Fine Molds 1/72 Millennium Falcon

JMChladek said:

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Okay, these detail additions are starting to scare me a little bit.

Nice work as usual Alan, and thanks for the good words about my paintjob. Hopefully it can provide some inspiration for yours.

Scare you a bit? I know, some of them are crazy small, I bet it took me over an hour to fashion those sliding flaps. I do like the look of them though.

I don't think there's been a build I look at yet that hasn't inspired me in one way or another.

Out of everything, I think the paint job is the most daunting part of the build. I know it will make or break it. Finger crossed.

Those details are crazy! Awesome work Alaneye

Amazing detail! This continues to be a great build to watch. Mine's still waiting in my closet and for me to have the space to work on it. Can't wait to see how you tackle the lighting because I'm waiting on tips, ideas, and inspiration.

Well Alan, if you are really that hesitant on paint, why not get your hands on a Revell Falcon and use it as a paint testbed? They are readily available in your neck of the woods and about the same size. So you can use one to try your paint and masking technique before doing it to the FM kit. Just shoot a gray primer coat over the top and bottom parts and have at it just using it as a paint exercise. If it works on a Revell kit it should most certainly work on a FineMolds kit.

In my own case when I painted mine, there wasn't really anything that I did differently here that I hadn't done before on other SW models (black pre-shade, basecoat, wash, detail paint, pastel), but I admit I had never done it on a model that big before. But I used the techniques I was the most comfortable with. So a practice model does help build confidence as that can only come with experience.

The one thing that gave me pause in my case was doing the battle damage craters and scrapes on the model, because to me I didn't want to risk messing up a $200 kit in the process. But I did it and I was happy with the results. I think you'll do just fine. I would say the main thing is it can be so easy to overdo weathering. Keep it somewhat light and looking good in person and it should be fine. Maybe pictures might show the model as being too clean, but in my experience if you try to darken the weathering to some pictures, the model can end up looking over weathered (at least IMHO). Given your attention to detail, I think you'll do just fine though.

Thanks for that. I don't really fancy painting two Falcons, but I do have a 1/48 Snowspeeder that I've built (most of it without glue) so I guess I could try some techniques on that, which was my intention until the Falcon arrived My main worry is, as you say, over-doing the weathering. I'm a born worrier though anyway, so probably not too much in it.

You'll do fine. One thing that I've found works perfect for pastel chalk applications on these FineMolds kits is the Microbrush brand brush applicators. Prior to these coming out, I had to use Q-tips and even with most of the cotton taken off, they could be a bit too big for some streaks. The Microbrushes come in four major sizes (I use the smaller three sizes) and work great for pinpoint application of pastels. The black and brown streaks I did behind the solar collectors on my build were done entirely with the microbrushes. I didn't use an airbrush for those streaks since to me they always look a bit overdone.

I shot a couple Youtube videos where I discuss some of the weathering techniques I used. Part 2 would probably be of interest as I show the Microbrushes off (as well as the paint scrape technique I used for some of the burn marks).

FineMolds 1/72 Millennium Falcon model Part 2 (final) - YouTube

I think I may have already watched your videos because I have already purchased the 3 different sizes of microbrush Great videos too and some valuable advice. Thanks

Al

Alaneye,as I have been watching your thread and we started at the same time (which is why I didn't start a progress thread yet) I wanted to let you know something I did that gave great results. I replaced the all the piping on the top left front of the ship and the one nearest the cockpit. On the left side those three pipes go over a spot with negative space for the panel,so on the studio model they are not in contact with the hull which adds a nice bit of dimensionality. On the cockpit side I raised the piece that pipe went into so it is flush with the hull ,and drilled a hole into it for the pipe which now comes up off the hull at an angle for a bit before meeting that part. I also removed the end of the other two near there and replaced them so they also lift off the hull at the end. Also there is a part at the end of the cockpit tube where the piece is flat to the hull where it should be a raised pipe which I also did. Seeing all the micro details you are adding these would be minor in comparison but they look great and again add much needed dimension to these areas. At the moment I am using the 5 footer as reference for bending and twisting panels at the edges. Although this was not on the 32 incher, I feel they are too nice and straight compared with the rest of the damage. I had been debating starting a thread but with this and two 144ths going I figured I would wait until right before I primed to show pics. Hurry up and update!

Thanks, Fett, I read your post with the model in front of me and also checked out my reference pics and I *think* I know the pipes you are talking about. I may have already done the first 3 pipes you talk about but I never mentioned them specifically... is it the 3 you can see at the top left of this pic (I did them in brown styrene tube).



As they say though, a picture paints a 1000 words I'm amways happy to having something drawn to my attention though, it's surprising the things you miss, even when you've studied the photos a dozen times.

