There's a lot of room in the back of this thing once you get rid of all the junk inside!
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Oh yeah. Top hull fits snug in the pegs, no problem. I'm just gutting this to make room for lots of wires and LEDs.
SB
I haven't dug into it just yet, but I've had a good bit of success doing all my own scratched up lighting on my MPC's. So I'm considering not even using the Bandai stuff on mine except for if there are LED's in there that would be useful, then I'll just cut 'em out and stick my own resistors. Since mine will be parked in the Echo base hangar, I won't need the engine lighting. BUT, in the case I ever have the PG not in the dio, I'll want them operable. So I'll use one of the remote set-ups I got from Modeltrain's to isolate the engines. Besides, I intend to have A LOT more lighting than the Bandai is set up for.
I haven't dug into it just yet, but I've had a good bit of success doing all my own scratched up lighting on my MPC's. So I'm considering not even using the Bandai stuff on mine except for if there are LED's in there that would be useful, then I'll just cut 'em out and stick my own resistors. Since mine will be parked in the Echo base hangar, I won't need the engine lighting. BUT, in the case I ever have the PG not in the dio, I'll want them operable. So I'll use one of the remote set-ups I got from Modeltrain's to isolate the engines. Besides, I intend to have A LOT more lighting than the Bandai is set up for.
Yeah I sold my stock Bandai lighting kit and am doing my own thing. Bought some strip LEDs for the engines, red LED with fiber optic for the red running lights, and then white LEDs for the landing lights along the underside hull, the landing gear lights, cockpit lights, and mandible headlights. It's taken a bit of surgery (because of it's snap-fit), but otherwise it's been a breeze. There's nothing like tearing into your $350 model kit with a dremel.
SB
Agreed... Bandai's approach to lighting is cheap anyway and does not allow for finer lighting details. I'm doing my own custom lighting, starting with the cockpit. I'll have some significant progress done on that tonight...hopefully.
Yeah I sold my stock Bandai lighting kit and am doing my own thing. Bought some strip LEDs for the engines, red LED with fiber optic for the red running lights, and then white LEDs for the landing lights along the underside hull, the landing gear lights, cockpit lights, and mandible headlights. It's taken a bit of surgery (because of it's snap-fit), but otherwise it's been a breeze. There's nothing like tearing into your $350 model kit with a dremel.
SB
Yeah, you watch...someone will come out with an insane lighting kit for these and charge really stupid money for it. I bought one from Monsters in Motion for an MPC one time for like 80 bucks! Once I got it and saw what it consisted of...I returned it.
People usually pay for the convenience, too... I like doing things on my own...lol...probably why I enjoy modeling so much... So creating a lighting setup for my diorama is a fun and exciting project.
$80? That's crazy! Probably not an impressive setup seeing as you returned it right away...
Bandai lights for kits are usually enough to make them look good BUT there is always room for improvement. I built the 1/2 scale BB8 and it came with some lights....only one for the "eye" up in his head. I did a complete lighting and even added sounds. It all fitted inside with minimal surgery..
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/830/41961456381_812418d40f_b.jpg269A8986 by Oscar Baez Soria, on Flickr
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/970/41917315612_f6f3c6a835_b.jpg269A8988 by Oscar Baez Soria, on Flickr
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/969/28090334438_8cf89cbfa0_b.jpg269A9000 by Oscar Baez Soria, on Flickr
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/908/41242973544_1f2ecd99b7_b.jpg269A9002 by Oscar Baez Soria, on Flickr
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/968/41242953534_96eee5bbef_b.jpg269A9010 by Oscar Baez Soria, on Flickr
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/970/28090526758_79dacfc2f7_b.jpg269A9014 by Oscar Baez Soria, on Flickr
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/824/40154938270_48272194aa_b.jpg269A9034 by Oscar Baez Soria, on Flickr
Things here are more or less getting there. The electrical grid is still very unstable.
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Better late then never. Got the standard ver. from www.hlj.co.jp at %40. Now I just have to wait for the 3rd party decals and photoetched parts ( now that is like waiting for the sky to fall).
A lot of us kit want the stencils as we paint the major panels.Just to share my thoughts for those who bought the Standard Version.
The decals included in this version basically its not a decal. Its a sticker. And waiting for a "Savior from the Gods of decals" is not an option. So.....
I'm planning to scan the stickers. Then do some cleaning up from photoshop. And finally print the scanned image to a plain decal sheet.
I hope this will be helpful for those who are planning to replace there decals. Not just for the falcon, but for other Bandai Star Wars models as well.