Star Trek DS9:- Operation Return Diorama - 'micro' build log pt.3

   The next ship on the list is the USS Defiant. I cut all the parts in one go:-

   10 pages of A4 parts were reduced to a surface area of approximately 4" x 2". I joined the parts from pages 1 through 3 to form the nose and the aft hull:-

   I joined the parts for the superstructure of the hull:-

   I then attached the shuttlebay and engines:-

​finishing with the upper deck containing the bridge. This gives me a USS Defiant measuring 18mm (<3/4") from tip to tail:-

   Now it's time for my Nemesis - the Excelsior class. When I built Wolf 359 this ship was a royal pain in the ass. And now I've got four of the damned things to build. Oh well, here goes...
    I'm using Clever Santoro's designs again, starting with the design for the USS Excelsior. I don't need to change any names or registries as they're illegible this small. I'm starting, as always, with the saucer:-

   The two saucers were built and I cut some of the parts for the secondary hull:-

   I left the front underside with a margin for ease of mounting the shuttle bay. I then connected the main secondary hull parts and cut some more random pieces:-

   I joined the primary and secondary hulls and that left me with the nacelles to cut, build and connect:-

I used the edge of my steel ruler to shape the nacelle halves and a toothpick point to shape the upper ends. This gives me two MkI Excelsior class ships at a length of just over 2" (52mm):-

   I made a start on the Mk.II's, but I'm already pulling my hair out -lol. There are just too many pieces that are miniscule, and the saucer rings don't want to behave. I've still got parts left from the Mk.I so I'm going to try a mix 'n' match - the only real differences are the additional impulse engines and that weird bulge on the secondary hull. If my plan fails then I'm off to Utopia Planitia for a crash course in starship construction ;-).
    I redid the saucer with a mix of parts from the Mk.I and Mk.II:-

   As the top of the saucer has a smaller diameter than the bottom, I stuck it onto a thick piece of card so that the rim could be angled properly. The photo shows the top part from the Mk.I, but I swapped this for the top from the Mk.II then connected all the rings, the two halves and the extra impulse engines. I then cut the rim and the parts for the sensor array and bridge superstructure:-

   I used the Mk.I impulse engine block as the Mk.II version was too fiddly to work with: one edge would've been <0.5mm wide. 
   The saucers were finished off and I cut the parts for the secondary hull:-

   The majority of these are Mk.II parts, but some may be swapped if the Mk.I parts are easier to work with or better looking at the smaller scale. 
   I swapped the housing for the nacelle pylons and kept everything else. The secondary hulls took a bit of poking, prodding and coaxing, but I completed them and connected them to the primary hulls:-

   On the home stretch, I used the Mk.I nacelles and struts and just added the red vane from the Mk.II design. And my four Excelsior class ships are done:-

   Below are the USS Fredrickson and the USS Hood:-

   I'm using two designs for the Cardassian Hidekis; Paragon's and Arbiter Bri's. I cut all the parts even although there was a good chance of losing them with a heavy breath:-

   Two down, two dozen to go:-

   As always, magnifying them makes them look a bit of a pig's ear, but they pass muster with the naked eye. 
   And finally I have a fleet of Hidekis:-