1:1 Millennium Falcon Cockpit Replica - Group Build

BigBigDave said:

Well... it could be FROM anything, but it can't BE anything... it's not a paper plate... or a pie tin... or a bag of feathers... so...

What models of aircraft did the original designers use stuff from? There are some very promising-looking vacuum pumps in the aircraft world:
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Bag of feathers? Maybe not... but I'm still holding out!

I'm seeing MF cockpit lighting in buffer bag bubbles at work!

Hostamon said:

I'm seeing MF cockpit lighting in buffer bag bubbles at work!
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WOW! I see it too... I can't turn away!

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smoothrat said:

Great work!

I'm hoping that the search might also turn up the part (or parts) that make up this piece.

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Do we know if this is a metal piece or a vacuformed plastic cover to something?

Do we know if this is a metal piece or a vacuformed plastic cover to something?

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I suspect it's a found piece (or pieces), which they then vacuformed to create multiple copies (it's found in many places in the SW universe.)

smoothrat said:

I suspect it's a found piece (or pieces), which they then vacuformed to create multiple copies (it's found in many places in the SW universe.)

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The original designers were very good at reusing parts - but in very imaginative ways

Hey Gang,

Trying to post but Photobucket is going through its yearly quirks and updates... :facepalm

Hi Gang,

FINALLY!!! Photobucket is letting me upload images.

Saturday quickly turned into a bad day for the laser cutter. I had at least 4 hours or recuts spread over almost 8 hours of attempts... And I just got word that the laser cutter is now down completely with a blown fuse and we get to go fix...

:facepalm

But all is not lost... Enjoy!

I found these little tiny micro mini switches and bought a few hoping they would be small enough to either use or cast for the 1/4 scale cockpit






How cool would that have been? Turns out they were just a bit too big...


I was able to get a lot done on the 1/4 scale model to include a new interior platform and greeblies! I was originally just going to glue the interior platform to the larger 28" "bulkheads" but decided that making this a giant puzzle where everything fit together made much more sense


The base at the bottom - this will DEF see a new design


Making sure the door and frame are still to scale


The interior platform


The platform saw a major redesign as the joists now extend into the bulkheads making alignment easy


The joists are now slotted making it a solid structure


The new rear bulkhead showing the interior platform alignment holes - note the cut outs in the door as well




I then cut a new nose transition bulkhead with corresponding holes for the platform to align






Making sure everything still aligned - YES!


The platform is ready for some adhesive!






I then laser cut these outer edge joists but will redesign them to be much longer. I still have to include the door track area, cockpit entrance and part of the corridor! That's going to be fun!


These are approx 9" but when all is said and done I will have to cut 16 joists that will be 18-24"+ long!


I then laser cut some greeblies... and this is where the issues with the laser cutter began. It took 4 attempts / hours to cut this little assortment of greeblies












This was one of those panels that just refused to cut...


UGH










Once I figured out the problem, adjusted the settings... she blast her way through the cuts!


Look how fine that cut is!












4 hours to cut these... UGH


But let's at least see how it all looks...










OK OK OK... let's add some primer!




Gotta love the level of detail the laser cutter can achieve... when it works










I'm off to the warehouse and get some time in with the 1:1 scale version. I have to get the platforms finished up and ready. Once the casters have been added construction can officially begin with a new shelf and then Volvo panels and canopy...

Stay Tuned!

This is to insane for words! Wow, just wow

Hi Gang,

The main platform is finally finished!










The four side nose panels will be replaced and permanently attached with 1/8" MDF. Once that's done, those, along with all the horizontal surfaces to include the main flooring and nav chair platforms will be covered with a corrugated rubber runner. It's going to look awesome!






No with only 41% more MF.


I love it when a flat working surface finally works in my favor!




More to Follow!

The platform looks more user friendly that way. As for the 1/6 cockpit, if you do a kit, I guess you'll have to mold all of the greeblies (resin)?
Next thing you know, you'll laser cut a 2001 Space Station just for the fun of it

Man, I never get bored reading or find any stand still in this thread! Sometimes I bet it feels that way though, with the back and forth you've gone though(especially with making the base of the cockpit try to work better in your favor), but you always come out ahead.

So much detail, effort and hard work involved it's difficult to remember that you guys aren't building a "REAL" Falcon. :cheers


I love seeing the little one coming together too! Really cool and a great way to test the practicality of something smaller before trying it out for the 1:1 version.

