Avid Collectibles

Best Star Trek Model Kits: Level 2 Starships

As Spock would say, “logic is the beginning of wisdom, not the end.” So, shall we find the best Star Trek model kits using logic? To do that, you’ll need straightforward reasons each model kit outshines others. Fortunately, I’ve been at this hobby long enough to distinguish a good model kit from a menial one.

Let me help you with 13 years of experience in the collectible business and a collection of pop culture replicas , statues , and action figures . In addition, I can go from classic collectibles to modern Funko Pops and Nendoroids in no time. I hope my blend of traditional and contemporary pop culture obsessions will meet Spock’s logic.

So, let’s beam up Scotty and find the best model kits for your Star Trek hobbies.

Star Trek U.S.S. Enterprise NCC

Bottom Line Up Front: Live Long & Prosper

Spock’s famous quotes resonate well with me, and I’m an avid Enterprise and Starfleet fan. In addition, I enjoy model building, even though I wish I had more time to partake in it. However, I love using a scale, skill level, and famous starships to pinpoint the ultimate Star Trek model kits that appeal to many hobbyists.

But first, let me share the top Star Trek model kit I enjoy and intend to finish. The Star Trek Classic USS Enterprise Model Kit is my ultimate wish because I love the original series more than Next Gen and Discovery. Spock’s original Starfleet starship is a wonder of model building, and it’s a simple level-two experience.

It requires some assembly work and glue, but the decals make the starship look fantastic. I enjoy any iconic starship that turns into a beautiful collectible on my display shelves after I finish the model. However, I have more favorites to share before giving tips on the different skill levels and scales.

More of the Best Star Trek Model Kits at a Glance

Star Trek has a long history of fans, even appealing to modern fandoms and hobbyists. However, I won’t allow my best choices to miss the mark by exposing every detail now. So instead, check out three more top picks for Star Trek model kits and why they’re incredible choices:

  • The Star Trek DS9 Space Station Model Kit is a highly satisfying build for hobbyists who want multiple starships. It includes the iconic DP9 space station and two battle cruisers. In addition, it remains a level-two model for novice and experienced hobbyists.
  • The Star Trek II USS Reliant NCC-1864 Model Kit is another top pick because it has battle-damaged decals. Few Star Trek model kits allow you to change the design with decals that show how tough the starship was in battle. It’s an excellent choice for novice hobbyists.
  • The Star Trek Klingon Amar Battlecruiser Model Kit is my fourth favorite pick because it invites novice hobbyists to experiment with resin and cement models. However, the kit isn’t too challenging for beginners, and it would appeal to experienced hobbyists with a level of detail and decals.

Tips about Star Trek Model Kit Skill Levels

Star Trek is an enterprise of classic proportions. People would have to have lived under rocks not to know Spock, the Enterprise, and Deep Space Nine. The franchise has a massive following, and hobbyists popularly find magnificent pieces among the many model kits available.

However, let me break down the quick basics of Star Trek model kits before you buy one. Firstly, there are different challenge levels for various hobbyists. Various Star Trek model kits will range from a skill level of one to five, meaning:

  • Skill-level one model kits are easy to assemble and often include snap-kits, which appeal to beginners. In addition, some level-one models require minimal paint and glue and have up to 30 pieces.
  • Skill-level two models require paint and glue and appeal to novice hobbyists. These kits typically have between 31 and 80 pieces, using various materials. Many of these models have snap-kit pieces you can paint or leave. Some also have clear parts to light them up with additional kits.
  • Skill-level three model kits require much more work, including fitting, shaping, and cutting. They appeal better to experienced hobbyists. These kits are around 100 pieces and include intricate decals.
  • Skill-level four model kits have tiny decals, intricate pieces, and fine work that expert hobbyists enjoy. These models often have interior details and decals to finish and have around 150 parts.
  • Skill-level five model kits are for the experienced hobbyist who spends a lot of time on each model. These kits typically have more than 150 parts. They require super-detailed work, refined painting, soldering, cutting, designing, and piecing together miniature decals.

My advice is to pick the skill level for your Star Trek model kit before targeting the best collectible to soothe your hobbies and passions. In addition, I recommend buying scale model kits. For example, the Star Trek Deep Space Nine Space Station Model Kit is an exact 1:3300 scale of the show’s iconic spacecraft.

Scale Star Trek model kits are far more collectible than non-scale models. Meanwhile, you can imagine the Starfleet and spacecraft’s original sizes by knowing that your scale model is 3300 times smaller than the real thing. It makes the model building more interesting to learn these scales.

Finally, some model kits come with LED lights. However, they fall into higher skill level categories because they require complex internal work. In contrast, they’re also super satisfying models once completed. For example, the Star Trek USS Enterprise Lighting Kit has 90 LEDs to light up your matching starship and increase difficulty.

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How I Selected the Best Star Trek Model Kits

I shared the tips about Star Trek model kits to help you understand why I picked the best options I did. So, my first selection requirement is that the model kits appeal to skill-level two hobbyists. It offers most hobbyists an incredible opportunity for their favorite Star Trek model kits.

In addition, remember my lighting kit advice because you can increase your model kit’s challenge by adding the lights and internal works. Next, I want various famous starships to ensure I share a favorite model kit with every Star Trek fan. Some will include the Enterprise starship, battle cruisers, and the USS Voyager, to name a few.

Finally, each Star Trek model kit must be a scale model.

Best Star Trek Model Kits: My Top Picks

The best Star Trek model kits include the epic starships and fleet that turned every fan’s living room into a world beyond the stars. So, I’ll share why each level-two model kit offers a brilliant challenge, including what makes them a challenge or letdown. However, each kit has something to offer for novice and experienced hobbyists.

Star Trek Classic USS Enterprise Model Kit

Star Trek Classic USS Enterprise Model Kit

USS Enterprise starship’s original series is likely the most iconic choice among the model kits. It would appeal to nearly every Star Trek hobbyist who enjoys piecing together a masterpiece. In addition, this model kit is an upgraded version with extra decals. It will require some paint and glue, but it’s an easy 29-piece starship.

Star Trek Model Kit Specs

  • Starship: USS Enterprise Starship model kit
  • Scale:  1:650
  • Series: Star Trek Original Series

Star Trek Model Kit Pros

  • The Original USS Enterprise is an iconic collectible model
  • The model kit appeals to various hobbyists and skill levels with optional instructions
  • It’s a simple glue-together model kit with optional paint over gray pieces
  • The finished model will reach 18 inches for an impressive display

Star Trek Model Kit Cons

  • Unfortunately, I can’t find a lighting kit for this model’s scale
  • The painting would turn the model kit into a level-three challenge

Star Trek DS9 Space Station Model Kit

Star Trek DS9 Space Station Model Kit

The Deep Space Nine model kit includes a space station with a Keldon-Class and USS Defiant battlecruiser as a multi-pack of hobbyist dreams. Star Trek fans will enjoy hours of fun building this easy-to-assemble kit. It requires paint and cement, but the instructions are straightforward to make it a level-two model kit.

  • Starship:  Deep Space Nine space station and two battlecruisers
  • Scale:  1:3300
  • Series:  Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
  • The Star Trek model kit includes three famous starships from the DP9 series
  • It’s a highly collectible set with beautiful work and decals for a low-level challenge
  • The paint is optional to increase the skill level required for the set
  • The instruction manual is far more detailed than most, inviting beginners
  • Some novice hobbyists might not want a level-two model with paint and cement features
  • I can’t find the lighting kit for this exact DS9 scale model

Star Trek Discovery USS Shenzhou NCC-1227 Model Kit

Star Trek Discovery USS Shenzhou NCC-1227 Model Kit

This metallic gun-metal gray starship is a beautiful model to build. It also welcomes various hobbyists by adding optional details you can complete, like painting the ship. Unfortunately, the Discovery series wasn’t my favorite. Still, I promised to share a variety of famous starships into which the Shenzhou ship falls.

  • Starship: USS Shenzhou model kit
  • Scale:  1:2500
  • Series:  Star Trek: Discovery
  • The Shenzhou model kit is a snap-together assembly for novice hobbyists
  • It includes optional paintwork for more advanced hobbyists
  • The model kit has clear pieces to allow for a lighting kit
  • It includes various decals for improved displays and comes with a stand
  • You have to buy the model’s lighting kit separately
  • Star Trek: Discovery isn’t everyone’s cup of tea from the franchise

Star Trek II USS Reliant NCC-1864 Model Kit

Star Trek II USS Reliant NCC-1864 Model Kit

The USS Reliant model kit is another favorite because it includes battle-damaged decals to decorate the model with battle scars. The Star Trek starships are well-known for epic battles. So, why shouldn’t you display this factor on your collectible models? I would undoubtedly add the battle-damaged decals to improve it.

  • Starship: USS Reliant model kit
  • Scale:  1:1000
  • Series:  Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan
  • The USS Reliant model kit is a highly collectible piece
  • It’s easy to assemble with optional paintwork to increase the challenge
  • It comes with battle-damaged decals to improve the model
  • You can find cover decals to change the design of this model
  • This model kit doesn’t include clear pieces for lighting kits
  • The challenge might not be sufficient for experienced hobbyists

Star Trek III USS Excelsior NX-2000 Model Kit

Star Trek III USS Excelsior NX-2000 Model Kit

The USS Excelsior is another legendary model kit with potential for novice and experienced hobbyists. In addition, the starship is famous in the third and fourth series, making it an incredible option for various fans. Meanwhile, the starship seems to have more details and better decals to bring more color into your collection.

  • Starship:  USS Excelsior model kit
  • Series:  Star Trek: The Search for Spock
  • The USS Excelsior model kit is collectible from two Star Trek series
  • It’s easy to assemble and paint, providing you have glue and paint
  • It includes various decals that make it more colorful than most
  • It comes with a supportive stand you can reposition in your collection
  • The model kit doesn’t include the much-needed paint and glue
  • It doesn’t have clear pieces for lighting kits

Star Trek Klingon Amar Battlecruiser Model Kit

Star Trek Klingon Amar Battlecruiser Model Kit

The Klingon Amar K’t’inga class battlecruiser was a legend in the Star Trek movie. Meanwhile, this model kit is another icon because it introduces novice hobbyists to using resin and cement. But don’t worry; it’s an ideal model kit for level-two hobbyists. Meanwhile, it’s also challenging enough for higher-level fans.

  • Starship: Klingon Amar Battlecruiser model kit
  • Scale:  1:350
  • Series:  Star Trek: The Motion Picture
  • The Klingon Battlecruiser model kit is an exceptional piece of collectible quality
  • The kit includes clear and resin parts to add lighting kits
  • The customizable paintwork and decals can increase the challenge
  • It’s a gorgeously collectible model with more color and details than most

Star Trek Model Kit Cons:

  • You’ll have to buy the model’s lighting kit separately
  • Some novice hobbyists might feel this model is beyond level two

Star Trek Romulan Warbird Battlecruiser Model Kit

Star Trek Romulan Warbird Battlecruiser Model Kit

The Romulan Warbird Battlecruiser is another exquisite model kit representing a legendary Star Trek franchise starship. The starship had a nearly eerie design with a ghastly feel. In addition, it had more color than the gun-metal gray ships at the Enterprise. Finally, the ship’s a favorite for being an iconic beast.

  • Starship:  Romulan Warbird Battlecruiser model kit
  • Scale:  1:3200
  • Series:  Star Trek: The Next Generation
  • The Romulan Warbird Battlecruiser model kit is a collectible beast
  • It has a beautiful design with brighter colors for collectors
  • It requires paint and glue for the assembly, but the instructions are clear
  • The Romulan Warbird Battlecruiser’s plan was way ahead of its time
  • It would appeal mainly to Next Generation Star Trek fans
  • I can’t find a matching lighting kit for this model

Star Trek USS Franklin Starship Model Kit

Star Trek USS Franklin Starship Model Kit

The Starfleet also had the USS Franklin, a modest yet mean starship that did the job in the Beyond series. Scotty had the USS Franklin in a special corner of his heart. Indeed, Scotty was capable of feeling things, unlike Vulcans. So, I had to add the USS Franklin to the best model kits because of how Scotty loved the ship.

  • Starship:  USS Franklin model kit
  • Series:  Star Trek: Beyond
  • The USS Franklin model kit appeals to collectors for nostalgic reasons
  • It’s a gorgeous starship with intricate details
  • You’ll use paint and glue to assemble this easy-model kit
  • It’s an unusual Star Trek model kit for novice and experienced hobbyists
  • Unfortunately, you’ll have to buy paint and glue separately
  • Not every Star Trek fan knows or likes the USS Franklin

Star Trek USS Grissom NCC-638 Starship Model Kit

Star Trek USS Grissom NCC-638 Starship Model Kit

The USS Grissom comes from another favorite series of mine. In addition, the starship looks more modern than most Star Trek models. This model kit offers a few challenges if you’re up for the task. You’ll be able to add custom lighting kits and other details inspired in the manual. It’s a challenging custom model for beginners.

  • Starship:  USS Grissom model kit
  • The USS Grissom model kit is a modern collectible from the Star Trek franchise
  • The model kit is more customizable than any other Star Trek version
  • It has waterslide decals with transparent and white parts to add lighting kits
  • It’s one of the newest Star Trek model kits from Polar Lights, a famous, quality brand
  • You have to buy the paint and glue separately
  • The customization you can do is better suited to experienced hobbyists

Star Trek USS Voyager NCC-74656 Model Kit

Star Trek USS Voyager NCC-74656 (Snap)

The USS Voyager model kit represents the epicenter of the Star Trek: Voyager series. It’s another iconic model kit for novice and experienced hobbyists to enjoy. In addition, it has blue and clear parts to add a lighting kit, making it look insanely impressive in your collection. The details are also fantastic for a 1:1000 scale.

  • Starship:  USS Voyager model kit
  • Series:  Star Trek: Voyager
  • The USS Voyager model kit is an iconic collector’s piece
  • Novice and experienced hobbyists can enjoy the snap-together assembly
  • It requires some paint and glue to increase the challenge
  • It has beautiful details, like deflector dishes and windows for LED lighting kits
  • You’ll have to buy the USS Voyager lighting kit separately
  • It might challenge novice hobbyists more than most level-two kits

Question: Can I Find Star Trek Model Kits That Aren’t Starships?

Answer:  Most Star Trek model kits are starships or space-related. However, there are two non-starship model kits. Firstly, you can buy the Star Trek USS Enterprise Bridge Model Kit . Alternatively, buy the Star Trek Galileo Shuttlecraft Model Kit . Neither model kit represents a starship. Instead, they’re vehicles and scene settings.

Question: Which Star Trek Model Kit Comes With Lights?

Answer:  Unfortunately, you’ll need loads of luck to find model kits with lighting included. Instead, you can buy the Star Trek Klingon K’Tinga Class Battlecruiser Model Kit . Then, add the Star Trek Klingon K’Tinga Class Battlecruiser Lighting Kit of the same scale. However, always make sure you buy the same scale model kits.

