Movie: Galaxy Quest

Ship: NTE 3120 NSEA Protector

For me second entry I decided t' model the NTE 3120 NSEA Protector from t' movie Galaxy Quest. Arrr! While this is parody on the many Star Trek movies thar can be little doubt that it is also a comedy.

T' difficulty with this model be t' total lack o' available reference and photo information. I had t' start by watching the movie 4 times and makin' sketches o' t' ship when it appeared. Begad! This was made more difficult by t' fact that I only have t' VHS version o' t' movie and could nay freeze frame t' ship. Ya scallywag! Avast! I eventually knew t' a frame where the ship

I start t' construction usin' a 13/16 inch length o' t' BT 5 and t' two BT 5 Ogive nose cones. Arrr! Well, blow me down! Each o' t' nose cones required some shapin' that be performed with an X-acto knife and sand paper. T' wing/fins were then constructed from two layers o' balsa with offset joints to provide t' required strength and rigidity. These were then attached t' the main hull on t' front nose code just forward o' t' BT. Begad! Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! T' joint o' the wing/fins and t' nose code should be reinforced with a piece o' paper. Arrr! Avast! Both engine pods were then constructed usin' 2 one inch BT 7mm tubes and pieces of 3/32 balsa and attached t' t' back o' each o' t' wing/fins. Aye aye! Aye aye! Pieces o' the Keelhaul®©™ thread were attached t' each o' t' engine thrust rings (cut from t' BT 6mm) and fit betwixt opposite engine tubes. Avast! This be t' provide additional rigidity t' t' wing/fins and t' help compensate for t' engines bein' on the distal ends o' t' wings.

T' remainin' work was t' detail t' hull with pieces o' balsa t' construct t' super structure. Begad! T' front engine intakes were then added usin' balsa. Avast, me proud beauty! Arrr! T' launch lug was installed on t' bottom o' the main hull and t' other piece be cut in half and installed along t' sides of the superstructure as t' escape engine pods. T' model be painted flat white and detailed with black and blue magic markers.

T' model was launch at t' October MASA launch in Ossego Minnesota. Begad! Due t' t' windy conditions and t' difficulty of gettin' t' igniters t' stay in t' engines, me hearties, only two engines were used, ya bilge rat, but the model flew on t' two engines for a somewhat loopy flight and short glide. Note that t' model can be flown on 2 or 4 engines. Well, blow me down! T' paper reinforcement between t' wings and across t' main body be added after this flight due to slight win' damage on landing.

USS Grissom (Flis Kits) Parts

1. Instructions (Paper) 11.0*17.0”*3
2. BT 5 9.5 7.56”
3. BT 5 Nose Cones 2 3/16” Ogive*2 11/16” Rounded
4. Shock Cord (Keelhaul®©™) 12”
5. 1/16 Balsa 3”*6”
6. 3/32 Balsa 3”*6”
7. Kit Photo Sheet (Paper) 5’*16 ¼”
8. 1/8” Launch Lugs 1” * 2
9. BT 7mm As Required.