On the subject of beginners, I think it an excellent "first kit" for a kid. You don't have to get into glue and paint to produce a playable model or toy. And let's face it, kids build models to play with, not look at. It's not your favorite resin, it's a 13 buck plastic kit, let them play. Not only that but the snap fit is engineered sturdy enough to take a bit of zooming around at warp speed.

Like the first review I slapped the kit together in under 30 minutes. I was slowed down by RTFM syndrome, and had to back track several steps to fit parts I forgot. My steel putty spatula was most useful in working the kit apart. On the plus side some one (bless them) dropped an extra pair of nacelle bodies in my kit, so by using the spare parts for the other versions, I got two sets of nacelles. Some future scratch build just got lucky.

I will in time pull the kit apart, cut the pins down and apply glue, paint, and decals. I'll sand the seams and make everything look nice. However, I consider that I got my money's worth in the time I have fiddled with it already. Everything else is a bonus. Personally I don't like the Bandi approach. What fun is that? Everything is done for you. Polar Lights got this one so right I don't think they could have done it better.

For those of you wanting to build the production version of the Enterprise, be aware that there are some inaccuracies in the Polar Lights model that can easily be fixed. Don’t worry, I’m not talking about any major modification work. Here’s a rundown for those perfectionists out there:

1. The front edge of the primary hull has a nub sticking out that will need to be sanded off.
2. You will need to simulate a red and green formation light on the top of the primary hull. These formation lights should be positioned near the outside edge of the saucer, next to the red and green running lights (the clear bulbs included with the kit). The decal placement instructions actually depict the formation lights in their correct position. I guess it was an oversight to include them on the kit.
3. The running lights are too close to the edge of the primary hull and will need to be moved in a little bit. You’ll have to separate them from the navigation lights (the clear part that extends through the bottom of the primary hull).
4. The subspace communications antenna arrays (the 2 triangular objects etched into the bottom of the primary hull) will need to be filled in with putty. These elements need to be painted on since they aren’t included on the decal sheet.
5. The bottom of the primary hull has two small nubs (depicting lights) near the edge of the saucer that will need to be sanded off. The transporter emitters (decal #32) should be placed in this general location.
6. The etched line running down the dorsal connector between the primary and secondary hull should be filled in with putty. This separation should be depicted with a change in the paint scheme.
7. There are two navigation beacons that protrude slightly from the sides of the secondary hull. These beacons are adjacent to structural frame markers 1837. The decal sheet depicts these beacons, but they shouldn’t lie flat on the secondary hull like a window.
8. There should be a small red navigation light protruding from the top of the secondary hull, between the warp nacelle pylons and the shuttle bay homing beacon.
9. The etched lines on the bottom of the warp engines should be filled in with putty. These etched lines run from the front of the engines to the support pylons. This area should be depicted by a change in the paint scheme.
10. The impulse fusion reactors emergency eject hatches (decal #12A and 12B) are not correct. These hatches should be clear in the center - not white filled.

I would recommend you check out the pictures at this website to better visualize the ten suggested corrections:

There are only two complaints I have about the model. The first is that the windows were not cut into the model like Bandai did with the movie version Enterprise model. It looks so much better to have actual windows instead of applying decals to simulate windows. This leads to my second complaint - some of the decal windows are colored white to simulate a lit window. I wish they printed all the windows black, since white doesn’t convincingly portray a lit window.

As you can see, most of my complaints and suggested corrections are quite minor. This is a great kit, and with a little effort, can be transformed into a beautiful recreation of the classic Enterprise. My hats off to Thomas Sasser for a job well done!

The Polar Lights Enterprise lives up to the hype over the past year. I write this because Polar Lights has given modelers an opportunity to construct an accurate representation of the Enterprise, her sister ships; or variants at a great price. The quality of the kit combined with the price makes this model a must have for all Trek modelers. Keeping in mind the price combined with accuracy, this kit outdoes any AMT release and Bandai's 1701-A. I must say this is one of the more thoughtful Star Trek models released. The attention to detail (everything from the box art; instructions and the parts themselves ) captures the "spirit" of The Original Series. Looking over the box and the contents, one would think The Original Series was still being produced. Kudos to Polar Lights!

It is too bad that this model wasn't released thirty years ago but at least Polar Lights got it right! That is not to say that the AMT 18" and cut-away Enterprises doesn't have its merits and charms but it doesn't compare to this kit in terms of overall accuracy.

