The Kuhn Collection
NCC-1701 Refit Shuttlecraft Hangar Bay under construction
The Museum of Science Fiction would like to gratefully acknowledge the support and generosity of
Kurt Kuhn and the Kuhn Family for donating their collection and bringing our our latest physical exhibition to Washington, DC area. Beginning early 2020, the 12-month exhibition will feature a stunning array of studio scale and filming miniature science fiction models.
Click here for the Press Release.
Kurt Kuhn with Battlestar task force group
The Kuhn Collection
The model collection of Kurt Kuhn, founder and owner of Modeler's Miniatures & Magic, will be donated to the Museum of Science Fiction, beginning with a full scale replica of the USS Enterprise from Star Trek: The Motion Picture. This model will be put on public display for the first time ever at the Museum's annual convention, Escape Velocity, in May 2019.
"This is the beginning of an amazing museum," said Kuhn. "I believe it's the first ever studio scale replica of the model used in the shooting of the 1979 film, celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. After all of the work we've put into it, I can't wait for the world to see it for the first time ever at EV 2019." Kurt Kuhn began model building at an early age and credits the original Star Trek television series for his love of science fiction. He has built, and overseen the building of hundreds of models and props in his lifetime, many of them studio scale and near identical replicas to what was used on set during filming. Kurt has worked with, and highly credits many amazing model makers and miniaturists in creating this collection, including the Enterprise Refit's parts developer, George Takacs, the Enterprise Refit's electronics developer, Daniel Beck, and artist Dan Grumeretz. These pieces will eventually be seen by millions of Museum visitors, inspiring their imaginations and increasing the desire to create such items. "The model exhibitions shall raise awarenes of the art form, and increase artist commission inquiries for this work," said Kuhn.
The NCC-1701 Build Evolution
The Motion Picture NCC-1701 Refit replica interior Recreation Room detail by Dan Grumeretz and Saucer Section with George Takacs
Dan Grumeretz (L) and Kurt Kuhn with Republic Star Destroyers
Meet Dan Grumeretz
Dan Grumeretz has been drawing, painting, sculpting and building models for over 30 years. He began his career as a freelance commercial artist while also creating custom automotive and motorcycle artwork. After relocating to Arizona in 1998, he entered the custom motorcycle paint industry working as an art director and air-brush artist at Titan Motorcycle and then at Swift Motorcycle.
In 2005, he started his own business focusing on residential and commercial murals. He also pursued his passion of sculpture and model building where he has been nationally recognized for the authentic detail of his artwork. Dan began overseeing the production of the Kuhn Global Collection in 2012 and will supervise adding many new pieces to the collection over the next several years. Dan holds a BFA with an emphasis in illustration from Northern Illinois University.
Items in the Collection
Kurt Kuhn (L) and Dan Grumeretz with The Motion Picture Enterprise NCC-1701 Refit replica under construction in Arizona - January 2019
Exhibition Acknowledgements
The Museum of Science fiction would like to thank and convey our deepest appreciation to the Kuhn Family, the exhibition sponsors, and the Museum exhibition team that were responsible for making this project possible:
Hal Davis and Jerry Vanek, SmithGroupJJR
Jonathan Spencer, General Counsel
Charles Hildebrandt, Production Counsel
Kevin Reid, Digital Communities
Nico Pandi, Public Relations
Rachel Frederick, Curator
Alexandre Carvalho, CIO
Lou Delmaso, Graphics
R. Paul Stimers, K&L Gates
Keith Jodoin, Sapling Pictures