Scratch Built Steel Millennium Falcon

WorksByaHurst

New Member
Hello everyone, This is only my second post so bear with me. I don’t know exactly where I fall in the modeling world. I mainly work in metal so I’m guess that would classify me as more of a Sculptor but I am learning more modeling techniques. I hope to stake my sculpting more into the scale modeling level of detail.

This is my first attempt at the Millennium Falcon and I referenced the 5ft new hope model and the 32” Empire strikes back Model. I was pushing hard trying to be as accurate as possible but with this being a commissioned piece, I was up against time and budget. This was also my first stab at being really accurate.

The build took place over a 5 weeks during my spare time and I logged around 130 hours in the total project. I did not think about posting this to the RPF when I was building it so here is the build in its entirety. The flickr album has more pictures in it and there is a full build video at the end of this post.
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MVI_4150.MP4.00_00_55_32.Still002 by Jason Hurst, on Flickr

The entire ship was scratch built out of steel, starting with a paper and cardboard prototype with dimensions of the finished falcon being 24” long and 16” wide.

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IMG_1952 by Jason Hurst, on Flickr

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IMG_20180505_111022 by Jason Hurst, on Flickr


The plumbing and wiring on the mandibles quickly became a point of interest and set the tone for the level of detail in the build. I’m using tig filler rod in various sizes to construct the details.

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IMG_4099 by Jason Hurst, on Flickr

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IMG_20180526_174449354_HDR by Jason Hurst, on Flickr

I based all of my dimensions on reference photos of the screen used models and some 3d models.

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IMG_20180529_093920530_HDR by Jason Hurst, on Flickr

I make the rough shapes first and slowly work them down to the correct dimensions.

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IMG_20180527_132622587_HDR by Jason Hurst, on Flickr

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IMG_20180529_105225402_HDR by Jason Hurst, on Flickr

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IMG_20180529_112327962_HDR by Jason Hurst, on Flickr

I broke the Falcon into individual sections and then detailed those sections. I couldn't detail the whole model all at one time, it would be overwhelming

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IMG_20180601_160602081_HDR by Jason Hurst, on Flickr

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IMG_20180603_095118369_HDR by Jason Hurst,

The Communication Dish was a really fun area of this build for me. I don't know why

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VID_26920401_021944_462 by Jason Hurst, on Flickr
Flickr
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VID_22490405_102843_937 by Jason Hurst, on Flickr

Getting the cockpit dimensions correct proved more difficult than I thought. It took me 3 attempts to get one that I liked

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IMG_20180606_094602912_HDR by Jason Hurst, on Flickr

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IMG_20180606_115606677_HDR by Jason Hurst, on Flick

The whole model flies on a custom ball and socket arrangement. It still needs to be improved before I would use this on another model.

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IMG_20180605_130146006_HDR by Jason Hurst, on Flickr



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IMG_20180605_130134400_HDR by Jason Hurst, on Flickr

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IMG_20180608_152420074_HDR by Jason Hurst, on Flickr

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IMG_4117 by Jason Hurst, on Flickr

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IMG_4127 by Jason Hurst, on Flickr

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IMG_4137 by Jason Hurst, on Flickr

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IMG_4141 by Jason Hurst, on Flickr

The Base that the model sits on is a WWII German Ammo can and it houses the electronics and power supply for the lights and the Adafruit Soundboard. The thought behind the box is that It is a 100,000.00 galactic credit case that was paid to Han Solo by the rebels when he returned Leia to the base on Yavin 4

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IMG_4109 by Jason Hurst, on Flickr
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IMG_4110 by Jason Hurst, on Flickr
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IMG_4111 by Jason Hurst, on Flickr
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IMG_20180609_085919_076 by Jason Hurst, on Flickr
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VID_92230127_012737_592 by Jason Hurst, on Flickr

The Customer wanted the the model painted so I spent 3 days doing the best that I could with the tools that I had.
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VID_41751204_101336_917 by Jason Hurst, on Flickr
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34984302_919628568210064_9064155653571870720_n by Jason Hurst, on Flickr
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VID_26120928_013433_161 by Jason Hurst, on Flickr


A close up of the paint fully weathered and ready for clear.
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IMG_20180609_191527995_HDR by Jason Hurst, on Flickr

The Sound and Lights are run on an 8 pin cable from the base through a removable panel on the underside of the falcon. The panel is held on with magnets.
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IMG_20180609_215208308_HDR by Jason Hurst, on Flickr

Running an Adafruit Sound board with a built in amp running at 2 watts
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IMG_20180531_133817_029 by Jason Hurst, on Flickr

Speakers are mounted under the Rear engine vents on the back side of the falcon
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VID_23290329_133741_149 by Jason Hurst, on Flickr

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VID_20180601_084721445 by Jason Hurst, on Flickr
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VID_20180601_084750460 by Jason Hurst, on Flickr
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VID_20180601_084834906 by Jason Hurst, on Flick

With the control box all wired up it is time to install the falcon and power every thing up
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FB_IMG_1529723251468 by Jason Hurst, on Flickr
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FB_IMG_1529723262687 by Jason Hurst, on Flickr

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VID_47970524_210304_882 by Jason Hurst, on Flickr

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MVI_4146.MP4.00_00_02_05.Still001 by Jason Hurst, on Flickr
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IMG_4160 by Jason Hurst, on Flickr
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falcon by Jason Hurst, on Flickr
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FB_IMG_1529723371292 by Jason Hurst, on Flickr
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FB_IMG_1529723366179 by Jason Hurst, on Flickr
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FB_IMG_1529723336275 by Jason Hurst, on Flickrpshot

A snapshot of the whole build.
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PicPlayPost_20180610_18_24_29 by Jason Hurst, on Flickr


 
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Wow that is really impressive!

I have worked fabricating stuff from things like Brass, Copper and Silver sheet and I couldn't imagine doing this with softer metals and silver solder, let alone steel.
 
Fantastic work!
Thank you !

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Wow that is really impressive!

I have worked fabricating stuff from things like Brass, Copper and Silver sheet and I couldn't imagine doing this with softer metals and silver solder, let alone steel.

I think it just comes down to what you are use to working with and what tools you have

Dude that is Sick... I don't even want to think about how hard the falcon would be done in metal... and how heavy...

Jedi Dade

Thank you Jedi Dade, It weighs 47lbs with the base loaded with electronics.
 
Thank you. I've madeTie fighters, atst, atat tie advanced x1 and I'm currently working on 2 studio scale Slave 1 sculptures. I need get a post going for them.
 
I'm not QUITE a founding father of the RPF

But...

I am old... I more than one way

And...

This place - and its members and talent - never ceases to amaze me

Well thank you very much. I am currently building a studio scale slave 1. I hesitated to post my work because it currently lives a little more in the metal sculpting world. Having been around a while, do you think posting my models built from metal would be a decent fit?
Thanks
Jason
 
Totally crazy even attempting something like this in metal. Hard enough with plastic.
I figure if its a model, no matter the material used, it fits. We've had some guys do paper models that were as good as the real deals.
All depends on a persons talent.
 
Well thank you very much. I am currently building a studio scale slave 1. I hesitated to post my work because it currently lives a little more in the metal sculpting world. Having been around a while, do you think posting my models built from metal would be a decent fit?

Thanks
Jason

Within the General Modeling Forum, absolutely YES...!

The Studio Scale Forum seems to demand more accuracy. But General Modeling embraces all mediums...
 
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