A fully lit 32 inch miniature of the Starship Exeter is in development. The images below demonstrate the work Thomas Sasser is doing on the new model.

Click on image for hi-res JPEG.

The saucer bottom with ruler and Polar Lights Enterprise kit shown for scale [Fabrication: Thomas Sasser]	This shape will be vac formed using clear butyrate plastic sheet to yield a clear hull for lighting. [Fabrication: Thomas Sasser]
Small parts are turned on a lathe to be incorporated into the main hull parts. [Fabrication: Thomas Sasser]	The elevator housing is attached to the aft end of the bridge and small marker lights are added. [Fabrication: Thomas Sasser]

A disc is cut to size and holes drilled for blue, yellow, amber, green and red LEDs are drilled into it. One of the discs are shown assembled. Small faceted rhinestones are placed between each LED to help refract and bouce light around inside of the completed domes. A motor, just over an inch in diameter is assembled to be placed behind the light disc. The motor has a step-down gear assembly so that the postspins slowly. The disc will remain stationary and the LEDs will randomly flash. The shaft of the motor will protrude thru the disc and a cone shape with slots cut into it will be placed on the end. This assembly will be placed inside of the assembled nacelles and a frosted clear dome will be placed on the end for the Bussard Collector effect. (The domes shown in the image will not be the ones used on the completed model.) [Fabrication: Thomas Sasser]

A clear copy of the Polar Lights USS Enterprise kit is used to test the internal lighting design. It is sanded on the inside to help diffuse lighting. The areas around the navigation lights are painted black so that the blinking nav lights do not pick up ambient interior hull lighting. [Fabrication: Thomas Sasser]

White LEDs are attached to the clear nav lights and soldered to wire leads. The circuit is tested. [Fabrication: Thomas Sasser]	Seven additional white LEDs are soldered together and placed inside of the saucer for cabin lighting. [Fabrication: Thomas Sasser]
The cabin lighting is connected and tested. [Fabrication: Thomas Sasser]	The nav lights (on a separate circuit) are tested along with the cabin lighting. [Fabrication: Thomas Sasser]