MR Falcon

[nightrider]

Well, without some pics being taken of the ship without a flash there's really no way to accurately judge the quality of the weathering, but I can tell from the photos that some of the most distinctive panels on the top where the most attention and time should have been taken were not accurately reproduced, nor was the method used to do the weathering streaks correct from a few I was able to see up close, they appeared to be applied in an amateur fashion and then gone over with an airbrush to soften them up. My decision to purchase the falcon was based on what I saw in the photos from CC and the official MR images that they said were representative of what we would receive. They did say there would be variation as each is hand painted, I understand this, but variation and quality are two different things. I'm on the edge at the moment of cancelling my order, but I'm going to wait for better pics before I do. This is a huge amount of money for me and most definitly the only time I've ever dropped anything close to this much for something I haven't even seen and have no idea what I'll even be getting.

Wow - comparing those two photos I think how very similar the paint jobs look. All the detailing. Oil and blast marks.
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Yes, all the same panels are all the same colors(mostly), and all the oil and blast marks are in roughly the same spots, but the skill with wich they were put there is noticeably different if you're as familiar with the falcon paint job as many of us are. The effect of the falcon is 50% parts and 50% paint, so if you've got a big falcon with a mediocre paint job then you've only got 50% of a big falcon, putting all that time and research into getting each and every part right and accurate is all for naught if you get to the paint job and then blow it. I've got a small one less than half it's size that has both, done by a real artist, in the end it may turn out to be the "bigger" of the two ships for way less than half the price, time will tell.

 

[eFXBarry]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(the nightrider @ Dec 4 2006, 08:39 PM) [snapback]1371297[/snapback]</div>

Looking at the pics of the first falcon to arrive I've noticed a few things, I've been afraid that the finish on the production model from comic con would not be typical of what most would receive and after looking at these pics I'm even more concerned. The painted panels as well as the weather streaking just don't seem to be as nicely executed as they do on the CC model to me. It could be just lighting for some things but here is a pic of the comic con production model and the first shipped falcon both shot with flash. I circled the areas I noticed in red, is it just me, tell me what you guys think.

Comic Con Model

First shipped Falcon

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Since these are hand painted there are bound to be slight variations in the paint application. I know from personal experience that the Falcon photographs almost clean and bleached out under a flash and tends to look much better to the naked eye.

However the pic shown above as the Comic Con model is not in fact the Comic Con model. It is the 3rd Engineering Prototype which has the wrong colour red panels and other minor details that were changed. It's a problem you run into previewing pics while knowing things are still changing. Look closely the red is too dark and the gun has the wrong tips.

Barry

 

[nightrider]

Okay, anyone who takes flash photographs to show off their new Falcon gets the horns :angry , just kidding , I'll hope for the best Barry and wait for better photographs.


P.S. I'll take the third engineering prototype.

 

[Spiker]

I agree it looks ok but not too good.
I have all MR SS model in my collection and the Falcons paintjob does not look any better than these.
Flash or no flash. If you know both options you know how it will look in reality.

To be honest the paintjobs of all these do not do the models justice. Everything is so fine reproduced und detailed and the paintjob is so factory-like.
But on the other side i totally understand that this is the best a factory paintjob can offer.

Re-Painting is an option, but at these prices you always have a bad feeling in your stomach about doin it.
Not because of ruining it but because you ruin the worth of it (IF you ever come to that point you might have to sell it, or your children want to sell it, when your dead).
My personal opinion is that a custom paintjob ADDS worth to the model, but i guess collectors have another view of things...

Another point is that these things are built up and re-painting is a pita when something is completley assembled (not to mention the work to put in a complete re-paint).

I have it on order, i am looking forward to it. I can live with the paintjob. Same procedure as every time MR releases an SS

Btw. i am in total awe for the Vader TIE because they can't srew that paintjob (no weathering)

 

[BrundelFly]

The following is MY opinion and MY opinion only:


Well, ONE way to look at it...if it had a 2000 Paint job....wouldnt be much left to pay for the model would there?

Unless the thing retailed for 5000K....then everyone would complain its "LOOKS PERFECT BUT ITS TOO EXPENSIVE"

You have to keep in mind, the item has to come in on a certain budget in order for most folks to be able to afford it.

I mean...seriously. I have yet to see any pics of it from Factory or others...that look bad.

If you are gonna grab Pics from the Museum and a magnifying glass,...then you deserve the anguish you will receive. Its not 100 % perfect regarding the paint, but its still impressive in my opinion. Id say at least 95 % for paint.

If you're not happy, I respectfully suggest you do indeed have a custom paint job done.