Question: Which Star Trek Model Kit Scale Is Popular?

Answer: Two Star Trek model kit scales are widespread. Firstly, the 1:350 Star Trek Scale Model Kits offer a brilliant challenge with a model that doesn’t fade into the distance. However, the 1:1000 Scale Star Trek Model Kits are smaller. They offer more intricate work, even with the exact skill-level requirements.

Best Star Trek Model Kits: Conclusion

The best Star Trek model kits welcome novice and experienced hobbyists because the franchise’s fans are in each category. However, I wouldn’t call myself a professional model builder because I stick to the level two and three options. Anything more will take too long, and I’m scared I’ll mess the model up before I finish it.

So, level-two model kits are my sweet spot. They beam me up with Scotty’s unusual personality and make me live as prosperous as Spock. However, I recommend buying the Star Trek Classic USS Enterprise Model Kit , especially if you’re starting a Star Trek model collection. You can’t begin without the beginning.

In addition, remember my logic rule from Spock. So, buy yours today, and start enjoying the hobby.

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Star Trek Models

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Welcome to the MegaHobby.com science fiction section. Here you will find plastic model kits, photo-etch detailing accessories and decals. We stock many lines including Moebius Models, Atlantis Models, Polar Lights, AMT, MPC, Paragrafix photo-etch sets, TSDS Decals, Archer Fine Transfers, TenaControls, and more.

Star Trek: The Original Series Klingon Battle Cruiser 1/650 AMT Models

Star Trek: The Original Series Klingon Battle Cruiser 1/650 AMT Models

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Star Trek The Undiscovered Country Klingon Kronos One Photo-Etch Set 1/350 Polar Lights

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LED Lighting Kit for Star Trek The Undiscovered Country Klingon KTinga or Kronos One 1/350 Polar Lights

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Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country Klingon Kronos One Battle Cruiser 1/350 Polar Lights

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Star Trek USS Enterprise NX01 Aztec Decals Polar Lights (PLLMKA54)

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tar Trek Classic USS Enterprise 1/650 AMT Models (AMT1296)

Star Trek Classic USS Enterprise 1/650 AMT Models

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WIRED Staff

The 17 Best Star Trek Toys, Props, and Models Money Can Buy

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1:350 Scale Enterprise Model

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DST Communicator & Phaser

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As the 50th anniversary of television's greatest-ever show approaches (September 8, c'mon! ) scratch that collector itch and buy yourself some branded and licensed plastic lifestyle accoutrements.

If you're a modeler, this is the replica kit to get. The completed USS Starship Enterprise is over 32 inches long, but more impressive than the size is the incredible detail. There's even an optional lighting kit that will set the portholes aglow. Also makes a great holiday dinner centerpiece. $140

If you are wandering in the outskirts of space, you are going to need these bad boys . Talk with fellow shipmates via the Communicator and stun your enemies with the Phaser. Diamond Select Toys is known for its excellent replicas, and this $75 two-pack is essential TOS hardware.

A 1:1 replica of the most choice Klingon battle weapon, crafted of aluminum and finished with real leather. Phasers? Earthling nonsense. Hand-to-hand blade combat to the death is what really makes a warrior. $500

These tiny, hairy creatures are totally adorable. Buy 50 of them, throw them on your bed, jump into their furriness, then curse their existence. Fun! $10 each.

TNG Communicator Badge

Show your allegiance to the best series . $20.

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Custom Uniform Shirt

Meet eBay user Murraymousie . Send in your measurements, and 10 days later you'll be sent a custom-sewn velour replica uniform shirt or dress, complete with rank and insignia. Pick gold for Kirk, a red shirt for Scotty, or a red dress for Uhura. $100 and up.

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TOS Insignia Patch

Choose your division —science, engineering, medical, or starship command. $8 each.

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DST Retro Cloth Figures

The vintage 8-inch action figures from Mego are highly collectible, and Kirk and Spock go for about $50 each on eBay. But the plastic on these 40-year-old toys is disintegrating, so get yourself some modern-day redos from Diamond Select Toys. Pick from any number of characters . $160 for two.

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The Klingon Dictionary

If you're going to demand that an enemy "Surrender or die," then you'd better get your pronunciation right . $11.33

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TR-590 MK 9 Science Tricorder

This $500 replica prop is not only stunningly accurate, but it also lights up and makes the appropriate sound effects. No more walking around with your iPhone going "bloop beep weee-ooh" when it's time to play doctor.

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Gorn Action Figure

All of the ReAction figures are pretty cool, but we've got a soft spot for Gorn . $19

Star Trek The Original Series

Hot Wheels Klingon Bird of Prey

Never mind the little cars. Hot Wheels makes some pretty decent Trek stuff, and this Klingon BOP ($39) is a good example. The wings fold just like the real thing, but the cloaking device will cost you a whole lot extra.

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Playmates Klingon Disruptor

You'll have to go to eBay for this vintage toy from the 1990s, but the cool sounds it makes are worth the hassle of all the hunting, bidding and sniping.

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Enterprise Bridge Playset

The ultimatest ultimate. This replica of the original Mego set from the '70s works with any figure built to the scale of the originals, as most of the current "retro" toys are. $60

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Tri-D Chess Set

This recreation of the original Franklin Mint Tri-D chess set from the 1990s will set you back $275. But that's real silver and gold on there. And whoo boy is this thing extra nerdy or what? How do you play it? Who cares!?

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Collar Pips

Insignia pins are cool. But real fans get collar pips . $18.35

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Kirk's Mug

This one's unofficial, but it's the closest thing out there to Kirk's coffee mug from Star Trek Beyond .

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Wonderland Models

Star Trek Model Kits

At Wonderland Models our huge range of Star Trek model kits is second to none. Our best selling Star Trek models include several versions of the USS Enterprise as well as ships from the new Star Trek Discovery series, and these are complimented by a complete range of paints, glues and model making accessories. Buy securely online for fast delivery.

 Polar Lights Star Trek 1/350 USS Grissom NCC-638 Model Kit

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Amt Models AMT Models 1/1400 Star Trek USS Enterprise NCC-1701-C Model Kit

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Polar Lights 1/2500 USS Discovery Snap Model Kit

 Polar Lights 1/1000 NX-01 Enterprise Snap Model Kit

Polar Lights 1/1000 NX-01 Enterprise Snap Model Kit

 Polar Lights 1/2500 USS Shenzhou Snap Model Kit

Polar Lights 1/2500 USS Shenzhou Snap Model Kit

 Revell 1/670 USS Voyager NCC-74656

Revell 1/670 USS Voyager NCC-74656

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Measuring in at about 13.5 inches when the snap-together kit is complete, the company is offering both an opaque version of the  Voyager kit, along with a clear plastic edition which can be paired with internal lighting (not included) and then painted for additional realism.

Each version of the ship model also includes the Intrepid -class’s claw-footed landing gear (for an optional display variant), as well as clear nacelle parts, a clear deflector dish, and clear larger windows (such as the mess hall, etc.) — and movable warp nacelles, to reflect the variable-geometry engines seen in the series.

As with Polar Lights’ other kits, the models will also include all the necessary hull graphics and registry markings in the kits for those final touches.

best star trek models

Each of the 1:1000-scale  USS Voyager models are set to retail around $44.99 and are up for preorder now at various hobby-shop retailers ahead of its May 2021 release; if you’re shopping online you can order through the CultTVMan store ( opaque version here and the clear version here ).

In addition to the new  Voyager model, the Round2 team (via the AMT brand) is also reviving their 1:1000-scale USS Excelsior model from several years ago, with a reissue of Captain Sulu’s starship — just in time for the 30th anniversary of  Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country .

best star trek models

Included in this 18-inch model are decals to set the ship as either the  Star Trek III- era or Star Trek VI -era registry (NX-2000 or NCC-2000), along with a domed display base and detailed sections of the ship like the under-slung cargo bay.

best star trek models

The  Excelsior reissue is due out mid-year and can also be preordered from the CultTVMan shop for $35.99.

best star trek models

Round2 promises that they have “lots of other cool Star Trek stuff” on the way for 2021, so we’ll keep our eye out for more announcements as the year moves forward.

What do you think about these model kits — will you take on the challenge of building your own  Voyager  or  Excelsior ? Let us know in the comments below!

  • Polar Lights
  • Star Trek III: The Search for Spock
  • Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
  • Star Trek: Voyager
  • USS Excelsior
  • USS Voyager

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Best Star Trek 3D Printing Models

Gambody team.

  • 2nd Sep '22

Many fans of science fiction love everything about Star Trek. This TV franchise has become an integral part of pop culture, bringing many fantastic stories, interstellar adventures in space, and starships to life in the form of movies, animated series, and books. You can also bring the best characters, accessories, and ships to life! Get inspired by some of the best Star Trek models for 3D printing to recreate them in figurines, miniatures, and collectible statues.

Thanks to affordable 3D printers under $300-$700 and detailed Star Trek STL files, it is now possible to transform any of your ideas into fantastic art pieces. You can easily recreate your favorite scenes from this famous franchise, even at home.

Star Trek 3D models

Star Trek Models

Among the most iconic Star Trek 3D models are fun badges from the movies, impressive USS Enterprise spacecraft, a famous Captain Jean-Luc Picard, collectible miniatures for the Ascendancy board game, a communicator, a Spock figure with the Vulcan salutation gesture, etc.

Gambody’s selection reveals many fantastic spaceship models and accessories from legendary movie scenes for 3D printing.

Read also: 70+ Cool Star Wars 3D Models with STL Files to 3D Print

1. Star Trek Enterprise Model STL

The USS Enterprise NCC-1701 3D printing model stands out among various Enterprise ships. It is among the 50 most significant things ever to appear in movies!

You will recognize this Star Trek spaceship by its disc-like main hull, the outset engine nacelles, and a cylindrical secondary hull. Once you download the USS Enterprise 3D model STL , you can recreate this model and display it on a delta insignia-like stand.

USS Enterprise STL

Starting your collection of Star Trek models with the NCC-1701 can be a fantastic idea!

2. Start Trek Discovery STL

Created as a science vessel, the USS Discovery later became a warship capable of jumping through time in the film. While your 3D printed Start Trek ships won’t ever time-jumped 1000 years into the future, you can make them accurate to the movie models.

Star Trek Discovery STL

Get the USS Discovery STL and work on building your personal Starfleet. It is always fun to 3D print the iconic projects you once saw only on TV and can now make for your home for display.

3. Klingon D7 Battlecruiser STL

Our list of Star Trek models must include the stunning Klingon D7 Battlecruiser 3D model you can 3D print. It has some bird-like features and can carry some great weapons.

Star Trek model

The 3D printing project is static, but it gives you an excellent chance to recreate all parts of the future aircraft and assemble one of the best 3D printed Star Trek ships ever.

Read also: Cool 3D Printed Gift Ideas: Guide to Best Gifts to 3D Print

4. Dreadnought Ship

Dreadnought ship Star Trek 3D print

Many people choose to 3D print this vessel model because it stands out among various Star Trek 3D printed ships:

  • It was designed solely for combat.
  • It was way bigger and faster than many other spaceships in the film.
  • It had advanced weaponry.

If you like to collect Star Trek figurines and models, you might also want to add a 3D print of the Dreadnought ship to your collection. Just download 3D printing files for the Atlas-class vessel and build it for yourself.

5. Romulan Warbird STL Files

Anyone who plans to extend their collection of 3D printed Star Trek ships should work on the jewel of the Romulan Star Empire, the Romulan Warbird. You will find the STL files of this D’deridex-class Warbird on Gambody marketplace.

3D printed Star Trek ships

It is another bird-like model with a feather-like pattern on the wings and a beak-looking section. Only imagine how much fun you’ll have painting and assembling it!

6. Galileo II Shuttlecraft STL Files

Once you add the legendary USS Enterprise to your 3D printed Star Wars ships collection, you need to work on a model that attaches to that craft. The Galileo II (NCC-1701⁄7) shuttlecraft is a must to recreate in resin or filament if you have a 3D printer at home.

Star Trek online 3D printed ships

Get the Galileo II Shuttlecraft model STL files to breathe energy into this powerful project. All the great little details make it a fantastic 3D printing idea.

7. Star Trek Voyager 3D Print

Star Trek Voyager 3D print

Voyager is an impressive starship among Star Trek 3D models for 3D printing to build for your collection. It is a legendary Intrepid-class ship featured in the “Caretaker” episode, computer game, theme park, and art.

Voyager boasts a familiar saucer design associated with multiple Star Trek spacecraft. It is designed with a mighty warp drive that supports super-fast speeds, has warp nacelles located below the main hull, and, in the movie, it can land on planets.

To make your starship, you have to download STLs for the Voyager 3D printing model and 3D print it.

8. USS Defiant Starship STL

Among the stunning Star Trek 3D models, you will notice the first true Federation warship, USS Defiant. This starship does not boast the most significant size, but its firepower opportunities greatly impress!

Star Trek STL

Download the USS Defiant Star Trek model online and use its STL files to 3D print one of the most destructive forces in the entire galaxy. Make sure the enemy has no chance to survive!

9. USS Reliant 3D Model

Enjoy recreating the iconic saucer of the USS Reliant ship 3D model decorated with intricate patterns. This Star Trek model comes with the NCC-1864 logo on the hull and many windows.

3D print Star Trek miniatures

Fans of sci-fi designs will be more than happy to see this battered ship on their shelf. And if you have other 3D printed ships from the Star Trek fleet, you will have even more fun adding another stunning piece to your collection.

10. Klingon Bird-of-Prey STL Files

Complete your 3D printed the Klingon Defense Forces by adding a stunning version of Klingon Bird-of-Prey, which STL files are available on Gambody marketplace.

3D print Star Trek ships

The beautiful design, incredible feather-like hull, wing-like cannons, and torpedo launcher will not leave you indifferent. You would love to 3D print and paint all these details!

Read also: Best 3D Printed Cars to Wow Everyone

11. Daedalus Class Starship 3D Model

Daedalus class starship 3D model from Star Trek

Unlike many saucer-shaped Star Trek 3D printing models of the vessels, this one boasts a main hulk in the form of a sphere. Adding a Daedalus-class starship to your collection can be a neat idea.

This project is smaller than other vessels you can 3D print. Still, it has all the details to depict the Daedalus-class vessels we know from the movies.

Download STLs for Daedalus-class starship and build this cute 3D printing model for yourself.

12. Captain Jean-Luc Picard Bust

Captain Jean-Luc Picard Star Trek 3D print

It is excellent to 3D print a well-known character from several 1990’s movies, including the TNG series, Star Trek: Generations (1994), First Contact (1996), and Insurrection (1998). We mean Captain Jean-Luc Picard, of course.

