Star Trek model kits

The development ofStar Trek model kits began shortly afterStar Trek: The Original Series began to air in1966.AMT acquired the license to produce plastic model kits based on the series and announced their plan to produce a kit of theUSSEnterprise.

The model's resounding success at retail prompted AMT's development of a follow-up kit, resulting in the creation of theD7-classKlingonbattle cruiser, released as model kit in1968. It was specifically designed for AMT byMatt Jefferies. TheD7 design was soon featured in the third season ofStar Trek by the show's producers. These two models were the onlyStar Trek models AMT released whileThe Original Series was still in production. The only other company, besides AMT/Aurora, that produced model kits while the series was in production, though only just barely, was the Japanese companyKSN Midori, in the guise of two differently sized USSEnterprise kits, for the Japanese market only.

Over the next decade, and afterThe Original Series had wrapped, AMT would expand upon the line to include theRomulan Bird-of-Prey, aSpock figure kit, and scaled versions ofStar Trek props. Originally, AMT chose not to license theStar Trek name outside of the US.Aurora Plastics Corporation, another noted model kit company, leased AMT's molds and released the models outside of the US. The Spock figure kit originated from Aurora but a reciprocal leasing agreement gave AMT the exclusive rights to release the figure in the US. AMT bought the Spock figure's tooling from Aurora in1976.

At the release ofStar Trek: The Motion Picture, AMT was acquired byMatchbox (or rather its parent companyLesney Products & Co. Ltd.) and began to expand its range to include therefit-Enterprise, theK't'inga-class battle cruiser, and thelong range shuttle. AMT continued to release kits based on theStar Trek films following its acquisition by theErtl Company in1981. AMT/Ertl subsequently gained the licenses to produce model kits based on The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine butRevell-Monogram was able to outbid them for the license to produce ships fromStar Trek: Voyager. AMT/Ertl's originalStar Trek line came to an end in1999.

Following AMT/Ertl's merger withRacing Champions, the company tried to revive theStar Trek line with four re-releases in2005. The line's revival strongly improved after2008 when the AMT division was acquired byRound 2 LLC and was given a new and unique AMT branding.

Since the 1990s, a limited number of other companies including GEOmetric Design,Tsukuda Hobby,Polar Lights (acquired from Racing Champions by Round 2 in 2007),Platz (through an one-time-only sub-license from Polar Lights),Bandai, andDe Agostini (Japan) have been officially licensed to produce plasticStar Trek model kits. Excepting Polar Lights, most of these licenses were extended on an one-time-only basis for either a limited time (Tsukuda, Bandai), a particular kind of kit only (GEOmatric Design's figurine kits, De Agostini'ssingle shippartwork model kit) or special occasions (Platz^[1]). In 2016,Moebius Models became the last known third-party model kit company to be extended a temporary, to thealternate reality films restricted, licence to manufacture and release suchStar Trek model kits. Of their planned four inaugural releases however, only two were eventually released in 2018.[2]

As of 2020 though, Revell Germany (spun-off from Revell-Monogram in 2006, becoming a fully European-owned independent company) and Round 2 LLC (current owner of both AMT and Polar Lights) are the only two known fully licensed model kit companies to actually releaseStar Trek model kits on a regular basis, Revell Germany doing so far less frequently than its two American counterparts do, with AMT limiting itself to re-issues of their kit releases predating their acquisition by Round 2. The status of the US Revell-MonogramVoyager license, was until 2021 unclear as noStar Trek model kit has been released by them since 1997, nor are any likely to follow as the last Monogram owner Hobbico declared bankruptcy in June 2018.[3]

However, that uncertainty came to an end in July 2021, when Polar Lights released a differently scaled and retooledUSSVoyager model kit, indicating that theVoyager license had in the mean time been acquired for the North-American home market by Round 2 as well, meaning that all officialStar Trek model kits – save one – were as of 2021 produced under a single roof for the first time since Revell-Monogram acquired the originalVoyager license around 1994. The European license however, still resides with the German Revell branch, which was spun off from Monogram in 2006. Revell-Germany incidentally, has gained the distinction of becoming the first to release an officially licensedStar Trek model kit based on the alternate reality films, that of thealternate realityEnterprise in 2013 – and only joined by Moebius Models five years later as aforementioned. Unlike those from Moebius Models however, the Revell-Germany model kit is under the license stipulations formally forbidden to be sold on North-American soil, as are all the other Revell-GermanyStar Trek kit (re-)releases for that matter, including the very sameVoyager reissue ones as previously released in North-America by former parent Monogram. (see:main article)

By 2021, Revell-Germany andEaglemoss Collections were the only two other companies left anywhere else in the world still retaining an official license to produceStar Trek model kits beyond Round 2 LLC itself. Contrary to the Revell-Germany releases though, the Britishsingle one-off specialty kit from Eaglemoss is allowed to be sold in North America. The licensing ofStar Trek model kits is traditionally the purview ofParamount Consumer Products and its predecessors, and the different treatment of the German-produced kits and the single British one is but one of many examples of the department's confusing policies, sometimes frustrating fans and customers, including model kit collectors. FormerVAM producer and fanRobert Meyer Burnett became one of theStar Trek alumni who publicly voiced his frustration at these department policies in a February 2017Word Balloon podcast interview (currently posted onYouTube), where he related the lengths he had to go through to get his hands on a copy of the Revell-Germany alternate realityEnterprise model kit.

