First model in decades- Bandai Millenium Falcon

[DARTH SABER]

I think the last model I built was when I was about 18 and it was an X-Wing.
I like my models pretty small (so they dont take up much room) but with lots of details.
A couple of months ago I saw Bandai's new Star Wars line and was itching to get back into the game.
Well, I finally pulled the trigger and got a new airbrush and all the materials and thought it was time to try my midelling skilled again.
I was hoping i didnt screw up.

The first in line is the Bandai Falcon.
I wanted it it to be based on the Smithsonian 5 footer.
I made a fee minor mods, but nothing crazy as I dont have thr skilled for that.
I replaced the radar, turret window frames and the round grills in thr back.

I had a friend 3 print a reservoir for the new dish-

 

[3Dsf]

Awesome. Glad to see I'm not the only one getting the mad idea to make a model after decades. How did you get the angle for the dish platform to work? Trial and error?

 

[DARTH SABER]

Awesome. Glad to see I'm not the only one getting the mad idea to make a model after decades. How did you get the angle for the dish platform to work? Trial and error?

Yeah, pretty much trial and error.
Test, file, test, file, test, etc..

Luckily it didnt take too long.


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[DARTH SABER]

Some more progress-

 

[Bergquist]

Really nice! Are you lighting her up?


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[DARTH SABER]

If i were to light her up i would have to go with FO...thats beyond my skills.
Dont know anything about electronics. :/

Maybe ill build another one down the road and brush up on my lighting.

 

[vj mojo]

Nice job, the weathering is looking good.

 

[DARTH SABER]

Nice job, the weathering is looking good.

Thanks!

After being sick and sleeping most of the day yesterday i did manage to some late night progress -

 

[Bergquist]

If i were to light her up i would have to go with FO...thats beyond my skills.
Dont know anything about electronics. :/

Maybe ill build another one down the road and brush up on my lighting.

The electronic bit can fearly easy be done if you dont want anything very advanced.
But the whole process with the FO is quite a challenge for me since its my first time.

 

[Bergquist]

Did you mount the decals last, after paint and wethering, maybe over a clear coat?


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[DARTH SABER]

Yeah im planning on a clear coat. Cant decide whether to go with satin or flat.

Ive also heard horror stories regarding clear coats so im still on the fence.


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[Axlotl]

Horror stories? Do tell.

 

[Toadmeister]

Questions: your grey panels look good to me color-wise. Did you use kit decals or paint them?

Reason I ask is because my kit decals were very blue-gray. I was wondering if Bandai corrected them.

 

[DARTH SABER]

There was a thread around here regarding someone and their clear coat issue...cant find it though.

Basically stuff like the clear coat not being all that clear and fogging up the colors on the model, or reactions between the clear coat and the paint.

I used all Vellejo acrylic on my falcon with some pastel powder brushed on.
I dont think a Vellejo clear coat will effect it but I will test it out none the less.
I basically just doing it to seal up the paIntjob and vanish the decal borders.




Has anyone had experence with Vallejo flat or satin clear coat??

- - - Updated - - -

Questions: your grey panels look good to me color-wise. Did you use kit decals or paint them?

Reason I ask is because my kit decals were very blue-gray. I was wondering if Bandai corrected them.

No, I only used the decals for te little logos and graphics on the Falcon.


I didnt think the Bandai panel colors were too accurate so I painted the panels myself.

 

[DARTH SABER]

Added some more little details and even used some of the remaining panel decals to create custom markings and logos whicb were not provided with the kit.

Already started on the underside, masked and painted the red markings, and already masked for the greys.

Btw i thought it was interesting to see how the look of the falcon changes with lighting.

Here are a couple of pics taken in my kitchen with the flourenscent lighting.
One with a white paper towel underneath and another with a the darker counter-

 

[blakeh1]

Excellent work.

Welcome back to the hobby

 

[DARTH SABER]

Thanks Blakeh!


Uggg...so i was just putting masking tape on the bottom of the falcon and the radar dish snapped in two.. :/

I wasnt even pressing down that hard on it.

Theres also something up with that radar dish from Shapeways,
It doesnt take paint very well. The slightest bump and the paint and primer comes off.

 

[3Dsf]

Acrylic is very brittle plastic, sadly.

Did you clean the part before painting? Shapeways uses wax as a support medium and every trace must be removed before priming.

 

[DARTH SABER]

Yeah i washed it.
I managed to glue the piece back on and painted over yhe crack line. Barely noticeable.

 

[Dreamcrazy]

Beautifull paint job and weathering. What base color did you use? It looks really good.