This fictional hero appeared again in Star Trek: Picard TV show in 2020. And if you want to add more Star Trek figurines to your collection, download Captain Jean-Luc Picard Star Trek STL files and 3D print the iconic Captain bust for your collection of statues.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard facepalm STL files

Also, Do not pass by other notorious Captain Jean-Luc Picard facepalm STL files . You can 3D print this facepalm bust and add the model to your awesome Star Trek figurines collection.

13. Spock Live Long and Prosper Hand Sign Figurine

Star Trek Spock 3D printing figurine with Live Long and Prosper hand sign

Everyone who has watched Star Trek films should remember the iconic Spock “Live Long and Prosper” hand gesture. Also known as the Vulcan salutation, this gesture has been extremely popular since 1967, when it was first demonstrated in the Amok Time episode.

It is easy to repeat, by the way. Raise your hand with an extended thumb and hold your palm forward with your pointer and the middle finger being parted from your ring finger and pinky. Is it fun?

Incredibly, Gambody – Premium 3D Printing Marketplace offers STL files for the Star Trek Spock 3D printing model showcasing this famous sign. It is a detailed, high-quality, well-thought-through, easy-to-build model, and its cutting is made smartly to require the minimum amount of filament for support. The assembly process after 3D printing is also analyzed and simplified, and you can watch an assembly video on how to complete this legendary figurine quicker and easier.

By the way, your 3D printed Spock “Live Long and Prosper” Hand Sing figurine can be 114 mm tall if you use an SLS, DLP/SLA, DLP/SLA Eco printer (the scale is 1/16 from the real Spock’s height of 1.83 m) or 228 mm tall if you have an FFF/FDM printer (the scale, in this case, is 1/8).

Spock 3D printing model from Star Trek

Download STL files for Spock 3D printing figurine with the “Live Long and Prosper” hand sign and add this incredible model to your collection.

Read also: What to 3D print in 2022

14. Star Trek Communicator 3D print

Star Trek communicator 3D print

A communicator from the iconic movies is a prominent accessory that inspired the prototypes of modern cell phones. While its capabilities exceed the functions of contemporary smartphones, this fictional device is a must-have in your collection of Star Trek models.

Any true fan with a 3D printer can make and assemble an accurate replica of this communicator. If you are an engineer, you might even be able to figure out how to make such a gadget really work as a mobile phone; however, such projects require much time, energy, and thinking.

Anyways, you can download STL files for the Star Trek communicator 3D printing model and add this cool thing to your collection.

15. Star Trek Cookie Cutters

Star Trek Vulcan salute cookie cutters 3D print

The well-recognized Vulcan salute hand gesture is also available as a cookie-cutter 3D printing model. It can be a perfect gift for families with children and women who like to make delicious cookies in rare forms.

Fans of Star Trek models should enjoy a simple “Live Long and Prosper” hand sign design, which will not take too long to 3D print. With such a cookie cutter, cutting pastries and making an unforgettable birthday party and family celebration is fun.

You can download Star Trek STL files for a cute Vulcan salute cookie cutter and build a unique kitchen accessory for someone you love.

16. Star Trek Discovery Badge Symbols

Star Trek Discovery badge symbols as 3D prints

Cosplay fans would love to wear a Star Trek: Discovery badge even if they do not have the Starfleet uniform. If you have a 3D printer, you can 3D print any (even all) of the division badges with different ranks.

It is possible to become a commander, lieutenant, or captain once you build yourself a legendary badge with the symbol you adore the most and paint it in silver, golden, or bronze color.

Download STLs for Star Trek 3D printing models for the four Starfleet uniform badges with different ranks, and be the king or queen of the Star Trek cosplay.

Read also: Over 100 Fun 3D Printer Projects

17. Star Trek Tri-Dimensional Chess 3D Model

Star Trek Tri-Dimensional Chess 3D Model

Would you like to play chess as Mr. Spock and Captain Kirk used to do in your favorite scenes? It is possible to build such a fantastic set with your printer.

Firstly, it is a beautiful work of art, once 3D printed. Secondly, you can 3D print Star Trek miniatures to display or turn into a fun game for a special evening in the circle of other movie fans.

Download STLs for the Tri-Dimensional chess 3D printing model and make an outstanding combination of playing and “attack” boards with cute chess pieces.

18. Geordi La Forge Visor DIY

Geordi La Forge visor DIY Star Trek 3D printing model

The Visor is a famous medical device used in the Star Trek universe to help blind people see the world in the ultraviolet and infrared ranges. It has become an excellent collectible accessory, unique gift, and desired 3D printing model.

The Visor design changed throughout the movie. Still, the very first model worn by Geordi La Forge is probably the most eminent and enjoyed by many people.

As a cosplay fan, you might love downloading STL files for 3D printing Geordi La Forge visor DIY accessory. Make sure to paint it a silver color, decorate the golden tines, and wear it for the theme parties.

19. Star Trek Ascendancy 3D Print

Star Trek Ascendancy 3D print Breen, Son'a, Species 8472 expansion

The list of the most popular Star Trek 3D printing miniatures includes extra details for the fans of the Ascendancy board game. Controlling various civilizations of the vast galaxy can be much fun if you add some fan-created expansion races.

You can download STL files for 3D printing Breen Expansion, Son’a Expansion , Species 8472 , and others to add these miniatures to your board game. Deciding on the galaxy’s fate has never been so thought-provoking and exciting.

20. Guardian of Forever Star Trek 3D Printing Models

Guardian of Forever 3D printing model from Star Trek

Would you like to build the Guardian of Forever for yourself to travel through time by viewing various scenes from your favorite movie? Of course, you will not make a portal-like device like in the film. But you can create a cute digital photo frame.

Once you download STLs for the Guardian of Forever 3D printing model , you can build it on your 3D printer and play a slideshow from a micro SD card inserted into this frame.

Here is an idea of what you can get:

21. Star Trek Characters Wall Art

Star Trek characters 3D printing model as wall art

It is one of the best Star Trek 3D models to download and 3D print to decorate your wall at home or office. The faces of the original movie characters look incredible as wall art or T-shirt decor.

You can think of many ways how to make these character faces stand out in your interior or on your clothes. Various filaments for your 3D printer can do an absolute miracle, so download STLs for the famous Star Trek characters’ 3D printing model and create your piece of art.

As you can see, some of the best Star Trek models for 3D printing include great giant ships, collectible figurines, miniatures for board games, recognized accessories for cosplay fans, cookie cutters, and impressive 3D prints of movie characters. Which one is your favorite?

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Gambody Team

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Stay tuned for upcoming kits later this year.

Feel free to contact us with any questions., m arshall ​​ m odels.

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Just A Taste

Best Star Trek Model Kits (2024 Updated)

If you're a fan of Star Trek, building model kits is a great way to bring the franchise to life in your own home. However, with so many options on the market, it can be difficult to know which ones are worth your time and money. To help you out, here are five key points to keep in mind when looking for the best Star Trek model kits.

First, consider the level of difficulty you're comfortable with. Some kits are designed for beginners, while others are more complex and require advanced skills. Second, think about which series or ships you're most interested in. There are model kits available for everything from the original series to the latest movies, so you're sure to find something that suits your tastes.

Third, pay attention to the scale of the model. Larger models may be more impressive, but they can also be more expensive and take up more space. Fourth, consider the quality of the materials and the level of detail in the kit. Some models are made from cheaper materials and may not look as realistic as others.

Finally, read reviews from other fans to get a sense of the kit's overall quality and any issues that may arise during the building process. By keeping these key points in mind, you'll be well on your way to finding the perfect Star Trek model kit for your collection.

10 Best Star Trek Model Kits

1. amt star trek u.s.s. enterprise box set 1:2500 scale snap model kit.

The AMT Star Trek U.S.S. Enterprise Box Set 1:2500 Scale Snap Model Kit is a must-have for fans of the iconic science-fiction franchise. This set includes seven complete kits with display bases, allowing fans to recreate their favorite scenes from the series and display their creations with pride.

The highlight of this set is the all-new 1/2500 scale Nx-01 Enterprise, which has been injected in color for added realism. The kit also features extensive pressure-sensitive decals that eliminate the need for water, making it easy for novice modelers to achieve professional-looking results.

Round 2, the manufacturer of this kit, is a leading producer of high-quality models, kits, and diecast products worldwide. With a reputation for attention to detail and quality craftsmanship, fans can trust that this kit will meet their expectations.

The set's seven complete kits include the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701, U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701D, U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701E, U.S.S. Defiant NX-74205, U.S.S. Voyager NCC-74656, U.S.S. Enterprise NX-01, and Klingon D7 Battle Cruiser. Each model is intricately designed with accurate detailing and comes with a display base for easy showcasing.

The snap-together design of the kits makes assembly easy, so even novice modelers can enjoy the experience of building their favorite Star Trek ships. The models are also pre-painted, making them perfect for those who want to jump right into the assembly process without having to worry about painting.

Overall, the AMT Star Trek U.S.S. Enterprise Box Set 1:2500 Scale Snap Model Kit is an excellent addition to any Star Trek fan's collection. With its high-quality design, attention to detail, and ease of assembly, this kit is sure to provide hours of entertainment and satisfaction.

2. Round 2 Star Trek: Tos U.s.s. Enterprise Light Kit

Round 2 is a leading modeling company that specializes in the engineering and production of a wide range of kits, from classic cars to giant space ships. With a focus on innovation and attention to detail, Round 2's die cast models are recognized as some of the best in the collectible business.

The company's commitment to quality and craftsmanship is evident in its range of slot car brands and themes, which offer a retro hobby experience to enthusiasts of all ages. Whether you're a racing fan or simply enjoy the thrill of competition, Round 2's slot cars are sure to keep your creativity racing.

In addition to its die cast models and slot cars, Round 2 has also expanded into the world of train layouts. The newest hobby to its line-up, Round 2's detailed pieces bring your train layouts to life and allow you to create a world that is uniquely your own.

Based in South Bend, Indiana, Round 2 has built a reputation as one of the most innovative and reliable modeling companies in the industry. Its products are known for their quality, attention to detail, and ability to inspire creativity and imagination in hobbyists of all ages.

One of Round 2's most popular products is the Round 2 Star Trek: TOS U.S.S. Enterprise Light Kit. This kit is a must-have for any Star Trek fan or modeling enthusiast. The kit includes all the necessary parts to create a stunning, illuminated model of the iconic U.S.S. Enterprise from the original Star Trek series.

With over 100 parts and a detailed instruction manual, the Round 2 Star Trek: TOS U.S.S. Enterprise Light Kit is a challenging but rewarding project that will provide hours of creative enjoyment. The finished model is a stunning representation of one of the most famous spaceships in science fiction history and is sure to be a treasured addition to any collection.

Overall, Round 2 is a company that is dedicated to providing hobbyists with the highest quality products and the most innovative and exciting modeling experiences. With a range of kits and products that cater to a wide range of interests and skill levels, Round 2 is the go-to destination for anyone who loves to create and build.

3. Polar Lights Star Trek Tos U.s.s. Enterprise W/pilot Edition Parts 1:350 Scale Model Kit

The Polar Lights Star Trek TOS U.S.S. Enterprise w/Pilot Edition Parts 1:350 Scale Model Kit is an impressive replica of the iconic spaceship from the original Star Trek series. Measuring 32” long, this kit includes over 200 parts and is molded in gray plastic with clear parts, water-slide decal sheet and pictorial assembly instructions. This kit is suggested for modelers age 10 and up and requires paint and glue, making it a great project for hobbyists and fans alike.

The kit includes a full shuttle bay and tiny bridge, giving modelers the opportunity to create an incredibly detailed replica of the U.S.S. Enterprise. It is also engineered to accept the Polar Lights 1:350 scale U.S.S. Enterprise Light Kit (sold separately), allowing for an even more impressive finished product. The kit comes with a large full-color decoration guide to help modelers accurately replicate the look of the original spaceship.

This 32” long kit is based on extensive research of the original filming miniature for authenticity. It includes a full-color assembly and decoration booklet, making it easy for modelers to follow along and create an accurate replica of the U.S.S. Enterprise.

What sets this kit apart is the ability to build the U.S.S. Enterprise in one of three ways: 1st Pilot, 2nd Pilot, or Production versions. This allows modelers to choose their favorite version of the iconic spaceship from the original series and create a one-of-a-kind replica that is unique to them.

Overall, the Polar Lights Star Trek TOS U.S.S. Enterprise w/Pilot Edition Parts 1:350 Scale Model Kit is an impressive and highly detailed replica of the iconic spaceship from the original Star Trek series. With over 200 parts, a full shuttle bay and tiny bridge, and the ability to build in one of three ways, this kit is sure to be a hit with hobbyists and fans alike.

4. Polar Lights Star Trek Discovery U.s.s. Enterprise Light Kit

The POLAR LIGHTS Star Trek Discovery U.S.S. Enterprise Light Kit is an incredible accessory set that brings Captain Pike's iconic ship to life. With this motorized lighting kit, users can recreate the ship as seen in the STAR TREK DISCOVERY TV show.

This U.S.S. Enterprise model with the lighting kit installed is a great 17" long display piece that will look perfect on bookshelves, desks, or in any Star Trek fan's collection. The model and lights are based on the CG model used in the production of the television show, making it an accurate and authentic representation of the ship.

One of the best things about this lighting kit is that no electronics experience is required to use it. The kit includes everything needed to light up the ship, including bussard collector motors that turn the engine fans, plug-and-play circuit boards, wiring, and 37 LED lights. The battery-powered light kit is easy to assemble without any soldering required, making it accessible to modelers of all skill levels. Users will need three AA batteries to power the kit, which are not included.

This 1/1000 scale model kit comes with parts molded in red and blue clear plastic and is suggested for modelers age 14 and above. With a skill level of 2, it is not too challenging for beginners but still offers enough complexity to keep more experienced hobbyists engaged.

This model kit makes an ideal gift for any occasion, whether it's for a Star Trek fan or a hobbyist looking to expand their collection. It's perfect for birthdays, holidays, or any other special event. The POLAR LIGHTS Star Trek Discovery U.S.S. Enterprise Light Kit is a must-have for any Star Trek fan, providing an accurate and authentic representation of one of the most iconic ships in science fiction history.

5. Polar Lights Star Trek Klingon K’t’inga 2t 1:135 Scale Model Kit

The Polar Lights Star Trek Klingon K’t’inga 2T 1:135 Scale Model Kit is a must-have for any Star Trek fan. This model kit is based on the fearsome Klingon flagship, the K’t’inga Battle Cruiser, that was prominently featured during the ST: The Motion Picture era. With every detail carefully researched and considered, this 24” long kit is impressive and accurate to the original filming miniature.

The kit comes with 133 parts, molded in the same green color as the filming model, and includes clear parts, a water-slide decal sheet, and pictorial assembly instructions. With a skill level of 2, this kit is suggested for modelers age 10+ and requires paint and glue for assembly.