Star Trek model kits, both the official ones as well as the below-mentioned "garage" kits, have been covered extensively in a wide range of hobby magazines and book titles concerning themselves with the subject, and of which the BritishSci-Fi & Fantasy Models publication has, until recently, especially warranted attention.

Quick to point out kit (canon) inaccuracies as had already been the case with the very first 1966Enterprise kit and the subsequent AMT releases – which has to this date forced them to frequently retool the masters for kit re-issues – more adult kit modelers are in general sticklers for accuracy, regardless of the subject matter and unsurprising considering the amount of time they are required to spend on their builds. Recognizing and acknowledging the phenomenon amongStar Trek modelers, it was especially Bandai and Polar Lights who took their customers' need for accuracy to heart with the praised 2003-2004 kit-line in Bandai's case, whereas Polar Lights took it up a notch even further with their critically acclaimed1:350 scale model kit line, launched in 2003. It has also served as a rationale why Polar Lights has apparently been appointed as the lead company for truly newStar Trek model kit releases by owner Round 2.

A major source of frustration and chagrin for an entire generation ofStar Trek modelers had until the late 1990s been the complete lack of good actualstudio model reference material for their builds, particularly in regard to painting, deeming the usual artistic interpretations featured as box-art of little to no use. Even though AMT had some pictures (precious few though, as far as modelers were concerned) of the actual studio models featured on the box covers and sides of their 1980The Motion Picture kit releases, they did not continue do so afterwards, with the exception of the 1992K't'inga-class and three of the four 1993-1996Deep Space Nine kits – even though they had sometimes and very sparingly featured studio model photography on the box sides of other kits as had been the case with the 1989 3-Piece "Adversary Set", featuring the real color of the originalD'deridex class model. Incidentally, AMThad used the production-usedD7 class model (actually one of AMT's two tooling masters for kit production, but usurped by the strapped-for-cashOriginal Series production for filming purposes) as box-cover art for their aforementioned 1968 kit release, becoming the very first and for twelve years the only time an actual studio model was used as such, but strong studio light flooding blurred out the model's original paint scheme in the picture, precipitating a decades-long misconception inStar Trek-lore, not in the least among modelers, of what the real color of the D7-class was.

Revell-Monogram became the first company to realize the added value of actual studio model imagery for modelers as visual aid, as emphatically stated on their boxes, and was consistent in its use as box-cover art – but, exceptingMaquis raider andKazon shuttle kits, not on the box sides where pictures of the completed model kits were used instead – of their 1995Voyager kits, though dispensing with it afterwards for the reissues and new releases, featuring photographs of completed model kits instead (conceivably for copyright reasons,i.e. having to additionally pay the franchise for picture use - see alsobelow), considered equally useless by modelers.

Until then modelers had to make do with low-resolution blurry motion picture stills, taken under studio conditions on top of that which not rarely could lead to confusion and misconceptions (as had been the case with among others the D7-class,Galaxy-class andD'deridex-class, in the latter case somewhat ironically as AMT'sphoto on the box side of its 1989 three-piece kit had been the first-time publication of the model's true color which only added to the confusion of modelers who up until then only knew the two differenton-screen andpublicity versions), as good studio model reference material was still extremely hard, if at all, to come by on the early 1990s internet, nor was any available yet in print beyond a stray single equally low-resolution picture published here and there over multitude of more generic publications, be it licensed or unlicensed. Only put online byWilliam S. McCullars in 1997, the very first more detailedStar Trek studio model reference website became the in modeling circles renowned, but now defunct, "TheIDIC Page", where the featured behind-the-scenes photographs, provided and taken on personal title by production staffers andexhibition visitors alike, of the studio models were especially valued by theStar Trek modeling community.[4][5] To an extent, the one year earlier established specializedStarship Modeler website has taken over from The IDIC Page by later incorporating areference section featuring pictures of the actual studio models, including several from other science fiction franchises as well. The very first specialized print publication on the subject concerned the 1999 JapaneseStar Trek: Official Guide 4 - Mechanicsreference book release, though that book has remained a rarity outside Japan.

Still, model kit companies have by and large continued to underestimate the modeler's need for accuracy, those from imaginary franchises in particular, and persevered for marketing purposes with the use of for modelers next-to-useless, albeit flashy, imagery as box-art, with the noticeable exceptions of Bandai and some of Polar Lights' later kit releases. Lack of reference material on the other hand, is hardly an issue of note for modelers anymore, as far more of it has by the late-2000s become available, both on the internet and in print, and greatly aided by the advent of both production-usedCGI and High-Definition/Resolution motion picture productions, the former incidentally, increasingly used as not only box-cover art by Polar Lights for their kit releases, but also used for illustrative purposes in print publications, especially those fromGE Fabbri and its successorEaglemoss Collections.

