Legends of Star Trek by Johnny Lightning
New Star Trek toys are always good, in my opinion.
But, these new ships aren’t without faults.
First up, the USS Enterprise NCC-1701
I find to be a properly sized ship, about 4 ¾” long from the end of the nacelles to the front of the ship. It’s gray, just as on the TV show. There’s not much detail, but then again the one on the show was pretty smooth, and also lacked paint detail.
All in all, my second favorite in this first series.
Secondly, the Enterprise NX-01
This is my favorite ship in the series. It looks good on my desk here.
It’s nowhere near as detailed as Art Asylum’s model, obviously, but it’s fairly detailed as far as a 4” plastic ship could be expected to be. It could have used some slightly different paint detailing throughout.
Next, the Klingon D-7 cruiser
I think it’s pretty close in scale to the NCC-1701. It’s about 4 ¼” long, and like the NCC-1701, lacks paint detail and is just as smooth as said ship. It might have been neat had they detailed it like the movie versions, and I wouldn’t put it past JL to consider that since they’re repainting almost all this series for the 2nd series.
The USS Reliant NCC-1864
Ah, the ill-fated ship Khan stole in what is likely the best Star Trek flick ever.
It’s white. Very white. I’m finding it hard to tell if I got the White Lightning version or not. I doubt it. Anyway, this ship has the kind of sculpted in detailing one would expect. The paint details are crisp and in place. I liked it up until I tried attaching it to the base. I damn near broke it in half trying to get in on there. The hole seems a little too small.
This is where the 4” scale begins to show its weaknesses. This ship is much bigger than than both Enterprise, so displaying them next to each other looks silly.
Shuttlecraft Galileo
It’s a big, barely painted gray plastic box. It’ll likely be the one that pegwarms.
I hate it and wish I’d have passed on it.
Romulan Bird of Prey.
This ship is goddamn huge. Bigger than any other ship in this first series. It’s another smooth, undetailed gray thing. It does have that funny-looking painted-on falcon (or vulture. Whichever. Excuse me…space vulture.) Never did see the episode this craft was featured in, so I chalk this purchase up to me being an overeager consumer.
Overall…
In my opinion, the Enterprises, the Klingon D-7, and the Reliant are the only worthy purchases in this set. The others aren’t bad, but if they were slightly smaller, I wouldn’t be so harsh on them. Buy them if you like them.
And, the ships themselves are hollow plastic. The only die-cast parts are the stands.
I was a little disappointed in this series, but then again I’m a TNG brat. Those who grew up watching TOS will eat these up. Myself, I can’t wait for the Enterprises D and E, Voyager, Defiant, and DS9.