Bandai release schedule

[Attirex]

Bandai has been done with producing more ships for awhile now and is in low power mode, especially with new movies only on the horizon somewhere. My guess is going forward, we can expect more figure tie-ins for the various series coming to Disney+, but that will be it. Sorry, no 1/48 Y-Wings or Imperial Shuttles, as cool as that would be.

The good news is 3D printing has come a long way, and there is a thriving garage kit market out there. Take advantage! I just built a 3D printed TIE Bomber and Rebel Transport, and now my SW ship collection is more or less complete. I don't need no stinkin Bandai.

 

[Analyzer]

I wonder if they have or might consider something similar to the HasLabs route

Basically open up to backers, once they get x amount of dedicated backers pledging to pay, then they go ahead with a production run

That way they ensure they can at least cover their cost plus some kind of profit margin without first taking a risk on developing a kit that has an uncertain demand

It would let them do some of the more fringe subjects, or larger tools without losing money when no one buys them because they might be too large, expensive, and/or niche

If not enough backers, no loss for them

 

[Inquisitor Peregrinus]

I am hoping, if nothing else, we get a motorless re-pop of the 1:48 X-Wing and a partial re-tool of the PG Falcon with ESB lower hull pieces. Those are the large-scale efforts I can see costing them the least for return-on-investment.

Tangentially related, but I'll ask here, since people who do Star Wars modeling read this: Anyone know of a 3D model of the conjectural cargo modules the Falcon (or similar freighters) would push?

Alternatively... They bear a striking resemblance to the Conveyex cars in Solo. D'you think those might be standardized cargo modules, designed to be carried by or aboard starships or by rail, same as our real-world cargo boxes that go on ships, trains, and trucks? A finalized version of the above?

 

[RedheadKevin]

When I saw the Conveyex cars, my first thought was "Hey, those are the cargo pods the Falcon can push!" I always envisioned them as a standardized cargo box, like a shipping container is on Earth.

I'm really excited about the bare Boba head. I can't wait to see them on Clonetrooper models. I wonder how many parts this new Boba will share with the OG Boba kit?

 

[David3]

could be any configuration you fancy really

Falcon top view is by Fröhich https://www.artstation.com/chrisgfx

 

[Inquisitor Peregrinus]

David3 -- a little cluttered and not the most organic fit with the ship, but I like it.

 

[David3]

yeah.. needs a good beating

 

[Analyzer]

I am hoping, if nothing else, we get a motorless re-pop of the 1:48 X-Wing and a partial re-tool of the PG Falcon with ESB lower hull pieces. Those are the large-scale efforts I can see costing them the least for return-on-investment.

Tangentially related, but I'll ask here, since people who do Star Wars modeling read this: Anyone know of a 3D model of the conjectural cargo modules the Falcon (or similar freighters) would push?

View attachment 1556489
Alternatively... They bear a striking resemblance to the Conveyex cars in Solo. D'you think those might be standardized cargo modules, designed to be carried by or aboard starships or by rail, same as our real-world cargo boxes that go on ships, trains, and trucks? A finalized version of the above?

The containers from the Geminon Freighter in BSG could look the part and would be an easy mod either physically to cut off/sand down the cockpit and engine areas, or use an stl editing program to cut them off in the digital model

Geminon Freighter from Galactica ragtag fleet by DavidBogaerts

Wonderfull detailed model made by Astrofossil Cleaned up the inside so it's now one part. Cut the model in 2 sections 'back and front for easy printing. Also cut off the bridge and engines sections so you can print the MID-sections with no infill (0 bottom/top layers and 0% infill + 3 or 4...

www.thingiverse.com

 

[Hunk a Junk]

30 minutes in Tinkercad later...

Just the basic forms, but with some more time and greeblies it could be something.

 

[Inquisitor Peregrinus]

Good lord, sir. I really need to stop slacking on my CAD learnin'.

 

[Hunk a Junk]

Good lord, sir. I really need to stop slacking on my CAD learnin'.

Tinkercad is actually perfect for a project like this. It's just combining basic shapes. The limitation comes with making more complex curves or blending shapes into each other. It's not great for organic things, but for most Star Wars vehicles? Yeah. It can do it (within reason).

 

[Hunk a Junk]

20 minutes. And I'm less than a novice. In fact, 4th graders right now are laughing because this is so basic, but with enough time and patience I think I could make a pretty accurate replica. Build in pieces, scale to 1/72, export as an .stl, plug it into the Elegoo Mars... bam. Anyway, not to derail, but I'm not going to get too upset about Bandai. They set a high bar for other manufacturers and I'm grateful for the kits we've got. They showed what is possible and if anything I'm more inspired to follow their lead and keep striving for accuracy and detail. I'm just glad this technology exists and it's only going to get better, cheaper, and easier to use as time goes on.