Licensed model kit release chronology[]

Kit	Manufacturer	Model number	Scale	Notes	Pic.
1966
USSEnterprise	AMT	S921	1:650	Issued with rudimentary lighting option
	Aurora	921		International release; limited rudimentary lighting option
1968
USSEnterprise	AMT	S951	1:650	Retooled and renumbered; new box; enhanced lighting option; varying plastic colors were used
Klingon Battle Cruiser		S952		Issued with lighting option
1969
USSEnterprise	KSN Midori[2]	150	1:1250
		350-5	1:915	The "propeller and wheel" version
1972
USSEnterprise	Aurora	921	1:650	AMT's retooled molds used; new box
Mr.Spock		922	1:12	International Aurora original release
Klingon Alien Battle Cruiser		923	1:650	International release under deviant title; no lighting option
1973
USSEnterprise	AMT	S951	1:650	New enhanced decal sheet (sister ships)
Mr. Spock		S956	1:12	US release; use of Aurora's set of molds
1974
'Galileo 7' Shuttlecraft	AMT	S595	1:35
Exploration Set (3-piece set)		S958	1:2	Containstricorder,phaser,communicator
1975
'Galileo 7' shuttlecraft	AMT New box format	S595	1:35	Reissue
Exploration Set (3-piece set)		S958	1:2	Reissue
USSEnterpriseBridge		S950	1:35	Included scale figures ofKirk, Spock andSulu
USSEnterprise		S951	1:650	Retooled; no lighting option from this issue onward
Klingon Battle Cruiser		S952		Reissue; no lighting option from this issue onward
Space Ship Set (3-piece set)		S953	1:1600	First 'mini kit'; contains in-scaleEnterprise, Klingon battle cruiser, andRomulan Bird-of-Prey
Mr. Spock		S956	1:12	Reissue
Romulan Bird-of-Prey		S957	1:650
Klingon Battle Cruiser	Estes Industries	1274	1:700	Flying model rocket
USSEnterprise		1275		Flying model rocket
1976
Space Station K-7	AMT	S955	1:7600	Includes in-scale model of the USSEnterprise
1979
USSEnterprise	Matchbox-AMT[3]	PK5102	1:650	European reissue of S951
Space Station K-7		PK5105	1:7600	European reissue of S955
Romulan Bird-of-Prey		PK5106	1:650	European reissue of S957 as "Romulan Space Ship"
1980
USSEnterprise (refit)	AMT/Lesney	S970	1:537	Star Trek: The Motion Picture release
	Matchbox-AMT	PK-5110		European release, different box art
Klingon Cruiser	AMT/Lesney	S971	1:537	K't'inga-class battle cruiser
	Matchbox-AMT	PK-5111		European release, different box art
Vulcan Shuttle	AMT/Lesney	S972	1:187
	Matchbox-AMT	PK-5112		European release, different box art
Mr. Spock	AMT/Lesney	S973	1:12	Retooled version of1968 release; no international release
1984
USSEnterprise (refit)	AMT/Ertl[4]	6675	1:537	Repackaged forStar Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, tooling updated to reflect appearance of filming model
USSEnterprise		6676	1:650
Space Ship Set (3-piece set)		6677	1:1600
Vulcan Shuttle		6679	1:187
1985
USSEnterprise (refit)	AMT/Ertl	6675	1:537	Repackaged forStar Trek III: The Search for Spock; same model no.
Vulcan Shuttle		6679	1:187	Repackaged forStar Trek III (though the model never appeared in that film); same model no.
Klingon Cruiser		6682	1:537	K't'inga class reissue under new numbering scheme
1987
USSEnterprise-A	AMT/Ertl	6693	1:537	Repackaged forStar Trek IV: The Voyage Home
1988
3 Piece USSEnterprise Set	AMT/Ertl	6618	1:2500	"Mini kit" featuring threeEnterprises: NCC-1701, -A, and -D
USSEnterprise-D		6619	1:1400
1989
USSEnterprise	AMT/Ertl	6676	1:650	Reissue, new horizontal format box
Space Ship Set (3-piece set)		6677	1:2200	Reissue with new packaging
3 Piece Adversary Set		6858	1:40641:49761:1371	"Mini kit" featuring theRomulan Warbird, theKlingon Bird-of-Prey, and theFerengi Marauder
USSEnterprise-A		6876	1:537	Star Trek V: The Final Frontier release; included aGalileo 7 shuttlecraft at 1:230 scale
1991 –25th anniversary
3 Piece USSEnterprise Chrome Set	AMT/Ertl	6005	1:2500	25th Anniversary Special Edition
Galileo II Shuttlecraft		6006	1:35	25th Anniversary Special Edition reissue with new decals, horizontal format box, and retooling of windows.
USSEnterprise Command Bridge		6007	1:35	25th Anniversary reissue with new decals and retooling of figures.
Original Edition Klingon Cruiser		6743	1:650	25th Anniversary reissue with new stand
USSEnterprise-A		6957	1:537	Special Edition with lights and sound effects
Klingon Battle Cruiser Flying Model Rocket	Estes Industries	1274	1:700	25th Anniversary Special Edition reissue of 1975 in new box
USSEnterprise Flying Model Rocket		1275		25th Anniversary reissue of 1975 model in new box
1992
Klingon Battle Cruiser	AMT/Ertl	6812	1:1400	Vor'cha class
Klingon Cruiser		8229	1:537	K't'inga class repackaged forStar Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
USSEnterprise-A		8617		Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country reissue of 6876 with inscaleGalileo type shuttlecraft; first release batch also includedGaloob'sEnterprise-D toy
CaptainJean-Luc Picard	GEOmetric	VST01	1:6	First of GEOmetric's vinyl figures
LieutenantWorf		VST02
Lieutenant CommanderData		VST03
1993
USSRio Grande	AMT/Ertl	8741	1:72	Federation Runabout first seen on Deep Space Nine
Lieutenant CommanderGeordi La Forge	GEOmetric	VST04	1:6
CounselorDeanna Troi		VST05
CommanderWilliam T. Riker		VST06
Guinan		VST07
DoctorBeverly Crusher		VST08
USSExcelsior	Tsukuda Hobby	SVM-14-9800	1:1000	Vinyl kit
Klingon Bird-of-Prey		SVM-15-9800	1:350	Vinyl kit
1994
USSExcelsior	AMT/Ertl	6630	1:1000
Captain Kirk		8773	1:6	Vinyl kit
Dr.McCoy		8774		Vinyl kit
Deep Space 9		8778	1:2500
Locutus of Borg	GEOmetric	VST09	1:6	Vinyl kit
Ferengi		VST10		Vinyl kit
Romulan		VST11		Vinyl kit (female officer)
Gowron		VST12		Vinyl kit
1995
Klingon Bird-of-Prey	AMT/Ertl[5]	8230	1:350
Mr. Spock		8704	1:6	Vinyl kit