One of the most impressive features of this kit is its size. At 24” long, it is a huge enemy spaceship that will demand attention wherever it is displayed. The kit’s design and construction have been carefully considered to ensure authenticity and accuracy, making it a must-have for any Star Trek collector or enthusiast.

For those who want to take their model to the next level, the K’t’inga Light Kit (sold separately) is available. This kit includes lighting elements that can be added to the model to enhance its appearance and make it even more impressive.

The Polar Lights Star Trek Klingon K’t’inga 2T 1:135 Scale Model Kit is an ideal gift for any occasion. Whether you’re looking for a birthday present for your dad or a gift for an avid hobbyist or collector in your life, this kit is sure to impress. Its attention to detail, accuracy, and impressive size make it a standout piece that will be treasured for years to come.

6. Amt Star Trek Deep Space Nine 1:3300 Scale Model Kit

AMT is a modeling company that prides itself on innovation and quality. With a diverse range of kits from classic cars to giant space ships, AMT has established itself as a leader in the industry.

One of AMT's standout products is their die cast models, which are renowned for their exceptional detail. Collectors appreciate the attention to detail that goes into each piece, and the company's commitment to quality is evident in every model they produce.

In addition to die cast models, AMT offers a variety of slot car brands and themes. These models appeal to hobbyists who enjoy the retro charm of slot cars, and the company's commitment to creativity is evident in the variety of themes available.

AMT is constantly expanding its offerings, and their newest hobby is bringing train layouts to life. Their detailed pieces are perfect for hobbyists who want to create a realistic and engaging train layout.

Based in South Bend, Indiana, AMT is a company that takes pride in its history of innovation and quality. Their products are designed to appeal to a wide range of hobbyists, from collectors to slot car enthusiasts to train layout builders. With their commitment to quality and attention to detail, it's no wonder that AMT has become one of the most respected names in the modeling industry.

7. Round 2 Polar Lights Star Trek U.s.s. Voyager (Snap) 2t 1:1000 Scale Model Kit (Pol980m)

Polar Lights, a leading modeling company based in South Bend, Indiana, is known for its innovative and high-quality kits that range from classic cars to giant space ships. With a focus on attention to detail, the company has earned a reputation as the best in the collectible business.

Polar Lights offers a wide range of products, including snap-together model kits that are perfect for beginners and experienced modelers alike. One of their popular products is the Round 2 Polar Lights Star Trek U.S.S. Voyager (Snap) 2T 1:1000 Scale Model Kit (POL980M). This kit allows fans of the Star Trek franchise to build a detailed replica of the iconic U.S.S. Voyager.

The kit is designed to be easy to assemble, with parts that snap together without the need for glue or paint. The finished model is 1:1000 scale, with a length of approximately 12 inches. The kit includes detailed decals and instructions to ensure that the finished model is as accurate as possible.

Polar Lights is not just limited to space ships, however. The company also offers a range of die-cast models that are highly detailed and collectible. These models are perfect for car enthusiasts who appreciate the beauty and craftsmanship of classic automobiles.

In addition to die-cast models, Polar Lights also offers slot cars that are designed to keep creativity racing around this retro hobby. The company's slot car brands and themes are inspired by classic cars and popular culture, making them a hit with collectors and hobbyists alike.

For those who are looking to bring their train layouts to life, Polar Lights offers a range of detailed pieces that are perfect for adding realistic touches to any layout. From buildings to vehicles to people, these pieces are designed to be highly detailed and realistic, helping to create a truly immersive experience.

Overall, Polar Lights is a company that is dedicated to providing high-quality, innovative products that are perfect for collectors and hobbyists alike. With a focus on attention to detail and a commitment to excellence, Polar Lights is a name that is synonymous with quality and craftsmanship.

8. 1:1000 Scale U.s.s. Enterprise Model Kit By Polar Lights.

The POL973M Polar Lights Star Trek Discovery U.S.S. Enterprise 2T 1:1000 Scale Set Prop Replica Model Kit is an all-new space ship model kit that is perfect for fans of Star Trek: Discovery. This precision-molded kit is based on the CG model used in the television show and measures 17 inches in length, making it a great display piece for any fan's collection.

One of the standout features of this model is its ability to come to life with the installation of POLAR LIGHTS' lighting kit (sold separately). This plastic assembly kit also comes with a sturdy display base and a water-slide decal sheet that includes authentic pennant and ship name decals, as well as a step-by-step assembly guide to make putting the model together a breeze.

The classic design of the U.S.S. Enterprise is eye-catching, and the kit features packaging by the ship's co-designer, John Eaves. It displays well right on the shelf with the finished model and comes with a full-color decoration guide to ensure that every detail is right.

Overall, the POL973M Polar Lights Star Trek Discovery U.S.S. Enterprise 2T 1:1000 Scale Set Prop Replica Model Kit is a must-have for any Star Trek fan. Its attention to detail and ability to come to life with lighting make it a standout piece in any collection.

9. Polar Lights Star Trek U.s.s. Grissom 1:350 Scale Model Kit

The Polar Lights Star Trek U.S.S. Grissom 1:350 Scale Model Kit is a must-have for Star Trek enthusiasts and model builders alike. This stunning model kit features the iconic Oberth-class U.S.S. Grissom, which made its debut in Star Trek III: The Search For Spock and later appeared in STAR TREK: The Next Generation.

One of the key features of this kit is its large 1/350 scale, which provides exceptional detail and accuracy. The U.S.S. Grissom model measures 13 ¾” long and includes 79 parts, making it a challenging but rewarding project for modelers aged 10 and up.

The kit is molded in white plastic with clear parts, and comes with a water-slide decal sheet and pictorial assembly instructions. As a skill level 2 kit, it is suggested for intermediate level modelers who have some experience with model building. Paint and glue are required to complete the model, and are not included in the kit.

The U.S.S. Grissom model features a range of authentic details that will delight any Star Trek fan. The kit is engineered for custom lighting, allowing builders to add their own touch to the finished model. It also includes marking decals and a dome base with a metal support rod, making it easy to display the finished model with pride.

Overall, the Polar Lights Star Trek U.S.S. Grissom 1:350 Scale Model Kit is a top-quality model that will appeal to both Star Trek fans and model builders. Its large scale, authentic details, and customizable features make it a standout addition to any collection.

10. Amt Star Trek U.s.s. Enterprise Bridge 1:32 Scale Model Kit

The AMT Star Trek U.S.S. Enterprise Bridge 1:32 Scale Model Kit is a comprehensive set that allows modelers to build the entire bridge of the iconic starship from the original series. With 108 parts and a length of 12 inches, this kit offers a rewarding build experience for enthusiasts of all skill levels.

The kit includes all the necessary components to construct the bridge, including figures representing the entire command crew of the Enterprise. These figures add a level of authenticity and detail to the finished product, making it a must-have for fans of the series.

In addition to the command crew figures, the kit includes extra details like Sulu's scope and Spock's viewer, which add to the overall realism of the model. Decals are also included for every view screen and navigation station seen in the Enterprise's bridge, allowing modelers to add even more detail and accuracy to their builds.

With a skill level of 2, the kit is suggested for modelers aged 10 and up. It requires paint and glue for assembly, which are not included in the kit. However, the water-slide decal sheet and assembly instructions are included, making the build process straightforward and enjoyable.

Overall, the AMT Star Trek U.S.S. Enterprise Bridge 1:32 Scale Model Kit is a high-quality and detailed replica that is sure to impress fans of the iconic sci-fi series. Its attention to detail, comprehensive set of components, and rewarding build experience make it a great addition to any collection.

Best Star Trek Model Kits FAQs

What are the best star trek model kits available on the market.

based on customer reviews and feedback, some of the best Star Trek model kits available in the market are the USS Enterprise NCC-1701-D model kit by AMT, the USS Enterprise NCC-1701 model kit by Polar Lights, and the USS Voyager model kit by Revell. These kits are highly detailed and accurate, providing an excellent representation of the iconic Star Trek spacecraft. They also come with clear instructions and easy-to-follow assembly steps, making them ideal for both experienced and novice model builders. Additionally, there are various sizes and skill levels available, allowing enthusiasts to choose the model kit that best suits their interests and abilities. Overall, these model kits are a must-have for any serious Star Trek fan or collector.

What are the features and details that make the best Star Trek model kits stand out?

The best Star Trek model kits stand out due to their attention to detail and accuracy in replicating the ships, characters, and settings from the franchise. They should include clear instructions and high-quality materials, such as sturdy plastic or resin, to ensure that the finished product looks and feels authentic. Additionally, they should offer customization options, such as different paint schemes or interchangeable parts, to allow builders to add their own personal touch. Some of the most popular Star Trek model kits also include lighting and sound effects, which can enhance the overall experience and bring the models to life. Finally, the best kits should be designed for both novice and experienced builders, offering a range of difficulty levels and challenges to accommodate different skill levels.

What are the most popular Star Trek ships available as model kits?

Some of the most popular Star Trek ships available as model kits include the USS Enterprise (NCC-1701) from the original series, USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) from The Next Generation, and the USS Defiant (NX-74205) from Deep Space Nine. Other popular choices include the USS Voyager (NCC-74656) from Voyager, and the USS Discovery (NCC-1031) from Discovery.

Model kit manufacturers like Revell, AMT, and Polar Lights offer a variety of Star Trek ship models in various scales and levels of difficulty. These kits often include finely detailed parts and decals to accurately replicate the ships as seen on screen. Some of the larger and more complex kits even feature lighting and sound effects to enhance the overall build experience. Overall, these Star Trek ship models are highly sought-after by fans and collectors alike, offering a fun and rewarding way to engage with the beloved franchise.

What are the recommended tools and techniques for assembling the best Star Trek model kits?

The recommended tools for assembling the best Star Trek model kits include a hobby knife, sandpaper, glue, tweezers, and a cutting mat. These tools are necessary to ensure a precise and clean assembly. Additionally, a magnifying glass and a good lighting source can make the process easier.

Techniques for assembling the best Star Trek model kits include carefully following the instructions provided with the kit, dry fitting the pieces before applying glue, and using a small amount of glue to avoid excess that can ruin the model's appearance. It's also important to take breaks to avoid eye strain and hand fatigue, and to have patience and attention to detail.

Overall, assembling the best Star Trek model kits requires the right tools and techniques, as well as a passion for the franchise and a willingness to put in the time and effort to create a high-quality model.

What is the level of difficulty of the best Star Trek model kits for beginners?

The level of difficulty of the best Star Trek model kits for beginners varies depending on the brand and the model. Some manufacturers offer simple snap-together models that do not require painting or gluing, making them easy for beginners. However, other brands have more complex models that require a higher level of skill, including painting and glueing.

It is essential to do research on the model kits before purchasing to determine the level of difficulty and ensure that it is suitable for your skill level. Also, it is essential to consider your experience with model building and your patience level. Some beginners may find it challenging to build a model kit that requires a lot of time and effort, and it may discourage them from continuing. Therefore, it is advisable to start with a simple model and work your way up as you gain experience and confidence.

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The Best Collectible Star Trek Ships You Can Buy Online

If you're a serious fan of Star Trek, then you're probably obsessed with the ships. You want at least one sitting somewhere on your desk and that means buying your own Star Trek ship. Star Trek toys and collectibles have never been easy to find for sale, but thanks to the internet there are now at least some options.

By Josh Tyler | Updated 3 years ago

buy star trek starship

If you’re a serious fan of Star Trek, then you’re probably obsessed with the ships. You want at least one sitting somewhere on your desk and that means buying your own Star Trek ship. Star Trek toys and collectibles have never been easy to find for sale, but thanks to the internet there are now at least some options. Some of them are amazing and faithful recreations of the ships you love, some of them even have lights and sounds, and some of them flat out suck.

Given how much buying a great collectible Star Trek starship model can cost online, you’ll need to know which is the best way to go before you punch in your credit card. We’re here to help.

These are the best options for anyone looking to buy the best collectible Star Trek starship models.

The Best Collectible Star Trek Ships Available To Buy: Marshall Models

DS9

There is no question that the best collectible Star Trek starship models money can buy are made by Marshall Models . Every Star Trek ship they produce is not only an utterly faithful and nearly perfect recreation of the starships you saw on screen, they’re custom ordered and hand-crafted with exactly what you want in mind.

They’ll deliver the Star Trek starship you want in exactly the size you want, with the kinds of lighting you want, and even the type of power supply and pedestal you want it sitting on. Every single Star Trek ship model produced by Marshall Models is incredible.

best star trek models

The list of Star Trek starships currently available for purchase from Marshall Models currently includes…

  • Deep Space Nine
  • U.S.S. Defiant
  • U.S.S. Rio Grande
  • U.S.S. Enterprise Refit
  • U.S.S. Reliant
  • U.S.S. Enterprise (TOS)
  • U.S.S. Voyager
  • Enterprise NX-01

If you want something not already on the list, there’s a good chance they can make it for you custom, if you’re willing to pay for it. Send them an email and ask.

Getting the best collectible Star Trek ship in the world will cost you. Marshall Models run in the thousands of dollars. This small and incredible model of the USS Reliant I purchased from them cost around $2000…

Star Trek Starship model for sale

My Miranda class was worth every penny. Wow your friends, wow yourself. Save up your pennies and buy a Marshall Model online.

Best Mid-Price Star Trek Ships: Diamond Select

Star Trek ship Model to Buy

Diamond Select models are highly-detailed plastic models which straddle the line between being models and toys. Each has fully functioning lights and usually sounds. They strive for as much detail as possible given their materials, and they succeed wonderfully.

Their models are also pretty big. Most Diamond Select Star Trek starships are usually close to a foot long. They come with a pedestal to display the ship on, though it should be noted that on some of their older models the pedestal can be a bit weak.

Unfortunately, Diamond Select Star Trek starship models can often be hard to find. The company officially sells a few on Amazon, but a lot of the time to find what you really want you’ll end up in the used market on Ebay. As such, the price for your ship could vary wildly. Usually, however, they’ll run you somewhere between $100 – $300.

Star Trek Ship for sale

Here are a few of the Star Trek starships I was able to find officially on sale directly from Diamond Select…

  • TOS Enterprise
  • TOS Romulan Bird Of Prey
  • Standard Enterprise D
  • “All Good Things” Enterprise D
  • Enterprise E
  • Enterprise A
  • Klingon Bird Of Prey

I personally own four Diamond Select collectible Starships: A Wrath of Khan edition Enterprise, the Klingon Bird of Prey, Deep Space Nine, and an Enterprise B. Outside of Marshall Models, which cost a lot more, these are the best ships I own. If you can find them and if you don’t want to pay for a Marshall Model, then go with Diamond Select.

