1:1 Millennium Falcon Cockpit Replica - Group Build

It's been 30 years. And there were two different versions of the cockpit/set in the OT as well, and they don't match up 100 percent with each other either. I guess nothing they do new will please. So what if LEDs were used? It's 30 years later in both our universe and the SW universe too. I don't think the seats are any less grimy then they were before.

trainman said:

I don't know what it is about the Ep. 7 cockpit, but I don't like it as much as the OT cockpit (even though the side and back lightbars were misaligned in ANH). Not enough grime on the seats? Too much of an LED look to the lights in 7 & 8? Not sure...

Click to expand...

joberg said:

Man, lot's of work and good results all around:cool

Click to expand...

Thanks J! I'm on a mission!

DINVADER said:

It's been 30 years. And there were two different versions of the cockpit/set in the OT as well, and they don't match up 100 percent with each other either. I guess nothing they do new will please. So what if LEDs were used? It's 30 years later in both our universe and the SW universe too. I don't think the seats are any less grimy then they were before.

Click to expand...

Hey D,

We can never make everybody happy. There will always be critics. And that's ok. I get nitpicked to death re: the project. I loved EPVII and the fact the MF was on screen again. I had goosebumps! My only issue, only because I'm building the cockpit, was the extensive use of the 3D printer and the lack of detail on each part. That's what made the MF, IMO, so special - the attention to the little details and the use of real world parts.

DINVADER said:

It's been 30 years. And there were two different versions of the cockpit/set in the OT as well, and they don't match up 100 percent with each other either. I guess nothing they do new will please. So what if LEDs were used? It's 30 years later in both our universe and the SW universe too. I don't think the seats are any less grimy then they were before.

Click to expand...

No, I'm actually happy seeing all versions. I'm simply rating them, much as I would my sisters (favorite sister, middle sister, not so favorite). :cool

Yes, but do most people notice, especially in the context of the film? Outside photos with close ups, such as that 3D 360 cockpit thing shows them closer than any of the movies really do. Unless you are sitting in front of a 30 foot screen looking close.

SofaKing01 said:

Hey D,

We can never make everybody happy. There will always be critics. And that's ok. I get nitpicked to death re: the project. I loved EPVII and the fact the MF was on screen again. I had goosebumps! My only issue, only because I'm building the cockpit, was the extensive use of the 3D printer and the lack of detail on each part. That's what made the MF, IMO, so special - the attention to the little details and the use of real world parts.

Click to expand...

DINVADER said:

Yes, but do most people notice, especially in the context of the film? Outside photos with close ups, such as that 3D 360 cockpit thing shows them closer than any of the movies really do. Unless you are sitting in front of a 30 foot screen looking close.

Click to expand...

Not at all. I would say most people pay attention to the actors and the story. I actually had to stop and ask what Rey said because I was studying every detail of the cockpit!

I think that we (as in the RPF) are single handedly the ONLY people who would pay enough attention to notice things of that nature as we will at some point try to replicate it. The average movie goer neither notices or cares.

Sent from my LGLS775 using Tapatalk

I love seeing the progress on this every week!
After the new Last Jedi trailer dropped, I had to take a crack at making the Falcon interior look like yours in terms of color:
http://www.framecompare.com/image-compare/screenshotcomparison/K6GNNN8X
Your Falcon just looks more 'real' than the one in these sequels.

If you were to take a picture of the cockpit at the same angle as this shot, it would be a really neat comparison

My goodness, this build is getting to the point that it's more accurate than the ACTUAL Millennium Falcon. Very very impressive as always.

There's nothing here that Steve or SofaKing don't already know, I'm sure, but for everyone else, I've updated my Falcon site with tons of information on the cockpit designs.

https://sites.google.com/site/millenniumfalconnotes/the-sets

nkg said:

There's nothing here that Steve or SofaKing don't already know, I'm sure, but for everyone else, I've updated my Falcon site with tons of information on the cockpit designs.

https://sites.google.com/site/millenniumfalconnotes/the-sets

Click to expand...

Well done!

Hi Gang,

The Weekend Update Part I! Let's get started!