No updates as yet, but my PE from Acreations is on the way So I should be picking it up again soon

Beautiful!

Alaneye, I have started a thread so as not to clutter up yours. Love what you have been doing and getting much inspiration here,thanks. Heres one pic to entice you to my thread!

Excellent work, Alaneye! Just can't stop watching Falcon builds

Love seeing all your updates on this..awesome work!

I am going to guess you are hacking away at the cockpit. I forgot to answer your question about fit. It all fits perfectly so far. I cut the grill area on the cockpit tube out,but did not sand down the frame. I felt it wasn't worth the effort. I would recommend removing the lip that the kit back wall rests on inside the tube,which should be glued together before cutting out. Loving' the build,not loving that it is pushing me to do waaaayy more than I planned.

great thread! Thanks for your tips!

Peter

Hi Alaneye!

Have been watching your thread with great interest and amazement. You, some other people on the forum and one bat#$%& crazy Japanese bloke :-) (yes, the one that had created the very long PDF of his insane build) have inspired me a lot in prep phase of my own 1/72 MF build. I am currently finishing the top hull section (with about 200+ custom greeblies of my own, based on some builds out there and of course - the 5-footer) and working on the bottom hull section whenever I get fed up with microscopic bits of white styrene.

I still haven't decided yet whether I want the falcon in flight mode or with the landing gear :-). Oh, and I'm terrified of the moment I start painting the sucker as I've never worked with an airbrush before :-/.

I'm currently almost in the phase where I have to start fiddling with the cockpit (with Acreation PE set of course - never touched PE in my life), thinking about lighting options (no experience whatsoever), waiting for Scratchy's custom dish, weighing pros and cons of creating engine fans under the PE grilles (very scary).

Since this is my first model after a pause of about 24 years (OMG, can't believe it), I am really looking forward to any updates to this thread. So I've got a question for you:

When are you going to post updates? ;-)

mancini said:

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Hi Alaneye!

Have been watching your thread with great interest and amazement. You, some other people on the forum and one bat#$%& crazy Japanese bloke :-) (yes, the one that had created the very long PDF of his insane build) have inspired me a lot in prep phase of my own 1/72 MF build. I am currently finishing the top hull section (with about 200+ custom greeblies of my own, based on some builds out there and of course - the 5-footer) and working on the bottom hull section whenever I get fed up with microscopic bits of white styrene.

I still haven't decided yet whether I want the falcon in flight mode or with the landing gear :-). Oh, and I'm terrified of the moment I start painting the sucker as I've never worked with an airbrush before :-/.

I'm currently almost in the phase where I have to start fiddling with the cockpit (with Acreation PE set of course - never touched PE in my life), thinking about lighting options (no experience whatsoever), waiting for Scratchy's custom dish, weighing pros and cons of creating engine fans under the PE grilles (very scary).

Since this is my first model after a pause of about 24 years (OMG, can't believe it), I am really looking forward to any updates to this thread. So I've got a question for you:

When are you going to post updates? ;-)

You know, I wouldn't worry about your airbrush skillz too much. Other than the primer and the basecoat (including the different panels) not too much needs to be airbrushed. It looks to me as it it can all be done with oil washes and pigments.

I love the progress pics.

The added detail is impressive. I thought the stock kit looked daunting enough
I currently don't have display space, so mine is still un-built.

Beautiful work! Keep it coming.

The work your doing on here is blowing my mind. I really enjoying watching scratch builds for their developing and construction but the detail work on this is amazing. I'm sure most of you all are use to this stuff but this so cool!

I haven't been over here for a bit, I didn't realise anyone had posted since my last one.

mancini - good to hear you are on the path, it's a heck of a build, isn't it? I'm the same as you, not having built a styrene kit for many years. What a way to get back into the hobby eh? lol

h3pilot, GDCarlyle, Chaank many thanks for your words of encouragement.

Well, anyway, I finished my Arnold T1 sculpture, and though I have started a new bust, I feel like having another session or two on the Falcon. When I was moulding the Terminator, if I had any silicone left, I moulded a few bits and pieces off the X Wing and some bits off the Falcon itself. They are a bit rough, but I'm hoping I can use them to help detail the inside of the jaw box.

I'm still scared of the cockpit, but I guess that is where I am going to have to go next. Hopefully some photos soon...wish me luck.

Al

Alaneye,that cockpit stuff looks a bit daunting,and I wouldn't say its easy,but easier than it looks. It was actually the first thing I built. I keep saying to myself I am going to post some pictures of mine,but I keep changing and adding things,which is your fault! Please get back to this so I can see some other thing I want to add/modify. Also waiting for Scratchys Radar Dish as I am too lazy to do it myself.