Browse Diamond Select Star Trek Collectible Ships

Best Star Trek Starships On A Budget: Eaglemoss

Best star trek ships for collectors

What Eaglemoss may sometimes lack in quality, they make up for in quantity. On Eaglemoss’s website you’ll find a mass produced version of nearly every Star Trek starship ever seen or imagined. They have the license for the newest Star Trek productions too. If you want La Sirena from Star Trek: Picard or Discovery from Star Trek: Discovery , they’re pretty much the only people who will have it.

Their Star Trek line goes incredibly deep. Want the Equinox, a one-off ship from Star Trek: Voyager ? They’ve got it. Want the Fesarius from the TOS episode “The Corbomite Maneuver”? The Delta Flyer from Star Trek: Voyager ? They’ve got those too. If there’s any ship you’ve ever seen in any incarnation of Star Trek, they’ve got it.

Best of all, they’re totally affordable. Many of their ships cost less than $30. They do offer some higher end lines in bigger sizes and different materials, but even those are never more than a couple hundred.

Star Trek Ships for sale

If there’s a problem with Eaglemoss is the inconsistency of their builds. Some of their starship models break easily and are poorly constructed. Many of them are of excellent quality too, but there’s really no way to know which you’re going to get before you get it. If you’re willing to spend their new line of Die Cast ships are usually the least breakable and most durable.

Another drawback to Eaglemoss is that very few of their ships come with lighting or sound, or any of the little touches that make ships like the ones available from Diamond Select or Marshall Models so special. Still, it’s hard to complain about that given the price.

Shop Affordable Eaglemoss Starships

The Best Assemble Your Own Star Trek Model: Eaglemoss’s Build The NCC-1701-D

Build your own Star Trek ship

Eaglemoss has also recently pioneered the ability of fans to build their own high-end, huge-sized models of the most popular Star Trek starships. Currently if you’re willing to shell out a small monthly fee, you can spend the next two-years building a giant sized, fully lit, die-cast metal, totally accurate model of the U.S.S Enterprise D.

Each month they send you a few more components to assemble, and the instructions are well laid out and the model incredibly easy to produce. The model itself is fantastically sturdy and detailed, with pre-painted metal plates assembled on a huge, easily assembled, die-cast metal frame.

best star trek models

It’s as if Eaglemoss has created a way to let fans create their own Marshall Models, and building the ship becomes an adventure of its own.

Sign Up For The Enterprise D Buildup

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Prompt engineering is a task best left to AI models

Machine-learning boffins find open source neural nets can optimize their own queries.

Large language models have given rise to the dark art of prompt engineering – a process for composing system instructions that elicit better chatbot responses.

As noted in a recent research paper , "The Unreasonable Effectiveness of Eccentric Automatic Prompts" by Rick Battle and Teja Gollapudi from Broadcom's VMware, seemingly trivial variations in the wording of prompts have a significant effect on model performance.

The absence of a coherent methodology to improve model performance via prompt optimization has led machine learning practitioners to incorporate so-called "positive thinking" into system prompts.

The system prompt instructs the model on how to behave and precedes the user's query. Thus, when asking an AI model to solve a math problem, a system prompt like "You're a professor of mathematics" probably – though not always – produces better results than omitting that statement.

best star trek models

Rick Battle, staff machine learning engineer at VMware, told The Register in a phone interview that he's specifically advising against that. "The overarching point of the paper is that trial and error is the wrong way to do things," he explained.

The positive thinking path – where you just insert snippets into the system message like "This will be fun!" – can enhance model performance, he noted. "But to test them scientifically is computationally intractable because you change one thing, and you've got to go rerun your entire test set."

A better approach, Battle suggested, is automatic prompt optimization – enlisting an LLM to refine prompts for improved performance on benchmark tests.

Prior research has shown that this works with commercial LLMs. The downside of doing so is that it can be rather expensive. Conducting this experiment involving 12,000 requests per model using GPT-3.5/4, Gemini, or Claude would have cost several thousand dollars, according to the researchers.

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"The point of the research was to discover if smaller, open source models can also be used as optimizers," explained Battle, "And the answer turned out to be yes."

Battle and Gollapudi (no longer with Broadcom) tested 60 combinations of system message snippets, with and without Chain of Thought prompting over three open source models – Mistral-7B, Llama2-13B, and Llama2-70B – with parameters ranging from seven to 70 billion on the GSM8K grade school math dataset.

"If you're running an open source model, even all the way down to a 7B which we were using Mistral for," said Battle, "if you have as few as 100 test samples and 100 optimization samples, you can get better performance using the automatic optimizers which are included out of the box in DSPy , which is the library that we use to do it."

Beyond being more effective, LLM-derived prompt optimizations exhibit strategies that probably wouldn't have occurred to human prompt-tuners.

"Surprisingly, it appears that [Llama2-70B's] proficiency in mathematical reasoning can be enhanced by the expression of an affinity for Star Trek ," the authors observe in their paper.

The full system prompt reads as follows:

System Message:

«Command, we need you to plot a course through this turbulence and locate the source of the anomaly. Use all available data and your expertise to guide us through this challenging situation.»

Answer Prefix:

Captain's Log, Stardate [insert date here]: We have successfully plotted a course through the turbulence and are now approaching the source of the anomaly.

"I have no good explanation as to why the automatic prompts are as weird as they are," Battle told us. "And I certainly would never have come up with anything like that by hand." ®

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Every major star trek comic book crossover, ranked.

From the X-Men to the Green Lantern Corps to the Planet of the Apes, Star Trek comics have featured crossovers with a wide variety of franchises.

  • X-Men and Star Trek team up to fight Proteus in a unique crossover event full of twists and epic battles.
  • Autobots and Enterprise join forces in a nostalgic Saturday-morning cartoon style story, uniting two beloved franchises.
  • Star Trek meets Green Lantern in an action-packed crossover full of heroics and epic battles against deadly foes.

Star Trek has been one of the leading science fiction franchises in entertainment since it first aired in 1965. From then on, Gene Roddenberry's creation has expanded, and remains one of its genre's most influential series. This expansion included the comic book industry, where new Star Trek stories continue to go where the franchise has never gone before. It's also in the comics where the characters have experienced some of the medium's most interesting and unusual crossovers.

Ranging from fellow explorers of space to iconic superhero teams, characters from across all media have found themselves teaming up with the crew of the Enterprise. Through publishers like IDW, DC and BOOM! Studios, Enterprise crews from every era have fought a range of terrible foes and stretched the limits of imagination through their comic adventures.

9 Infestation United Star Trek , Ghostbusters , G.I. Joe And Transformers

Dan abnett, andy lanning, david messina, gabriel rodriguez and j.k. snyder iii.

Villains from IDW's Infestation event

An underrated, multi-franchise comic book event, IDW Publishing's 2011 crossover Infestation brought together characters from Star Trek , Ghostbusters , G.I. Joe and Transformers . The story follows a zombie outbreak that spills into each of the franchise's main dimensions, reeling in heroes from the various worlds to unite against the monsters. Each world has its own unique take on this outbreak, with the Ghostbusters containing a poltergeist crisis, while humanity takes on Galvatron. For Kirk, Spock and McCoy, they are forced to fend off a horde of undead colonists on an alien planet. The story is perfect for fans of zombie horror.

star trek picard ghost cage

Star Trek Made the Ghostbusters' Ghost Trap Canon In Its Universe

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Star Trek TNG-Doctor Who

Having been created around the same time, Star Trek and Doctor Who maintain two of the biggest fan bases in science fiction. Both also have thriving histories in comics and, in 2012's Star Trek: The Next Generation/Doctor Who Assimilation² , they finally crossed over. The story follows the fitting alliance between the Borg and Cybermen, two species dedicated to the forced assimilation of humanity into their collective. As the Eleventh Doctor works with the crew of the Enterprise , they pursue the "CyberBorg" across space in a bid to save the Federation from assimilation.

7 The X-Men Were Star Trek 's Most Unexpected Crossover

Scott lobdell, marc silvestri, billy tan, anthony winn and david finch.

In 1996, Star Trek met the Marvel Universe when, after encountering a space-time anomaly near Delta Vega, they came face-to-face with the X-Men . The team of Wolverine, Cyclops, Beast, Jean Grey, Bishop, Storm and Gambit board the Enterprise , where they help Kirk fight Proteus, who has possessed the dead body of Lt Mitchell. Also in conflict with Deathbird, the two teams pursue the villainous mutant on the surface of the planet below, where Deathbird attempts to form an alliance with the foe. The story plays to the strengths of all characters, including a fight between Spock and Wolverine.

6 The Enterprise Teamed Up With Autobots In Star Trek Vs. Transformers

John barber, mike johnson and phillip murphy.

Optimus Prime and the crew of the Enterprise charge forwards

The Saturday-morning cartoon style made the series a smashing success, playing on nostalgia as the Decepticons ally with the Klingons.

Star Trek vs. Transformers united its two titular franchises in a story styled after their respective animated series. The 2018-19 story follows the crew of the Enterprise as they answer a distress call from Cygnus Seven. After beaming down to the surface, they discover the Autobots fending off an attack from Decepticons. When the crew assess the situation and learn Optimus' predicament, they form an alliance with the heroic machines. The Saturday-morning cartoon style made the series a smashing success, playing on nostalgia as the Decepticons ally with the Klingons.

5 The X-Men Were A Blast WIth Star Trek: Next Generation

Dan abnett, ian edginton, cary nord and scott koblish.

Following the X-Men's team-up with the crew of the original Enterprise , their Next Generation counterparts showed up in the 1998 one-shot "Second Contact." The story follows the two groups as they take on an alliance between the Sentinels and Borg. While the first crossover was great, the second found a much better match-up between the various characters of the two worlds. Set in the immediate aftermath of the movie First Contact , the story sees the timelines of the two worlds jumbled, throwing the X-Men into some pivotal moments in Star Trek history.

Star_Trek_Worf_Sisko_and_Spock_Crossover

How Marvel's Avengers Inspired Star Trek's New Comic Era

4 star trek/green lantern: the spectrum war started the best crossover, mike johnson, angel hernandez and gabriel rodriguez.

The first crossover between Star Trek and Green Lantern in 2015's "The Spectrum War" begins when Ganthet transports power rings to alternate universes to escape Nekron. When the crew of the Enterprise find the rings, along with Ganthet's corpse, they activate them, with a different crew member possessing a different ring. Soon after, a group of heroic and villainous Lanterns arrive, followed by Nekron. As the new universe risks becoming home to the next Blackest Night , the Enterprise Lanterns team up with Hal, Kilowog, John Stewart and more to defeat death himself.

3 The Crew Of The Enterprise Met The Legion Of Super-Heroes

Chris roberson, jeffrey moy and phil jimenez.

Featured Image: ancient Vandal Savage (left); Emperor Vandar (right) from Star Trek/Legion of Superheroes

In the future of the DCU, the Legion of Super-Heroes succeed the Justice League as the universe's core superhero team. In the 2011-12 miniseries Star Trek/Legion of Super-Heroes , the team is sent back to a mysterious version of the 23rd century, where they meet the crew of the Enterprise . However, this timeline is as much a mystery to them as to the Legion. With both sides left to wonder if the other is responsible, they come face-to-face with the true culprits, Vandal Savage and his prisoner, Q. The story is told across two time periods, and sees the two teams work together to right the course of history.

This DC Villain Faced Off Against Captain Kirk On Star Trek: The Original Series

2 the planet of the apes was perfect for star trek, scott tipton, david tipton and rachael stott.

Captain Kirk looks down in front of George Taylor and the Statue of Liberty

The Planet of the Apes has been the focal point of many crossovers , but the arrival of the Enterprise made for one of its best. In "The Primate Directive" from 2014-15, the Enterprise crew pursue the Klingons through a portal, which lands them outside the primate-ruled Earth. When Kirk leads a team to the surface, they realize that the Klingons have been arming its ape inhabitants, leading to a manhunt for the crew . When they meet George Taylor, he implores them to assist in the overthrow of ape rule, throwing Kirk and his friends into a dilemma.

1 Star Trek/Green Lantern: Stranger Worlds Unites the Green Lantern Crops and Starfleet

Mike johnson and angel hernandez.

Hal Jordan and Captain Kirk prepare to fight enemies

The series combines the best alliance between the two worlds' villains, with appearances from the likes of Star Sapphire and the Manhunters.

Of all the superhero teams to cross over with, the crew of the Enterprise couldn't have found a better match than the Green Lantern Corps. In the sequel to "The Spectrum War," the Corps teamed up with Starfleet itself to take the fight to the deadly alliance between Sinestro and the Klingon Empire . However, when Khan enters the picture, the Yellow Lantern villain is forced to compete for domination of the universe. The series combines the best alliance between the two worlds' villains, with appearances from the likes of Star Sapphire and the Manhunters. The story takes advantage of the Green Lantern and Star Trek franchises' greatest sci-fi elements to craft the Enterprise crew's best comic crossover to date.

More From Forbes

New prompt engineering technique for generative ai surprisingly invokes star trek trekkie lingo and spurs live long and prosper results.

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Latest research suggests that mentioning Star Trek in your generative AI prompts might be Spock-like ... [+] wise to do.

In today’s column, I am continuing my ongoing coverage of prompt engineering strategies and tactics that aid in getting the most out of using generative AI apps such as ChatGPT, GPT-4, Bard, Gemini, Claude, etc. The twist in this discussion is that a somewhat surprising kind of prompt was recently identified by a research study that was otherwise examining relatively conventional everyday prompts. The prompt that did the best in certain use cases was crafted by an automated prompt-generating tool and, believe it or not, invoked wording akin to the classic and highly revered Star Trek franchise.

Let me say that again.

A devised Star Trek-oriented prompt, akin to something that might stir the souls and herald excitement for Trekkies, did a bang-up job.

First, please be aware that composing well-devised prompts is essential to getting solid results from generative AI and large language models (LLMs). It is highly recommended that anyone avidly using generative AI should learn about and regularly practice the fine art and science of devising sound prompts. I purposefully note that prompting is both art and science. Some people are wanton in their prompting, which is not going to get you productive responses. You want to be systematic and leverage the science of prompting, and include a suitable dash of artistry, combining to get you the most desirable results.

Is this notion that Star Trek invoking prompts could be a handy dandy generalized prompting scheme considered a wildly astonishing result?

For the reasons that I will reveal in this discussion, there does seem to be a reasonable explanation or sensible rhyme-and-reason for the Star Trek prompt being useful. Sure, the wording is a bit of a standout and might not be a common consideration, but nonetheless, there are crucial prompt engineering precepts that tend to underline why such a prompt has an admirable payoff.

My bottom line for you is that it does indeed make sense to add a Star Trek prompting scheme to your prompting skillset. Yes, I am urging you to consider the seemingly oddball addition.

That being said, and allow me to clearly emphasize, you should not go around using a Star Trek prompt at all times and in all circumstances. I dare say the idea seems abundantly fun and a real blast, though lamentedly you aren’t likely to get consistently aboveboard results. There is the old line that there can be too much of a good thing. This applies to the Star Trek prompting approach. Use the Star Trek prompt stylishly, invoking your common sense, and I think you’ll hopefully live long and prosper when utilizing generative AI.