I wasn't fond of the way the small screw heads sat above the panels on the maint console so I countersunk all the screws and used a flattop screw








The upper greeblie panel


Main panel


I then applied superglue to the exposed MDF to harden the edges




Touched up with a little paint


Perfect




I'll paint the screws to match so they disappear into the panel




I then switched gears and worked on the gauge cluster




New trim piece and again, countersunk the screws




I laser cut these gauge faces - similar to TFA


Save these


The tan you see is the paper backing on the acrylic - I kept the paper until everything was screwed in place


W/O paper


I originally thought to do red


These would be back-lit just like the cockpit gauges


Painted the trim




I like the weathered look - I'm going to gently sand the edges once all is in place


How does it all fit? I laser cut a clear lens piece that will simply rest against and behind the trim




I then laser cut a larger piece of clear acrylic with the gauge details laser cut and removed - the red acrylic detail is then slipped into place




That piece also slips behind the lenses




Before I went any further I thought about black?




Finally, a large white piece of acrylic holds all the pieces together like a sandwich






Lenses


Mounted!






I'm going to switch over to the red to see which one works best


Borrowed a shelf light


WHOA... that's bright


DEF too bright for this purpose but this gives you an idea where I was headed






Drowned out


I finished up work on the upper panel








All done! I might add a few LEDs








So... a few weeks ago I was able to find another Garrard trim plate similar to the one used in the cockpit. I thought hmmmm...




I think I like this MUCH better and it stays true to the original ESB look and feel


I took a few measurements and laser cut these cover pieces


They cover all the silk screened text


I laser cut a new panel


After applying some primer


Oh yeah...




Sometimes less is more!








I thought about adding some familiar greeblies but I may just leave it plain






A few pages back a fellow RPFer (can't find the post) suggested I add some switches to main entrance wall.

So... what do you do with all these pieces?


Stack them together and make this


Then cut some of these


And place them here






This is for the switch panel


Add primer


Get some greeblie ideas




DEF going with the panel light but I think I'm going to stay with all red


I went round and round with the color design then thought to just stay with the original panel color that I am replacing _ white, red, silver/Granite and black


Added the granite color to the switch plate








The small holes next to the switches will have red and white LEDs


I LOVE those panel lights


Created a new mounting panel






I had to cut a large hole into the main panel to allow for the wiring - cut a template


Traced the line


3 min later - hole cut


Thinking back to the droid socket I laser cut these little guys


And these




They fill in the empty spaces


I then laser cut and painted these two donuts


Added the Fresnel lenses (I might not add a LED to these)


Painted all the details




Adhered in place






Primed the new mounting panel


Painted the trim red


New main panel getting some paint


More paint


Still need to add some details - dry fit into place




See? All those switches control the few greeblies on the cockpit entrance!






I picked up a few cool vintage welding goggles


Thought they would look cool hanging around


I'll paint them black


Now for the best part! The Nav Chairs!

I designed and laser cut these odd pieces


They stack together at an angle




All I see is a Cylon Fighter Canopy!


The Nav Chair back support has this interesting bump. I wasn't sure how to make/add that bump.


NOTE: this is NOT the final piece


I needed to see the basic shape before cutting


I'll try cutting a piece of 2x4 for the basic shape


It was then time to address these nacelles and the nav chairs in general!


Cut new skins


Adhered onto the nacelles






Two down... two to go


Applied the googly eyes




Had to make a few corrections




Filler


Lots of it


Each one applied by hand




Primer


Messed this guy up... applied the skin backwards :facepalm


New end caps


More filler


Wood filler




Getting close


More eyes




FYI - I now add a layer of shellac to each MDF greeblie I create before adding primer. The shellac helps seal and harden the MDF


Dents


PRIMER






Paint - clean


Paint - weathered (Thanks Mr Brush)


I then had to make another round of corrections (UGH)


Along with more sanding I see! UGH


Done


I then took my countersink bit and countersunk the armrest screws






New caps in place










Waiting to be dressed


I then jumped to the 1" half-round rubber strips and cut a small access hole into one of the strips


Dry fit


Lets stop all this nonsense and adhere all these in place!






Back support


Armrests






All the armrest are done!


I then painted the back side of the back rest panel


Over time a few of these mounting details broke


So, I made it simple and laser cut these replacements


Paint


More paint


All these details will be mounted in the next update


So close to finishing!




