The Federation Danube Class Runabout first appeared in the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode “Emissary” and went on to appear numerous times during the series. It also appeared in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode “Timescape”, which was the only episode to show an interior section of the ship other than the cockpit area. An updated version of the Danube Class, known as the Yellowstone Class, was shown in a single episode of Star Trek: Voyager (“Non Sequitur”).

The Danube Class is designed to fill the space between a shuttlecraft and a starship. According to the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Technical Manual, the Runabout is about 76 feet long, has a beam of 45 feet (across the nacelles), and an overall height of about 18 feet. The standard crew compliment of a Runabout is between 2 and 4, but in emergencies the ship can carry up to 40 passengers. Armament includes six Type VI Phasers and a micro photon torpedo launcher with 24 torpedoes.

The AMT/Ertl model kit was released in 1993 and is molded in light gray styrene, with clear parts for the windows. However, as no interior is provided with the model, it might be better to just paint the viewports black (as I did when I first built one of these kits about 15 years ago). No stand is provided with the model, so the completed kit rests on its warp nacelles and lower hull.

Exterior detailing is decent, if a little overstated. Panel lines are a little thick for 1:72 scale. Builders have the option whether or not to include the upper pod. My first Runabout was built with the pod, so I might just leave it off the next time around, for a little bit of visual comparison. The ship actually looks better to my eyes without the pod, giving it a “clean” look instead of having a chunk of machinery mounted to the top of the hull.

Markings are provided in the form of waterslide decals. Builders have a choice of three names: USS Rio Grande (NCC-72452), USS Yangtzee Kiang (NCC-72453) and USS Ganges (NCC-72454). According to Wikipedia, the Rio Grande was the longest-surviving Runabout. The Yangtzee Kiang was the first DS9 Runabout to be destroyed when it crashed on a moon in the Gamma Quadrant in “Battle Lines”. The Ganges was destroyed by a T’Lani munitions cruiser in the episode “Armageddon Game”.

The only other markings included are four Starfleet banners.

For those who wish to include more detail, a resin/styrene interior set is available from Alliance through the Federation Models website. The set retails for $75 and include about 40 pieces (chairs, bulkheads, computer consoles, walls and ceilings) for the cockpit and the aft lounge areas. No figures are included.

The completed model is over 12 inches long.

Review by: Rich “Lonewolf” Dula

Entry created: February 13, 2015