Model Specifications:
Scale = 1/72
Length = 32 cm
Width = 19 cm
Height = 7.7 cm
This
is the only surviving original Runabout assigned to Deep Space
Nine. The Rio Grande was one of the first three Runabouts
assigned to the Starbase.
Starfleet Runabouts are actually small starships, not
shuttlecraft. Each name begins with "U.S.S." and each
ship has its own registry number.
The Rio Grande is named for a long river that divides the U.S.
from Mexico.
The ribbed panel on top in front of the Starfleet symbol is a
Transporter Emitter. There is a less detailed one on the bottom
of the forward cabin.
This
is one of the few AMT kits that had a good set of instructions
and had fairly accurate paint suggestions.
This model was painted mostly with the suggested colors. The
basecoat is Camouflage Gray. The major hull panels, such as
around the front viewports, are Sand. Minor hull panel details
are Light Gray and Light Sea Gray.
The round Dilithium Chamber Hatch on top is painted Sand. The
RCS thrusters are Gloss Yellow with Gloss Black detailing. To
cover the fact that I did not scratch build an interior, the
windows were painted Gloss Black from the inside.
The tractor beam emitter and phaser banks were painted Dark Tan.
The Bussard collectors are Gloss Red from the inside, the coils
are Flat Yellow, and the Warp grilles are Flat Light Blue from
the inside.
The impulse intakes tucked under the Warp pylons are painted
Fluorescent Orange.
This picture shows the relative scales of some Star Trek
shuttles. There's the Rio Grande starship, a Type 15 Shuttlepod
and a Shuttlecraft from Star Trek V, along with a small in-scale
figure. All of these models are 1/72 scale.
The figure is a pilot from an aircraft kit. The Shuttlepod and
Shuttlecraft are both from Gryphon Miniatures resin kits.
