he Romulan Warbird is the latest in the popular line of Hallmark Keepsake ornaments featuring ships from the Star Trek universe. This year's offering depicts the Romulan Warbird first seen in the episode "The Neutral Zone" from Star Trek: The Next Generation. Like it's on screen counterpart, this ornament is the largest of the ships seen to date, easily dwarfing the U.S.S. Enterprise ornament produced by Hallmark in 1993.

As with previous ship ornaments, the Warbird is meant to be plugged into a bulb socket on a miniature tree light string (standard U.L.-listed 3.5 or 6 volt only) and comes with a generous amount of connecting cord. The ship is lit along the entire inside length of its port and starboard "nacelles," and the tips of the nacelles are also illuminated. Because of the Warbird's unique hollow-hull design, most of the light is directed towards the interior of the ship and produces an eerie effect. The lights of the Warbird do not blink, and the ornament is not meant to be plugged into a blinking string.

This is easily the heaviest of the four Star Trek ship ornaments and is clearly intended to be displayed from a sturdy perch -- this ornament will bend all but the largest branches on any holiday trees. The body of the ship is finely molded and contains intricate detailing, which is carried through on both the interior and exterior of the hull. Unlike last year's Klingon Bird of Prey, the Warbird is basically one color, with a stingy application of black paint for the Romulan emblem on the front of the ship and the obligatory "1995" issue date along its stern. The lack of colors is disappointing and gives the ship a decidedly plastic look.

Another disappointment is the actual color of the ship itself, a sort of metallic olive-green that harkens to the "real" Warbird but falls well short. The picture on the box the ornament comes in is a fair representation of what's inside, although the lighting makes it seem as if the ship has more hues and tones than it does. Inexplicably, the lights of the Warbird do not flicker or blink like the previous Star Trek ships, lending this ornament a static quality in compared to its dynamic companions. The Warbird cries out for one of Hallmark's innovative touches with lighting or sound, but instead comes off as the most bland of the Star Trek ships. Overall the ornament is nicely rendered and well done, but it lacks the attention to detail of its predecessors.

I get the feeling Hallmark spent less time creating this Star Trek ornament than it has in the past, probably because they issued six ornaments this year instead of just one. Still, if you like the show or have the other Keepsake ships, this one will make a fine addition. -- Craig E.

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