Hey everyone, I have been working on the subscription build of the Millennium Falcon now for a couple of months. I am adding in a lot of the details that are found on the 5 footer and are not found on the smaller (32") shooting prop. As this is a static model that people will eventually be taking a close look at it deserves the extra detailing.
Yes, I know that it is supposed to be a (near) perfect replica of the 32" shooting prop, BUT, that prop was intended for all the high energy quick zoomy scenes where details can’t be seen. The only scene in the 3 original trilogy movies where the Falcon moves slow enough to see detail is the one where it is tractored into the Death Star.
I just seems that if there should be some detail in a spot it should have “something” there. While I like the overall shape of the 32" as compared to the 5 footer, I like the detail on the 5 footer. When I started this project it was to leave it alone unless it needed a correction for a glaring difference. Well, the first glaring difference to me was the Quad laser, then the top turret plate, and a BIG poof the cockpit!
So here is the start, I will have all the basic stuff covered at it is out of the box, reference photos with details pointed out, corrections for the basic parts, and extreme modifications to who knows what all at this point.
Here we go!
There is the start. I like to do a small start with some basics. I have more that will be posted in the next few minutes. The amazing stuff will be a little while yet. I just finished a massive rework of the top turret to make it appear much more like that on the 5f. Normally I won’t post a photo of stuff that far down the road but in this case I suspect all of you would love a teaser. (and I can’t resist)
Good Morning everyone! It’s time for the first installment of many to come. I tend to do rather big picture posts but am going to limit the individual posts to 10 or 12 pictures at max then do a second if there are more pictures. Why pictures instead of just photos? You’ll see. [:D]
Ack! Posting from a phone and am really used to doing this with just text and code (which is MUCH easier and faster) but the code editing on this site is unusable. So cleaned up the extras and moving on.
It has been a few days and I have some more of the basic kit info and comparisons to the movie props. A lot of the interior parts for the kit will give an “impression” of what the movie sets were, but really misses the mark if you are into the details of things.
So here are some more pictures to round out the first shipment Issues 1 through 4. Please bear with me on the photos as I am uploading them via my phone and FSM’s interface is not that easy to work with. (OK it is a royal pain, as I can do with plain text in 5 minutes what takes 20 on here and the source code tool is worthless.)
That is all for Issue #3 I find the cockpit ok for a passing glance, but if you were to really take a look and know what you are looking at, it fails. In addition now that I am actively working on it, the stickers in the kit don’t even really fit right. It is all a mess, so when it is right and studied, it will be a good thing.
Next I will be posting some pictures for the extremists. They will look slightly different and will be all kinds of how to and what I have done for some of the extreme modifications that will be coming along.
After that will be posts from Issues #5 and #6 of Shipment #2. Those will finish up all of the stock cockpit parts.
Here is the first installment of my EXtreme Falcon modificatins. Part TP-3 is going to get a thorough revamp by the end of this session. There will be several more installments on this modification session. Please let me know what you think. While I know this is supposed to be “The 32 inch scale replica” , it is just too clunky and blah compared to the detail found on the 5 footer (5F from here on)
Here we go. . .
Let me know what you all think, would ya? I am curious as to if anyone really finds this build worthwhile.
OK then, Here is part 1 of the next EXtreme installment. Using a rather old Dremel drill press, I set it up and use it as a cheap milling machine. Can’t do that with the newer designs. Who ever said that new was better!
It has been a few days and I have a ways to go to catch up. I have to say there seem to be LOOKY Loos but no one seems to be interested in saying anything.
Here is a basic installment for Issues 5 thru 8.
There are Issues 5 and 6. Issues 7 and 8 coming up.
Here is the next installment on the EXtreme part of the build. In this I am still changing the part TP-3 to something resembling the part on the 5 footer.
In this post, I am making masters for 5 parts that there are multiple copies all over part TP-3 (the turret) and some surface rework of the part to change it to something a lot more interesting.
So is anyone out there finding any of this interesting and worth watching or am I just piddling in the wind here. . .
I am fairly new to this forum, and I just found this post as I am still exploring the different areas of the forum. I was pretty excited to find this as I have been curious about this DeAg MF. So in answer to your question, I’m enjoying it! In fact, I have this post bookmarked.
Thanks for posting TF! Much appreciated! I don’t really understand why there are a bunch of folks looking in but no one posting anything. Kind of odd and despiriting.
I try to build and then post so that the complex stuff I do others can learn and try it. This build so far is becoming the most challenging I have ever done. Not because the model is difficult, but because of everything I am having to do to upgrade the detail.
The hard part is I am just getting started on this and there is a bunch more to go. The entire cockpit I have determined is going to have to be scratchbuilt to get it right, the hold and corridors will need almost as much redo, the boarding ramp is getting a complete makover and the actuator will be redone, and the engine area will have a huge amount of work too. (take a big breath)
That is just the stuff I know something about at this point. Surface detail changes will depend on things when I cross that particular point. If it looks good and similar to the 5 foot model I will leave it. If there is a big difference or something missing that obviously should be there, it will be changed or added. That bridge will get crossed when I get to it.
However, I am also a little like a stage actor and even though I can tell folks are looking, without some comments and folks posting questions it leaves me thinking “why bother” .
So TF thanks for posting! You don’t know how much it is appreciated!
I really like and appreciate WIP posts like this one. I find that even if the skills and techniques shown are beyond my skill level, I can often find something to take away from it and apply it to my own projects. For instance, I was able to take auto painting and bodywork techniques I learned from some of the car forums and apply it to my current aircraft project to achieve my best-ever airplane finish. Now, I’ve made TONS of mistakes on this little P-51, but as a result I’ve learned tons as well and have achieved what I think is a respectable result, especially considering that it’s the first airplane I’ve done in like 30 years! [:D]
At any rate, I find this Millenium Falcon build most interesting, because although I am back to building aircraft for the time being, I have several sci-fi kits in my stash that I will build only when I think my skills are up to the task of adding in detail I would really like to see. For instance, I have some Star Wars A-Wings and Snowspeeders I would love to superdetail someday. Not sure if I really want to make the cockpits as close as possible to the “hero” units used in filming, or if I want to take a bit of “artistic licence” and scratchbuild my own stuff.
Of course, there’s also a Buck Rogers Starfighter in my stash that deserves a proper build, as well as a couple Battlestar Vipers. Those will all be down the road a bit.
But yeah, I’m diggin’ your work on this MF so far. I would totally understand if you decided not to keep up with the updates on this project, but I, for one, am enjoying it!
I thought about how expensive it will be overall too Gamera and decided to look at the monthly outlay instead. I blow on stuff more than I am paying each month on the subscription, so why not go for it. As for where I am going to put it, I won’t worry about it until I have to. Have no War Dept to pitch a fit so why worry.
Anyway, thanks again for posting folks, it is appreciated!
Here is another update: [:D]
There is plenty more to come, I am still playing catch up on where I am on the build.
That term came from a former boss, employer, and long time friend who unfortunately is no longer with us. It became the common term there and the WD’s knew it. It has stuck ever since, and even my late wife was referred to as my War Dept.
