1:1 Millennium Falcon Cockpit Replica - Group Build
- Thread starter SteveStarkiller
- Start date
Hey Y,
Thanks!
I agreee with you 100% When we upgraded to the new Leetro 6525 controller we naturally assumed (what do we say about assuming?) that Ver 6.0 was the correct path forward. Insert Facepalm here! I've been doing that a lot lately!The nose skin is another one of those "baby step" approaches. I'm strongly considering re-skinning using the 1/8" flexible ply or something similar. Whatever I use has to be flexible but also strong enough to hold a flat head screw in place without it popping away from the frame/vertical strips. Then of course cover with the 1/8" MDF. It will be added weight but it will be very solid. We considered using aluminum sheeting - give it that metal look and feel. Still tossing that around.
Loosebruce704
Member
I can think of 3 options when it comes to the skin.
If it needs to be removed easily and quickly simply put screw cap covers over they would just end up looking like part of the exterior and meant to be there.
If it doesn't need to be removed then rather than add more weight with mdf etc simply get it wrapped can add details etc as needs that way.
Or alternatively just leave them exposed who is to say that there wasn't screw and bolt heads visible on the exterior of the ship if your worried they stand out just paint them.
If it needs to be removed easily and quickly simply put screw cap covers over they would just end up looking like part of the exterior and meant to be there.
If it doesn't need to be removed then rather than add more weight with mdf etc simply get it wrapped can add details etc as needs that way.
Or alternatively just leave them exposed who is to say that there wasn't screw and bolt heads visible on the exterior of the ship if your worried they stand out just paint them.
Hey W,
Thanks so much! I'm really excited about the skin. Just taking those baby steps in order to do it right. If this were a static display without having to be modular and transportable a lot of this would be done by now.
I've been checking out the "de Havilland Mosquito" images of it being restored! DANG! What a beautiful piece of artwork! Trying to dig up more info on how they did the skin. It looks like they added a resin finish before painting? It would appear that the initial skin was made up of dozens of small wood panels then fit in place. Similar to how OperaScot created the lower nose skin.
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Hey A,
Thanks! Me too!
Hey LB,
I don't think the skin will need to be removed so long as I have access to the 4 bolts (I might add 2 more) that marry the nose to the body. BUT, there will have to be access covers in order for me to get to said bolts. I'm thinking the armor plating should be enough but what exactly do we use for the armor that is light and flexible. I was considering 1/8" - 1/4" EVA foam. It would DEF keep the weight down. I just don't know if that's a practical application for what we're doing?
I've considered leaving the screws visible, but again, the armor plating also needs to be added. I'm not as worried about the 2nd skin layer as much as I am the first. The first layer has to be smooth to avoid, as I mentioned, the waves that the exposed screw heads would cause. I think a flat head screw and washer drilled into place far enough with some Bondo over top might be solution?
Is the skin too thin to countersink the screws flush?
Hey MB,
It's actually too brittle - I can't, for the life of me, remember the name of the material. :facepalm The material bends really well but the moment the hard smooth outer layer is pierced, it becomes VERY fragile.
I think adding a washer around a flat head screw will do the trick. The washer should keep the material in place and prevent it from shredding apart.
Ahh, I see. What about rivets? If you're absolutely sure you won't need to remove the panels (save for the few key bolts).
Hey MB,
I considered Pop Rivets but I think they would simply slide out of the wood over time. Screws are probably the best for this application. I'm going to look at the 1/8" ply this weekend. I'm almost sure that this material along with the Bondo should do the trick. My only concern is the screw heads...
Once the panels is in place I'll only need to 4-6 access holes to bolt the body and nose together - this part is kinda critical!
pianomanpj
New Member
Hey MB,
I considered Pop Rivets but I think they would simply slide out of the wood over time. Screws are probably the best for this application. I'm going to look at the 1/8" ply this weekend. I'm almost sure that this material along with the Bondo should do the trick. My only concern is the screw heads...
Once the panels is in place I'll only need to 4-6 access holes to bolt the body and nose together - this part is kinda critical!
Sofa,
You can get wide-head pop rivets that should do the trick. (Some even come in colors!) If slippage is a concern, you could use longer rivets and place a fender washer over the back end where the rivet flares. Below is a link to some examples. Just food for thought.
http://www.ebay.com/bhp/large-head-pop-rivets
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Hi Gang,
Rain Rain Rain... As much as we needed it... we got it! I wasn't able to to do much this weekend. Not only that, we have a leak in the roof at the warehouse and the laser cutter is still not working! UGH...
But...
Early Sat morning I was able to cut these wooden "standoffs"
I then attached 4 of them to each panel
Applied the Velcro for the white covers. Now the wiring will have that extra layer of protection
Look like this... This is an older photo
With all the rain coming down naturally we just HAD to have a leak... Directly over top of the laser cutter! Daniel moved it out of the way
UGH....
I couldn't cut anything outside so I decided to unpack the corrugated flooring and begin measuring...
Took off the two main nose panels
Chewie's side
Neat!
I then cut the upper nose panels
Painted the seams black
Added filler to the window curve
Sanded
Painted black
Boring... I know.
Stay tuned!
Rain Rain Rain... As much as we needed it... we got it! I wasn't able to to do much this weekend. Not only that, we have a leak in the roof at the warehouse and the laser cutter is still not working! UGH...
But...
