To Trekkers around the world, the K-7 Space Station is most famous for two episodes. First featured in The Trouble with Tribbles [from the Original series], the station was again featured in Trials and Tribble-ations [from Deep Space Nine]. The station is easily recognized by its three arms with saucers at each end. In the 1970’s, AMT released several Star Trek kits, including the K-7 Station. Now, Round 2 Models has revived the old AMT kits, reissuing them as standard and special editions. The kit is basically the same as the original issue; with new decals [the special edition features a collector's tin and a miniature Tribble]. The reissue even includes the little USS Enterprise in scale with the station.

Quick Boost has quickly built a reputation for excellent resin castings at affordable prices. These two sets are sure to add to that for the already great out-of-the-box 1/72 Hasegawa A-1J kit.

Few things are more heartbreaking than finally getting to the last stages of finishing a kit, only to realize that you’ve lost an antenna. Sure, you can try your skills at re-construction from scrap styrene, putty, or both but we all know that’s easier said than done. Again, these are direct replacements for the kit parts. My sample was very crisp and bubble-free

As always, make sure you wear a respirator when you make your cuts and vacuum up the residual dust once you’re finished.

While this set is designed for the Fujimi kit, it’s a direct drop in; you can easily use it on any of the Hasegawa offerings (which I’ll be using). It’s an excellent upgrade from the kit parts and requires minimal modeling effort to complete.

It consists of a single fret of 2 PE afterburner flame rings and two sets of exhaust “feathers” (long), afterburner cans, and exhaust cones. My sample was cast in dark grey resin and was bubble free. The cut lines are clearly defined and the resin separates easily from the pour stubs with a few swipes from a razor saw. A few swipes with a sanding sick leveled the parts up and they were ready to assemble.

Be very careful with the PE afterburner flame rings. They are extremely delicate and are somewhat oversized for the afterburner cans. I used a wooden dowel, to gently move them into position, to where the grooved afterburner can liner begins.

Let’s take a journey, a journey into the mind of a scratchbuilder. Not just any scratchbuilder, not one who takes an actual object that existed and builds a replica from scratch. But one who gives three dimensional shape and form to an idea in a novel or a picture in his head. Author Andy Pearson is just such a modeler. He is regularly featured in Sci-Fi and Fantasy Modeller magazine.

In this book’s eleven chapters; Andy will show you how to take an image in your mind or a book and give it form and substance. Each chapter is a walk through the building of project. From futuristic construction equipment, cybernetic whale, a cross sectional far away planet’s seascape, space ships and much more, Andy takes you on the journey from idea to model.

I would like to express my sincere thanks to Eduard for providing this kit to IPMS/USA and to them for allowing me to review it.