FineMolds 1/72 Millennium Falcon build

[Gunpowder]

Well i really never thought that i would be building another one of these. These kits are so rare and expensive nowadays. Luckily i am thanks to Ian at Heritage.
I am going to be lighting this and basically trying to make it the best one i have built so far. I already have a built one at my Parents house in Devon so this one will be for my home.

I have started with the engine lights. Ive tried many ways of lighting this in the past but none ever really worked that great. Normal LEDs give hot spots of lights. I need a solid glow. I have also used Electroluminescent sheet which worked well but had an annoying hum from the invertor. This time i have used wide angle LEDs. I have not used these before but they are great. Heres a shot of them in situe. Ignore my wiring. I should have made a circuit board but i didnt have the stuff , i also didnt have the thinest of wire either but nevermind. It will all be hidden anyway.

Here they are lit up.

Add a thin piece of plasticard and the grill and it looks exactly as i planned.

I have also made a start on the cockpit rear bulkhead. I needed to get an overall random pattern. I have drilled lots of holes ready for the fibre optics. Hopefully i can get this painted and the fibres fitted today. Heres how it looks against the light

Thats it for now , more later....

 

[Too Much Garlic]

I like what I'm seeing. Keep it going! :cheers

 

[NAZGÛL]

I second that! More pics.

 

[JMChladek]

Indeed you are lucky to be doing another one of these. I would love to acquire a second one myself to light as looking back on my first build, it was one of the most enjoyable experiences I've ever had building a model and I loved the result when finished.

 

[Gunpowder]

I have made a good start on the cockpit today. Added the fibre optics and i also drilled though C-3POs eyes and added fibre optics. I havent painted the ends of the fibres yet so the lights are all white at the moment. I still need to add more to the center console yet.

Here is the LED switched on.

Ignore the naff painting its all just rough at the moment

 

[Gunpowder]

Anyway , cockpit is nearly finished, I just need to add Leia. Im pleased with the results. One thing is for sure , im sold on the wide angle LEDs. I painted the ends of the fibre optics with glass paint. Much better than having 3 different colour LEDs.

I suppose you want to see it with the lights on? Oh OK then!

 

[Gunpowder]

Heres another shot to show off threepios eyes.

 

[propsculptor]

Very Cool!!

 

[Pauleysolo]

Nice!!

 

[SurfingDoc]

Great attention to detail

 

[vaderdarth]

Very nice

 

[Gunpowder]

Thanks Chaps
The cockpit is now finished and some exterior detail added. I also added Leia to the cockpit. The figures look better in real life btw. Its a nice break after working on the star destroyer.

 

[trekman1017]

The detail is amazing, keep up the good work.

 

[nightrider]

Lookin good man.:thumbsup

 

[Gunpowder]

Thanks.
One of the best mods that can be made to this kit is to cut out the notches in the armour. Takes a little bit of time but its well worth it.
Here it is before

And after

The undercarriage can be posed both up and down. Heres the built undercarriage legs

Im still not sure on how im going to proceed. I was going to make 3 switches to turn on the cockpit , engine and gunwell/landing lights. I may just use 1 switch to put them all on at once.

Heres some of the miscellanious parts that i have built too.

 

[DS Operative]

Great work so far, I'm watching your progress with enthusiasm. I'm taking notes for when I eventually build mine.

I'm a little confused by your before-and-after pictures of the armor and the notches that you cut because the pictures don't appear to be taken from the same angle or of the same piece-- am I wrong? Where are the notches that you cut?

Keep posting pics of your progress! I love watching the "build process" threads and I love the engine lights and cockpit lights. Awesome!

 

[Gunpowder]

Great work so far, I'm watching your progress with enthusiasm. I'm taking notes for when I eventually build mine.

I'm a little confused by your before-and-after pictures of the armor and the notches that you cut because the pictures don't appear to be taken from the same angle or of the same piece-- am I wrong? Where are the notches that you cut?

Keep posting pics of your progress! I love watching the "build process" threads and I love the engine lights and cockpit lights. Awesome!

The before shot is between the engine and docking ring , the after shot is between the docking ring and cockpit.

 

[EvanW]

If you don't mind my asking. What kind of "glass paint" did you use?

Thanks,

Evan

Anyway , cockpit is nearly finished, I just need to add Leia. Im pleased with the results. One thing is for sure , im sold on the wide angle LEDs. I painted the ends of the fibre optics with glass paint. Much better than having 3 different colour LEDs.

I suppose you want to see it with the lights on? Oh OK then!

 

[Firespray]

Great job. I look forward to seeing it completed.

 

[TheRoachOn12]

So much detail, great job!