Quark		8719		Vinyl kit
Odo		8761		Vinyl kit
USSEnterprise-B		8762	1:1000	Retooling of 6630
Deep Space 9		8764	1:2500	With fiber optic lighting option
USSReliant		8766	1:650
Collector's Gift Set (3-piece set)		8771	1:6	Contains the Kirk, McCoy and Scott vinyl figures
USSEnterprise-D		8772	1:1400	With fiber optic lighting option
Mr. Scott		8777	1:6
USSEnterprise Flight Display (3-piece set)		8787	1:2500	With transparent plexiglass "Flight Display" stand to make models appear to float in mid-air
USSEnterprise-D		8793	1:1400	Repackaged forStar Trek Generations
Borg	GEOmetric	VST13	1:6	Vinyl kit
USSVoyager	Revell-Monogram	3604	1:677
		04801		European release
Maquis Raider		3605	1:323
		04809		European release
Kazon Raider		3606	1:458	Two variant issues are known with box cover photos of the model at slightly different angles
		04810		European release
1996 –30th anniversary
"The Enterprise Incident" Legendary Space Encounter (3-piece set)	AMT/Ertl	8254	1:2200	USSEnterprise and two D7 battle cruisers; fiber optic display and episode audio clips
USSDefiant		8255	1:420
Cardassian Galor Class Cruiser		8324	1:750
USSEnterprise-D		8400	1:1400	"Plus Pack" with glue, paint and brush
Cutaway USSEnterprise		8790	1:500	Box erroneously states scale as 1:650
Star Trek: Voyager 3-Piece Set	Revell-Monogram	3607	1:1400	Two releases; a "Bonus Value Pack" with glue, paint and brush, and a regular release without the extra contents
		05780		European "Bonus Value Pack" release, no regular version known
Kazon Torpedo		3608	1:35
		04813		European release
"Mini" USSVoyager		85-3609	1:3788	"Pre-painted" US release
		06900		"Pre-painted" European release
"Mini"Kazon Raider/Fighter		85-3610	unknown	"Pre-painted" US release
		06901		"Pre-painted" European release
"Mini" Maquis Raider		85-3611	1:1276	"Pre-painted" US release
		06902		"Pre-painted" European release
1997
USSEnterprise-E	AMT/Ertl	6326	1/1400
Klingon Bird-of-Prey		6339	1:350	Featuring "Flight Display" base
		8015		"Plus Pack" with glue, paint and brush
USSDefiant		8398	1:420	"Plus Pack" with glue, paint and brush
Ambassador Spock	GEOmetric	unknown	1:6	Vinyl kit
USSVoyager	Revell-Monogram	3612	1:677	Limited Edition; included open shuttlebay; In-scaleType 8 shuttlecraft; Improved decals; 20000 pieces
1999
USSEnterprise-C	AMT/Ertl	8001	1:1400
Snapfast USSEnterprise 1701-B, C, And E Set (3-piece set)		8002	1:2500	Contains models of USSEnterprise -B, -C, and -E
USSEnterprise-E		30065	1:1400	Repackaged forStar Trek: Insurrection, very slight tooling change to show captain's yacht
USSYamaguchi	AMT "Pro Shop"	30038		Cast in clear plastic; featuring lighting rig
2003
USSEnterprise	Polar Lights	PL4200	1:1000	"The Cage", and "Where No Man Has Gone Before" variant construction options.
Enterprise NX-01		PL4201	1:350
Klingon D7 Battlecruiser		PL4202	1:1000
Scorpion		PL4203	1:24	Featured figures of Picard and Data
USSEnterprise	Bandai	116192	1:850	Issued with lighting
USSEnterprise-E		116424	1:1700	Issued with lighting
Enterprise NX-01		122721	1:850	Issued with lighting
2004
USSEnterprise-A	Polar Lights/RC2	PL4204	1:350	Decals for NCC-1701 (refit) or NCC-1701-A; with full interiorshuttlebay and several in-scaleshuttlecraft
	Bandai	124915	1:850	Reissue of 116192 with decals for sister vessels
USSVoyager		131434		Issued with lighting
2005
3 Piece USSEnterprise Set (TV)	AMT/RC2	38387	1:2500	Reissue of 6618
3 Piece USSEnterprise Set (Movie)		38388		Reissue of 1999 release
Klingon Bird-of-Prey		38389	1:350	Reissue of 8230
3 Piece Adversary Set		38390	Multiple	Reissue of 6858
Enterprise NX-01	Polar Lights/RC2	PL53028	1:1000
2008
USSEnterprise	AMT/Round 2 LLC[6]	AMT609	1:650	Limited edition (1701 pieces); Reissue of S921; Tin box with art print
		AMT610		"Legacy" reissue of S921 in 1966-style packaging
USSEnterprise	Polar Lights/Round 2	POL803	1:1000	Re-release of PL4200; new numbering; two issues in 2008 each with different box art
Klingon D7 Battlecruiser		POL806		Re-release of PL4202; two issues in 2008 each with different box art
Enterprise NX-01		POL807		Re-release of PL53028; new numbering; two issues in 2008 each with different box art
2009
USSEnterprise-E	AMT/Round 2	AMT613	1:1400	Reissue of 6326
Mr. Spock		AMT624	1:8	Collector's edition; Reissue of S956; Tin box with art print
		AMT625		Reissue of S956 in 1973-style packaging
USSEnterprise		AMT640	1:650	'Blue' Collector's Edition; reissue of AMT609, molded in blue plastic
Vulcan ShuttleSurak		AMT641	1:187	Improved release, with magnetic attachment and revised detailing
USSEnterprise-A	Polar Lights/Round 2	POL808	1:350	Reissue of PL4204
USSVoyager	Revell-Germany	04801	1:677	EU-only reissue of 1995; New box
Maquis Raider		04809	1:323	EU-only reissue of 1995; New box
Kazon Raider		04810	1:458	EU-only reissue of 1995; New box
2010
Space Station K-7	AMT/Round 2	AMT644	1:7600	Reissue of S955 in 1976-style packaging
		AMT645		Collector's edition; Reissue of S955; Tin box withTribble
USSEnterprise-D		AMT643	1:1400	Announced and intended reissue of AMT 6619 (1988), but cancelled at the eleventh hour, though some review kits were already circulated
		AMT656		"Special Edition"; cast in transparent styrene for lighting purposes as replacement release for AMT643
USSEnterprise Starship Set (3-piece set)		AMT660	1:2500	"Cadet Series"; contains USSEnterprise-1701,-1701-A,-1701-B
USSEnterprise-C		AMT661		"Cadet Series"
USSEnterprise-D		AMT662		"Cadet Series"
USSEnterprise-E		AMT663		"Cadet Series"
USSEnterprise-B	AMT/Ertl-Platz[1]	GDS8136	1:1000	Japanese issue with improved decals