I was particularly pleased to see the absence of the grid lines on the top and bottom of the saucer! I don't know if that was due to budgetary reasons or a conscious decision to do away with the now-accepted grid lines but I give Polar Lights and Thomas Sasser credit for this! Let modelers add those lines if they want them.

The possibilities for this kit are awesome. The ability to construct three variations of the Enterprise along with markings for five Starships is commendable. In addition, the potential to light this kit is there. Clear pieces for the nacelles and saucers give modelers that opportunity. Furthermore, this model looks great. Compare this to any AMT release and you'll see how far this kit has come. The fit of the kit is very good and Bandai could learn a thing or two by looking at the design of this kit. The parts fit together nicely and the seams were acceptable for a snap-kit. Construction and the instructions are logical and clear.

Deciding to build the production version, I had chosen to snap the kit together and use glue to strengthen the bond and help reduce the seams. Some filling and sanding was done to minimize the seams. Since this is not a pre-painted kit, one can easily do this. I painted my Enterprise with Model Master's Flat Gull Grey.

The kit comes with an extensive decal sheet with markings for Enterprise and other ships, including the Mirror Universe Enterprise. Great idea! Stickers are provided for novice modelers and water slide decals for everybody else.

Keep in mind the price everybody. How many of these models can you buy for one Bandai Enterprise? I'll let you figure that out.

My only gripe is that the model relies a little too much on the decals. Most notably the windows. It would have been nice to have the windows molded in.

I won't criticize the size of the model keeping in mine how affordable it is combined with all of the parts.

This model is easily accessible to anyone due to it's affordability; ease of assembly and potential to embellish the kit with more detaill. Novice modelers to expert modelers will enjoy this kit.

Congratulations to Polar Lights and Thomas Sasser for a job well done. Now get working on a refit Enterprise!

When it was initially released, a few people complained about the size of the kit, but it's not so small it loses detail and it's not so large it takes up a lot of shelf space.

The best features of this kit are the stellar accuracy and the low price. I've purchased it from various sources from $7.99 to $13.99. The kit's design is great; it strikes me as being designed for ease of painting. The three version options are great, and the decals allow for various other ships seen on screen (and they're in the correct fonts, not like the AMT kits). One note on assembly — FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS, especially on the engines. Mount the inner engine half onto the pylon mount before putting the outer engine half on. Most seams aren't bad; a file helps the saucer parts mate together better and the engine halves mate together well (especially if you trim the rear two of the three mating pins). Some putty is advisable on the secondary hull, especially the joint between the pylon mounts and the secondary hull. Also, putty is necessary on the pylon mount halves. The engine domes and the bridge dome need masking and then painting; I've used liquid masks to good effect here, while others have cut out masking tape. I have mixed feelings about this; ultimately, I think it would be easier to have the clear parts separate from the parts that have to be hull color, but really I can't complain about the way they handled this. It just takes a bit more care. This is a kit you can throw together in an hour and slap the stickers on, or you can spend a few days to really make it look flawless. Lighting it would take a lot of work, but I'm certain some people are up to that challenge. All in all, it's a far better kit than has ever been available, and at a ridiculously good price.

(1) This model is too small to do justice to the elaborate details that would appear on a larger model. This model should have been made no less and 22" in scale with the "Cutaway" version!

(2) What are you talking about accurate--where are the lines and circle markings on top of the saucer section?

(3) Why did they put the trademark logo on bottom of the saucer section instead of in the inside where it could not be seen. The person that designed this model should be fired from ever working on another model. This is inexcusable!

(4) If Polar lights wants to make this for 6-10 year old kids--fine! That is all this model is good for--kids. The fans and 'Trekkies" want something that does justice to the original master. HOW? Listen up!

We want a 3 foot--perfectly detailed lighted version with modulating bussard caps and blinking navigation lights for under $200.00 dollars. This is America!!! This is easy for Polar Lights to do. This 11" inch plastic thing is a joke and an insult to all of the fans who are still waiting for an accurate 3 footer or at least 22" version. My dad always said :"if you gonna do something do it right or not at all"! Polar Lights needs to start doing things right by producing big size perfect replicas under $200.00! I'd be willing to pay $500 for such a model.

It has been a long time since we have seen a classic Enterprise as a production model. It is an easy job to do. It builds-up very well, and looks nice when built.

Despite the praise I have given the kit, I still decided that it should only get an average rating. There are 2 reasons for that.

Since the "cirlces and lines" on top of the primary hull are visible in only a very few screen grabs, I think that PL was more than justified in not wanting those added. It's not like it takes a rocket scientist to add those on with a plastic ruler and compass, anyhow.

