Ed Miarecki Edmund " Ed " J . Miarecki , credited as Ed Miarecki , is a model maker and artist whose work has been featured in and other subsequent spin - offs . He built two proto - kitbash models featured in the early appearances of that design , namely that of the , among many others . His other contributions include the , , and models for , the for , pattern work on the and , the main shuttlebay for , medical tricorder s that first appeared in and the type 2 phaser s first appearing in TNG Season 1 . In the 1990s Miarecki , together with partner Tom Hudson , operated a model shop called Science Fiction Modelmaking Associates ( SFMA ) and performed services to the " Star Trek " franchise , mostly in the form of building props . While operating his company , Miarecki and his associates , also provided and with props , albeit uncredited . It was in this era that Miarecki and his company has had the privilege of working on " Star Trek " models from a bygone era . In he was contracted to refurbish the 11 - foot filming miniature of the , the " D7 " Klingon ship and the Tholian models used in TOS for display purposes at the Smithsonian ' s 1992 - 1993 " Star Trek Smithsonian Exhibit " . However , his interpretation of the paint scheme of the " Enterprise " model did cause some controversy , or as the original builder , Richard Datin , has put it , " " The original model was smooth and didn ' t show any lines or marks , except for the lettering and numbers ( . . . ) The Smithsonian had scribed lines to indicate panels , changing the character of the whole model . " " ( " Cinefantastique " , Vol . 27 , issue 11 / 12 , p . 68 ) The paint scheme has been the main point of criticism and was hotly debated on internet blogs like " TrekBBS " , " Resin Illumanati " , " HobbyTalk " , " Trek Prop Zone " , and the museum blog itself . The continuing criticism did alienate Miarecki from the fan base , as his reaction to a particularly strong comment on the " Trek Prop Zone " blog on 25 April 2007 , showed . " " ( . . . ) When I first started to read this topic , I had thought I was going to read something interesting . I really didn ' t expect my work to be described as " BUTCHERY " . It has been now over 15 years since I performed the restoration , ( without the aid of all the knowledge that has been acquired in those 15 years ) , and I have to endure in all that time since , nothing but jabs and barbs of criticism from over - opinionated fans who now have access to that knowledge . I have yet to read one compliment . . . any compliment , on any forum , about any aspect of my restoration . Now after all this time , I refuse to let such a " drive - by " insult such as yours go unanswered ( . . . ) " " He is credited as a model maker for , where he " " did pattern work for the 10 - foot as well as work on the " Borg cube " , " Borg sphere " , and " Phoenix " miniatures " " , while in the employ of Industrial Light & Magic . In addition , Miarecki , from 1995 working for the effects house " Mass . Illusion Visual Effects " , had also contributed model - work to such science fiction and action films as " Starship Troopers " , " Judge Dredd " ( 1995 ) , " Eraser " ( 1996 ) , " Event Horizon " ( 1997 ) , " Deep Impact " ( 1998 ) , and " X - men " ( 2000 ) . As of 2000 Miarecki is self employed as model maker at the " FX Models " company and would renew his acquaintance with the " Star Trek " franchise after 2006 as several winners of studio model s , auctioned off in the " " auction , sought out his help in restoring their winnings amongst others the winners of the K ' t ' inga class studio model , the Miranda class studio model and the model of the dry dock . The latter , he did on behalf of noted American collector Adam Schneider , and it was with him that he was featured in the 2013 documentary , " FanAddicts ! " , Season 1 , Episode 3 : Star Trek , discussing the several models he had worked upon . Miarecki has authored several articles on the craft of model making for various publications , among others the UK magazine " Sci - Fi & Fantasy Models " , including one on his build of the " Galor " - class studio model as well as one on the restoration of the " Draconia " studio model , used in the 1979 - 1981 " Buck Rogers in the 25th Century " television series .