Star Trek Build The U. S. S. Enterprise

Unless you are a very experienced paper-craft model maker, do not get this kit. Certainly do not get this kit as a first paper-craft project. Even experienced paper modelers would probably be better served by one of the free downloadable versions.Unlike some of the other reviewers, I didn't have too much trouble with the slick coated printing, but I was using 3M photo and "scrapbooking" glue, which may have been working better than the kit recommended white glue. Regardless of glue choice, this kit is a bear to assemble. Lots of complicated shapes that are very tricky to keep aligned while the glue sets up, and very hard to put clamps or rubberbands on while it dries, without having permanent distortions in them.My biggest beef with this kit are design choices, printing errors, and the instructions:- The support block and tubes inside the secondary hull are too tall, distending the hull into an oval and making it not fair with the (removable) round front piece. The shrink wrap used on the ends of the LED wires was the wrong size, too large to shrink down properly and leaving nice exposed hard corners that make threading the wiring through the mostly assembled model a total nightmare, with it snagging constantly.- Several detail pieces for the engines are missing some of the printed details, but only on one set, so the engines end up not matching. Examples are the "grid" pattern on the blocks on the side at the rear and the missing "dome" on the rear-piece, of one engine.- The instructions could have provided a *LOT* more clarity to complicated steps, especially given the mass-market target audience of this kit. Examples would be the support blocks inside the engines and the supporting pylons. Placement of these parts is critical, but the views in the instructions are vague. I'm a multi-decade experienced modeler and I managed to screw them up. With them glued in wrong, there was no way to fix them and the engines will be forever rotated at a strange angle.I wanted to like this kit. Whoever did the graphics for it actually knew the details of the filming model from the tv series. All the little widgets and details are there. Unfortunately, making those graphics into a kit didn't deliver on its promise.

To me, this is one of those kits that seemed like a fairly quick build that could be knocked out in a weekend. And that's after opening the box, inventorying the pieces, and taking a quick glance at the instruction manual. And then, after getting into it, I realized that it was going to take a bit more time than I estimated.The instruction say you'll need string. I'm using sewing thread because I didn't have anything around the house at the time, and I'm glad I am. Anything as thick as what you would usually consider string would have made things difficult. At certain points you thread the string through the model and use it to tie and pull the LEDs into their resting place. You'll certainly need an exacto knife and scissors to trim especially small pieces. And by far the most helpful physical tool has been using a set of hemostat forceps to clamp pieces together.I started the build the same time I started rewatching DS9 from the beginning on Netflix, and so far the building and watching are tied directly together. I'm still on season 1, and have watched 14 45 minute episodes, which means I've put roughly 10.5 hours into this thing. I'm done with the upper and lower hull, but still have the engines to do. I'd say, if the stars align, I'll finish up just as season 1 is finishing up, 5 more episodes, giving my just under 4 hours to go.Cheers.

OMG — who was the maniac who came up with this idea? Did they ever try to build it themselves? I seriously doubt it. The paper is too slick and stiff for the glue to hold. I couldn’t even get the saucer finished. The creator of this model laughed all the way to the bank. Glad I bought it on clearance. Don’t buy this, whatever you do — you were warned!!!!!

Expectation: A fun, reasonably challenging project for the weekends and Trekkie sibling bonding time. Reality: Four weeks later... "Do you want to work on the Star Trek kit?" "Nah..."I usually avoid impulse shopping, but when my younger brother and I saw this in store, we split the cost and bought it as a cool model we could build together. We both have years of experience following origami diagrams, and my brother has built countless robotic and construction kits. With punch-out paper pieces, what could go wrong?We used white glue like the instructions say, and it didn't go well. The given paper was difficult to fold and too shiny; some of the pieces came apart again even after the glue dried. Furthermore, the design was not printed very concisely, which was a big disappointment, especially on the tiny pieces where it showed the most. These two issues combined make the seams of the model glaringly obvious in places. I was unimpressed by the design overall; as for the instructions, they were ok, but lacking clarity in some points.After about halfway completion, the Enterprise was not looking pretty, and we couldn't take any more of it. If you want to build a nice-looking Enterprise, there is nothing to recommend this kit. Perhaps a very experienced model-builder could get more out of it, but if you have to be an expert, the box should say so.