 

[Analyzer]

I think we all need a Hunk a Junk TinkerCad tutorial!

 

[Hunk a Junk]

I think we all need a Hunk a Junk TinkerCad tutorial!

Ha! YouTube. Seriously, I watched maybe 30 minutes worth of tutorials, one I swear was by a 10-year-old girl! It's stupid simple. It's just dragging pre-made shapes, stretching or squashing them, combining them with other shapes, making holes to cut sections out of shapes, etc. I made this exhaust pipe thing for my Mando N-1 build in like 15 minutes.

 

[TazMan2000]

Yeah. I design almost all my stuff in TinkerCad. Once you get used to the interface (doesn't take long), you can Boolean (add and subtract geometry) to make a lot of complex shapes. As Hunk a Junk suggests, it's not too great for organic objects. I would love if it would have chamfer/fillet and smooth functions, but I don't think that AutoDesk will upgrade the program with that anytime soon.
Look at some of my work and you can see what an amateur can do:

Browning M2HB, M2A1, M3 & AN/M2 machine gun 3D printed - Terminator RSB-80?

A few years back I scratch built a Browning M2HB in wood/plastic and metal. It was moderately accurate in terms of LxWxH, but I always wanted to do one better. These weapons, and different models have been in countless movies since World War 2 and is still in continuous service in the US. It was...

www.therpf.com

Phalanx Close-In Weapon System 1/9 Scale

Designing this partially in 3D. Block 1B version. TazMan2000

www.therpf.com

SPACE 1999: Moon Buggy 1/6 scale.

Since this has progressed more than just a 3D design I decided to create a separate thread. The Amphicat had a few models, but the earlier bodies generally remained the same. Trailer clearance/marker penny lights were just about the perfect size for the headlights. The next couple of days I...

www.therpf.com

20mm Oerlikon Cannon

This weapon was in quite a few war flicks. Most recently seen in a Loki episode. Very sci-fi looking if a few details are changed. I don't plan on making this full sized since the gun is 7.25 feet long without the mounting, shoulder butts and the sighting accoutrements, but it would be tempting...

www.therpf.com

Tinkercad also has a lot of downloadable STLs. Careful, there is a lot of crap that people have posted, that are just a couple of primitive shapes put together, probably by children (hopefully).

TazMan2000

 

[Galactican]

Wow! I am impressed!

The good news is 3D printing has come a long way, and there is a thriving garage kit market out there. Take advantage! I just built a 3D printed TIE Bomber and Rebel Transport, and now my SW ship collection is more or less complete. I don't need no stinkin Bandai.

I agree. Sadly any new company getting the Star Wars model kit license will start all over again and give us the nth version of an X-Wing or TIE fighter. Getting some cool new stuff like a big Tantive IV will take ages now IF someone is willing to take the risk to make it, so yes, 3D printing seems to be the most viable option as of now.

 

[Hunk a Junk]

Getting some cool new stuff like a big Tantive IV will take ages now IF someone is willing to take the risk to make it, so yes, 3D printing seems to be the most viable option as of now.

I do have some hope that R2 will surprise us within the next few years with a Tantive IV. They've been fairly responsive when it comes to Trek and 1999 kits, and they have to know that a blockade runner is high (if not the highest) on most people's new tool wish list.

 

[Galactican]

I do have some hope that R2 will surprise us within the next few years with a Tantive IV. They've been fairly responsive when it comes to Trek and 1999 kits, and they have to know that a blockade runner is high (if not the highest) on most people's new tool wish list.

Right, I haven't considered that.

 

[TazMan2000]

Considering that the Tantive IV was the first ship seen in the saga (Episode IV), you would think it would have been demanded more.

TazMan2000

 

[Attirex]

Wow! I am impressed!


I agree. Sadly any new company getting the Star Wars model kit license will start all over again and give us the nth version of an X-Wing or TIE fighter. Getting some cool new stuff like a big Tantive IV will take ages now IF someone is willing to take the risk to make it, so yes, 3D printing seems to be the most viable option as of now.

Yep! Recently completed a TIE Bomber and Rebel Transport, not bad for 3D prints? And will get only better and cheaper, like any new-ish tech. I think the only downside is that some 3D printing enthusiasts will end up with homes literally filled top to bottom with ships and figures. Not good for hoarders? So have to start asking--if you can print anything, should you lol?