WHEW... Stay Tuned! More to follow in the next few days!

Sincerely effin WOW!! Just when you think this build has peeked you guys step it up a knotch. Absolutely Incredible.....

Of couse you know when I win the lottery I need you to do it all again? But ship wide obviously...

I'm gonna need me a whole ship..... not just a cockpit.

Great googly-eyed moogly! Looking good!

Yay, Nav Chairs! Do you have your Tupperware ready?

Console is looking great. Can't wait to see it finished and lit. Those gauges look cool. I think the red will look better though. Little more pop (as if you needed anymore "pop").

BEYOND AMAZING!!!!!!! Incredible stuff SK! And wow, what an awesome photo log of the progress!! Just in awe of what you are doing here!! Great job!!!

you should hide a pressure plate switch just above the door that is connected to all the electronics (or at least a good portion of them) so that they can be cut off and then turn back on my banging that spot just above the door with your fist :lol

Hi Gang,

Part II!

I was on a mission to get these nav chairs as close to finish as I could and of course knock out a few other things.

I created this thingy


When pressed against an edge allows me to draw straight lines




I applied a black pinstripe


Gave him a tux


I then finished up droid socket - counter sunk these screw holes




Painted all the hardware




More pinstripes


Laser cut a new input detail


Adhered to the socket cup




Mounted!










Finished up this panel


I have to admit... I messed up the pinstripe but it actually works the way it is








With both panel lights in place!






I then changed the black gauges to red - what do you guys think?








My original plan was to add a rocker?


I like it


Onto the Nav Chairs!

I finally finished up this 3D print that fellow RPFer IzzyMel did for me!


I laser cut a mounting template


Now I know where to drill the holes


Mounted!






I then got the nacelles finished and mounted


Mounted these guides


I didn't tighten the screws all the way. I want to leave a little bit of play for flex


Bottom


For some reason I had to mod the length of a few of them?


The guides above slip into the guide rails mounted along the side of the seat frame
















Installed the boat hooks




I had to move the hook from its original position - the armrest would have been in the way




Another chair getting its hook


I grabbed a 2x4 and decided to jump in and see if I could copy this shape


So far so good


This is going to be fun...


That wasn't so easy was it?




Cut the second piece


Adhered them into place




Sprayed them black


This is where the fun begins... Applying these rubber strips was NOT easy. I would up having to screw them into place. The heat gun just wasn't cutting it


I probably should have added filler to the new piece. Shame on me


The first 3 were the toughest


After that it was smooth sailing




Now we let this dry and pray everything holds!




Bingo!


That bump looks so weird!


OK... now for the best part! I laser cut a template of the headrest with 1 drill hole and the rest screw holes


I cut all the rubber strips to fit


I used the heat gun extensively to get the rubber to lay flat. Then, from the back, I screwed the rubber in place


Front side


Went to the band saw


I used the edge of the headrest to knock off the rubber edges - PERFECT!


This part scared me to death! I had to use a 5" hole saw for the Tupperware lid hole... but did it work?


WHEW!!!


Backside


I then adhered, using E6000, all the rubber strips to the headrest(s)




I laser cut a 5" disc from 1/8" MDF


Laser cut a 1/4" MDF ring


The lid rest dead center


And "should" pop into place! Right?


Headrest #2


Headrest #3


How the headrest look in place? Dry fit! I LOVE IT!


I have waited so long to see this! LOL




Mounted the lid and prepped for paint


Paint!


It took some wiggling around but the lid eventually popped into place




Those clean edges!


Chair #2


Chair #3 - I have to find a lid (stand by)


Almost finished!


Unfortunately I was too tired to get to the other rubber strips...

And this...




... is where we are!


WHEW!!!! More to follow!

Looking great! How are you planning to do the cushions?

doppelganger said:

Sincerely effin WOW!! Just when you think this build has peeked you guys step it up a knotch. Absolutely Incredible.....

Of couse you know when I win the lottery I need you to do it all again? But ship wide obviously...

I'm gonna need me a whole ship..... not just a cockpit.

Click to expand...

Hi D,

Thanks so much! When you win that lottery I'll be more than happy to keep on building!