Super-detailing the MPC Falcon

[bwize]

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ViperRecon wrote:<HR></TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS=$row_color>
My question is, could it be that the hull doesn't need to be thickened in the center at all but instead the hull surface needs to be curved from the center outward to meet the side walls?</TD></TR><TR><TD><HR></TD></TR></TABLE><SPAN CLASS=$row_color>

i am not sure i follow you here. Tim placed a tube in the center of his ertl falcon to raise the over all height and he replaced the sidewalls of the docking clamps as well to raise them. it looked pretty accurate to me.

Bryan

 

[ViperRecon]

Look at the line where the disk of the hull meets the wall of the docking arm on the ERTL kit. To me it appears that this line is mostly straight and flat from the gunwell opening outward and down to the sidewall.

Now look at the same line on either Falcon FX miniature - the line is more curved between those two points.



Here's Tim's ERTL Falcon: http://www.ketzer.com/images/ERTL_side.jpg

Here's his studio scale scratch-build from almost the same angle: http://www.ketzer.com/millennium_falcon/MF_lit_frontside.jpg

I'm seeing a difference in hull contour between the two that is a function of how the ERTL kit was made.

My thought is that the flatter cross section of the ERTL hull (as evidenced by the line I mentioned) is the larger part of the apparent hull thickness problem and that the hull is already thick enough after fixing the sidewall issue, just mis-shaped. Even Tim's ERTL model appears to have this flatter cross section (though I was unaware that he'd redone the docking arm walls). Substitute the word "angular" for "flatter" if that makes more sense, I may not be expressing myself well...

A lot of work would be necessary to fix this, virtually all of the seams between the armor plated disk-shaped hull and any assemblies mounted on it would have to be altered including the upper and lower mandibles...

Given all that, it's just a theory I'm trying to bounce off of all you good people who know a lot more about the Falcon than I do before I start making the alterations on my own ERTL Falcon project

What do you think?

Mark Snyder
Seoul, Korea

 

[Jedi Dade]

well that is the trouble with a project like this. A line needs to be drawn somewhere between super detailing and throwing your arms up in disgust and just building the thing over from scratch. To be honest I have seriously thought about cutting all of the hull radials line and reshaping it, I cam to the comclusion that if I was willing to go that far I might as well start from nothing an remaster an entire model. I;m not telling you not to do it - just explaining why I decided not to...

Good Luck either way,
Jedi Dade

 

[ViperRecon]

You make a good point... I would take it farther though. If I'm going to scratchbuild a whole new Falcon, then I might as well do it at studio scale. Now we're talking about a substantial investment not just in time, but in cash too. I've got plenty of time and very little cash so I'm back to looking at the ERTL kit again (or nothing at all).

But it's not as difficult as it first appears.

It wouldn't be necessary to cut all of the hull radials, for example. You just need cuts where the disk meets other structures molded into the hull in order to allow reforming to the new contour. Then you'd have to re-attach those structures and fill in any resulting gaps...

Before I start any of that I just want to see if anyone thinks what I want to do will correct the problem I'm aiming at and what would the correct curvature be? It's very possible that I'm way off base or that the kit needs a combination of approaches to fix it, but I won't know for sure if I don't ask people more learned than myself!

Mark Snyder
Seoul, Korea

 

[bwize]

OK, i understand now. i agree that you come to a certain point that you either live with it or scratchbuild the falcon. i had hoped that raising the height of the center would give it more of a dish appearence. but looking at tim's scratchbuilt really shows this error. I am looking at tearing down my falcon to remove the cockpit tube to make a new one. i may even start over. i have falconkits sidewalls, but i am afraid of damaging them by tearing it apart. i may even remove the rear upper hull and scratchbuild it. then again, i may just leave as is and enjoy the effort i have put into it. it's a good thing it has been reissued. i may pick up another for a future super-detailed buildup.

Bryan

 

[ViperRecon]

Wow, with all the collected talent on these boards and all the concentrated Millenium Falcon knowledge, no one can provide an answer to my questions? Everyone is pretty much just going to let the ERTL kit kick their butts? I don't believe it!

Bump!

Mark Snyder
Seoul, Korea

 

[Johnnycrash]

Hey Mark.. How are things?? Been a long time, hope all is well.

Just thought I would pop in and say hello. Hello. OK. Gotta go now...



But seriously people... I was reading this thread again, after a very long time away from it. It's funny to see some of your personal past in print, on the web, FOREVER.. :$

Which brings me to my post. With the re release of the Falcon, I thought it a good idea to get my butt in gear and do a little re releasing myself.

I think you will all be very pleased..


MMI-7777

 

[12Rogues]

Originally posted by Johnnycrash@Mar 17 2005, 01:55 AM
Hey Mark.. How are things?? Been a long time, hope all is well.

Just thought I would pop in and say hello. Hello. OK. Gotta go now...



But seriously people... I was reading this thread again, after a very long time away from it. It's funny to see some of your personal past in print, on the web, FOREVER..  :$

Which brings me to my post. With the re release of the Falcon, I thought it a good idea to get my butt in gear and do a little re releasing myself.

I think you will all be very pleased..


MMI-7777

[snapback]946769[/snapback]​

Weren't there problems getting the first run out to customers? If I win an auction for these, how long from auction end will it take to ship? Is there a guarantee that it would arrive in a timely fashion?