The size of the model makes it perfect for a desktop display at work or a shelf full of all four variants of the basic design - 1st Pilot, 2nd Pilot, Regular Production and "Mirror" Enterprise - as well as the other starship names & registries included. And then there are all the conversion kits that are either currently available (such as the PNT "Franz Joseph" dreadnought, destroyer/scout & tug) or on the horizon (such as the Larson, Loknar, Detroyat and others soon to be available). You can easily put four of these kits in the place of one 18" kits space on a shelf!

Details are great, as well - especially since there were so few of them on the studio model! Windows not being engraved in the hull isn't a real problem, nor should it be for more folks. You can use the stickers as a guide should you feel the need for "real" windows to be in the hull. Stick 'em on in-place, break out the #11 Xacto blade or scribing tool and go to town! Overall, I love this kit and look forward to the upcoming 1/1000 scale TOS Klingon Battlecruiser and 1/350 scale NX-01 kits. Models for modelers, designed by a modeler and produced by a company that loves models. :-D

The price is so low (even with my local Target adding a couple of dollars' jerk fee) that there's really no excuse to avoid buying at least one. Polar Lights has made my modeling year; first with their big Godzilla, and now with the overall best 'Trek kit I've yet seen.

It is a snap-tight, so seams MUST be glued & puttied smooth. That is my only gripe. It cannot be considered accurate with the joints showing. Complains about the absence of "deflector shield grids" only shows ignorance. This is the only true commercialy-available representaion of the 1960's Video Starship with it's variations. As with most models (I find) construction SUCKS, It's the painting I enjoy! I am only at that point now, after 13 + hours of construction. I think I can do the next steps rather quickly.

Any who, after 30+ years of waiting, I REALLY like this Kit! ( I rate it as "Not Perfect, but Damn Close & Better than anything COMMERCIALLY better before!)

JW Foust

If this is what we are going to expect from PL I am so glad they have the Trek model rights!!! My first trek models where the Enterprise A and Klingon Battlecruser from the Star Trek VI ATM line and while those where never finished because I got so fed up with the builds... I find myself not only taking MORE time to do these kits right since they look so beautiful built, but buying MORE cause I love them so much.

I had to use glue on half of it because of poor fitting!

Part of the damn thing broke during assembly even though alot of care was given.Not to mention it is not balanced for the stand.It is ashame this could have been a good model. It is also ashame that most of the science fiction models are hard to find and WAY over priced.

The structure of the model is way better than the later AMT kits. It reminds me a great deal of an AMT kit I did in 1972. The size would not have bothered me if my eyes were better, I found it a little hard to paint in places. But once it's together is a good size. The box art was wonderfully retro and made it feel like Star Trek was still in production. Very nice!

If I could put in a request for some changes to the model it would be this: Mold the bridge modules the same colour as the hull. If the hangar deck dome can be cast that small as a clear piece, maybe the upper bridge dome could be as well. Also, I'd like to see the bussard scoops to be separate from the rest of the housing. I like the way the inner part of the scoop fits into the outer. Instead, take the part that attaches to the rest of the nacelle and slip the outer part of the bussard scoop into the housing.

The reason I suggest that is, if you merely want to snap it together without painting, the bridge module and the bussard scoops with their housings that attach to the rest of the nacelles look strange clear.

The last thing I would like to see changed structurally is to make the primary hull snap tighter to the interconnecting dorsal and easier to align correctly. Maybe some alignment pins that snapped into the upper portion of the primary hull. All the AMT Enterprise models I've ever done had this spot as weak point as well. I'm willing to pay more for kit with these changes.

Other than that, structurally, Polar Lights is to be commended for addressing the weak points of the AMT models secondary hull pieces and especially how the warp drive pylons are attached. Kudos also for the attachment of the warp engines. But the field restoration cowls at the back of the engines had to be glued on and fit a little strangely.

I too, would have like the window details on the hull, but I commend Polar Lights for the detail on the impulse engines that's not even present on the 22 inch cutaway Enterprise.

A final caveat. If you have put together a lot of the 18 inch AMT Enterprises, read the Polar Lights directions carefully. Go through all the pieces and see how they fit together before committing to final assembly. I made some mistakes because I fell into old habits. Fortunately, I was able to work around it. I'll buy a second kit having learned from this one.

I'd like to see Polar Lights do a bigger Enterprise up to 22 inches with all the detail that is possible with the larger size. If the Polar Lights people read these reviews, how about a full TOS Enterprise bridge kit? Scaled to the size of the Playmates TOS bridge crew action figure set? Just dreaming aloud.

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