1:1 Millennium Falcon Cockpit Replica - Group Build

Great work SK -very much like the new Coil setup.

Props for working in this heat and humidity -I worked a little bit but admitted defeat pretty quickly.

Nice update! Just out of curiosity, how hot has it been down there?

Great update Sofa...I hope you got reimbursed for that crappy MDF (never saw that before:eek) Those coils are looking the bomb!

Wouldn't the bad edges look like weathering?

Great work though. I think that recessed coil panel is one of your best looking detail bits.

Personally I wouldn't worry about weathering too much at this stage in the game. A lot of times it gives a project a more cohesive feel if its all done at the same time. Plus it allows you to really control what effect each section gives

Plus sometimes you can spend a ton of time getting one piece perfectly weathered, go to mount it, and then when you weather whats around it it completely changes how the original piece looks

Of course, it all looks great and at the rate you're going I'd say you pretty much have what you're doing figured out

Just a matter of personal preference I suppose

P.S. You're a braver man than I in this humidity

Katuna said:

Love the coil pack. Gives it some real depth to the panel plus the empty socket gives it a bit more character.

I don't know how you get so much done in your weather. I guess we're lucky here to only have sweltering heat but low humidity (except this morning for some reason). Your passion for the project keeps you plugging along, I'm sure.

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Hi K,

Thanks so much! I thought the coils needed a facelift when compared to everything else.

A dry heat is so much different than heat with humidity. The air is thick and disgusting! lol Of course it also depends on the individual. I can take a dry heat but the humidity is a killer. You just have to suffer through it and march forward.

Snow Builder said:

Great work SK -very much like the new Coil setup.

Props for working in this heat and humidity -I worked a little bit but admitted defeat pretty quickly.

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Thanks so much, SB! I'm really enjoying the new design and hope they turn out. I'm hoping we can add some illumination to the coils as well.

I always scoffed at bandanas but I folded up and wore a cold wet dish towel around the head to deal with the weather. It really helped! You get to the point where you just accept it and drive forward.

trainman said:

Nice update! Just out of curiosity, how hot has it been down there?

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Thanks, T! I'm so glad the routing work is over and I begin to skin the arches and have fun with all the greeblies. This last weekend was the hottest this year - 95 on Sat and 98 (I think) on Sun with extraordinary high humidity... which as I've stated makes everything miserable. You look down and see this nice glowing layer of sweat on your arms, legs, etc... Let's just say I was glowing like a pig!

joberg said:

Great update Sofa...I hope you got reimbursed for that crappy MDF (never saw that before:eek) Those coils are looking the bomb!

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Thanks, Jo! I've been in talks with the home improvement stores off and on and have shown them examples of both qualities of MDF. They agree that quality has suffered while the prices only go up - naturally! Normally I just hand off the bad stuff to my fellow shop mates. I'm hoping this new vendor lasts and the quality of MDF stays high.

The coils! I'm really happy so far with how its turning out. I just found / purchased a bunch of aircraft related greeblies on Ebay. I know where most of them are going but I have a few others I'm going to spread across the entrance wall(s). The adventure never ends!

Lt Washburn said:

Wouldn't the bad edges look like weathering?

Great work though. I think that recessed coil panel is one of your best looking detail bits.

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Hey Lt!

Yes and No. The bad edges are exactly that - bad. From what I can tell the adhesive used in the MDF is causing the problem. Whether it's low quality or the amount used the adhesive heats up, bubbles and melts creating a reflective surface so the laser has a tough time cutting all the way through the MDF. This causes irregular cuts, extensive burn marks and in many cases the laser doesn't cut through the MDF at all. Add to that all the extra hand cutting, sanding, filling, etc that has to be done afterwards. The new MDF I picked up was perfect! It still requires sanding and the other misc prep work but the pieces cut all the way through w/o issue.

I'll take a few pics so you can see the difference.

Thank you! The recessed coils looked boring compared to the rest. Actually, the entire entrance looked boring. Thus the facelift. Every panel is going to see some new additions, redesign, etc. I can't go overboard but I really want to have fun and I still have the capstone panel to design!

Marvin3242 said:

Personally I wouldn't worry about weathering too much at this stage in the game. A lot of times it gives a project a more cohesive feel if its all done at the same time. Plus it allows you to really control what effect each section gives

Plus sometimes you can spend a ton of time getting one piece perfectly weathered, go to mount it, and then when you weather whats around it it completely changes how the original piece looks

Of course, it all looks great and at the rate you're going I'd say you pretty much have what you're doing figured out

Just a matter of personal preference I suppose

P.S. You're a braver man than I in this humidity

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Hi M,

I appreciate your thoughts on the weathering! Everything you said makes perfect sense. I like to weather the greeblies just a little bit after I finish them. It breaks up the monotony, allows me to have a little fun and gives the appearance that whatever this greeblie is it's already used and in whatever condition it was when it was installed. I don't want to add any shiny new parts. Which reminds me I still have to weather the hoses! I still think the panels themselves (not just the greeblies) need to be weathered in some way. What way I don't know yet but I'll burn that bridge when I get to it.

