Polar Lights Models is a manufacturer that produces Star Trek model kits, starting in 2003, as then regular kit producer, AMT/Ertl, started to wane in their releases of its Star Trek-line. Currently featuring a substantial line for themselves, two releases in particular, the highly detailed 1:350 scale models of the original USS Enterprise and its refit successor, are highly acclaimed in the Star Trek modeling community.

HistoryEdit

Polar Lights Models was the model kit-making division of toy company Playing Mantis, set up in 1994 with the specific intention to re-issue Aurora Plastics Corporation's signature monster and science fiction kits of the 1960s and 1970s. The company's name itself was an homage to "Aurora" (both references to the northern and southern polar lights). Apart from the figurine kits, the company also produced scale models of famous vehicles from various TV and movie projects, such as the Ghostbusters ECTO-1 and the Back To The Future Delorean Time Machine.

Star Trek associationEdit

In 2003, Polar Lights started to release Star Trek model kits, including some not previously released designs, having been given the license as then owner of AMT/Ertl (hitherto the regular licensed manufacturer of Star Trek model kits), Racing Champions, showed no interest to develop the Star Trek model kit line any further. At that moment in time, no Star Trek model kits had been marketed for four years. Unfortunately, holding company Playing Mantis itself was acquired late 2004 by the same Racing Champions and production of new model kits was halted immediately by the new owner, resulting in 2006 in the announcement of Polar Lights' closure, due to the elimination of the brand. [1]

Still, one year later in 2007, the product line of Polar Lights was sold to Round 2 LLC, having also acquired AMT the same year, and the brand was revived in 2008, resulting in that all active US-based licensed Star Trek model kit manufacturers were once again united under one roof. In June 2009, Round 2 indicated that by 2010, they would start releasing entirely new models under the Polar Lights brand, starting with the alternate reality USS Enterprise from Star Trek and the USS Thunderchild from Star Trek: First Contact. However, these two have been canceled as of 2012.

Star Trek releasesEdit

Item	Scale	Release	Item No.	Notes	Boxart
USS Enterprise	1:1000	2003	PL4200	This kit can be built in three versions: the Enterprise seen in "The Cage", that seen in "Where No Man Has Gone Before", and the standard "production version" seen in later episodes
		2008	POL803	Re-release of PL 4200; acquisition by Round 2; new numbering; two issues in 2008 each with different box art
		2012	POL889	Lunchbox tin edition
	1:350		POL880	Same size as original three-foot studio model; based on Gary Kerr's research; original detailed tooling; with interior bridge, shuttlebay and in-scale Class F shuttlecraft; avant-premiere edition for "1701 Club" subscribers, limited to 1701 pieces and regular edition with differing box art [2]
Enterprise NX-01	1:350	2003	PL4201	Featuring over 200 pieces and clear parts for lighting
	1:1000	2005	PL53028
		2008	POL807	Re-release of PL53028; acquisition by Round 2; new numbering; two issues in 2008 each with different box art
Klingon D7-class Battle cruiser	1:1000	2003	PL4202	This kit can be built and labeled as either the standard Klingon version or the Romulan version seen in "The Enterprise Incident"
		2008	POL806	Re-release of PL4202; acquisition by Round 2; new numbering; two issues in 2008 each with different box art
		2013	POL897	Released as Romulan battle cruiser with matching decals
Star Trek Nemesis Reman Scorpion-class fighter	1:33	2003	PL4203	Comes with Jean-Luc Picard and Data figures for the cockpit
USS Enterprise-A (or Refit)	1:350	2004	PL4204	Featuring a full interior shuttlebay, three small shuttlecraft, TMP-Style Work Bee pod, botanical garden, conference room and VIP lounge; includes a large number of clear parts to facilitate lighting of the kit; two box variants
		2009	POL808	Reissue of PL4204; acquisition by Round 2; new numbering; new box
	1:1000	2010	POL820
Canceled releases (boxart as proposed)
USS Enterprise (alternate reality)	1:2500	2010	POL836	This kit was developed using Ryan Church's CGI scans provided by ILM from Star Trek. Slated for a postponed 2011 release[3], but eventually canceled in 2012
USS Thunderchild	1:1000		n/a	to be confirmed[4]; canceled without much further ado as of 2010.

All the above kits are "snap-fit" style (meaning no glue is required for assembly) and featured detailed decal sheets. No glue or paint were included with the kits.

External linksEdit

• Official Polar Lights website
• Round 2 Models LLC - Current website for Round 2 LLC brand line-up.
• Collectormodel.com - Round2 blog including Polar Lights products
• The Polarpaedia - the history of Polar Lights and especially the now defunct Polar Lights Bulletin Board