Klingon D-7 Battle Cruiser from "Star Trek" (1966-1969)

Scale: 1:650
Initial Release: 1968
Medium: Styrene
Kit Rarity: 1

About the Design

Although KIingons had been "Star Trek" house antagonists since the Season One episode "Errand of Mercy," no Klingon spacecraft was actually seen until Season Three.  And then, when the mighty D-7 finally made its dramatic debut in the episode "The Enterprise Incident," the ship wasn't even Klingon -- it was Romulan.  (This was quickly explained by Mr. Spock's contrived throw-away line, "Intelligence reports that the Romulans are now using Klingon designs.")   Fortunately, the Klingons were able to claim the D-7 as their own in subsequent episodes.

Unlike the earlier Romulan Bird-of-Prey, this Klingon spacecraft was totally original and highly detailed,  establishing a motif that was decidedly non-Federation in influence.  Clearly built for war, the design featured a large, crab-like engineering hull with low slung engine nacelles, and a relatively small, bulbous command section situated on a forward boom.   She was lean, mean, and visually aggressive.

Ironically, the D-7 might never have existed at all if not for the AMT model company.  It financed the development of the design and the filming miniature in exchange for the rights to manufacture the model kit.

About the Kit

The most accurate of all of AMT's ST-TOS models, the "Klingon Battle Cruiser" was the second "Star Trek" kit to be released, hitting store shelves in the summer of 1968, several weeks before the craft actually appeared on TV.  Like their first U.S.S. Enterprise kit, the original release came with several clear parts and a rudimentary lighting kit.  Chrome-plated pieces, including engine details and the forward torpedo launcher, were also part of the original release.  These extras were eliminated in subsequent issues to improve profitability.

The "Klingon Battle Cruiser" was re-released numerous times, often with new box art.  The final release was in the early 1990s.  This kit is a first edition kit purchased and built in 1968.