5' original falcon..why not????

[MARK M3]

Hi Guys.

As a big Millennium Falcon fan from day one(When I saw it in the movie theatre back in 1977 fly across the screen),I always wanted a kit of THAT version..NOT the ESB or ROTJ..Am I the only one who likes the look of the Big Five Foot Model???

The ESB version has been(as someone else pointed out) done To Death!

Lucas still has the 5' Model so what is the reason we can't seem to get this version in kit form???

Is it Lucas??? to me it's THE MOST Iconic ship from any Star Wars film(yes, even more so than the X-Wing).

 

[Darth Infamous]

I saw the 5 footer at the Smithsonian. I spent almost all my time looking at just this one piece. It is stunning :eek. If I were ever to build a falcon it would be the 5 footer. It was amazing.

Carl

 

[Too Much Garlic]

Unless you build it yourself, there is very little chance of getting one. No company will make it - it's too big, too expensive and they'll not be able to make back what they put into rights, development, production and what-have-you.

 

[Whiskey]

Here's a thread that might interest you!

http://www.therpf.com/f10/early-millennium-falcon-pics-47622/

 

[superjedi]

I saw the 5 footer at the Smithsonian. I spent almost all my time looking at just this one piece. It is stunning :eek. If I were ever to build a falcon it would be the 5 footer. It was amazing.

Carl

I agree completely. I saw the 5-footer at the very first MoM tour at the Smithsonian and burned through 3 rolls of film on it. (Before we ever had a digital camera.) It's a gorgeous piece of modelmaking craftsmanship and I've always loved the overall detailing much better than the 32-incher.
I wanted to make my own Falcon and I did a scratchbuilt version several years ago. I built it to a 32" size, but with the detailing of the 5' model, so 95% of the details were scratched. Took me a while to complete it. . . I think the build spanned 5 years on and off, but it's a central piece in my collection now.

If anyone would like to check out some more pics, check the Photobucket link.
Studio Scale FALCON pictures by superjedi - Photobucket

Eric

 

[Darth Humorous]

To me, the “5-footer” IS THE Falcon.

Mark

 

[themanwoaname]

i remember years ago when potf2 came out, toys r us had these huge falcons hanging from the ceilings. i always wanted one.

what happened to them?

 

[MonsieurTox]

Well the MPC Falcon is based off the 5 footer ! :lol

I'm not a big fan of the 5 footer (I prefer the proportions and the details of the 32") but I would like to see her in the flesh as she is a very impressive model !
One thing I like on the 5 footer and that is not on the smaller model are the decals !

 

[feek61]

I have had an old MPC Falcon (the one with lights) sitting in the closet since 1979. My son pulled it out of the box the other day and said it was about time we built it. He has seen the box sitting around the house his entire life (he is 21). Sounds like a fun father and son project (and much funner then yard work that we usually do together, lol)!

 

[JMChladek]

(As others have posted before I could hit the send button) Technically, the 5 footer was the one used to make the MPC kit and that in tern was scaled down by Revell to make their version. Both models have the three gear configuration of the five footer and in the MPC kit's case, the shape of the cockpit section is more blunted like the 5 footer (the Revell kit I think is more ESB based).

Granted they both need some more detailing and the sidewalls are too tall, but an MPC kit in combination with the resin Blue Moon sidewall set will get you a good start. Then it is just a matter of doing some more greeblie work to the rear engine deck to get it to match the 5 footer more closely. The sloping shape of the 5 footer's body will require a bit more skill though given that all the Falcon kits out there are a bit too flat in their shape profiles.

Technically with the MPC kit available almost continuously since 1979 and the Revell kit based on many of the core features of the MPC kit, it is the 5 footer that has been "done to death" and not the ESB one. Lately though, the ESB one has been getting more stuff done based on it starting with the FineMolds kit in 2005. That said, it would be cool if FineMolds were to perhaps retool their 1/72 Falcon with new pieces to make it more representative of the five footer. But that would require a lot of subtle shape changes to make it really accurate.

One of the reasons why ILM did the ESB Falcon at 32" is apparently a lot of the parts used on the five footer were available in half sizes from different kits, so they were able to scale down many of the greeblies. Others were similar shaped enough to work as stand ins. So a lot of the shapes correspond between both ships, even if up close there are some differences.

In my own case, I have been considering what it would take to build the 1/144 offering as something based more on the 5 footer since I already did the ESB ship with the 1/72 kit. In this scale, except for cutting out the front landing gear housings, much of the work should be easier, although if one was to really make it accurate, the cockpit should be shortened as well (it was shot from the front to disguise its squater shape in the films).

 

[Darth Infamous]

Great Falcon Superjedi. I love the way you captured the tone color and the weathering of the 5 footer too. Nice job.
Carl

I agree completely. I saw the 5-footer at the very first MoM tour at the Smithsonian and burned through 3 rolls of film on it. (Before we ever had a digital camera.) It's a gorgeous piece of modelmaking craftsmanship and I've always loved the overall detailing much better than the 32-incher.
I wanted to make my own Falcon and I did a scratchbuilt version several years ago. I built it to a 32" size, but with the detailing of the 5' model, so 95% of the details were scratched. Took me a while to complete it. . . I think the build spanned 5 years on and off, but it's a central piece in my collection now.

If anyone would like to check out some more pics, check the Photobucket link.
Studio Scale FALCON pictures by superjedi - Photobucket

Eric

 

[Darth Humorous]

Technically with the MPC kit available almost continuously since 1979 and the Revell kit based on many of the core features of the MPC kit, it is the 5 footer that has been "done to death" and not the ESB one.