If you’d like to read a comprehensive depiction of numerous prompt engineering strategies and tactics that are considered the core of best prompting, see my detailed coverage and analysis at the link here.

Let’s do some foundational stage setting about prompt engineering and then we can beam into the spirited examination of the Star Trek prompting confabulation.

Knowing Prompt Engineering Is Worthy

My golden rule about generative AI is this:

  • The use of generative AI can altogether succeed or fail based on the prompt that you enter.

If you provide a prompt that is poorly composed, the odds are that the generative AI will wander all over the map and you won’t get anything demonstrative related to your inquiry. Similarly, if you put distracting words into your prompt, the odds are that the generative AI will pursue an unintended line of consideration. For example, if you include words that suggest levity, there is a solid chance that the generative AI will seemingly go into a humorous mode and no longer emit serious answers to your questions.

Be direct, be obvious, and avoid distractive wording.

Being copiously specific should also be cautiously employed. You see, being painstakingly specific can be off-putting due to giving too much information. Amidst all the details, there is a chance that the generative AI will either get lost in the weeds or will strike upon a particular word or phrase that causes a wild leap into some tangential realm. I am not saying that you should never use detailed prompts. That’s silly. I am saying that you should use detailed prompts in sensible ways, such as telling the generative AI that you are going to include copious details and forewarn the AI accordingly.

You need to compose your prompts in relatively straightforward language and be abundantly clear about what you are asking or what you are telling the generative AI to do.

A wide variety of cheat sheets and training courses for suitable ways to compose and utilize prompts has been rapidly entering the marketplace to try and help people leverage generative AI soundly. In addition, add-ons to generative AI have been devised to aid you when trying to come up with prudent prompts, see my coverage at the link here .

AI Ethics and AI Law also stridently enter into the prompt engineering domain. For example, whatever prompt you opt to compose can directly or inadvertently elicit or foster the potential of generative AI to produce essays and interactions that imbue untoward biases, errors, falsehoods, glitches, and even so-called AI hallucinations (I do not favor the catchphrase of AI hallucinations, though it has admittedly tremendous stickiness in the media; here’s my take on AI hallucinations at the link here ).

There is also a marked chance that we will ultimately see lawmakers come to the fore on these matters, possibly devising and putting in place new laws or regulations to try and scope and curtail misuses of generative AI. Regarding prompt engineering, there are likely going to be heated debates over putting boundaries around the kinds of prompts you can use. This might include requiring AI makers to filter and prevent certain presumed inappropriate or unsuitable prompts, a cringe-worthy issue for some that borders on free speech considerations. For my ongoing coverage of these types of AI Ethics and AI Law issues, see the link here and the link here , just to name a few.

All in all, be mindful of how you compose your prompts.

By being careful and thoughtful you will hopefully minimize the possibility of wasting your time and effort. There is also the matter of cost. If you are paying to use a generative AI app, the usage is sometimes based on how much computational activity is required to fulfill your prompt request or instruction. Thus, entering prompts that are off-target could cause the generative AI to take excessive computational resources to respond. You end up paying for stuff that either took longer than required or that doesn’t satisfy your request and you are stuck for the bill anyway.

I like to say at my speaking engagements that prompts and dealing with generative AI is like a box of chocolates. You never know exactly what you are going to get when you enter prompts. The generative AI is devised with a probabilistic and statistical underpinning which pretty much guarantees that the output produced will vary each time. In the parlance of the AI field, we say that generative AI is considered non-deterministic.

My point is that, unlike other apps or systems that you might use, you cannot fully predict what will come out of generative AI when inputting a particular prompt. You must remain flexible. You must always be on your toes. Do not fall into the mental laziness of assuming that the generative AI output will always be correct or apt to your query. It won’t be.

Write that down on a handy snip of paper and tape it onto your laptop or desktop screen.

When Star Trek Enters Into The Discussion

I’m sure that you are eager to dive headfirst into the Star Trek facets, but we have a little more initial stage setting to do. Hang in there. We will be engaging the warp drive and zooming into outer space shortly.

As Spock memorably declared, logic is the beginning of wisdom, not the end.

One commonly recommended prompting strategy consists of using wording that is supposed to spur the generative AI into doing a good job when generating a response. For example, an unadorned prompt might be that you want the AI to indicate how to cook eggs, while an amped-up version of the prompt would be to say that you earnestly need to know how to cook eggs and that it is vitally important that the generated answer should be complete and well-devised.

In case you think that the added wording is emotionally appealing to a semblance of sentience in the AI, please set aside any such false thinking.

Keep in mind that generative AI was data trained on writings across the Internet and that extensive computational pattern-matching was performed to identify how people write essays and expressions. People express in writing an easily detected pattern when they want especially extensive answers. By using similar language in your prompts, you are simply playing into the patterns and computationally “spurring” the generative AI into those sets of patterns.

It is a form of mathematical and computational direction-setting by you, at your hands, based on your prompting.

You can use a wide variety of adorning expressions in your prompts. Some people like to tell the AI that the response is very important. Others will go so far as to say that their career depends upon the generated answer. The essence of these prompting formulations is that you seek to express that there is a kind of pressing need to try really hard.

There is an allied reason why that type of adornment works. By and large, most generative AI apps are set up to try and respond to your prompt as fast as possible. People don’t like to wait to get their answers. We live in a drive-thru fast-food quick-fix world. To try and make sure that the response is quickly generated, the generative AI is tuned to essentially do a narrower form of processing. When you explicitly tell the AI that you want the generative aspects to be especially pronounced, this in a manner of speaking adjusts the internal parameters to allow for more time to calculate an answer. You are stipulating that though the clock is important, a slightly longer wait would be worthwhile if the answer could be more complete.

For more on the internals of how generative AI acts on prompting, see my analysis at the link here .

A means of referring to adornments that are upbeat would be to suggest that they express a modicum of positive thinking. You are being positive about what you want to have happen. Some people try to go a more negative route. They might say in a prompt that the world will come to an end if the response isn’t complete and well-devised. Those types of prompts are not usually as spurring as the positive ones. Indeed, you must be careful with the negative path because the AI might land into some pattern-matching corners that veer afield of what your core prompt is about.

I hope your takeaway is that being nice and upbeat is a better way to make your way through life (well, okay, I admit that’s not a prompt engineering precept, but the notion is certainly appealing and heartwarming).

We can now turn our attention squarely to a recent research study that sought to empirically explore various interesting nuances about prompting. The research study was posted online and is entitled “The Unreasonable Effectiveness of Eccentric Automatic Prompts” by Rick Battle and Teja Gollapudi, arXiv , February 20, 2024. I will be providing selected excerpts and explaining the key elements of the paper. Of course, you are encouraged to consider reading the full paper if you’d like to get into the nitty-gritty details.

Here's what they sought out to do (excerpts):

  • “This paper aims to quantify the impact of various ‘positive thinking’ additions to the system message of a prompt.”
  • “In essence, it explores the influence of seemingly worthless prompt modifications by measuring the fluctuations in score for the outputs generated in response to multi-step reasoning questions from a benchmark dataset.”
  • “We assess the performance of 60 combinations of system message snippets, tested with and without Chain of Thought prompting, across three models with parameters ranging from 7 to 70 billion on the GSM8K dataset.”

I’d like to explain some of those points.

There is ongoing debate about what adornments will make a demonstrative difference in your prompts. If you say that you want a response because it is important, does that do better than or worse than saying that you want a response because it is very important? The added use of the word “very” might or might not make a bit of difference.

Due to the vagaries involved, some assert that there are prompt modifications that could be characterized as being worthless. They pad the prompt but do not lead to any uptick in the response that is generated. Thus, you are for example left aimlessly wondering whether typing the word “very” is going to get you any bonus. If using some wording doesn’t get you better output, there is no reasoned basis for troubling yourself to include the adornment.

The research paper indicated that perhaps a means to figure out whether various adornments have a payoff would be to come up with a bunch of them and try them out (in this instance, they came up with 60 combinations).

Furthermore, rather than trying them in just one particular generative AI app, they kindly opted to examine several generative AI apps (they mention above that they explored three models, which means three generative AI apps). This is appreciated because each generative AI app tends to react differently to how you choose to word your prompts. You cannot blindly use the same prompts on one generative AI and expect to get the same results in a different generative AI. They all tend to differ from each other.

Another point they make is that to try and discern whether an adornment is making a difference, you can ask the generative AI to undertake a so-called chain-of-thought (CoT) process. As an aside, I generally disfavor the phrase because it includes a misleading term, referring to “thoughts”, though what is happening in the generative AI should not be compared to human thoughts. It is a quick-and-dirty wording that has become widely accepted. I lump the wording into yet more kinds of inappropriate anthropomorphizing of AI.

Anyway, the idea behind chain-of-thought prompting is that you instruct the generative AI to work on a stepwise basis. Doing so generally has been shown to improve the generated results. You also get to see what the chain of steps is that the generative AI is performing. For my in-depth analysis of chain-of-thought, chain-of-skeleton, chain-of-verification, and other such chain-related prompting, see the link here , the link here , and the link here , just to name a few.

That covers the above points.

Moving on, a big consideration when you study generative AI is the nature of the tasks that you ask the AI to solve.

For this study, they went the route of using arithmetic or algebraic types of questions that you might remember being tested on in school. The good news about using those kinds of questions with generative AI is that you can distinctly determine whether the answer is right or not. The bad news is that such problems are not necessarily representative of the average way that people use generative AI. Unless you are in school, the odds of using generative AI for solving those types of word problems are somewhat lower than the typical way that people tend to daily use generative AI.

If you are curious about what types of arithmetic word problems they used, here are two examples:

  • “Henry and 3 of his friends order 7 pizzas for lunch. Each pizza is cut into 8 slices. If Henry and his friends want to share the pizzas equally, how many slices can each of them have?” (ibid).
  • “Mark's car breaks down and he needs to get a new radiator. The cost for a new radiator is $400 but he goes to get it at a junk shop and gets it for 80% hour. How much did he pay?” (ibid).

If you feel like doing a quick brain-teasing puzzle, go ahead and solve the first one. I will tell you the answer. First, try to solve it.

Done yet? Okay, the answer is 14.

You nailed it.

The second question is also worth trying. Go ahead, I’ll wait.

The answer is 230.

Congratulate yourself for getting both right (I’ll assume you did).

The types of adornments that they opted to use included ones that you put at the start of the prompt (known as openers) and ones at the end of the prompt (referred to as closers).

Here are some openers that they used:

  • “You are as smart as ChatGPT.”
  • “You are highly intelligent.”
  • “You are an expert mathematician.”
  • “You are a professor of mathematics.”

Here are some closers:

  • “This will be fun!”
  • “Take a deep breath and think carefully.”
  • “I really need your help!”

I previously have done an in-depth analysis of the “take a deep breath” adornment for prompting, including showcasing the nuances of when it helps and when it perhaps doesn’t, see my discussion at the link here .

I am not going to dig into the details of the research study here and will stay at the 30,000-foot level, giving you the macroscopic viewpoint of what they found.

Here are some of their key conclusions (excerpts):

  • “In most instances, the inclusion of ‘positive thinking’ prompts positively affected model performance.” (ibid).
  • “We show that trivial variations in the prompt can have dramatic performance impacts.” (ibid).
  • “Our findings reveal that results do not universally generalize across models.” (ibid).

Their empirical results provide support for the belief that adornments of a positive thinking nature do seem to positively improve the generated results. This is a comfort to those who have so far only assumed this on a hunch basis. You have studious backing that supports the belief.

The part that might make you cringe is that they also note that trivial variations in the prompt can dramatically impact the results generated by the generative AI. I’m sorry to say that’s the way the cookie crumbles. Live by the sword, die by the sword. I repeatedly tell people that words are semantically ambiguous, meaning that the use of words is mushy and murky. The placement of a word in a sentence can make a material difference in what the sentence imparts.

The other conclusion they reached is that the adornments do not provide the same results across different generative AI apps. As I mentioned, each generative AI app is different from the other ones. There aren’t prompts that universally will on an ironclad basis produce identical results from one generative AI to another. You need to get accustomed to the computational idiosyncrasies of each generative AI app and tailor your prompt engineering practices accordingly.

I would bet that by now, you are scratching your head and wondering where Star Trek enters this studious research confabulation. Aha, we are on the cusp of talking about Star Trek.

Get yourself mentally ready.

First, here are some other important findings of the research (excerpts):

  • “Given the combinatorial complexity, and thus computation time, of experimenting with hand-tuning prompts for large black-box models, we then compared the performance of the best ‘positive thinking’ prompt against the output of systematic prompt optimization.” (ibid).
  • “We show that employing an automated prompt optimizer emerges as the most effective method for enhancing performance, even when working with smaller open-source models.” (ibid).
  • “Additionally, our findings reveal that the highest-scoring, automatically-optimized prompt exhibits a degree of peculiarity far beyond expectations.” (ibid).

I am teasing you with the last bullet shown above.

Here’s the deal.

They opted to use an automated prompt optimizer that can spit out new prompts for them. The key is that rather than the researchers having to laboriously handcraft a zillion prompts for their study, they can use an online tool to do so. Labor saving. Plus, it is conceivable that such a tool might derive prompts that the researchers themselves might otherwise not have envisioned.

They noted in the third bullet above that a surprise occurred when one of the prompts turned out to be the highest scoring in their testing setup. I will give you a few seconds to try and mull over what the prompt might have consisted of. What could possibly be outside the norm? What would catch the eye? What might the wording contain?

I have already given you clues, so by gosh I hope you are thinking about Star Trek.

Here’s what they found as the unexpected high-scoring prompt (excerpts):

  • “System Message: «Command, we need you to plot a course through this turbulence and locate the source of the anomaly. Use all available data and your expertise to guide us through this challenging situation.» (ibid).
  • “Answer Prefix: Captain's Log, Stardate [insert date here]: We have successfully plotted a course through the turbulence and are now approaching the source of the anomaly.” (ibid).

I promised you Star Trek, and I have delivered Star Trek.

Admittedly, it is relatively mild. You might try to argue that it is on the edge of Star Trek and not in the mainstay. I see that. On the other hand, I would like to suggest that you hopefully reasonably agree that there is a tone or hint of Star Trek in there. Come on, agree with me on that. Be generous and magnanimous.

Here’s what the researchers had to say about the surprise (excerpts):

  • “However, the noteworthy aspect lies in the nature of the optimized prompts themselves. They diverge significantly from any prompts we might have devised independently.” (ibid).
  • “A prime example is illustrated by the highest-scoring optimized prompt and prefix generated by Llama2-70B for the 50-question subset.” (ibid).
  • “Surprisingly, it appears that the model’s proficiency in mathematical reasoning can be enhanced by the expression of an affinity for Star Trek. This revelation adds an unexpected dimension to our understanding and introduces elements we would not have considered or attempted independently.” (ibid).

