consoles, fully operational and powered by Raspberri Pi. I was so tempted to get one! ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2026, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-finally-arrived-my-star-trek-enterprise-model/1028594/14 "2026-03-19T23:52:38Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > It’s very cool, and no, you cannot have another woman over ever! 😉 At least not one who’ll stay long. Oops. OTOH, ref @Spice_Weasel upthread, geek chix can be a great addition to your life as geek-you are to her’s. > [@wolfpup](#): > > Very observant! I don’t know where that thing that she’s looking at came from Decent bet the kit can be assembled as a full lunar-capsble V or any of the lesser, shorter versions w stages 1 & 2 or just 1. @Whack-a-Mole: Thanks for the backstory. I’d naively expect in the era of additive manufacturing = 3D printing that the obstacles to limited-run specialty items have largely fallen by the wayside. Clearly I’m wrong about that. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2026, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-finally-arrived-my-star-trek-enterprise-model/1028594/15 "2026-03-19T23:58:28Z")
I think, for now at least, 3D printing is comparatively slow. It’s great for iterating a design or one-offs but not so great when you want to make several thousand in a year. Especially since this is (mostly) diecast metal. 3D printing with metal definitely exists but I can’t imagine it is efficient enough (read also inexpensive enough) to make a few thousand of these in a short term. Casting metal is a well known process refined to about as good as it can be. (In the Adam Savage video above the person being interviewed said this is close to the size limit for diecast.) ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2026, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-finally-arrived-my-star-trek-enterprise-model/1028594/16 "2026-03-20T00:09:22Z")
That’s a great looking model. I just wish it didn’t need the two braces coming out of the saucer. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2026, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-finally-arrived-my-star-trek-enterprise-model/1028594/17 "2026-03-20T00:13:15Z")
You can go without the braces but the model leans forward a bit (and I would be careful it was not bumped without braces). But I think you can do it. I am not sure which I prefer. Also, mine could be bumped into…not likely but not zero either. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/pPP_XEzyql0/maxresdefault.jpg) ](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/pPP_XEzyql0/maxresdefault.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2026, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-finally-arrived-my-star-trek-enterprise-model/1028594/18 "2026-03-20T00:23:35Z")
I took a few more pics since it is dark out now that show the lighting: - A very short video showing the [blinking lights.](https://streamable.com/ee3sg5) > **[PXL 20260320 001629631 hosted at ImgBB](https://ibb.co/Pz62y3JR)** > > Image PXL 20260320 001629631 hosted on ImgBB > **[PXL 20260320 001642533 hosted at ImgBB](https://ibb.co/Xf5nh1jC)** > > Image PXL 20260320 001642533 hosted on ImgBB > **[PXL 20260320 001609174 hosted at ImgBB](https://ibb.co/mr88J2R5)** > > Image PXL 20260320 001609174 hosted on ImgBB ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2026, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-finally-arrived-my-star-trek-enterprise-model/1028594/19 "2026-03-20T00:33:01Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > cannot ever have another woman over ever Well, now you have the means to narrow it down to the right sort of woman. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2026, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-finally-arrived-my-star-trek-enterprise-model/1028594/20 "2026-03-20T00:38:08Z")
I agree. She need not like Star Trek and might even find the model a bit nerdy but likes that I like it and that makes her smile. The ones who scoff I am better without (personally; they might be perfect for someone else). [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-finally-arrived-my-star-trek-enterprise-model/1028594.md?page=2)