In my experience, the “5-footer” has only been “done to death” in the guise of the MPC model. Although there is information about the ACTUAL “5-footer” available, finding it has been like searching for a needle in a haystack. And, As much as I’ve discovered, I still don’t know everything. I can say, however, that in my digging, it was nearly impossible NOT to stumble on to a tremendous amount of information about the “32-incher”. That is, in my experience.

Mark

 

[eagle1]

I agree completely. I saw the 5-footer at the very first MoM tour at the Smithsonian and burned through 3 rolls of film on it. (Before we ever had a digital camera.) It's a gorgeous piece of modelmaking craftsmanship and I've always loved the overall detailing much better than the 32-incher.
I wanted to make my own Falcon and I did a scratchbuilt version several years ago. I built it to a 32" size, but with the detailing of the 5' model, so 95% of the details were scratched. Took me a while to complete it. . . I think the build spanned 5 years on and off, but it's a central piece in my collection now.

If anyone would like to check out some more pics, check the Photobucket link.
Studio Scale FALCON pictures by superjedi - Photobucket

Eric

Eric, that is one sweet Falcon!. I checked out your pics and I am totally blown away dude, that is an amazing piece of work. Your detailing to try & match the 5 footer is an incredible achievement & no wonder it took you 5 years on/off.
I think if I ever build a Falcon I will do the same, 32" size with 5 footer detailing, it's more practicle.
I much admire your docking rings, WOW!, not an easy feat to achieve.
Love it!:love
Stu

 

[propologist]

I always wanted to take my Toys R Us Falcon and make it more realistic , but I kinda like the display quality of it

 

[MARK M3]

i agree completely. I saw the 5-footer at the very first mom tour at the smithsonian and burned through 3 rolls of film on it. (before we ever had a digital camera.) it's a gorgeous piece of modelmaking craftsmanship and i've always loved the overall detailing much better than the 32-incher.
I wanted to make my own falcon and i did a scratchbuilt version several years ago. I built it to a 32" size, but with the detailing of the 5' model, so 95% of the details were scratched. Took me a while to complete it. . . I think the build spanned 5 years on and off, but it's a central piece in my collection now.

if anyone would like to check out some more pics, check the photobucket link.
studio scale falcon pictures by superjedi - photobucket

eric

awesome work sir!!!!beautiful

 

[superjedi]

Thanks, guys. Glad there are more 5-footer-lovers out there. Wait. . . that sounds vaguely dirty. :lol

 

[JMChladek]

I admit I love the 5 footer as she appeared for ANH. Her colorings just seemed a little cleaner compared to the slightly browner tones of the five footer as it appeared in ESB after the gear bays were added to the front of the saucer (not sure if the coloring was due to a full repaint and added weathering or if it was just down to better lighting when the LFL archives shot the more recent photos of the 5 footer). Plus those markings, such as the Route 1 triangle and the Champion decals give her a weird charm (same thing with the half Tamiya logos on the X-Wing studio models).

Only thing that seems a little funky on the 5 footer to me is the stubbiness of the cockpit nose. I think ILM knew it looked a little weird in comparison with the set piece, as such, when they filmed it they tried to hide its profile a bit, to make it seem sleeker.

One of these days I'll get back to work on an MPC Falcon I started about a year ago, using the Blue Moon sidewall set. But rather then doing it as another Falcon (since I have a built FMMF now), I am planning to finish it as the Falcon in a previous life, the Stellar Envoy from ROTS (blue trimmed Falcon seen docking at the senate building in the background). The story of it is documented in the novel Millennium Falcon and I've got the concept images from the Making of ROTS book. It is very much the Falcon, but different in spots. Plus I figure with the greeblies being a little different, I don't have to match those on a Falcon exactly since the ship is about 20 years younger (and had at least one major rebuild after it was seen in ROTS).

 

[GeneralFROSTY]

I still have my MPC kit sitting in the closet as well. Now that i've been getting back into modeling and learning a lot of new pro techniques and learning to use some real modeling tools and supplies, I feel more confident about tackling this kit. I have to get those upgrade parts first though!

 

[PHArchivist]

Lately though, the ESB one has been getting more stuff done based on it starting with the FineMolds kit in 2005.

I know in theory the FM is supposed to represent the 32" MF. But in reality, (or strictly speaking), its a unitque bird, what with the:
--Vertical turrent walls
--Non-tapered escape pods (round sections at the outboard end of the tunnels)
--Incorrectly porportioned cockpit
--Down-sized dish
--Mandible angles
--Etcetera

I have been considering what it would take to build the 1/144 offering as something based more on the 5 footer since I already did the ESB ship with the 1/72 kit. In this scale, except for cutting out the front landing gear housings, much of the work should be easier, although if one was to really make it accurate, the cockpit should be shortened as well

Can be done. I did it with my Fine Molds bird without too much trouble.

 

[PHArchivist]

Although there is information about the ACTUAL “5-footer” available, finding it has been like searching for a needle in a haystack. And, As much as I’ve discovered, I still don’t know everything. I can say, however, that in my digging, it was nearly impossible NOT to stumble on to a tremendous amount of information about the “32-incher”. That is, in my experience.

When you say "information", what do you refer to? Write-ups about it, or photos?

Because photos of the 5' model are ALL OVER the place, as it has seen (what seems to me) more exposure at museum displays. I've seen it in person no fewer than three times, and have tons of photos myself.

But the 32" I have NEVER seen in person, and have only come across a single web-site with reference-quality photographs.