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UnBoxing | LA SIRENA from the STAR TREK UNIVERSE Model Starship Collection
Tue, 1 Jun 2021
by JC Alvarez
The universe is expanding! Committed to providing the most dedicated enthusiastic with high-end collectible items, Eaglemoss/Hero Collector has streamlined its efforts with its line of Star Trek starship models and given fans a single offering to focus all their energy. While the long-running Official Starships Collections came to end recently and evolved into the XL Editions the newly introduced Star Trek Universe Model Starship Collection will incorporate offerings from Star Trek: Picard and Star Trek: Discovery and the upcoming newest adventure Strange New Worlds.
The premiere issue to be featured in this new collection is from the most current iteration of the mythology: Star Trek: Picard follows the continuing adventures of the revered captain of the legendary Starship Enterprise Jean-Luc Picard (portrayed by Patrick Stewart). When the retired Starfleet hero finds himself in the middle of a mystery of a personal nature, with the future of the Federation hanging in the balance, and no longer at the helm of his own ship, the admiral charters the services of a freighter La Sirena.
Measuring over 9 inches in length, the highly detailed die-cast metal and resin model is expertly detailed and based on the original VFX models used in the series. Carefully painted and sculpted to perfectly capture La Sirena the model is packed with a display stand and includes a collector’s magazine that provides insight on the ship’s mission, a technical profile, and behind-the-scenes revelations on the design and how it was brought to life for the first season of Star Trek: Picard. Future releases include models of the USS Zheng He and the classically reimagined Romulan Bird-of-Prey.
Ship of the Line
In order to embark on a mission to seek out the android “daughter” of his Enterprise second officer and close friend Data, Picard must enlist the help of some of his former colleagues. It’s been two decades since Jean-Luc Picard’s illustrious career in Starfleet and the Admiral no longer has the clout that he once had, so finding a starship in order to engage on his journey is itself a challenging feat. He is able to recruit one-time Starfleet officer Cristóbal Rios turned freighter captain onto his cause, and Rios brings Picard aboard his ship La Sirena a modified Kaplan F17-class ship.
The fast and highly maneuverable vessel has been customized to serve its captain, and although it’s not exactly the type of starship that Picard is accustomed to, La Sirena is a formidable mode of transportation. About the size of a large Runabout shuttle, with capable weapon systems in place, La Sirena is manned by Rios and a crew of approximately 6, but when the captain is in a pinch he is able to rely on a series of holographic crew members (patterned after himself) to not only care and cater to his passengers but also manage auxiliary operations to keep La Sirena running at a significant pace.
Unlike “hero ships” that have appeared in the past, La Sirena is uniquely designed. The task of bringing the ship into the Star Trek universe was handed to concept artist Mark Yang who saw inspiration in the series of Runabout shuttles and the Delta Flyer from Star Trek: Voyager. Briefed that the ship would be smaller than the Defiant but should prove as tough and sturdy, Yang collaborated with the production team, determining what would be demanded from the ship’s interiors and then work his way out. The bridge would be reminiscent of a contemporary bomber and needed to look powerful.
Expanding the Final Frontier
With the release of Eaglemoss Collections’ newest line, the Star Trek Universe continues to expand and pushes the boundaries of the final frontier. Future releases in the line will include ships from the latest season of Star Trek: Discovery which had the crew thrown 1000 years into the future where the surviving remnants for the Federation had gathered and Starfleet ship designs had been adapted to deal with all new technologies. The USS Discovery itself was refit to keep pace with the latest innovations.
Stay tuned for more coverage of Eaglemoss Collections’ latest releases and more to come from this exciting new venture into the Final Frontier!
LA SIRENA | Issue 1 of the STAR TREK UNIVERSE Model Starship Collection | Eaglemoss Collections | $29.99 | is available here from Eaglemoss/Hero Collector. This series is available as part of an ongoing subscription that includes collector incentives and access to special edition releases.
