5 ft. ANH “Wooden” Falcon

[Searun]

Searun,
Building ANY Studio Scale model is challenging and difficult to say the least ( I take a lot of breaks to do other work).
I keep the forefront thought that what we’re doing is simply building MODELS and in the scale of things in life, it is not too important. It’s supposed to be fun too but ( you know) a lot of the time it’s not.
We do it purely out of love of subject and creativity.

We should probably start a thread titled “ Best Advice for Studio Scale Modellers” for anyone thinking of entering this arena.

Absolutely magnificent Searun!. Such a treat to see the updates & how you are progressing. I can't imagine how hard it is to work in aluminum & brass plate, but boy the results say it all!.
I wondered about weight?. I'm picking its going to be a pretty weighty model?.

Absolutely magnificent Searun!. Such a treat to see the updates & how you are progressing. I can't imagine how hard it is to work in aluminum & brass plate, but boy the results say it all!.
I wondered about weight?. I'm picking its going to be a pretty weighty model?.

Thanks eagle1.

80 lbs. is my estimate when all structure is bolted together. Disc weight by itself was 40 lbs. after skinning, when I was able to step on the bathroom scale while holding it.

It is very interesting that cutting & nibbling .032” aluminum is the easy part with good shears. Most of the armor labor, as with styrene, is making patterns, layout, notching, addressing kit part bench marks and fussing with segment lines. Then there is rework to get things perfect. You certainly appreciate this.

^^
Agreeing 100% with you Pyramidrep We can always look for "tricks-of-the-trade" in terms of techniques/materials, etc...but the main challenge is the mental/physical work and efforts involved.
Big, iconic projects are marathons and, as you said, it's nice to step away and do something else to re-charge mind and body!
I employed the same strategy when I spent 31/2 years building the 2001 Space StationV. I would've gone out of my mind if I had worked on that behemoth straight for that length of time without some kind of break!

 

[Searun]

Several pictures attached of progress to date with a few observations that may be of interest.

1. The Falcon has been placed on an quality grade Lazy Susan base that permits 360 degree rotation on the work bench even with retractable landing. No engine stand yet. Still take the bird apart when I flip it for bottom work.

2. The use of “greeblie modules” place on very thin plates is shown. These assemblies are glued in place once configuration is confirmed. Makes complex layouts, such as engine deck for example, much easier.

3. Started on the disc waist FALGAL sections, thanks to castings. Armor top and bottom at overlap edge easily removed due to temporary “tack up” in advance. Metal on wood literally can be snapped off when using instant glue. Also, one must decide if you want to chamfer the upper and lower edges of those greeblies due to the armor slope. I tried to be extremely careful on selecting the precise disc wall height due to no greeblies. Very hard to see pictures of how the Studio Scale original accomplished this. I did not choose to do what Bandai did on their PG Falcon waist sections.
Exact airfoil selection at trailing edge of the side wall is difficult when not having kit parts in the beginning. Even then, it is a tolerance game.

Looks are deceiving. Have not even started on the dozen of so maintenance pits & radar, turrets, electrical and enormous amount of greeblie duplicates and very small kit parts remaining. Several more years of retirement fun at the minimum. Good that I am addicted to this.

 

[Bjorn]

She's really looking the part Searun. Very impressive updates!

 

[joberg]

Seeing all of those MF builds over the years, yours will be as special, if not more, because of the overall material selection you've opted to use for this model. That paneling is impressive and is really showing, already, the wear and tear that we all love to see.
The landing gears are also a sight to admire!!

 

[eagle1]

I'm loving the 'uniqueness' of your build. It's not easy to work in metal, I don't know this myself, well I do, as my dad is a model engineer & worked with all manner of metals to realise his builds, which were 1/4 motorcycles.
So with the metal armor plating & wood & kit parts, working features & following along the measures of the 5 footer miniature, it's truly something to behold!.