 

[Johnnycrash]

Originally posted by 12Rogues@Mar 18 2005, 12:33 AM
Weren't there problems getting the first run out to customers? If I win an auction for these, how long from auction end will it take to ship? Is there a guarantee that it would arrive in a timely fashion?

Yes. There were problems. They have all been solved, and will NEVER happen again. I have the best team now. No more of that BS that took place about the ONLY one who can run the machine and so on. :angry

The last batch I got done were just perfect. Better than I had expected. These will be of the same quality.

This means that in a short while, ALL the PE products from MMI should be back. Along with a few new ones.

As for a guarantee, all I can offer is a full refund if there is a problem.

 

[12Rogues]

Originally posted by Johnnycrash+Mar 18 2005, 03:52 AM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Johnnycrash @ Mar 18 2005, 03:52 AM)</div>

<!--QuoteBegin-12Rogues

@Mar 18 2005, 12:33 AM
Weren't there problems getting the first run out to customers? If I win an auction for these, how long from auction end will it take to ship? Is there a guarantee that it would arrive in a timely fashion?

Yes. There were problems. They have all been solved, and will NEVER happen again. I have the best team now. No more of that BS that took place about the ONLY one who can run the machine and so on. :angry

The last batch I got done were just perfect. Better than I had expected. These will be of the same quality.

This means that in a short while, ALL the PE products from MMI should be back. Along with a few new ones.

As for a guarantee, all I can offer is a full refund if there is a problem.

[snapback]947497[/snapback]​

[/b]

That sounds good to me.
Thanks. :thumbsup

 

[12Rogues]

John, one more question that kind of hit me.

Does "There were problems. They have all been solved, and will NEVER happen again." mean that you have a set on hand completed before you accept an order, or are you taking orders then making the set?
Reason being, if you have the sets completed on hand at the time a sale is made, be it e-baby or any other way, it should arrive in the customers hands pretty quickly. If they are made after the order is taken up front, it will take longer to get a set to the customer, and may leave the customer open to unexpected delays, wether they are acts of God, material problems, or your team quitting unexpectedly.

No offense, but I think if there were past problems filling orders these would be good questions to clear up.

Thanks

 

[Johnnycrash]

John, one more question that kind of hit me.

I hope it didn't hurt you.. Hey.. That was funny. Geesh. <_<

It's a good, and fair question/concern.

While I do not have them in my hand, they do physically exist. I need the pre-orders to get them out of hock, so to speak. That is why the auction clearly states that they will not ship until April 18th.

One week for the auction. One week to get all the payments in. One week to get them to me. One week to put all of the components together. Time for the unexpected is built in to the ship date. I mean, natural disaster, personal tragedy/injury... Hey. Things we can never control.

I'm sure payment will be faster, that's why it's PayPal only. Shipping to me will be a few days, nothing I can do about that. As for putting them together... About 3 minutes per set. There is only four components to these. PE, resin, instructions, and the bag they come in. So...

Does that help?? Again, money back guarantee.

 

[ViperRecon]

Hi John, yes it has been a while hasn't it? Glad to hear things have turned around for you, I'll be keeping an eye out for cool new stuff.

That said, do you have any input on the current question at hand?

Mark Snyder
Seoul, Korea

 

[Johnnycrash]

Originally posted by ViperRecon@Mar 21 2005, 01:45 AM
That said, do you have any input on the current question at hand?

Right. Enough with the hijacking here...

Well, I am no expert on the Falcon, but... In my humble opinion... Just add Jacks Side Walls, our PE Grilles, and build one damn good looking Falcon model. 98% of the people looking at it won't know the difference, and those that do; ask them were THIER Falcon model is.

You can go nuts trying to reconcile the differences between the miniatures (all 5 of them??), the full-size mock-up, which isn't full size, and what it SHOULD have been. You will never do it.

The best way to get the most accurate, detailed Falcon is to start from scratch. Build everything yourself at the scale you think is best. For ease of parts, studio-scale.

Just buy a Falcon off the shelf, add the detail sets, paint it well, and have the best looking Falcon around.

 

[12Rogues]

Anyone still going on this?

Does anyone think that making a new "saucer" from scratch would be easy or worthwhile? Has anyone tried this? I'm considering it. I would use some existing details like the pits and mantibles, and the top engine section and lower engine "lip"as well as the tops of the docking tubes.

So the basic saucer shape would have to be made along with all the plating, and surface wires/ details (which would have been done anyway).

I'm working on the new docking rings and tubes, and the new cockpit tube, so I'm not sure if I should just say screw it and go for the major overhaul.

It's true thst if you're going to scratch 99% of the thing then the 32" gets more tempting, but making a reasonably accurate Ertl scale build would be much cheaper and take less room, and also be much more forgiving as far as the rivet counting goes with the 32"er. And it's a good study subject for anyone who wants to take on the 32"er later i suppose.


Sorry about me blabbing on.....I think I'm trying to convince myself to do go for it

If anyone has gone and tried this, any suggestions? Tips?

Thanks,
Brian

 

[nightrider]

Thought I would post a few pics of my latest falcon. I think the model has a more weathered appearance in person, but I've never been able to get photos of my models that look right, even without flash they still get a bit washed out. Let me know what you guys think. Honestly, criticism is welcome, with the FM falcon coming out next year, I'd like to make it look the best I can...Chris.