To fix the MPC falcon would require a complete retool. Its "close' in so many ways which means its also "wrong" in so many ways. but I do believe that a VERY good falcon could be made that would rival the PG Bandai falcon with 1/2 the parts (or less) don't get me wrong I LOVE that PG falcon...and all the plant-on parts make you feel like you could be in ILM in the 70's but if we're being honest a lot of it could be done as larger sub assemblies and look pretty much as good.
Jedi Dade
Yes I thought the same thing doing my FM falcon.. really no reason with modern tooling this could not be reproduced with a large amount of the greeblies attached. That should produce a quality kit at cheaper cost.
I open this question to everyone though as an honest question, what is expected to be seen?
What is considered right? What constitutes a correct falcon? Correct sidewall height? Yup definetely, correct mandibles and jawbox angle as an isdue on the FM falcon? Yeah ok but a less noticeable problem than the MPC sidewall issue.
And do people want a Falcon model kit you click together in 30 minutes? The 800 plus pieces seem somewhat over the top but I guess you know your building a model.
We have 2 studio models we can sensibly base a kit off, plus 2 film sets and a CGI model all in the original trilogy. Accept the special edition or not for many people the CGI stuff is there. And all of these are different.
So are we trying to build the Millennium Falcon in some incarnation of 5 different variations or a replica of a studio model?
Lets go with the 32" falcon. Say you get it externally perfect, no missing greeblies, all the correct shapes and sizes... perfect. What about the cockpit? The 32" model does not have the studio cockpit. You will get divided opinions about which way this should go. Joe public will say the studio cockpit as they want to build the Millennium Falcon, those who want to build the studio model replica will say the studio model cockpit.
I guess both options could be provided.
What about the 5ft model? Ok great do we want the 3bay ANH Falcon or the later updated 5 bay 5 footer? Again perhaps the provision to build both could be offered.
Id love to see a Shuttle Tyderium based on the studio model. There's the MPC that's deemed horribly inaccurate... yeah compared to the studio model, not to the full scale set though that its seemingly based on. Again we have 2 very different versions of the same ship.
I think Star Wars is hard as theres such a large fan base, some just happy to build an X-wing or a Falcon and have no idea of the incorrect shaped fuselage or missing greeblies etc but then there's the guys that Star Wars is real to them, its almost alive and are really itching for that perfect product.
And the vehicles are so intense. We're not talking a sleek U.S.S Enterprise here that still took years for companies to get right, we're talking vehicles littered in Greeblies to be identified and copied and using the studio models today as a basis
and that craps fallen off and they've aged badly etc and mistakes in copying are easy to make.
I just see this all as being a nightmare for a model company to reproduce something with the high expectations set by the fans. Now there's no excuse we should be offered up things like the MPC Falcon in this day of age and the quality standards set by Fine Molds and then Bandai across their range has been phenomenal and should be maintained. Do we really think we will better this? Maybe? But I predict there being a divide here of satisfied and dissatisfied fans. It's hard to be all things for a people.
Cheers,
Josh
