MR Falcon Landing gears

[GF]

This would be a nice project,


I was thinking to make aluminum landing gears for my MR falcon, these would mainly serve as a stand for landing position I hate the mirror base, takes way too much space, I always preffered the landing position anyways.

The main struts and feet would be aluminum for strenght, the rest of the details can be made of plastic.

With the landing gears people can display the falcon almost anywhere and require way less space, these would have a flat base top for the falcon to sit on securely, when viewed from most angles the landing gears would look like part of the ship.

I currently have my falcon on a custom base sitting on simulated landing gears (4x cylindrical padded shot glasses) the weight is distributed evenly, the falcon is pretty solid anyways. This would be a great group project, would need some blueprints.


GFollano

 

[nightrider]

That's awesome GF. I displayed my first Falcon this way for a while resting on four rectangular wooden supports I made. To my taste the Falcon looks far better displayed in this position and I've been wondering when someone would make landing gear supports for the ship to rest on. They could have the bay doors on them and it would look like they were the real landing gear.:thumbsup

BTW your bird looks fantastic, it was my wallpaper for some time before I got my new one.

 

[GF]

That's awesome GF. I displayed my first Falcon this way for a while resting on four rectangular wooden supports I made. To my taste the Falcon looks far better displayed in this position and I've been wondering when someone would make landing gear supports for the ship to rest on. They could have the bay doors on them and it would look like they were the real landing gear.:thumbsup

BTW your bird looks fantastic, it was my wallpaper for some time before I got my new one.

Yes I remember, sorry for the crappy photos

GFollano

 

[Whiskey]

Sounds Like a cool project!

Im currently doing the landing gears for my 5' Falcon. What I have are preliminary drawings to get the right measurements snce there arent very many reference pics. If you want, I can send you a pic of what I have already. Ive also contacted Millennia Models(sp?) for photo-etched baffels(since they made them for the FM Kit). Let me know.

Edward

 

[Jedi Dade]

This would require significant cutting on of the gear bays... While I applaud the general idea I think that cutting on a replica of this value would take more balls then I have...

Jedi Dade

 

[Lancer]

falcon kits did resin sidewalls and landing assemblies for the old AMT? I think it was kit. they've been around a while. you coudl always get a set and use them as reference to scale up to the MR falcon size

 

[BrundelFly]

You mean...like this?

 

[GF]

This would require significant cutting on of the gear bays... While I applaud the general idea I think that cutting on a replica of this value would take more balls then I have...

Jedi Dade

I think you misread my post, these will be supports in the design of accurate landing gears, no cutting, of course no one would want to cut up their expensive falcon, these wouldn't be permanent, with the open bay door you couldn't see unless you flip the falcon. Right now my falcon is sitting on four plain 3" high cylinders, imagine the look with the 5 landing gears replica as supports, it would look great!!!

GFollano

 

[GF]

You mean...like this?

Frank that's AWESOME!!!!

That's what MR should have done.

It would be awesome if you would offer kits of your landing gears, with a few mods these could easily apply to the MR falcon idea, could be cast in metal or something solid, actually as long as the studs are metal they will be strong enough.

GFollano

 

[nightrider]

Yeah, what GF is talking about is basically five pedestals that are made to match the landing gear and would be flat on top for the bottom of the ship to rest on. If they were done with a bay door on each side that would hide the top of the platform and make them look as though they were coming right out of the ship. From what I remember in the film I believe the bay doors are supposed to be retractable, as I don't recall seeing them when the Falcon's gear was down, but I think for this design it might add to the effect.

 

[Jedi Dade]

So these would be like little pedestals that the falcon would just "rest on"? Without the pedestals permenently mounted to a base I woudn't go that route... too much room for disaster if something "shifts" a bit... Additionally you'd need to apply some kind of soft surface to the edges rubbing on the MR falcon underside to avoid scratching. All in all it seems to me to be one of those ideas that sounds great but isn't all that practical - unless you are building one from scratch and making it structurally sound...

I agree though Franks gear looks great... One of the perks of building your own
I hate it when I'm the kill-joy :wacko

Jedi Dade

 

[Dexvader]

Interested.

 

[nightrider]

Had mine resting on four blocks of similar size at one time and it was adequately stable, albeit not child proof.

 

[nightrider]

I had an idea while thinking on what Jedi Dade just said. What about having a base about the size of your pedestal GF that has the gear physically attached to it? If the gear were made right it would simply be a matter of taking a square base, I'm thinking something with the look of the death star hanger floor, and having the center poles that go into the feet solid aluminium so they can be tapped and then bolts threaded in from underneath. That would be quite stable, although a bit more ambitious a project.

 

[GF]

The landing gear would have a flat top the size of the bay doors with felt on it for stability, mine is currently on four cylinder with felt, and because of the weight I can move the falcon around and the cylinders just follow and stay in place under the falcon, they slide with the falcon on the base, impossible to tilt you would have to lift the falcon in order to remove them. the gears are approx 2" tall so they would be very stable. It would work for me anyways, I don't let kids play around my expensive props.


Nightrider
It would be a very good idea to make a small threaded hole under each gear which you can bolt down to a base, the falcon would rest on the 5 gears, the weight and felt padding would prevent the falcon to slide around, the little greeblies on the bay doors under the falcon would act as a grip, no way the falcon could move around. I will post photos when it's done as I'm seriously planning to do this.

GFollano

 

[BrundelFly]

Actually,
that would work.

I would make a BASE, and Drill 5 holes in it that are the same size as the posts for the gear. Also, the exact height. The Gear FOOT would have a HOLE In it and just slide down over the post, the rest of it stacking on top of it as it does anyway.

The top of the post would have a thin piece of Aluminum plate the same dimensions as the gear bay held onto the rod with a small screw.

Use Rubber (Black ofcourse) on TOP of the plate to ensure falcon is NOT scratched. The WEIGHT of it with the friction from the rubber would keep it from moving.

I have "doors" that Im going to split and use in the OPEN position.
They will be held on with magnets on my scratch build.

The same way the doors are held on when I have it in the FLYING configuration.


It would take some trial and error to get the base posts right, but not impossible.

I would mark the HOLE placement on a peice of FLAT Board SUSPENDED so u can get under it.

Then DRILL holes ALL the way through the board for each GEAR POST.

Then suspend the Falcon on BLOCK to the desired height.

Insert rods through the holes until they touch the falcon and GLUE IN PLACE

Measure each rod, subtract the thickness of the ALUMINUM sheet, and rubber, that is your length each needs to be above the board.

Drill into a new base a fixed length for each post. Add that length to the individual posts, and it should be right on the money.

Remove Bird, dress the post with the Landing gear and WALLA!


Frank

 

[GF]

Frank,

That's perfect your a genius!!!!

If you make this happen I'm sure a ton of people will go for it.

GFollano

 

[BrundelFly]

Thanks Dude!

The REAL genius is pulling it off and making it affordable.

Wonder how many people would want one?

 

[GF]

Thanks Dude!

The REAL genius is pulling it off and making it affordable.

Wonder how many people would want one?

Making only the landing gear would be more affordable, people can make thier own base.

GFollano

 

[Bigturc]

Quite interesting thread guys!
Pending price, I'd love to get rid of that base