Looking at the countless screen grabs I have of the OT, ESB especially, each greeblie looked very different from one another. The original designs used real world parts so each greeblie/part had a very unique look and feel based on the original material and different manufacturer of the time. But what I've noticed is that set designers covered all these greeblies with a dark dirty wash which helped all the greeblies ultimately blend together but still retain that individual look and feel. That's what I'm shooting for! Fingers crossed.

I must be insane working in this heat. But... gotta move forward!

Man, those sunken coil panels look really good. Good job, SK!

BigBigDave said:

Man, those sunken coil panels look really good. Good job, SK!

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Thanks, BBD! I still have a few things to do and I have a few ideas still bouncing around. I'm hoping to have them finished up this weekend.

So, the $64 question: Are you going to make the turn in the corridor? I know shop space is becoming an issue but c'mon, it's "the turn"!

If you do, it should pose some interesting compound curves for you.

I was looking at the Full Scale Falcon site and their corridor rings look gigantic compared to yours. I'm sure it's just a matter of perspective but I'm assuming they are the same size as yours?

Hi Gang,

Just a quick morning update! Some real world greeblies I found online showed up.









I found a 3 point harness online cheap!






This find is my favorite! It def has that SW look and feel I'm looking for!






I have a few more greeblies on their way. I'm hoping they make it before the weekend.

Stay Tuned!

Love the new greeblies!

Yes, that's what I'm talking about! Very SW these

Katuna said:

So, the $64 question: Are you going to make the turn in the corridor? I know shop space is becoming an issue but c'mon, it's "the turn"!

If you do, it should pose some interesting compound curves for you.

I was looking at the Full Scale Falcon site and their corridor rings look gigantic compared to yours. I'm sure it's just a matter of perspective but I'm assuming they are the same size as yours?

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Hi K,

As much as we would LOVE to build the turn there just isn't enough room in the shop. I mentioned it and I got both the "How awesome would that be" and the "skunk eye" at the same time.

I'm not sure if the Nashville folks' corridor is the same size. This cockpit has seen so many changes I doubt they match up. I didn't figure out my exterior dimensions, which was based very heavily on said numerous changes I've done, until after they had already started theirs.

If we get a larger shop (which we're always looking for) I'll DEF add the turn the cockpit V2.

- - - Updated - - -

kickman88 said:

Love the new greeblies!

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Hi K,

Thanks! Every now and then I like to search Ebay for interesting aviation parts.

- - - Updated - - -

joberg said:

Yes, that's what I'm talking about! Very SW these

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Hey J! Oh yeah! I've got some ideas brewing for these guys!

Love the pinball wire greeblies and the recessed coil change (especially the Aurebesh part labeling, nice touch). The found greeblies were also a great addition. Can't wait to see what you do with them.

Hi Gang,

Time for the "End of the Weekend" update! It was a beautiful weekend! Low humidity and low temps, I took total advantage.

As you all can tell I've been redesigning some of the cockpit entrance greeblies. Some simple mods all the way to a complete redesign. I carried that inspiration into the weekend. Enjoy!

I had some idea for the coil packs. I wanted to show an exposed connector. So the designing and laser cutting began




Trim plate


I tossed around a few ideas the better part of Saturday morning then came up with cutting the connector holes in each coil area - I wasn't sure exactly which coil I wanted removed


Housing - filler


Paint


Base plate


Painted and together


Main panel


Paint


Coils mounted to the base plate


Then I had an idea... Instead of an exposed connector why not create a removable cover plate. So after several sketches I designed and laser cut this


Found some old knobs






Basic shape - now lets sand and prime everything!






Adding paint


WOW! That's very RED




Basic look and feel




1st layer of weathering


Add more


Mounted!








Added the new trim plate - primer


Black


Silver added. I also counter sunk the screws






Mounted










Another greeblie redo - nah... I think I'm going to get away from the text


New design - Primer


Painted and weathered


Mounted - didn't add the circular greeblie yet




Another greeblie I thought needing a facelift... I designed 2 different trim plates to go around the hose connector


Option 1


Option 2 - I liked this guy best


Considering adding this


Paint




And weathering


Tough to see


I painted these two boxes silver again. I thought they were getting lost against the black


Better!


I thought this panel a bit boring as well


Laser cut a new base plate


Basic layout






Cleaned and added paint (I hated to cover the natural patina on the real world parts but there was a LOT of writing I had to hide)


All painted!




HMMMM Add some wires?




Mounted


Going to add some cockpit inspired decals to the tops - more on those later


I like it against the silver boxes


A bit boring...


Add some wires? Maybe?








Second coil getting some attention


Might add a few things on the interior to help make the coils pop






Finally... I picked up one of these heat sink cooling fans with a cone. We have 3 fans that will be pulling hot air from behind the entrance wall. I wanted to do something fun with it


Figuring out different mounting plates - BORING!


That's BETTER!




Top and bottom plate primed


Painted parts of the cone


Not sure about this trim piece






Vent panel


Basic position




Another trim piece








After paint its time to mount everything together














Still have to weather and add some Star Wars'esque elements


I have to redo the wiring harness on this side as well... UGH Also, I think these panels need to have the same pin stripe treatment as the cockpit panels


Now... what to do with this guy?


And this is where we are!


Stay Tuned! More to Follow!