Fuzzual said:

This is to insane for words! Wow, just wow

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Thank you my friend!

joberg said:

The platform looks more user friendly that way. As for the 1/6 cockpit, if you do a kit, I guess you'll have to mold all of the greeblies (resin)?
Next thing you know, you'll laser cut a 2001 Space Station just for the fun of it

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Hey J,

Thanks! I'm really happy with the platform. It might seem trivial to most but the previous platform(s) was SO heavy it made transporting VERY difficult. Now, one person can lift by themselves - and that was the objective.

A 1/4 scale kit... I've only just scratched the surface with the greeblies. I'll have to think this one through. I can laser cut ALL the different pieces / greeblies and let the modeler put everything together as to allow for their own interpretation or I could make a a few masters and take molds. Either way, it's a long process... I'm working with Izzy now on the seats and Nav Chairs. That's going to be fun!

2001? I was watching 2010 over the weekend and thought how fun it would be to build a full scale pod!

Solos blaster said:

Man, I never get bored reading or find any stand still in this thread! Sometimes I bet it feels that way though, with the back and forth you've gone though(especially with making the base of the cockpit try to work better in your favor), but you always come out ahead.
So much detail, effort and hard work involved it's difficult to remember that you guys aren't building a "REAL" Falcon. :cheers

I love seeing the little one coming together too! Really cool and a great way to test the practicality of something smaller before trying it out for the 1:1 version.

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Hey SB,

Thanks so much! The back and forth has been both a blessing and a curse. The biggest "Back" I'm facing is my desire to redo ALL the panels with the counter sunk LEDs and laser cut Formica. It would clean up the edges so nicely! If I have time before our next event, I'm DEF going to consider it.

The level of detail we're putting into this is just the same as if we were building the real thing (which we will eventually do). We're trying VERY hard to pay homage and respect to those original designers and builders who gave us the coolest hunk of junk in the galaxy!

The 1/4 scale has been a nice distraction and lots of fun as well! It's DEF a step by step process - as Izzy would know with his 1/6 scale version also based on the 1:1 scale. Once the 1/4 scale "kit" is complete I'm sending one to Fuzz to look over and put together. He's the harshest and most brutal critic I know!

I have to tell you, this thread is always so motivating for me! Whenever I am wasting time I remind myself, "somewhere out there, SofaKing1 is WORKING! I have to keep moving on my own projects!"

Question - what made you settle on the 1/4 scale for the smaller version?

Oh, that nice, level seam looks so pretty. Shelf coming soon. Can't wait to see.

mattkelly said:

I have to tell you, this thread is always so motivating for me! Whenever I am wasting time I remind myself, "somewhere out there, SofaKing1 is WORKING! I have to keep moving on my own projects!"

Question - what made you settle on the 1/4 scale for the smaller version?

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Hey MK,

Thanks... I have NO IDEA what's keeping me motivated. If I could bottle it I would make millions!

The 1/4 scale started simply as a test to see whether a 2 layer (1/8" MDF and Formica or MDF or Acrylic) approach made sense for what would become the countersunk/back layer LEDs and Acrylic 1" tile top layer placement/guide. At 1/4 scale, it seemed like a good size. I had so much fun with that first initial cut one thing lead to another and here we are! I don't think anybody has done a 1/4 scale screen accurate model so...

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Operascot said:

Oh, that nice, level seam looks so pretty. Shelf coming soon. Can't wait to see.

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I ran my hand across the transition... nice and smooth... you would have been proud.

Would you need LFL's permission / blessing in order to sell the kits? I know it's very early, but do you have any rough ideas on cost? I'm sure there would be a great deal of time and effort on your part to produce them.

trainman said:

Would you need LFL's permission / blessing in order to sell the kits? I know it's very early, but do you have any rough ideas on cost? I'm sure there would be a great deal of time and effort on your part to produce them.

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Hey T,

I'm still looking into that very thing. I'm well past 25 hours at the laser cutter and I still haven't designed the nose, center console, corridor or the cockpit greeblies. I don't foresee the greeblies being more than 5 hours and I always have the option to create molds. I'm probably looking at 3-6 sheets of 4x8' 1/8" MDF and 1 4x8' sheet of 1/4" MDF. In all... I'm probably looking 30-40 hours of cut time per kit - that's a LOT of cutting. Fortunately, the 1/8" MDF cuts like butter and if I plan it correctly, I can minimize the amount of cutting.

I have no idea what the cost would be at this time - DEF mid to high 3 figures??? If there is a large enough response, I'll DEF consider it. But they would be kits only - nothing finished.

Hope this helps?

If you did kits, I think 1/6 scale makes much more sense because you can find figures for it. I'm not aware of much that comes in 1/4 scale.