Star Trek - The Official Starships Collection Issue 8 and 9, and Specials Review (USS Excelsior, USS Defiant, Deep Space Nine and Future USS Enterprise NCC-1701-D)

Sorry it has taken me awhile to get these up...  I actually had these delivered several weeks ago, but have only got round to actually putting them on the Blog.

My latest delivery from the Eaglemoss Starship Collection was a big one, consisting of Issues 8 and 9 - The USS Excelsior as seen in Star Trek VI : The Undiscovered Country, the USS Defiant from Star Trek Deep Space Nine, the Deep Space Nine station itself, and finally the future USS Enterprise D from the final episode of Star Trek : The Next Generation, All Good Things.

 

I'm going to start with the Excelsior model.  One of my favourite designs from the Star Trek movies, I was eagerly awaiting this release, but I regret to say I was not that impressed with this model.  Firstly, the model feels extremely delicate.  The design of the Excelsior means there is a lot of very thin sections, in particular the long warp nacelles.  When holding it, I'm afraid of it snapping in my hand!  A lack of details doesn't help it either due to the scale of the ship.  It's a shame really because this could have been a fantastic release.

 

 

 

I'm happy to say that the USS Defiant from Deep Space Nine is much better.  Due to the small size of the ship in the show, it means that additional detail can be put on to a model of this scale.  The biggest 'cock up' mind you is the duplication of one Starfleet insignia from one side of the ship to the other - the designers didn't flip the logo, meaning that one side of the ship has an incorrect logo.  It isn't that noticeable if you're just having it on display however. 

 

 

 

Deep Space Nine is the first over-sized special from the collection, and it is amazing!  (It should be at £18.99).  Quite possibly the best model of the collection so far, the detail is spot on, although lacking the Communications Array which is located on the top of the station, possibly due to the fact that it would be too fragile.  One thing to note is how heavy this model is - it's made mostly from metal, which makes it feel solid and not as delicate as some of the other ships in the collection.

 

 

Finally, the future Enterprise D from the final episode of the Next Generation.  The model is almost identical to issue 1 other than having a few additions, including a third warp nacelle.  I actually thought the design was a show of laziness from the designers who obviously thought sticking a few bits here and there would make the Enterprise D look 25 years older.  Personally, I thought it looked tacky, and unfortunately the model looks as if someone has modded the original D model with some badly-fitting parts.  I can't really complain though as this model was free to subscribers. 

 

All in all, a half decent delivery of two outstanding and two average models.  Still, a good addition to my ever growing collection.

 



Star Trek - The Official Starships Collection Issue 6 and 7 Review (USS Voyager and Klingon K't'inga Battlecruiser)

I was pleasantly surprised when these two models came through the door on Monday - a full three days before one of them was even due in the shops (the other is due in two weeks time).  For this month, we have the Intrepid class USS Voyager, from Star Trek Voyager, and the Klingon K't'inga class battle cruiser, as seen in Star Trek : The Motion Picture

Firstly, USS Voyager...

I've never been a great fan of this ship - I love the TV show, but never liked the design they went with for the main star of the show - the ship itself.  This model is a faithful recreation, with the Defensive Shield Grid, Upper Sensor Palette, escape pods, and phaser arrays clearly visible and detailed.  However, the finer detailing that was seen in issue 1's USS Enterprise NCC1701-D is absent again, not helped by what seems like an extra coating of paint which makes it look as if the real detail has been painted over.  The other little niggle is the join between the main hull and the warp nacelles which is visible because of the assembly of the ship during production of the model.

With all that said, it is a nice addition to the collection.  As mentioned earlier, Voyager is not one of my favourite Starfleet vessels, but it's possible to get some good views using this model, and I still think it's worth the price.

The Klingon K't'inga class battlecruiser is a great model, but unfortunately does have a few minor flaws as well which is a shame because I've been waiting for this model since the series started.  It's important to note that this model is based on the vessel seen in Star Trek - The Motion Picture, hence the lack of paint detailing as seen on the ship in Star Trek VI - The Undiscovered Country, and various episodes of Deep Space Nine.  Hull detailing is good, albeit very grey, but because the neck of the ship is made from plastic, it does seem to bend a bit.  Fortunately my model isn't too bad, but I've seen some which have needed to be returned.

Again, the deflector grid is visible, along with forward and aft torpedo launchers.  Detailing is good as long as you don't mind the lack of colour.  Overall, an impressive recreation of one of my favourite starship designs.

 

 

I'm really pleased with these models, but I do hope that Eaglemoss listens to their customers and start putting the extra attention to detail that made the Enterprise D so fantastic.  It's odd that the best model of the collection so far was the one that only cost £1.99!