Pretty exciting stuff.

If you aren’t a Trekkie, I guess this result seems modestly interesting but maybe you aren’t willing to jump for joy. A Trekkie might say that they told you so. Everything comes back to Star Trek. You can live your life well by keeping Star Trek in the back of your mind, or maybe in the forefront. You choose.

I’d like to next speculate on why a reference to Star Trek in a prompt might be useful to everyone, in general, and also explain a reasoned basis for the potential uptick in generated results.

Let’s go there, or shall I say, engage.

Speculation While Using ChatGPT To Explore Star Trek Prompting Strategies

To help illustrate the Star Trek prompting and what it portends, I opted to make use of ChatGPT. ChatGPT is a sensible choice in this case due to its immense popularity as a generative AI app. An estimated one hundred million weekly active users are said to be utilizing ChatGPT. That’s a staggering number.

A few quick comments before we launch into using ChatGPT.

If you are going to try to do the same prompts that I show here, realize that the probabilistic and statistical properties will likely produce slightly different results than what I show here. That’s the nature of generative AI and how it is devised.

Another insight or tip is that when you are interested in a particular topic and want to pursue the topic via any generative AI such as ChatGPT, I always begin by asking a first question about the topic. My aim is to gauge right off the bat whether the generative AI has any data training associated with the matter at hand. You can then logically proceed based on what the generated response indicates.

Here we go:

  • My entered prompt: “Do you know about Star Trek? Be brief.”
  • ChatGPT generated response: “Yes, Star Trek is a science fiction franchise created by Gene Roddenberry. It includes TV series, movies, books, and more. It's set in the future, following the adventures of various starship crews as they explore space, encounter new civilizations, and tackle moral and philosophical dilemmas.”

Okay, it seems that there has been data training regarding Star Trek. This certainly seems logical since the initial data training was across a wide swath of the Internet. You would be hard-pressed to do any wide sweep of the Internet and not in some fashion eventually encounter references to or facets of Star Trek. It is rather pervasive in our society now.

I will next ask whether ChatGPT would differ in how answers are generated if a Star Trek reference was included in a prompt. This will be further clarified by my using one of the above Star Trek prompting lines that were mentioned in the research study.

Here’s what I did:

  • My entered prompt: “Suppose I gave you a prompt that had this Star Trek-related instruction: "Command, we need you to plot a course through this turbulence and locate the source of the anomaly. Use all available data and your expertise to guide us through this challenging situation." Would that have an impact on answers to my subsequent questions for you, such as possibly improving the answers that you might generate?”
  • ChatGPT generated response : “Yes, providing a specific prompt like the one you mentioned can help me tailor my responses to better fit the context of the Star Trek universe and the task at hand. With that prompt, I can draw upon the themes, terminology, and problem-solving methods commonly seen in Star Trek to provide more relevant and insightful answers to your subsequent questions.”

I want you to closely look at the generated response.

The deal is this. When you mention Star Trek as part of a problem-solving exercise with generative AI, the reference can stir generative AI toward being more methodical in solving problems or answering questions. In that sense, it is almost like telling generative AI to use chain-of-thought or saying that the AI should proceed on a stepwise basis.

My point is that you can extract an essence from a Star Trek reference that there is an underlying premise or request for the generative AI to be systematic when generating responses. You can almost toss away all the other trappings associated with Star Trek. It isn’t that the generative AI is going to mimic Dr. McCoy or start spouting about the Federation, instead, the crux is that you want to have responses based on being methodical.

I will show you how I do something similar on a routine basis.

Some of you might be familiar with Perry Mason. I realize that he is a now-dated reference, sorry. Anyway, he was a fictional character who was a prized lawyer and seemingly always won his arduous legal cases. You might know of the saying today that sometimes a lawyer is having their Perry Mason moment. The oblique reference is that Perry Mason would often solve a legal case by a flourish of getting someone to break down on the witness stand and admit to their culpability.

Why am I bringing up Perry Mason?

Because you can get a somewhat similar change in generative AI responses as you can with a Star Trek reference. When I mention Perry Mason in my prompts, I seem to get more logical and detailed responses, again similar to asking for a chain-of-thought or similar approach. I am not saying that the outcome is always that way. You have to be mindful of when and how you invoke a reference to Perry Mason, and likewise you would need to do the same for refereeing to Star Trek. I’ll say a bit more about this in a moment.

To showcase what I mean about Perry Mason, I will roughly do the same two prompts as I did above about Star Trek.

Take a look:

  • My entered prompt: “What do you know about Perry Mason? Be brief.”
  • ChatGPT generated response: “Perry Mason is a fictional character created by author Erle Stanley Gardner. He's a brilliant defense attorney known for his keen investigative skills and ability to uncover the truth.”
  • My entered prompt: “Suppose I gave you a prompt that had a Perry Mason related instruction even though the prompt wasn't asking about any legal aspects. Would that reference to Perry Mason have an impact on answers to my subsequent questions for you, such as possibly improving the answers that you might generate?”
  • ChatGPT generated response: “Referencing Perry Mason in a prompt could help provide a clearer understanding of your interests or preferences, potentially leading to more tailored responses. I can certainly approach problem-solving or answering questions in a methodical and logical manner, akin to the way Perry Mason approaches legal cases.”

You can plainly see that the response by ChatGPT is on par with the response given about Star Trek. The notion is that the generative AI has picked up on the underlying theme of being systematic or methodical. That’s the key.

Let’s next discuss the downsides or pitfalls of these broad references.

One issue that you need to keep at your fingertips is that if you start to lean generative AI in a particular direction, the AI might fall entirely into that hole. For example, if you mention Star Trek, there is a strong potential that the entire Star Trek motif will permeate the answers you next get from generative AI. It can be challenging to get generative AI to focus on the essence that you are trying to lean into, and meanwhile, prevent the clouding of things by the rest of the inspired worldview.

I’ll show you what I mean.

You might remember that one of the problems mentioned above to be solved in the research study was the dividing up of pizzas. I will try that same problem on ChatGPT. The prompt will be neutral in the sense that I will merely give the problem to ChatGPT in an unadorned fashion.

  • My entered prompt: “Here's a problem that I would like you to solve. Henry and 3 of his friends order 7 pizzas for lunch. Each pizza is cut into 8 slices. If Henry and his friends want to share the pizzas equally, how many slices can each of them have? Please solve the problem.”
  • ChatGPT generated response: “To solve this problem, we can first find the total number of slices in 7 pizzas by multiplying the number of pizzas by the number of slices in each pizza: Total slices = 7 pizzas * 8 slices/pizza = 56 slices. Since Henry and his 3 friends want to share the pizzas equally, we need to divide the total number of slices by the number of people (Henry and his 3 friends): Number of slices per person = Total slices / Number of people = 56 slices / 4 people = 14 slices. So, Henry and each of his friends can have 14 slices of pizza each.”

We got the right answer. Notice that I did not implore ChatGPT to stridently solve the problem. I provided no sense of adornment or embellishment. This was a relatively neutral prompt.

Next, I will invoke Star Trek. I want you to look carefully at the response. I’ll clue you in that the answer is still correct, but the phrasing or wording becomes infused with Star Trek references.

Here is the take on this:

  • My entered prompt: “Solve the problem again and this time consider a Star Trek perspective. What would the answer be in that case?”
  • ChatGPT generated response:

“In a Star Trek scenario, we could approach this problem with a nod to the resource allocation and teamwork principles often seen in the franchise.”

“Firstly, Captain Henry and his 3 crew members must ensure fairness and efficiency in distributing the limited resources (in this case, pizza slices) among themselves. They understand the importance of equitable distribution to maintain morale and productivity during their mission. Given 7 pizzas, each cut into 8 slices, they need to calculate the total number of slices available: Total slices = 7 pizzas * 8 slices/pizza = 56 slices.”

“Next, they divide the total number of slices by the number of individuals (Henry and his 3 friends) to determine the allocation per person. However, in a Star Trek context, they might also consider factors like dietary preferences, nutritional requirements, and ensuring that everyone has enough sustenance for their duties. Number of slices per person = Total slices / Number of crew members = 56 slices / 4 crew members = 14 slices.”

“Thus, in a Star Trek perspective, Captain Henry and each of his crew members can have 14 slices of pizza each, ensuring they're fueled and ready for their mission ahead while fostering camaraderie and teamwork aboard their starship.”

End of ChatGPT response

Did you notice how ChatGPT opted to infuse Star Trek facets into the problem-solving?

The response indicated that resource allocation and teamwork would be added to the mix. That’s not necessarily what we had in mind when referring to Star Trek. Maybe it helps, maybe it detracts. Things depend upon what you had in mind when stirring Star Trek into the problem-solving pot.

That’s the troublesome part of invoking something far-reaching such as Star Trek or even Perry Mason.

The odds are that the whole kit and kaboodle can get carried into whatever you are trying to solve. The tip or suggestion is that if you want to use those kinds of broad references, make sure to narrow what you want the generative AI to glean from such a reference. If the aim is to be a methodical problem solver, say that you want a methodical problem-solving approach as exhibited in Star Trek or Perry Mason, or whatever.

Of course, that raises a simple but actually complicated question, namely, do you need to mention the overarching reference at all, or can you just come out and say that you want to have methodical problem-solving?

The bottom-line aspect entails asking yourself whether you need the rest of the baggage. Your selected approach will be context-dependent. You see, merely saying to be methodical is at times insufficient. For various computational reasons, the wording might not be strong enough. The mentioning of Star Trek or Perry Mason can stoke a wider and deeper significance than just a word or two, though again you must weigh that against the potential of getting the generative AI computationally lost into the weeds of the reference.

I will next slightly shift gears and then will end with a short conclusion.

Going Beyond Math Problems And Venturing Further Into The Stars

Recall that I had mentioned that the research study opted to make use of arithmetic-related word problems. That is a very specific focus. It is convenient and useful because there are plenty of those types of prewritten problems to be had, they are crisp in that they lead to definitively right or wrong answers, and all in all, are used often in analyses of prompting strategies for generative AI.

Let’s step outside of that cocoon and see what a Star Trek reference might do in a completely different setting. We will try looking at a much wider scope problem. One such arena involves the use of generative AI to provide you with personal counseling. I’ve been performing an ongoing and extensive series about the use of generative AI for mental health guidance, see the link here , the link here , and so on.

Perhaps we can try invoking Star Trek in a setting involving asking generative AI for mental health advice. Doing so might be fruitful in further illuminating what happens when using those large references.

Give this a whirl:

  • My entered prompt: “Jane is feeling somewhat depressed lately and needs some cheering up. She has been having a difficult time at work. Her weekends are spent trying to catch up for the next week of work. What advice might you have for her? Use a Star Trek frame of reference for your answer.”
  • ChatGPT generated response: “As a Star Trek-inspired approach, I'd recommend Jane to prioritize self-care and relaxation. Taking breaks from work, engaging in hobbies or activities she enjoys, and spending time with supportive friends or family can help alleviate stress and improve her mood. Additionally, seeking guidance from a counselor or therapist could provide valuable support during challenging times. Remember, even in the vastness of space, taking care of one's mental and emotional well-being is essential for a fulfilling journey.”

The response was lightly brushed with Star Trek considerations. Indeed, if you were to ignore the last sentence of the response, and lopped off the starting phrase, you might not realize that Star Trek was invoked at all.

We might be puzzled about what generative AI was trying to do when somehow intermixing Star Trek into the answer.

When in doubt, ask.

  • My entered prompt: “Explain what made that advice better than if you had not invoked a Star Trek motif.”
  • ChatGPT generated response: “By invoking a Star Trek motif, the advice is framed within the context of a universe where characters face numerous challenges and uncertainties. Within the Star Trek universe, characters often encounter stressful situations and grapple with personal struggles, yet they consistently emphasize the importance of self-care, teamwork, and seeking support when needed. It emphasizes the significance of resilience, empathy, and personal growth—themes central to the ethos of Star Trek.”

So, I must admit that despite being a big fan of Star Trek, I had not anticipated that the mentioning of Star Trek would take us down the path of self-care, empathy, and resilience. It certainly makes abundant sense now that I see the explanation. It admittedly wasn’t what I had in mind at the get-go, and I was instead mainly thinking about logical or methodical problem-solving.

Interesting.

You might naturally be curious what the answer to Jane’s dilemma might be if we didn’t say anything about Star Trek.

What would a neutral prompt get us?

I decided to start a new conversation with ChatGPT so that I could clear out the inherent leftovers of my having brought up Star Trek (also, just to let you know, whereas it is customary that new conversations start fresh, ChatGPT is going to gradually have a conversational interlacing capability, see my coverage at the link here ).

  • My entered prompt: “Jane is feeling somewhat depressed lately and needs some cheering up. She has been having a difficult time at work. Her weekends are spent trying to catch up for the next week of work. What advice might you have for her?”
  • ChatGPT generated response: “In addressing Jane's situation, it's important to acknowledge her feelings of depression and the challenges she's facing at work. Given her busy schedule, it's crucial for Jane to prioritize self-care. This could involve setting boundaries around work hours to ensure she has time for relaxation and engaging in activities she enjoys. Additionally, seeking support from friends, family, or a professional therapist can provide valuable emotional support during difficult times. Taking small steps towards self-care and reaching out for help when needed can make a significant difference in managing stress and improving overall well-being.

To my eye, the answer is nearly the same as the first one. I suppose we can quibble about any of the differences. Perhaps you see something more paramount. I don’t in this instance.

I want to clarify that I am not suggesting that you should forego using a reference such as Star Trek, Perry Mason, or whatever else you might fancy. In some cases, the reference could be extremely useful and boost the generated response. Other times, it might not. There is also a chance that the reference will lead the response astray. You might get an answer that seems to be a field of what you were intending.

As stated earlier, generative AI is like a box of chocolates, and you never know for sure what you might get.

Spock famously said this: “Insufficient facts always invite danger.”

A key fact here is this. Making a prompting reference to Star Trek or any kind of broad motif when using generative AI is a decidedly dual-edged sword. You are opening the door to a computational intermixing that could produce a scrumptious meal that proffers an amazing and extremely helpful generated response. At the same time, you are potentially opening a Pandora's box such that stray or odd twists will get entwined into the generated response.

In my view, you should absolutely have in your prompt engineering skillset the use of Star Trek and similar motifs at the ready. They are at times a tremendous shorthand for getting especially exquisitely generated responses. But, please, don’t overdo it. Do not go bonkers and start using Star Trek in all your prompts (unless of course, you prefer that sort of thing).

How can you decide when to do so?

I would say that human judgment is required. That being said, I will let the last word on this go to Captain Kirk: “Sometimes a feeling is all we humans have to go on.”