Early Sat morning I was able to cut these wooden "standoffs"
I then attached 4 of them to each panel
Applied the Velcro for the white covers. Now the wiring will have that extra layer of protection
Look like this... This is an older photo
With all the rain coming down naturally we just HAD to have a leak... Directly over top of the laser cutter! Daniel moved it out of the way
UGH....
I couldn't cut anything outside so I decided to unpack the corrugated flooring and begin measuring...
Took off the two main nose panels
Chewie's side
Neat!
I then cut the upper nose panels
Painted the seams black
Added filler to the window curve
Sanded
Painted black
Boring... I know.
Stay tuned!
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Hi Gang,
COOLEST UPDATE in a LONG WHILE!!!!
I'm sure many of you know fellow RPFer "RebelScum" has been working diligently to offer up those awesome looking round chrome dome lights seen throughout the Star Wars universe:
http://www.therpf.com/showthread.php?t=264820&highlight=Lenses
Well... I JUST found the package from Blue Realm Studios tucked behind one of the bushes and...
OH BABY! As many of you know I have been searching for the real panel lights since I originally started this project
These are beyond gorgeous!
WOW!
Is that not one of the most beautiful things you've ever seen?
Slightly smaller than the door stops. BUT... the door stops served their purpose and they did a HECK of a job. Time to replace.
THANK YOU, RebelScum for taking the time to reproduce these! They are amazing!
For those interested in ordering these amazing lenses:
www.bluerealmstudios.com
More to Follow!
COOLEST UPDATE in a LONG WHILE!!!!
I'm sure many of you know fellow RPFer "RebelScum" has been working diligently to offer up those awesome looking round chrome dome lights seen throughout the Star Wars universe:
http://www.therpf.com/showthread.php?t=264820&highlight=Lenses
Well... I JUST found the package from Blue Realm Studios tucked behind one of the bushes and...
OH BABY! As many of you know I have been searching for the real panel lights since I originally started this project
These are beyond gorgeous!
WOW!
Is that not one of the most beautiful things you've ever seen?
Slightly smaller than the door stops. BUT... the door stops served their purpose and they did a HECK of a job. Time to replace.
THANK YOU, RebelScum for taking the time to reproduce these! They are amazing!
For those interested in ordering these amazing lenses:
www.bluerealmstudios.com
More to Follow!
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Roughneckone
Sr Member
Sofa you could put one screw in and we'd still all be happy to see a picture of it, none of it is boring as far as were concerned.
And as for the lenses they're out of the ballpark in awesomeness.
Roughneckone:cool
And as for the lenses they're out of the ballpark in awesomeness.
Roughneckone:cool
FrightMaker
Well-Known Member
Totally agree! It all looks amazing! You'll need a contributors plaque attached to the back with everyone's name who's worked/contibuted to it. Now I need to find a way to make a contribution!Sofa you could put one screw in and we'd still all be happy to see a picture of it, none of it is boring as far as were concerned.
And as for the lenses they're out of the ballpark in awesomeness.
Roughneckone:cool
Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk
Hi Gang,
Quick morning update...
A few more images of those amazing dome panel lights!
As you can see the lens simply snaps into place - a nice perfect fit!
Gorgeous
Had some downtime so I sanded the slider panel box and prepped for a quick layer of black
Covered the Googly Eyes
How does it look so far?
While I waited for the contractors to show up to check the warehouse roof for leaks I found some scrap MDF and cut the nose / window transition panel
I'm working on a few greeblies that will be mounted to this panel - which would look really awesome if the laser cutter worked! :facepalm
I also removed the skin for the last time in prep of the new nose skin
More to Come!
Quick morning update...
A few more images of those amazing dome panel lights!
As you can see the lens simply snaps into place - a nice perfect fit!
Gorgeous
Had some downtime so I sanded the slider panel box and prepped for a quick layer of black
Covered the Googly Eyes
How does it look so far?
While I waited for the contractors to show up to check the warehouse roof for leaks I found some scrap MDF and cut the nose / window transition panel
I'm working on a few greeblies that will be mounted to this panel - which would look really awesome if the laser cutter worked! :facepalm
I also removed the skin for the last time in prep of the new nose skin
More to Come!
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Hi H,
I looked into the Kydex and that might work as the very outer layer of the skin. Once the PLY or MDF is put into place we'll need a final layer that is both durable and flexible. We've even considered aluminum for the main body outer skin but think that might be too expensive...
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Sofa,
You can get wide-head pop rivets that should do the trick. (Some even come in colors!) If slippage is a concern, you could use longer rivets and place a fender washer over the back end where the rivet flares. Below is a link to some examples. Just food for thought.
http://www.ebay.com/bhp/large-head-pop-rivets
Hey P,
HMMMM... Good stuff! I didn't even know that existed. Makes sense! Thanks for the info!
Sofa you could put one screw in and we'd still all be happy to see a picture of it, none of it is boring as far as were concerned.
And as for the lenses they're out of the ballpark in awesomeness.
Roughneckone:cool
Hey R,
Thanks! Just need this weather to break so I can get some real forward progress made!
Those lenses are gorgeous!
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Totally agree! It all looks amazing! You'll need a contributors plaque attached to the back with everyone's name who's worked/contibuted to it. Now I need to find a way to make a contribution!
Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk
Hey FM,
Thanks so much! Way ahead of ya on the contributors plaque. I designed something a long time ago and names are always being added. You're words of encouragement are support enough! We appreciate and thank everybody who have and continue to support our efforts
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Hey Y,
RebelScum and his team did an absolutely amazing job on those dome lenses. I found myself just staring at them last night...
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Hi Savi,
I'll take "wow" all day long!
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