And while on that subject,.....custom paint adds value. Why? Because it makes it LOOK BETTER...therefore its MORE DESIREABLE. Buying one to make yourself rich is silly. So dont sweat the "Im gonna hurt its VALUE" by repainting it. If you are buying MODELS for an investment.....you're better off dumping the money into a CD. Buy the model because you want to gain the Enjoyment utility from VIEWING.

Paint it to add all of those little grease stains you are convinced you cant live with out. Im dying to see someone do so, and post how much a paint job like that is gonna cost.

Im about to paint my falcon that I scratch built, and I personally, I wouldn't touch one (commission job) for less than 5000k.


My Two cents

Frank Cerney

 

[Rogue Studios]

5000K=5,000,000 dollars. I'll repaint them plus shipping to and fro for 1/5th that. LOL. just messing with ya Frank.

Folks there has to be realm of compromise and I understand wanting the best etc. but put into retrospect the model was made available and we have been spoiled by fanmade stuff on this board and others which creates a criticle eye.

This model is gigantic and with the time and materials involved it's actually a great deal in the long run. If this was painted and built like a studio model I doubt they could have generated enough interest to make these available (cracked panels, fingerprints, no decent cockpit etc.). There is a fine line between accuracy and what a purist wants and as an artist you have to find that middle ground for the customer. They are making almost 1500 or so of these you have to step back for a moment and think. Not a bad hand painted piece for the size, price and quantity (1 of 1500). Just imagine painting one of these and the time involved now imagine doing it a thousand plus times and just in time alone made here in the states this model would have exceeded $10,000 with the same possibly less superior paint work (ICONS x-wing $1500 retail (sharper image) with a very lacking paint job but few nay sayers at the time of release).

I'm done peace out

Lee

 

[nightrider]

Well, you're right Frank, I guess those of us that are intimately familiar with the falcon paint job are setting ourselves up in a way expecting that much. I was just very excited when I saw the CC falcon and the job looked very satisfactory to me. I was hopeing, maybe unrealisticly so, that would be the standard of quality for all of them. I'm less concerned that every blast mark and smudge is in exactly the same spot as the original or each other and more concerned that what is there is done in a reasonably skillful manner, hopefully I'll be pleasantly surprised, what I saw in the photos of the delivered falcon however appears to be of a significantly lower quality than the CC model.

Also, I can't say for certain, but I believe that it's actually much harder to produce an accurate falcon paint job the smaller the model gets, and I got my FM falcon built and painted to perfectly match the studio model for way less than that.

 

[Rogue Studios]

Hey, can you pop up some pics of that Falcon?

 

[nightrider]

Hey, can you pop up some pics of that Falcon?[/b]

No problem, I'll take any opportunity I can to show this baby off.
[attachmentid=11426]
[attachmentid=11427]

 

[Rogue Studios]

Very nice. thanks for sharing.

Lee

 

[rmschneider104]

I don't have time to write much since I'm at work and its my lunch hour. But I just wanted to report that I received my SE Falcon yesterday and absolutely love it. It was worth all the sacrifices to scrounge up the funds.

I'm not a studio scale expert by any means, but I am thoroughly tickled with the model, paint app, and display.

Now just need to source a cover.

I will try to get some pics, but will be busy for awhile. Besides, they will generally look like Phil's on Rebelscum.

Thanks MR and the Falcon team for pulling this off. An amazing piece.

 

[Jedi Dade]

rebelscum has got there signature edition in...

http://www.rebelscum.com/gallery/mrfalconarrival/

looks like mostly no flash...

Jedi Dade

 

[Lynn TXP 0369]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Jedi Dade @ Dec 5 2006, 01:33 PM) [snapback]1371961[/snapback]</div>

rebelscum has got there signature edition in...

http://www.rebelscum.com/gallery/mrfalconarrival/

looks like mostly no flash...

Jedi Dade
[/b]

See post #291 and pics already posted here.

Lynn

 

[Jedi Dade]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Lynn TXP 0369 @ Dec 5 2006, 06:55 PM) [snapback]1371982[/snapback]</div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Jedi Dade @ Dec 5 2006, 01:33 PM) [snapback]1371961[/snapback]

rebelscum has got there signature edition in...

http://www.rebelscum.com/gallery/mrfalconarrival/

looks like mostly no flash...

Jedi Dade
[/b]

See post #291 and pics already posted here.

Lynn
[/b][/quote]

Eh I missed it... Oh well...

