Although the Enterprise 1701-D was destroyed during the Battle of Veridian III in 2371, every detail is preserved in this QMx Artisan replica. One of the biggest challenges facing the QMx team is making sure that the replica can support its own weight. The Enterprise is very graceful in space, says John Eblan, head of the QMx FX Cinema Arts model shop, but it's, “not gravity-friendly.” 

The replica is supported by an endoskeletal truss carefully designed to leave room for the electronics required to illuminate the ship and its various weapons systems. The entire ship is cast in clear fiberglass.

"We do that because there are so many windows," says John. In order to opacify all surfaces except for the windows, John's team uses an exclusive method of layering paint until it's as thick as the tape they use to mask the windows.

Phyllis Eblan, operations director at QMx FX Cinema Arts, notes, “Working with fiberglass is a very Zen experience. I truly enjoy the methodology behind the craft.”

Some 240 LEDs display throughout the ship, illuminating more than 2,000 windows. The Enterprise also comes equipped with more than 400 chamfered and hand-cut ¼-inch-long lifeboats, embedded directly into the hull. To accommodate the ship's top-heaviness, the display has a custom-welded steel support system, designed for maximum longevity.

The Enterprise D Artisan Replica exceeds the level of detail of any previous iteration of the ship, and is truly a showcase of QMx’s next generation techniques.