USSEnterprise-C		GDS8137	1:1400	Japanese issue with improved decals
USSEnterprise-D		GDS8138		Japanese issue with improved decals
USSEnterprise-E		GDS8139		Japanese AMT issue with improved decals
USSEnterprise Refit	Polar Lights/Round 2	POL820	1:1000
2011 –45th anniversary
Klingon Bird-of-Prey	AMT/Round2	AMT664	1:350	Reissue 8230; improved tooling; includes optional landinggear
Romulan Bird-of-Prey		AMT665	1:650	Reissue op S957, 1975 style packaging
		AMT666		Collector's edition; reissue of S957; tin box poster box-art
USSReliant		AMT667	1:537	Reissue 8766; improved tooling
USSEnterprise-B		AMT676	1:1000	Reissue 8761
USSEnterprise		AMT695	1:650	Includes 2 in-scaleTholian web-spinners; IncludesUSSDefiant (NCC-1764) decals; cast in "fluorescent" plastic
Klingon Battle Cruiser		AMT699		Collector's edition; reissue of S952; tin box with poster box-art; cast in light-green with chrome parts
		AMT720		Reissue of S952 in 1968 style packaging
USSEnterprise-C		AMT721	1:1400	Reissue of 8001 with battle damage decals
USSEnterprise	Revell-Germany	04880	1:600	EU-only Revell original
Klingon Battle Cruiser D7		04881		EU-only Revell original; tooled to approximate theDS9: "Trials and Tribble-ations" appearance
USSEnterprise-D	De Agostini[7]	n/a	1:900	Planned 100-pieceThe Official Star Trek The Next Generation: Build the USS Enterprise NCC-1701-Dpartwork; canceled prematurely (after seven issues) due to the economic downturn following a national disaster
2012
USSReliant	AMT/Round2	AMT714	1:537	"Clear Edition"; cast in transparent plastic for lighting purposes
Deep Space 9		AMT751	1:3300 1:2500	New decal sheet; cast in clear plastic for lighting purposes; includes USSDefiant model
Adversary Set (2-piece set)		AMT752	1:1400 1:3700	Reissue of Klingon Bird of Prey and Ferengi Marauder from kit 6858; new decal sheet
Romulan Warbird		AMT753	1:3200	Reissue of one piece from kit 6858; new decal sheet
Star Trek: The Motion Picture Set (3-piece set)		AMT762	1:2500	"Cadet Series";K't'inga-class, USSReliant, refit-USSEnterprise
KlingonK't'inga-Class Battle Cruiser		AMT794	1:537
USSEnterprise	Polar Lights/Round 2	POL889	1:1000	Lunchbox tin edition
		POL880	1:350	Same size asthree-foot studio model; withshuttlebay and in-scaleClass F shuttlecraft; avant-premiere edition and regular edition with differing box art. Both box art designs by Alex Ross.
2013
Star Trek: The Original Series Set (3-piece set)	AMT/Round 2	AMT762	1:2500	"Cadet Series"; D7-class, Romulan Bird-of-Prey, USSEnterprise (TOS)
Mr. Spock		AMT810	1:12	Lunchbox tin edition
USSEnterprise Bridge Set		AMT808	1:35	With additional wall panel to complete bridge, and parts to compose 6 characters
USSEnterprise-E		AMT853	1:1400	CGI cover art byJohn Eaves
Romulan Battle Cruiser	Polar Lights/Round 2	POL897	1:1000	D7-class with Romulan decals
Enterprise NX-01		POL902	1:350	Reissue PL4201
USSEnterprise		POL908	1:1000	"Space Seed" edition; with in-scaleSSBotany Bay
USSEnterprise	Revell-Germany	04882	1:500	EU-only Revell original
2014
Exploration Set (3-piece set)	AMT/Round 2	AMT848	1:2
USSDefiant		AMT845	1:420	First reissue under new ownership
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Set (3-piece set)		AMT764	1:2500	"Cadet Series";USSDefiant,USSSaratoga and theGalor-class.
Enterprise NX-01Refit	Polar Lights/Round 2	POL898	1:1000	Contains parts to construct either a standardNX-class or arefit NX-Class; box art byDoug Drexler
USSReliant		POL906		New tooling, not associated with the AMT release
USSEnterprise	Fascinations	MMS280		"Metal Earth" model constructed from two 4-inch sq. sheets of stainless steel
USSEnterprise-D		MMS281		"Metal Earth" model constructed from two 4-inch sq. sheets of stainless steel
Klingon Bird-of-Prey		MMS282		"Metal Earth" model constructed from two 4-inch sq. sheets of stainless steel
KlingonVor'cha Class		MMS283	1:4373	"Metal Earth" model constructed from two 4-inch sq. sheets of stainless steel
2015
USSEnterprise Cutaway	AMT/Round 2	AMT891	1:537	Improved "cut-away" reissue of 8790
USSEnterprise Set (2-piece set)		AMT913	1:1000 1:650	"Build 2Gether"; use of Polar Lights' set of molds for the smaller model.
Ships of the Line (4-kit set)		AMT914	1:2500	Pre-decorated "snap-fit" versions of previously-released kits with individually packaged ships: USSEnterprise, D7 Klingon Battle Cruiser, USSReliant and USSDefiant
Romulan Bird-of-Prey	Polar Lights/Round 2	POL934	1:1000	New tooling, not associated with the AMT release
USSEnterprise		POL936		Pre-decorated "snap-fit" version of previously-released kits
Klingon D7 Battle Cruiser		POL937		In the original colors of thestudio model pre-decorated "snap-fit" version of previously-released kits
2016 –50th anniversary
USSExcelsior	AMT/Round2	AMT843	1:1000	NX-2000 or NCC-2000 versions; Improved molding tools
USSEnterprise		AMT947	1:650	Reissue of AMT610 (2008) with 50th anniversary slip-over cover
Klingon Bird-of-Prey		AMT949	1:350	Reissue/Revised wing baffles and landing gear parts;Star Trek: III version
USSEnterprise-D		AMT955	1:1400	Clear edition, removable saucer section
USSEnterprise	Polar Lights/Round 2	POL938	1:350	50th Anniversary Edition; Reissue w/ detailed bridge and smooth saucer parts
50th Anniversary USSEnterprise Set	Revell-Germany	05721	1:600 1:500	EU-only; contains both reality versions of the USSEnterprise; glue and paint included
2017
F-104 Starfighter (with USSEnterprise)	AMT/Round2	AMT953	1:48 1:2500	"Tomorrow is Yesterday" edition; USSEnterprise from kit 6618 (1988) in a smaller scale than F-104 for a forced-perspective display
