5 Foot Falcon Replica - ANH

Thanks Doc!
I got the info already. Luckily I already have the parts lol.

 

Hello All,
Just a brief update - LOTS of time/work on all the nuances of weathering/detailing still ongoing, way more time than I expected. Still have a bunch of the little black squares (many different sizes) to airbrush down, need to install the port side docking ring, and finish up the cockpit. But most of the rust, washes and such are almost done.
Lastly will be some final 'filters/oversprays', then the decals go on. Can see the finish line, but it's still a ways out.

 

my god, man!!
can't tell you how stunning this is. even the weathering is perfect!
Bandai might have its Perfect Grade but this is RPF Supermodel status!

 

Better than the original. And I don't say that lightly!

 

I'd have to agree!

 

Me and my still boxed perfect grade are crying........ Just wow

 

A Replica in the truest sense. Using the exact (mostly) parts, etc. Wonderful!

 

Even more stunning in person. ;-)

All these little weathering details are really making this pop! Very inspiring and it’s motivating me to get cracking on the couple models I have in the wings.

Thanks for the great update details!

Dan

 

Wow! Just Wow!

 

When I saw her with just the primer on, I have to be honest, I was worried that such a beautiful model could easily be ruined if the paint job wasn't up to scratch. I had no need to worry, your painting skills are top notch, as faustus said a few posts back, she looks better than the original

J

 

That is absolutely incredible work. So impressive.

 

I would swear thats the studio 5 footer! Exellent!

 

THANKS a Bunch everyone!! Very humbling feedback, really kind! I can't wait to share the final pics with the decals on and final finish. I'm trying my best to stay true to the Original '77 version. Getting close in many areas.
Here's a few more closeups, still needs some additional work in areas, but close. I really enjoyed doing the small 'damage' areas along the mandible truck frame edges.
And... If you were wondering, the radar dish is just set temporarily in place there, thus the 'crooked' look.

 

Wow! You can not tell it from the real thing!

 

That is probably the coolest thing I have ever seen! Three gold stars!!

 

No words!!!

 

I have to echo all the feedback: just amazing! Thanks for sharing the build and the great pics - it has been a blast following your progress.

 

This should go on tour around the country so we can all see it in person. I'd pay to see it up close.

 

Beyond awesome, love it!

 

How are you going to display it once it's done?

SB

 

Absolutely amazing!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Meh.

Just kidding. Home Run out of the park man!!!! Such a joy to see this come to life.

 

Thanks much all!! Should have some pics with Decals in a few days. Happy to discover I have a LOT of the decals needed, some old ones absolutely crumbled or rolled back off, but am working through it and making great progress. Amazing what just some decals do to finish this thing off and start making it really come to life.

 

Is it just me, but every time I see those pics, I have goose-bumps the size of grapes on my body

 

Looking at these pics, i actually, involuntarily, let loose the longest line of expletives ever......

The most incredible build i've EVER seen!

Rich

 

amazing modelling and painting skills, as jaitea mentioned, at the primer stage it looked stunning, I would have frozen then for 6 months afraid to touch it. Stunning. And thank you again for sharing the progress, a real mile marker for other 5 foot builds

 

Thanks very much Everyone!! Much appreciated!! Very kind comments all around.
Here's a few updates with the decals applied. Almost all needed decals are now down on the top/sides. The sharp eyed crowd out there will see just a couple missing that I'm working on getting. Overall, it's awesome to see some of the original decals restored here. HUGE Thanks to Craig Underwood and Mike Reis for hooking me up with some key decals! Still have a bunch to do on the underside, but she's getting there.

 

speechless..

would love to see her next to the old girl. think i'd love them both equally

 

Fantastic!!!

 

It's stunning how the smaller details just add to the effect - it's like there's an inverse correlation between the scale of added detail and the impact of the overall effect in making the model 'pop' and come to life.

Are you going to try to add the modelers' initials in the various hidden places as well?

Dan

 

jaw dropping! awesome!

 

Hands-down the most beautiful reproduction I have ever seen!!!! Just fantastic work!

 

Beautiful! Just beautiful!

 

Beautiful

J

 

Superb paintjob, t2sides.
I was just wondering about your base coat, you mentioned way back that you were thinking of using AS-20, did you go with that?
I like that shade of red you went with too

 

Thanks very much! It's amazing how much detailing is still left to do (small weathering and such), and I still have to get back to the bottom, add all the little rectangles and more washes and weathering, and all the decals under there....Every time I think I'm almost done... More and more...

Like these?



I put mine down where Joe Johnston's went, and Mary Lind's spot has my Wife! (She's a Saint, so she deserves this spot!)

I plan to replace the original model builder names with a few folks that have been key to this project.

 

Oh, love it! Even better than I was thinking with the original ILMers. Very fitting!

Dan

 

Thanks David3!
Nope, AS-20 was too 'cool' of a color at this scale. Believe it or not, what really seemed to nail it was after the black primer, laying down Rustoleum Automotive Sandable Primer (This one is a warm white, other Rustoleum/Primers are too cool also). This stuff goes down very nicely and smooth, and if it does get rough (dry before contact), easily sands down without blemish. But, it's a really good base off-white.
The KEY to getting the overall warm color though is creating transparent layers, primarily lightly coating everything with Floquil Grime, heavier and lighter in appropriate places, then accenting with some other 'filters', like thinned down grays/gray-browns, etc. The red was using Floquil Reds, but needing to 'customize' them until the right hue was achieved. When this thing is all done, I'll get it professionally photographed, as the iPhone pics are always way off than the actual color of my replica.
Hope this helps.

 

Yes, thankyou, cheers!
It looks that good i thought you might have used ArchiveX.
I have 2 Falcons on my bench, the bandai & deago. The bandai is such a phenomenal replica of the 5' I want to do it justice with the best paint job i can give it, the rustoleum however might not be the best at 1/72 scale so will have to experiment. Although I wanted to convert the deago as much as i could to a 1/2scale 5' I realize now, unfortunately, it will never be that, but its been so much fun to work on I have other plans in mind now for that baby.

 

Really beautiful work. The dedication to detail and research is staggering!