Roll on next month for Captain Sulu's USS Excelsior and the USS Defiant from Deep Space Nine.  Word on the web is that the first special issue will also be available in the next few weeks - the Deep Space Nine space station.

The fleet it getting bigger!  I'm gonna need a bigger shelf.

Mastertronic - What if? : Grand Theft Auto V

Mastertronic brings you "Grand Theft Auto 5" for £1.99, only for the Playstation 3, Commodore, Amstrad, Spectrum and Atari  - Available from all good newsagents, chemists and game shops!

If only..... :o)

Because I have WAY too much time on my hands, I thought I'd mess around with putting together some fake Mastertronic covers for modern computer games.

In case you are not aware (or can not remember), Mastertronic were big in the mid to late 1980s and were a major budget software label in the United Kingdom and produced a large number of cheapo games and re-releases for the Commodore/Spectrum/Amstrad/Atari 8-bit computers (and some 16-bit too) - most at a pocket-money-friendly £1.99!

Just a bit of fun really, but what would modern games look like if Mastertronic still released games like the good ol' days? Well, here you can find out!

 

Click to enlarge

 

Click to enlarge - I bet this would be one hell of a mult-load game!

 

You can view more of my fake Mastertronic covers by clicking here

Star Trek - The Official Starships Collection Issue 4 and 5 Review (Enterprise NX-01 and Romulan Warbird)

 

It's always exciting when I get a phone call at work from the wife saying that my next Star Trek Starship Collection models have arrived.  This time, it's the Enterprise NX-01 and Romulan D'deridex class Warbird.

Neptune and back in 6 minutes

Say what you want about Star Trek Enterprise (especially the third season Xindi story arc), but I loved the show and was gutted when it was cancelled in 2005.  The Enterprise NX-01 was designed to look like a pre-original series starship (before the Federation was even formed), but to be instantly recognisable as a Starfleet vessel, and this model shows the fine detail that went in to designing this truly gorgeous ship, right down to the detailed hull plating.  After the slightly disappointing issue 2 Enterprise refit, I was pleased that issue 3's Klingon Bird of Prey was back to the standard of issue 1, and now that issue 4 and 5 are here, the amazing quality of the models has returned, and my faith in the collection has been restored.

The Romulan Warbird was never one of my favourites.  Maybe this was due to the limited views of the ship in the early episodes of Star Trek The Next Generation.  But as special effects got better and the VFX people were able to do more with the model during the space battle scenes in Star Trek Deep Space Nice, I've come to appreciate the design much more now, and the model is quite a nice ship, showing plenty of detail (in particular the windows on the main "head" or primary forward hull section).  My only criticism with this model is the stand which the ship fits in to.  It isn't the most secure out of the current 5 ships, and Warbird is prone to falling off if you have not pushed it in hard enough.  The problem is, by pushing it in, I feel like I'm either going to break the ship, or break the plastic clips that hold the ship to the stand. 

"Your presence is not wanted. Do you understand my meaning, Captain? We... are back!"

As a subscriber, I was also lucky enough to receive my first free gift (apparently worth £20) - A USS Enterprise NCC-1701-D dedication plaque, as seen on the Bridge of the starship.  Now obviously, it's not a full size replica plaque, and measures only 8 inches long but has been well made and features the Starfleet logo and words USS Enterprise raised, with the rest of the text slightly engraved in to the plaque.  It isn't some cheap plastic item either, and is actually quite heavy for its size.  A very nice bonus that will look great alongside the other ships in the collection.

Now, as I've said before, the main reason most people are buying this collection are for the models, but each issue also includes a detailed magazine about the ship.  Although interesting to read, many of the pictures featured have been seen elsewhere in other books or publications and I've noticed the odd mistake here and there, but now 5 issues in and I still can't believe that they are still making some silly factual and spelling mistakes!  For instance, as shown below "The moment seemed right when Leonard Nimoy was directing Star Trek VI"... Erm, don't you mean Nicholas Meyer?  And also, on the back page, advertising the next issue, "Concept artits Rick Sternbach's original designs for Voyager".  ARTITS???  Hmmmmmm. 

Erm, when did Leonard Nimoy direct Star Trek VI?

Artits?

 

I'm not complaining though.  I've been really pleased with every issue so far, and still believe they are well worth the £9.99 each.  Outstanding! 

Stuart's Panoramic World 12 - Evesham Floods 2012

Here's another 360° panorama taken on the 25th November 2012, when Evesham was hit yet again with another flood (although nowhere near as bad the 2007 floods).  This one was taken on Waterside, beside the junction leading to Port Street and the Workman's Bridge.

 

Use your mouse (or cursor keys) to look.  Your mouse wheel allows you to zoom in and out.

Location : Evesham (Waterside) Date : 25th November 2012 Camera : Fujifilm H530 EXR Download/Enlarge : Click here to enlarge