USSEnterprise Model Set (7-piece set)		AMT954	1:2500	All seven prime universeEnterprise versions; Snap-fit reissues of Cadet Series with newEnterprise NX-01, derived from the Polar Lights molds
KlingonVor'Cha-Class		AMT1027	1:1400	Reissue AMT/ERTL 6812 (1992); retooled clear Parts, metal support rod
CardassianGalor-Class		AMT1028	1:750	Updated version with clear parts
USSReliant		AMT1036	1:537	Reissue AMT667 (2010)
USSEnterprise Refit	Polar Lights/Round2	POL949	1:350	Reissue POL880; new box art
2018 – Introduction synchronized/unified box-art for all licensed kit companies[8]
USSEnterprise Refit	AMT/Round2	AMT1080	1:537	Reissue of No. 8617 (1992 w/shuttlecraft); new: metal support rod and updated decals (no aztec)
Klingon Battle Cruiser K't'inga-ClassIKSAmar	Polar Lights/Round2	POL950	1:350	Star Trek: The Motion Picture 2 feet half studio scale model; new "near black" and clear mold; lighting kit separately available.
USSDefiant		POL952	1:1000	Polar Lights original; snap kit molded in grey
USSGrissom & KlingonBird of Prey		POL957		Star Trek III: The Search for Spock Snap kits; Polar Lights originals and first-time official model kit release of theOberth-class
USSFranklin NX-326	Moebius Models	MOE975	1:350	Original release
USSKelvin NCC-0514		MOE976	1:1000	Original release; with interior shuttlebay
2019
DS9 RunaboutUSSRio Grande	AMT/Round2	AMT1084(M)	1:72	Reissue of AMT8741 (1993) plus optional Sensor Cluster
Romulan Warbird		AMT1125	1:3200	Reissue AMT753 (2012); dome base with metal rod support
USSEnterprise-D		AMT1126(M)	1:2500	Snap-Kit; molded in color with Aztec Decals
USSDiscovery NCC-1031	Polar Lights/Round2	POL961(M)		Snap-Kit with metalic Decals
USSEnterprise NX-01		POL966(M)	1:1000	Snap-Kit; with parts for refit-configuration
USSShenzhou		POL967(M)	1:2500	SnapKit
USSEnterprise NCC-1701 (Discovery)		POL971		SnapKit
USSEnterprise NCC-1701	Revell-Germany	00454	1:600	Essentially an EU-only reissue of Revell 04880 (2011), this "Technik" one with light and sound effects rigs; box-art synchronized with those of AMT and Polar Lights
		04991		EU-only standard reissue
USSVoyager		04992	1:670	EU-only reissue Revell 3612 (1997)
2020
USSEnterprise NCC-1701 (Discovery)	Polar Lights/Round2	POL973(M)	1:1000	Issued with optional lighting kit
Refit-USSEnterprise NCC-1701, "Wrath of Khan Edition"		POL974(M)		Reissue of POL820 from 2010 with "Wrath of Khan" damage decals; SnapKit
USSReliant, "Wrath of Khan Edition"		POL975(M)		Companion release for POL 974(M); reissue of POL906 from 2014 withWrath of Khan damage decals; SnapKit
Galileo Shuttlecraft		POL909	1:32	11 in / 23 cm, no interior, clear parts for lighting, based off AMT S595 from 1974 but newly tooled without the interior
2021 –55th anniversary
USSEnterprise-D	Eaglemoss/Hero Collector DeAgostini (Japan)/Fanhome	n/a	1:916	Star Trek: The Next Generation Build The USS Enterprise NCC-1701-D 120-stage partwork
Deep Space 9 with USSDefiant and CardassianKeldon-class Cruiser	AMT/Round2	AMT1245	1:3300 1:2500 1:2500	16" wide DS9 and 2¾" long Defiant (reissue AMT751 from 2012) molded in clear ABS, 5¾" longKeldon (modified reissue of AMT764 from 2014) in white
USSExcelsior		AMT1257(M)	1:1000	Reissue AMT843 (2016)
USSEnterprise Bridge		AMT1270/12	1:32	Reisue of AMT808 (2013)
USSEnterprise		AMT1296/12	1:650	Reissue S951 (1968), albeit with modern stand andEnterprise only decals
USSVoyager	Polar Lights/Round2	POL980(M)	1:1000	New, improved tooling; Polar Lights original, not associated with the Revell-Monogram releases
		POL992(M)		"Clear Edition"; cast in transparent plastic for lighting purposes
USS Enterprise TOS/Pilot Edition		POL993(M)	1:350	Re-release with parts for first and second pilot episodes or series version; with hangar bay and tiny bridge.
2022 – Introduction of the mandatory "Star Trek Universe" logo[9]
USS Enterprise-C	AMT/Round2	AMT1332(M)	1:1400	Reissue in clear/translucent plastic; multiple decal options
USSGrissom/KlingonBird of Prey	Polar Lights/Round2	POL975	1:1000	Identical reissue of 2018 release, but with revised box art
USSGrissom		POL991(M)	1:350	13 ¾ inches / 35 cm. Molded in white with clear parts. Decals for 6 different ship versions. Optional rear details TNG/The Search for Spock
Galileo Shuttlecraft with Interior		POL995(M)	1:32	Reissue POL909 from 2020 with Interior
2023
Space Station K-7	AMT/Round2	AMT1215/12	1:7600	Reissue AMT644 (2010), albeit with classic box cover
Klingon Bird-of-Prey		AMT1400(M)	1:350	Reissue AMT949 (2016)
KlingonKronos One	Polar Lights/Round2	POL997(M)		Adaptation of POL950 K'tinga (2018) as seen inThe Undiscovered Country
2024
Klingon Alien Battle Cruiser	AMT/Round2	AMT1428	1:650	Reissue with revised decals; molded in color; classic Aurora 923 (1972) box art and title
USSEnterprise-D		AMT1429	1:1400	Reissue molded in translucent white plastic; additional decals forUSSSyracuse; removable saucer section with detachablecaptain's yacht
Allies and Adversaries Set		AMT1443	1:2500	Composed from elements as included in prior AMT multi-ship sets
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan U.S.SReliant		AMT1457(M)	1:537	Reissue AMT1036 (2017) molded in off-white and clear with dome base and metal rod
USSEnterprise (Star Trek: Strange New Worlds)	Polar Lights/Round2	POL999(M)	1:1000	Molded in translucent plastic
USSEnterprise/SSBotany Bay		POL1000(M)		Reissue POL908 (2013)
USSCerritos		POL1002	1:1400	Molded in translucent plastic
2025
USSEnterprise Refit	Polar Lights/Round2	POL1006	1:350	Reissue POL949 (2017) to celebrate the 45th anniversary ofThe Motion Picture with optional "NCC-1701-A" decal sheets

