Polar Lights 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 and its refit successor , are highly acclaimed in the " Star Trek " modeling community . History . 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 " association . 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 on 7 June 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 . 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 and the from . However , these two have been canceled as of 2012 . " Star Trek " releases . The 1 : 350 scaled " Constitution " - class model kits . Of the " Star Trek " model kit line from Polar Lights , two are generally considered show pieces . In 2004 Polar Lights released a highly detailed 1 : 350 scale refit - USS " Enterprise " model kit . Measuring 35 inches long when assembled , it was the largest officially licensed " Constitution " - class model kit released to date . Polar Lights did put a lot of research into the development of the model kit to make it as accurate as possible , having sought the advise from the refit co - designer , Andrew Probert . Very noticeable features of the model kit were the inclusion of a full interior shuttlebay as originally designed by Probert , three small in - scale shuttlecraft and a Work Bee pod , the botanical garden , the conference room and the VIP lounge . The development of the model kit caused the release of it to be postponed several times , and by the time the model was ready to be released , in the tail - end of 2004 , Polar Lights had already been acquired by new owner Racing Champions , who immediately halted the release of new model kits . Nevertheless , they made an exception for this model kit and allowed the release to go through . Despite the relatively high price tag attached to it , the model kit was critically acclaimed by the model kit community , and when Polar Lights resumed production under new ownership ( Round 2 LLC ) , it was reissued in 2009 . Buoyed on by the success of the model , Polar Lights embarked on the project of developing a similar model kit of the original configuration " Enterprise " . For its development the company took it up a notch by hiring Gary Kerr as consultant . Kerr is arguably the person , still living , who is most intimately acquainted with the original studio model of USS " Enterprise " . He acquired his knowledge when he took for his personal edification numerous photos and measurements of the original model , when it was at at Ed Miarecki ' s model shop , Science Fiction Modelmaking Associates , when the latter was engaged in the 1991 restoration of the model for the 1992 " Star Trek Smithsonian Exhibit " . He expanded upon his knowledge five years later by composing detailed construction blueprints of the original model , at the behest of his friend Gregory Jein for his construction of the 5 . 5 foot studio model for the episode . Back in in the summer of 2002 , Kerr had already served as consultant for Polar Light ' s 1 : 1000 2003 release of the original " Enterprise " . ( " Sci - fi & fantasy modeller " , Vol . 26 , p . 46 ) Jamie Hood , Polar Lights ' brand manager , has expressed his appreciation for Kerr ' s involvement , " " Gary ’ s involvement in the new kit design has been a tremendous asset . His extensive knowledge has allowed us to add intimate details to the model . This kit will be the most accurate representation of the ship produced since the original filming model . " " Several years in the making and highly anticipated , the model kit was released late 2012 , and it too was favorably received by the model kit community . Like its predecessor , noticeable features were the inclusion of interior features , which included the bridge , shuttlebay and in - scale Class F shuttlecraft . When assembled the model measured 32 inches , the same size as the original three - foot studio model . Fully aware that these two kits were the flagships of their " Star Trek " model kit line , Polar Lights started to release accessories sets for the two kits in order to enable modelers to further modify and finetune detailing on the model , which they believed would meet the scrutiny of the most discerning fans . The first two , released in 2011 were applicable to the refit models , whereas six additional sets were released in 2012 for the original configuration model . An additional decal set , no . MKA003 and an off - shoot of the refit - " Enterprise " decal sets , was released in 2011 , as a courtesy to sister company AMT , who had reissued their 1 : 537 scale model kit of the that year . Kerr himself has written a four - part article for the UK magazine " Sci - fi & fantasy modeller " ( starting in volume 26 , 2012 ) that chronicled in detail his personal involvement with the USS " Enterprise " NCC - 1701 , including his experiences with Miarecki , Jein , and CBS Digital , as well as the development of the Polar Lights model kit in particular .