elmarriachi Posted March 6, 2017 Share Posted March 6, 2017 Hello, Once upon a time in a galaxy far far away . . . everybody knows this opera of the biggest space opera all the time: STAR WARS. I always thought about the wonderful spaceship of Han Solo which is the most beautiful space ship ever in my eyes... now I want to build the Falcon finally... in 1/72 scale from Revell's Master Series. The kit is equal to the Fine Molds kit with more then 900 parts. Additionally I will use the etched parts from Paragrafix, some 3D-printed parts for the guns, the cockpit and the antenna. The engine will receive some clear resin parts, the exhausts some resin updates as well. And ... the most important thing for the Falcon.... I will illuminate it. It is the first time I will do this ... So let's start... I began with the planning of the lights. Finally I have decided to go like this: Red = red LEDs (8), yellow = warm white LEDs (14), blue = cold white LEDs (5), light blue = LED strap for the engine (1), plus one blue LED and some fibre optics for the cockpit. Here we go with the LEDs marked on the hull (downside): Next I will add some details on the outside and inside of the bottom side of the ship, then I will drill the holes and make the wiring ... I hope you like the new project ... Cheers Micha 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazypoet Posted March 6, 2017 Share Posted March 6, 2017 I love this ship! I look forward to watching your build. This is fun! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elmarriachi Posted March 15, 2017 Author Share Posted March 15, 2017 Hello, I have added some first detail parts on the underside of the Falcon. Some of these inserts were assembled separately, some piping added then inserted from the inside, glued and screwed (!). Here you could see the clear/blue resin parts for the engine which will replace the plastic parts of the kit. Next step will be the "lightbox" for the engine illumination ... Cheers Micha 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazypoet Posted March 15, 2017 Share Posted March 15, 2017 I love this work, and look forward to watching as always an inspiration Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators JeroenPeters Posted March 16, 2017 Administrators Share Posted March 16, 2017 Geez.... that's cool! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elmarriachi Posted March 20, 2017 Author Share Posted March 20, 2017 Hello, I have added some more parts and details on the lower part of the hull... the area around the engine is nearly finished ... For the illimination of the engine I have used the kits part (a box light part which is mounted behind the grille). I have removed the back of the boxand painted the rest in black. Then I have glued the clear resin parts at the backside of the frame (rest of the "box"). The box I have extended on the backside with plastic sheed about 1cm, parallel to the backside of the box. Then I have glued the blue LED-stripe on a plastic stripe in the high of the box. painted this and the extension in silver. The stripe with the LEDs Ihave glued on the backside of the box as back panel. I have used Tape to fix the back wall better and to close all remaining gaps. Then I have glued Aluminium foil with super glue all around the new "lightbox", the wires leaving the box on the side and will go through the hull later. That's how it looks like ... I think that this is ok ... I like it Cheers Micha 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazypoet Posted March 20, 2017 Share Posted March 20, 2017 Sweeeeet! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elmarriachi Posted March 27, 2017 Author Share Posted March 27, 2017 Hello. all the kits parts of the underside of the hull are mounted and the holes for all the LED lamps drilled inside the hull. I have installed the wiring and the LED for testing .... lot of wires (without the LEDs for the engine). Next I will make the base and the stand which will include the wires then. ... and lights on for testing ... Some nice small figures are included with the kit, it is even possible to recognize the persons.... I will install Han Solo the captain, Chewbacca and on the seats behind C3P0 and Luke Skywalker. Cheers Micha Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elmarriachi Posted April 10, 2017 Author Share Posted April 10, 2017 Hello, after having added all parts as far as necessary I have sprayed the inside of upper and lower hull in black before gluing the LEDs in the holws with white glue. Around every LED I have added a piece of plastic pipe which was glued in place and filled with white glue from the top side... Then the lightbox for the engine was installed... ... and all wires put together.... finally, there will be four wires going out from a hole in the center of the bottom, inside the display stand... Before having installed the lightbox, the rear side of the hull was painted already ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elmarriachi Posted April 10, 2017 Author Share Posted April 10, 2017 Once all the glue was set I have painted also the plastic pipes and the filled white glue in black.... Now there is no chance for any light shining somewhere where it is not planned A testing and everything works as it should Also the LEDs for the cockpit were added now, the lower cockpit area glued to the lower part of the hull. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elmarriachi Posted April 10, 2017 Author Share Posted April 10, 2017 Once everything is finished in the inside of the hull the upper hull was put on top.... testing, some wires putting in place.... testing, some plastic removing from the lower side of the upper hull at the center of it .... testing ... fits. The upper side was mounted on the lower one with scews... then the lights tested again ... works. After that I have added all the side panels full of added details and the upper part of the cockpit. The docking ports left and right were replaced with 3D-printed parts, painted also black from the inside. Also the radar on the top and the engine nozzles were 3D-printed parts with correct size and better details. The engine will receive some etched grills later after the primering. With the Dremel I have added some damages as it is seen in several pictures of the movie ... some holes on the upper side nect to the radar, some scratches on the lower side.... Now everything is ready for some first primering Cheers Micha Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazypoet Posted April 10, 2017 Share Posted April 10, 2017 I love this project - particularly how you managed to fit all those wires into limited space... nicely done! