Star Wars MPC/ Ertl 1983 ROTJ X-Wing (1/43)

[pengbuzz]

Okay...won an original ROTJ 1:43 kit a little bit ago on Ebay. First thing I had to do was to rework Luke's arms:

(pics courtesy of we-r-toys, Ebay and qdc748a, Youtube)


To do this, I transplanted a pair of arms from a 1/48 scale pilot (at Luke's size, it seemed to work):

Then, I had to rebuild the cockpit (thing looked cheap and inaccurate), as well as the back panel (Red 5's rear hatch was inverted IIRC):

Next: the pivot for the s-foils looked hella weak, and the plastic was fairly soft. No way that was going to stand up over time (not to mention they broke on me), so I rebuilt those from scratch:

Testing the s-foil roots (I carefully scribed the upper top section to separate from behind the cockpit), then the foils were glued to the pivot parts once I was satisfied:

Speaking of the s-foils, I took the liberty of redoing the laser cannons:

Finished cockpit/ pilot (during construction and finished model):

Completed model:

Thanks for watching!

 

[Analyzer]

Nice!

I really wish they had re-released this kit instead of the smaller, even more inaccurate snap kit

 

[Dedalus5550]

Nice!

I really wish they had re-released this kit instead of the smaller, even more inaccurate snap kit

It seems to be readily available. Do you mean that you wish they had used this kit (and not the smaller one) as a jumping off point?
Mike Todd

 

[pengbuzz]

Nice!

I really wish they had re-released this kit instead of the smaller, even more inaccurate snap kit

If they were to re-release it, they would need (IMO):

- A stronger more durable styrene (this styrene was soft and flimsy)

- A revised system for the s-foil pivot

- Revision on how the laser cannon barrels glue in

- Slight revision on the underbelly of the main body ( I had to fill an inaccurate undercut)

- Revised Pilot and cockpit

- Option for ANH Red 5 back panel and regular back panel

- Option decals for several X-Wings and revised overall decals.

 

[Analyzer]

It seems to be readily available. Do you mean that you wish they had used this kit (and not the smaller one) as a jumping off point?
Mike Todd

Yes.

Since they were adding new improved parts to the AT-AT and Millennium Falcon I was hoping they might take the opportunity to do some things like this...

If they were to re-release it, they would need (IMO):

- A stronger more durable styrene (this styrene was soft and flimsy)

- A revised system for the s-foil pivot

- Revision on how the laser cannon barrels glue in

- Slight revision on the underbelly of the main body ( I had to fill an inaccurate undercut)

- Revised Pilot and cockpit

- Option for ANH Red 5 back panel and regular back panel

- Option decals for several X-Wings and revised overall decals.

Even just a new pilot, astromech, and more detailed cockpit would have been nice

Plus new decals

 

[pengbuzz]

I would say a different styrene mix would also be nice as well; they'd probably do that anyways.