"Garage" model kits[]

Over the years, from the 1990s onward afterStar Trek: The Next Generation had premiered, several "amateur" (meaning not officially recognized), both unauthorized as well as unlicensed and often short-lived companies, dubbed "Garage kit makers" by the model kit community, sprung up, producingStar Trek model kits. These "companies" often produced lesser-knowncanon orfan-designed non-canon classes of starships which were typically made out of glass reinforced plastic (GRP), commonly referred to as "fiberglass" or "resin" (somewhat incorrectly, as this term also refers to more modern composite plastic materials). Fiberglass "conversion kits" to improve or customize officially-released models have also been released, along with "aztec-ing" painting templates, and custom decals.

Typically, the production run of items produced by these companies tended to be quite low, numbering in the few hundreds instead of the thousands produced by the officially licensed model kit companies, thereby becoming relatively rare and quite expensive. This was due to two reasons. First, as amateur companies, these garage companies could not afford the professional, high-grade steel molds utilized by the professional model kit companies from which the kit parts were cast. Instead, lower grade molds were used, typically made out of cheaper material such as baked clay, plastic resin, gypsum, or plaster, all of which susceptible to wear and tear far beyond of that of the ones used by the professional model kit manufacturers, meaning these molds worn out much faster. For these same (economic) reasons, garage kits tended to consist of far fewer parts, cast as solid pieces, meaning that the completed models were quite heavy compared to those constructed out of the injection molded plastic parts (vacuformed as opposed to those of the garage companies which were simply cast) of the model kits from their officially licensed counterparts. The quality of garage kits using those molds near the end of their lifespan tended to diminish as cast parts exhibited an ever-increasing number of air bubbles and excess "flash" on the parts due to widening apertures in the seams of worn-out molds. Constructing garage kits therefore required a certain amount of experience on the part of the modeler.