Jedi Dade

 

[Dymerski]

From the nightrider

Also, I can't say for certain, but I believe that it's actually much harder to produce an accurate falcon paint job the smaller the model gets, and I got my FM falcon built and painted to perfectly match the studio model for way less than that.
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Thanks.
Dean

 

[Zenwalker]

I would have to agree with Lee on his comments. I don't think there is any way a factory can match the subtlety and nuance of Dymerski's paint job. Weathering is an art in itself that takes years to master and I don't think you can even 'teach' someone to paint like that, let alone in a short time. That kind of painting is a 'you have it or you don't' talent. I think it is unrealistic to expect the facyory to reproduce it 100%. However, I also agree that the paint job can make or break a model and I can understand why some people might be a bit disappointed about it after shelling out 2-3k for a model.

But look at it this way, this is the first model in 30 years made available to the public to accurately reproduce the Falcon to this level. For that I think we have to give Master Replicas some credit. I think if it was painted to the same level as Dymerski's paint master you would be looking at way more than 3k to buy it. Having said that I think a person has to do a repaint, which could be a big job, but if the base factory paint job is not too bad it may be just a matter of toning down the 'heavy handed' weathering on it.

It would be nice to know how accuarte the base colours are( ie. the main colours that are untouched by weathering), anyone know? If they are accurate one could probably correct a lot of the problems without too much work. If the base colours are wrong then it would probably have to be a repaint.

 

[imaginager]

I know there were some people asking about shipping notifications. I called MR this morning and was told that neither FedEx or DHL would take a box of this size, so the first batch are going by truck. I expressed concern that I won't be home to receive it if I don't know when it will arrive and how will I arrange for delivery if I don't know who the shipper is? Apparently, if the truch can't make the delivery, then they will call MR who will call the customer to coordinate a time. I asked if I could change the delivery address to a location that will have someone to accept it and was told the boxes are loading as we speak (too late).

I didn't think much about it at the time, it is what it is....spilled milk, and all that. But, this really isn't a very good option and I'm more than a little concerned that a trucking outfit (whose name wasn't provided) will be responsible to deliver these. I was told that this only affects the first batch. Sounded like MR worked out a deal with a regular shipper that accounts for the size of the box.

I hope these first shipments actually find their owners, in a reasonable amount of time. But, I have fears of Falcons being returned or lost since no tracking information seems to be available to anyone.

 

[nightrider]

Yea, I definitly didn't expect it to be at the level of Dean's master, I know that isn't possible as he's a real artist. I did expect it to be, not identical to, but at the level of the factory production model that was displayed at CC. I was under the assumption that would be representative of what I could expect to receive with minor variations that can be reasonably expected in anything hand painted. If that's what I get then I'll be most pleased.

 

[Zenwalker]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(the nightrider @ Dec 5 2006, 01:54 PM) [snapback]1372123[/snapback]</div>

Yea, I definitly didn't expect it to be at the level of Dean's master, I know that isn't possible as he's a real artist. I did expect it to be, not identical to, but at the level of the factory production model that was displayed at CC. I was under the assumption that would be representative of what I could expect to receive with minor variations that can be reasonably expected in anything hand painted. If that's what I get then I'll be most pleased.
[/b]

I wasn't at Comic Con so I couldn't comment on the paint job on the Falcon there, although I have seen a lot of pictures of it. But if that was what MR was marketing the factory paint job to be then hopefully it should and will live up to that.

 

[Darth Infamous]

Thanks for the info. I just spoke with MR to see if mine is part of this group. She said the first 50 falcons had to be shipped by a private truck carrier. She also said the boxes had to be reconfigured so DHL could handle them.


<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(imaginager @ Dec 5 2006, 02:40 PM) [snapback]1372022[/snapback]</div>

I know there were some people asking about shipping notifications. I called MR this morning and was told that neither FedEx or DHL would take a box of this size, so the first batch are going by truck. I expressed concern that I won't be home to receive it if I don't know when it will arrive and how will I arrange for delivery if I don't know who the shipper is? Apparently, if the truch can't make the delivery, then they will call MR who will call the customer to coordinate a time. I asked if I could change the delivery address to a location that will have someone to accept it and was told the boxes are loading as we speak (too late).

I didn't think much about it at the time, it is what it is....spilled milk, and all that. But, this really isn't a very good option and I'm more than a little concerned that a trucking outfit (whose name wasn't provided) will be responsible to deliver these. I was told that this only affects the first batch. Sounded like MR worked out a deal with a regular shipper that accounts for the size of the box.

I hope these first shipments actually find their owners, in a reasonable amount of time. But, I have fears of Falcons being returned or lost since no tracking information seems to be available to anyone.
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