MatteoRoma

The focus was building the display box itself.

I prepared the 15 mm poplar bottom panel, which carries the entire weight of the structure, sealing the edges with UV resin before finishing it in matte black.

The 6 mm side panels received the same treatment and were then assembled to create the shadow box for the first time. It still needs a final coat of black, especially on the top panel, but the display has now reached its full size and finally feels like a solid structure instead of a collection of individual parts.

I also printed custom feet with non-slip pads, giving the display a stable base while protecting the surface beneath it.

Inside the Borg Cube I installed the first low-temperature green LEDs and connected them to the main power distribution. The wiring infrastructure is now in place, ready for the new COB LEDs that arrived too late to be tested this week.
Once those are installed, the rest of the lighting system can simply branch from the existing setup.

For the first time I could place the Cube inside its completed display box and evaluate the overall composition. After months of working on individual components, the project is finally starting to feel like one cohesive piece.

Next week will hopefully be all about bringing the scene to life. If the new COB LEDs perform as expected, I'll start installing the illuminated phaser beams and finally begin placing the first Federation ships before moving on to the visual effects.