 

[Searun]

Started on the disc maintenance pits using kit parts available with some place keeper fabrication due to duplicates and more research needed on identification “where the sun does not shine.”
The 3 pictures are (top rear port, bottom port & starboard) are work in progress to indicate some piping layout, tank deck cutting and slope of pontoon bridge girders.
Notice the leading edge of the Chieftan is a strip of detail cut from the hull remanent stumbled across in the Chronicale pictures. Thanks to the veteran who told me to save everything.

 

[Bjorn]

That's some serious plumbing work there. Looking great!

 

[Studio Kitbash]

Searun,

With all that glorious brightwork piping, I do half-seriously expect your Falcon to produce perfect capuccinos every time! She looks totally 'functional'!

 

[David3]

Lol.. no its more like the guy in the original Time Machine movie when he made the mini version first that worked.. that thing's actually going to make the jump to hyperspace

 

[joberg]

Don't tempt him guys...no seriously; great update Searun

 

[Searun]

Born, SK & David 3,
Clever comments gentlemen. Appreciate it. A sharp eye will note that adjustment, cleanup and ever present rework as completion proceeds. For example, my large casting has some "leprosy" and possibly remove the fittings on top of the Centurion part. Different places, different details.

In any case, got confused a few times by ESB vs. ANH pit size when it comes to the bottom disc pits.

 

[Searun]

Don't tempt him guys...no seriously; great update Searun

Got me Joberg. Do love Rome’s favorite eye opener.

 

[Searun]

Started on the top turret. Pictures show the status. Although concave to accept the how the quad gun when vertical, it is interesting that the window frame design is very similar to the cockpit nose. Rather unique. Some kit parts and castings in place. The recessed 1/35 Italeria Semovete machine gun halves appear to replicate auxiliary defense that erects upon demand.

 

[joberg]

Great update Searun! It's looking very good from where I stand

 

[Searun]

Made a quad gun mock-up to go along with the upper turret bay window and changed out its temporary parts as I went along. Fascinated how the original designers created a full 360 arc of top gun coverage without turret rotation or interference with a concave window and its frames. Interesting that careful construction measurements validated their design of gun size, shape & pivot point locations.
Pictures show some cannablization of old RC race car parts, use if jigs, experimenting of shot gun type rifle barrel ends etc.
Still have some work to do on gun barrel and yoke. The next one will be more accurate.

 

[joberg]

Great update Searun...seems like the gun pivot in many directions

 

[Searun]

Thanks Joberg.

Gun pivot is typically perpendicular to the barrel. The Falcon’s unique arrangement mounts thie pivot parallel. The result is the gun rolls when it rotates.

 

[Searun]

Reworking the previous metal for the top span of 13 full size flaps. Did not have the “M8 Munition Carrier” blade” before estimating width.
Learned Flaps are about 1/32 inch wider than the blade. Then used 1/32 strips to set the gap between flap trapezoid shapes. Alignment also had to match with the “Hummel” towers located on the “Hurricane” wing.
Pictures show:
1. Port side flaps in place with actuators & blade being adjusted. Note blades slightly shorter than flaps.
2. Starboard half shows in progress flap alignment method with the 1/32 strip setting the gaps.
3. Centerline and the as-built outer edge flap radius and arc length. Rear engine deck area is critical. It actually determines precise flap width and match the gaps as they “stack up” to the left and right of center. Flap trailing edge depth may be off a little as long as actuator, blade and Centurion tread assemble fits due to the fact that the blades overlap flap tops.
4. The outer Starboard side end controlled by the outboard “Hummel” tower is a mock-up of aileron control. Have not figured out thrust reverser design yet.
Sorry if this is description is as clear as mud. But, that is why there are so many shots on the web of eagle-1 sitting down behind his Falcon working on his rear engine deck flaps.

 

[joberg]

Beautiful workmanship Searun; the bar is high with you build for sure

 

[JSchneider]

It all looks amazing SeaRun! Your material choice, engineering, and design skill is inspiring to watch! And if you ever figure out a cylinder design (and found materials that can be easily used) for aileron control, I’m sure a few of us here would want to pick your brain a bit. Haha!

In awe of you build skills here!