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elmarriachi Posted April 18, 2017 Author Share Posted April 18, 2017 Hello, first the frames of the cockpit windows were painted, then the window parts were glued over the cockpit. A first layer of primer over the shapeways parts followed next so that the colors will adhere better on these parts... Next I have added a lot of black pre-shading on the complete falcon which will remain visible under the final painting .. The final painting is consisting of a mixture of white, buff and dark grey and a lot of thinner sprayed over the falcon in thin layers, remaining the preshading visible. The decals followed next... yellow, dark grey and red colored decals on the upper and lowered side of the hull. I do not know why, but the red decals were horor. They crumbled at every corner, no matter how much of softener was used .... Next followed some clear coart to protect the decals for the weathering... Cheers Micha 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elmarriachi Posted April 26, 2017 Author Share Posted April 26, 2017 Hello, some more updates of the weathering of the Falcon. First I have painted the exhausts with thinned black color with the airbrush in several thin layers. Black color was also used for other areas on the hull as well as on the damaged areas. With brown colors I have varied the color of the exhaust streaks, Tamiya Smoke was used for some further variations of the colors on the hull. A washing with black oil colors was used next on the complete hull, specially on the joints between the several plates on the hull. Clear coat matt came next on everything, then some black, brown, rusty and silver pigments. The two cannones were built and painted. I have used 3D printed cannons instead of the kit parts as these were much better deteailed. The frames of the windows were hand painted and weathered. Cheers Micha 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parker Posted April 27, 2017 Share Posted April 27, 2017 Cannot tell you how interested I am in your project. My Falcon arrives Friday. You can't post enough for me. Brilliant work....I'm hanging on every pic. Hope you don't mind a deluge of questions I'll be having. Parker in Louisiana Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parker Posted April 30, 2017 Share Posted April 30, 2017 So many questions...where did you source your LED's and what mm size are your lights under the hull? Did the Shapeways parts take forever to arrive? Are your hull lights flush mounted or recessed? Can't wait to see this come together. Thanks for sharing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elmarriachi Posted May 4, 2017 Author Share Posted May 4, 2017 Hello, the Falcon reached his final place. The base is made of a wooden plate with a wooden frame under it. Sanded and sprayed in glossy black. The switches for the lights are installed on the right side of the frame, all the wiring is inside the base, only the two connectors for the batteries are outside of the base. All cables between Falcon and base are going through the aluminium tube. Next following some drybrushing and last details ... Cheers Micha 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elmarriachi Posted May 4, 2017 Author Share Posted May 4, 2017 Hi Parker. all are 3mm LEDs diameter, coming from Captain Jack Models. The Shapeways parts came very fast. Not longer then 1.5 week! I have drilled 3mm holes and inserted the LEDs from the inside as far as possible. The surface is nearly smooth, a little bit recessed. Cheers Michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elmarriachi Posted May 15, 2017 Author Share Posted May 15, 2017 Hello, I want to close this building report with a first night picture of the finished Millennium Falcon. Pictures of the finished Falcon will follow these days! I hope that you like it! Cheers Micha 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazypoet Posted May 15, 2017 Share Posted May 15, 2017 She's beautiful! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elmarriachi Posted May 16, 2017 Author Share Posted May 16, 2017 Hello, my Millennium Falcon in scale 1/72 by Fine Molds / Revell (Master Class) is finished. The wonderful kit (more then 900 parts, great details!) receivied some clear blue resin made engine units and replacements for the exhaust nozzles. Further 3D-printed parts for the laser cannons and docking ports left/right and the cockpit. The photo etched parts from Paragrafix were used inside and outside as well and bring in some further great details. For the illumination I have used a blue LED-stripe for the engine, installed in a all around closed light box. Bright white and warm white LEDs and red LEDs are used on the outside of the ship, blinking fibreoptics and a blue "under floor" illumination in the cockpit. The base is a picture frame with a wooden plate on top, an aluminium pipe glued inside. The Falcon is removable. All wiring is under the base/inside the base, the cables run through the aluminium pipe from the ship under the base. Two switches on the side of the base (engine and other LEDs) swich the illumination on/off. I hope that you like the finished Falcon! I have enjoyed this project very much and I am shure that it was not my last Star Wars kit with illumination. Cheers, Micha 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parker Posted May 16, 2017 Share Posted May 16, 2017 fantastic build....your thread has really helped me on mine. Thanks for the effort. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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