Alex Jaeger holding 1999 Starcrafts 1:1400 scaled garage kits of hisAkira-class design, as well as that of hisSaber-class from the same company on the right, the only physical models of either commercially available at the time (2009).

Second, aside from the practical reasons keeping production runs low, there was a legal one as well. As unauthorized companies, low production runs were a means to operate under the radar of the Paramount Marketing and Licensing Department (currentlyParamount Consumer Products), thereby dodging copyright legalities. It appeared however, that the officialfranchise has, until recently, turned a blind eye to their activities, as no litigation against any of them were hitherto known to exist, at least publicly.[6] No doubt this was due to the fact that many of them were relatively short-lived as well as the fact that virtually all of them initially producedStar Trek ships that were not produced or planned by any of the officially licensed model kit companies at the time, even if some of those ships were yet to be produced by them later on, usually at a different scale. In turn, garage companies themselves usually observed strict adherence of not producing ships thatwere produced by the official model kit companies (though some of them did in later years, again at different scales) and not showing any official imagery on or in their box-art or instruction sheets as well as not distributing their products directly but rather through official intermediaries. The initial lack of legal actions against them has emboldened some of the still surviving garage companies, such as Starcraft Models, to employ professional, full-fledged websites, marketing their products. However, while former franchise ownerParamount Pictures had condoned the existence of these companies, subsequent ownerCBS Corporation appeared to be of a differentmindset and had more recently started to crack down on these "interlopers"; the Starcraft Models website, for example, went unexpectedly dark in late 2015, and has not been up since.[7]^(X)

UK-based Warp Models (one of the first, and its products at the time distributed through the famed London, UK-based genre retailerForbidden Planet), and US-based Federation Models, Nova Hobbies, and Starcrafts (the one currently known as "Starcraft Models") were among the best-known unlicensed garage kit makers. Warp Models in particular was noteworthy, as they only produced canon ships and where possible in-scale with those of the AMT product-line. ForStar Trek: First Contact,John Eaves used a garage kit of the USSEnterprise-C to create goldmodels which were used in the USSEnterprise-E'sobservation lounge.[8] With the exception of Warp Models, most garage kit companies preferred to release theirStar Trek products uniformly as 1:1400 scale model kits, a scale corresponding with that of AMT's 1988Enterprise-D model kit, but otherwise rarely used by the official model kit companies as far as theirStar Trek product lines were concerned.

As a format, garage kit companies not only turned out to be popular for model kits, but for 1:3900 scalegaming miniatures as well, those originating fromFASA in particular, and several specialized gaming miniatures garage companies have also been concurrently in existence.

Appendices[]

See also[]

• Star Trek starship miniatures – links to many pre-painted starship models not listed above

External links[]

• Selection of "garage" companies producing unlicensed model kits atFederation Models
• An exhaustive listing of Star Trek model kits produced by licensed and unlicensed companies atStarship Modeler
• Memory Foxtrot, the Sci Fi Model Kit Database wiki