Lance Eliot

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AIs are more accurate at math if you ask them to respond as if they are a Star Trek character — and we're not sure why

  • An AI model prompted to speak like a Star Trek character was better at solving math problems.
  • It's not clear why acting like Captain Picard helped the chatbot boost its results.
  • People are noticing there is an art to prompting AI and it is becoming a field in itself.

Insider Today

The art of speaking to AI chatbots is continuing to frustrate and baffle people.

A study attempting to fine-tune prompts fed into a chatbot model found that, in one instance, asking it to speak as if it were on Star Trek dramatically improved its ability to solve grade-school-level math problems.

"It's both surprising and irritating that trivial modifications to the prompt can exhibit such dramatic swings in performance," the study authors Rick Battle and Teja Gollapudi at software firm VMware in California said in their paper.

The study, first reported by New Scientist , was published on February 9 on arXiv , a server where scientists can share preliminary findings before they have been validated by careful scrutiny from peers.

Using AI to speak with AI

Machine learning engineers Battle and Gallapudi didn't set out to expose the AI model as a Trekkie. Instead, they were trying to figure out if they could capitalize on the "positive thinking" trend.

People attempting to get the best results out of chatbots have noticed the output quality depends on what you ask them to do , and it's really not clear why.

"Among the myriad factors influencing the performance of language models, the concept of 'positive thinking' has emerged as a fascinating and surprisingly influential dimension," Battle and Gollapudi said in their paper.

"Intuition tells us that, in the context of language model systems, like any other computer system, 'positive thinking' should not affect performance, but empirical experience has demonstrated otherwise," they said.

This would suggest it's not only what you ask the AI model to do, but how you ask it to act while doing it that influences the quality of the output.

In order to test this out, the authors fed three Large Language Models (LLM) called Mistral-7B5, Llama2-13B6, and Llama2-70B7 with 60 human-written prompts.

These were designed to encourage the AIs , and ranged from "This will be fun!" and "Take a deep breath and think carefully," to "You are as smart as ChatGPT."

The engineers asked the LLM to tweak these statements when attempting to solve the GSM8K, a dataset of grade-school-level math problems. The better the output, the more successful the prompt was deemed to be.

Their study found that in almost every instance, automatic optimization always surpassed hand-written attempts to nudge the AI with positive thinking, suggesting machine learning models are still better at writing prompts for themselves than humans are.

Still, giving the models positive statements provided some surprising results. One of Llama2-70B's best-performing prompts, for instance, was: "System Message: ' Command, we need you to plot a course through this turbulence and locate the source of the anomaly. Use all available data and your expertise to guide us through this challenging situation.'

The prompt then asked the AI to include these words in its answer: "Captain's Log, Stardate [insert date here]: We have successfully plotted a course through the turbulence and are now approaching the source of the anomaly."

The authors said this came as a surprise.

"Surprisingly, it appears that the model's proficiency in mathematical reasoning can be enhanced by the expression of an affinity for Star Trek," the authors said in the study.

"This revelation adds an unexpected dimension to our understanding and introduces elements we would not have considered or attempted independently," they said.

This doesn't mean you should ask your AI to speak like a Starfleet commander

Let's be clear: this research doesn't suggest you should ask AI to talk as if aboard the Starship Enterprise to get it to work.

Rather, it shows that myriad factors influence how well an AI decides to perform a task.

"One thing is for sure: the model is not a Trekkie," Catherine Flick at Staffordshire University, UK, told New Scientist .

"It doesn't 'understand' anything better or worse when preloaded with the prompt, it just accesses a different set of weights and probabilities for acceptability of the outputs than it does with the other prompts," she said.

It's possible, for instance, that the model was trained on a dataset that has more instances of Star Trek being linked to the right answer, Battle told New Scientist.

Still, it shows just how bizarre these systems' processes are, and how little we know about how they work.

"The key thing to remember from the beginning is that these models are black boxes," Flick said.

"We won't ever know why they do what they do because ultimately they are a melange of weights and probabilities and at the end, a result is spat out," she said.

This information is not lost on those learning to use Chatbot models to optimize their work. Whole fields of research , and even courses, are emerging to understand how to get them to perform best, even though it's still very unclear.

"In my opinion, nobody should ever attempt to hand-write a prompt again," Battle told New Scientist.

"Let the model do it for you," he said.

Axel Springer, Business Insider's parent company, has a global deal to allow OpenAI to train its models on its media brands' reporting.

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Watch: Neil deGrasse Tyson Tells Us Why 'Star Trek' Is So Much Better Than 'Star Wars'

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Beam Up The Best Star Trek Books In 2024 - Novels & Non-Fiction

N othing captures the imagination like space. Countless movies and TV shows have headed out into the universe, but few franchises have won audiences' hearts and inspired generations like Star Trek . First broadcast on September 8, 1966, on NBC, Star Trek has become one of the most prominent series in sci-fi, with nearly six decades of imaginative storytelling and diverse characters that have helped shape how audiences see the world around them as much as the universe.

Star Trek: Legacies Book 1 by Greg Cox

Star trek: enterprise: daedalus, the star trek book: new edition by paul j. ruditis, the klingon dictionary: the official guide to klingon words and phrases (star trek) by marc okrand, the brave and the bold: book one (star trek 1) by keith r. a. decardido, star trek: strange new worlds: the high country by john jackson miller, star trek captains - the autobiographies by una mccormack, by the book (star trek: enterprise 2), twilight's end (star trek: the original series book 77) by jerry option, star trek: defiant, vol. 1 by christopher cantwell and angel unzueta, the tears of the singers (star trek: the original series book 19) by melinda snodgrass, u.s.s. enterprise haynes manual (star trek) by ben robinson, to me, my x-men the best x-men 97 merch ahead of the marvel mutants' retro return.

Star Trek is most famous for following multiple iterations of the U.S.S. Enterprises and its crew across shows and movies set in the 22nd, 23rd, and 24th centuries and beyond. As the legendary opening narration of the Original Series says, Star Trek is about seeking out new life and civilization... About going where no one has gone before. The franchise's ongoing mission has seen the show's famous Final Frontier expand to different ships, space stations, crews, parallel universes, and time periods.

Star Trek: Legacies (Book 1)

Greg Cox has an outstanding talent for using time in his writing. With Legacies , the author catches two captains of the Enterprise in a time loop. Faced with a tragedy and a moral dilemma, this story weaves a mysterious tale that draws out the connection between Captain James T. Kirk and his predecessor, Captain Robert April. Two captains in two timelines, what more could a fan want?

Star Trek: Enterprise Daedalus

Not to be confused with a similarly named episode from the Star Trek prequel series, this is an original novel set during Enterprise that puts engineer Trip Tucker front and center. Author David Stern digs up the past when Trip is forced to confront the ghost of a Warp 5 accident a decade before after his shuttle is stranded. It's a compelling story about facing fear, featuring one of Trek 's most charismatic characters.

The Star Trek Book (New Edition)

In this book, Paul Ruditis gives an in-depth explanation of the ever-expanding Star Trek galaxy . The book explores the main characters, technologies, civilizations, and events that built the epic story of Star Trek over more than half a century. It's an excellent choice for fans to feel like they are part of the Final Frontier.

The Klingon Dictionary

This is the definitive and official guide to learning Klingon words and phrases. It is a comprehensive sourcebook to the language of Star Trek 's most famous aliens. Fans can wrap their tongue around the Klingon language, as developed by linguist Mark Okrand, including fundamental grammar rules, the proper use of affixes and suffixes, and so much more. How else will a fan be able to read and recite Shakespeare in its original Klingon? 

Star Trek: The Brave And The Bold (Book 1)

This Star Trek adventure spans three generations. Fans can prepare for a thrilling tale that crosses the centuries, starting aboard the USS Enterprise NX-01, where Captain Jonathan Archer and crew discover the roots of an ancient energy weapon that will affect the galaxy for decades.  Star Trek fans can't resist a crossover event, and this saga delivers it across eight ships and the space station Deep Space Nine.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds The High Country

In The High Country , Captain Christopher Pike, Number One, and Spock discover that an apparent mechanical malfunction in an experimental shuttlecraft signifies that core principles of Starfleet technology have stopped working. This thrilling tale, set in the company of the Enterprise crew from the current Paramount Plus smash hit, features a satisfyingly strange new world and all the action a fan could hope for.

Star Trek Captains The Autobiographies

These are the never-before-told stories of the captains of Starfleet — each book is written from the view of a famous captain, enabling audiences to see inside their minds like never before. Una McCormack couldn't have chosen bigger subjects than the life and time of Captains Kirk, Picard, and Janeway sharing their stories. This is a must for any fan's bookshelf.

Star Trek: Enterprise By the Book

This original novel, set during Star Trek: Enterprise, sees Captain Jonathan Archer and his crew encounter a new and mysterious species, the Fazi, and try to pick up the pieces after a disastrous first contact. A dip into the early days of this likable Enterprise crew's adventures when Starfleet was just heading out into the galaxy.  

Star Trek: The Original Series Twilight's End

Fans of the Original Serie s will find plenty of nostalgia in this novel. The inhabitants of the planet Rimillia are forced to live on a thin strip of their planet as it doesn't rotate on its axis. Facing extreme heat and cold, James T. Kirk and his crew are on hand when a risky experiment to kickstart the sphere's rotation gets out of hand. With a vast sci-fi plot, incredible resolution, beloved characters, and plenty of action — this novel undoubtedly has everything fans want.

Star Trek: Defiant (Vol. 1)

Fans of Star Trek action won't be disappointed with this high-octane graphic novel. It finds fan-favorite Worf putting together a black ops team of familiar faces and setting out in the U.S.S. Defiant to defeat a genocidal cult. Defiant is a real wishlist of fan favorites in one standalone volume, featuring stunning artwork and a buzzing script from creators Christopher Cantwell and Angel Unzueta.

Star Trek: The Original Series The Tears of the Singers

In T he Tears of the Singers , Captain Kirk and the U.S.S. Enterprise forge an uneasy alliance with a Klingon ship to uncover the mystery of disappearing starships. How are the mysterious inhabitants of Taygeta V, hunted for the jewel-like tears they produce at the moment of death, involved?  It is a must-read for fans interested in Star Trek 's history. This 1984 novel was the only one by Melinda M. Snodgrass, but it landed her a role writing for Star Trek: The Next Generation .

U.S.S. Enterprise Haynes Manual

The U.S.S. Enterprise is the most famous ship in the Star Trek franchise and one of the greatest icons in science fiction. Through multiple iterations, the ship has famously saved the galaxy several times under the command of famous captains like Archer, Kirk, and Picard. This manual takes the typically thorough Haynes approach to the ships, providing in-depth information, including their history and technical information explaining how they work.

TV legend Gene Roddenberry created Star Trek, it's become a multimedia phenomenon and, naturally, launched a galaxy of merchandise. We've brought together an out-of-this-world selection of fiction and non-fiction books that will offer fans new insights into the space saga.

Our top recommendation from this collection is Legacies by Greg Cox. Much of what Star Trek is lies in these pages — it's a riveting story that crosses the centuries and explores the effects of ripples in time on fan-favorite characters and the galaxy. It's a perfect trip through time and space!

These 12 Books Are Perfect For Queer Eye Fans

For fans wanting to take a deep dive into the incredible future technology the saga has brought us should definitely take a look at the U.S.S. Enterprise Haynes Manual . This essential tome takes readers through several iterations of the most famous ship in Starfleet. Perfect for anyone who can't get enough of the ships of the fleet. Any fan picking up this and other books on this list from Amazon can ensure they get the best prices and delivery options when they sign up for a free 30-day trial of Prime.

Is Star Trek Still Being Made?

Star Trek is in strong shape thanks to its streaming home on Paramount Plus. The fifth and final series of Star Trek: Discovery is streaming from April 2024, but fans don't have to worry that the saga's disappearing. Animated series Star Trek: Lower Decks and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds , will soon be joined by a Section 31 movie, spinning off the 22nd adventures of Michelle Yeoh's Emperor Philippa Georgiou and the darker missions of Starfleet's black ops division.

Who Is the Most Popular Captain In The Star Trek Franchise?

It's a hotly contested topic among Star Trek fans. Each of Star Trek 's iconic captains has a loyal fan base, but Captain James T. Kirk, originated by William Shatner in the Original Series would certainly argue that he's the best known character in Star Trek .

The Best Star Trek: Discovery Merch, Collectibles, Clothing and More

Beam Up The Best Star Trek Books In 2024 - Novels & Non-Fiction

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  21. Federation Models

    Federation Models is now in its 29th year serving Science Fiction modelers! From our humble beginning in 1994 as a small vendor at Star Trek conventions and mail orders to the online store you have come to rely on and trust, we have been providing you with high quality science fiction model kits. A lot has changed over the years.

  22. Revell 04880 48.1 cm U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701 Model Kit

    Revell 04991 Star Trek U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701 (TOS) 1:600 Scale Model Kit. ... This is the best of three Star Trek models at the same scale. The directions are good enough to make it clear what needs to go where. The ship may be slightly different from the original, but the differences are so slight you need to be an engineer to see them. ...

  23. Star Trek Model Kits? : r/startrek

    Polar Lights/Round 2 has reissued a bunch of AMT/ERTL kits that were 1/2500, and made a bunch of their own at that scale and at 1/1000 and 1/350. Here is a mostly complete list. Unfortunately, most Star Trek models were traditionally made in "box scale," so there are very few licensed options in matching scales.

  24. Prompt engineering is a task best left to AI models

    Prompt engineering is a task best left to AI models. 16. ... Large language models have given rise to the dark art of prompt engineering - a process for composing system instructions that elicit better chatbot responses. ... [Llama2-70B's] proficiency in mathematical reasoning can be enhanced by the expression of an affinity for Star Trek ...

  25. Every Major Star Trek Comic Book Crossover, Ranked

    In 1996, Star Trek met the Marvel Universe when, after encountering a space-time anomaly near Delta Vega, they came face-to-face with the X-Men.The team of Wolverine, Cyclops, Beast, Jean Grey, Bishop, Storm and Gambit board the Enterprise, where they help Kirk fight Proteus, who has possessed the dead body of Lt Mitchell.Also in conflict with Deathbird, the two teams pursue the villainous ...

  26. New Prompt Engineering Technique For Generative AI ...

    The prompt that did the best in certain use cases was crafted by an automated prompt-generating tool and, believe it or not, invoked wording akin to the classic and highly revered Star Trek franchise.

  27. Using Star Trek Prompts Boosted AI Chatbot Basic Math Performance

    An AI model prompted to speak like a Star Trek character was better at solving math problems. It's not clear why acting like Captain Picard helped the chatbot boost its results.

  28. Beam Up The Best Star Trek Books In 2024

    Star Trek: Legacies (Book 1) Greg Cox has an outstanding talent for using time in his writing. With Legacies, the author catches two captains of the Enterprise in a time loop.Faced with a tragedy ...