Okay. Let's see here. I now have one of these on order via Bandai Japan. So I thought I'd compile a little list...
Pros of the 1:72 Bandai Millennium Falcon:
- Looks like it's going to be the most accurate model of the Millennium Falcon commercially produced. Ever.
- It's the classic Original Trilogy Falcon, and the superdetailed five footer version. Not the 32" version. Hooray!
- This is a model made by obsessed purist middle-aged fans for obsessed purist middle-aged fans.
- It's a decent size, but not as huge as the somewhat unwieldy De Agostini model.
- Detail waterslide decals, not those uncool stickers.
- Scale and quality matches a whole line of Bandai 1:72 Star Wars spaceships.
- Seems to have some photo-etched parts, but we don't know what yet. Hopefully the engine fan grilles; perhaps the cockpit back wall. The news release says the photo etch is for the "duct portion," though whether that means engine grille or fan grilles we don't yet know.
- Backlit cockpit; unknown if the internal cockpit sidewalls are lit.
- Engine lights. In proper white, rather than the blue from TFA.
- Gunbay details. Unknown if both bays are included.
- 680 parts, so a fair amount of time required to lovingly assemble it.
- Doesn't have the stupid incorrect cockpit tunnel ridge greeblies that other Bandai Falcons have.
- Allegedly includes all the greeblies that existed at time of shooting that have since fallen off.
- Nicely replicated battle damage.
- Ramp. Unknown if it's on a hinge, or is a two-parter. Hopefully a hinge.
Pros or cons depending on you:
- Unlikely to include the ESB-era extra landing gear and legs, if that's the version of the Falcon you prefer.
- No ESB-era headlights and under saucer lighting. Which is either a plus or a minus. It's more era-accurate to omit it, but the lights are cool.
- No interior hold detailing like De Agostini's. Which is either really fun or a toy gimmick.
- Doesn't include the shooting model's cockpit, which looks nothing like the full-size sets, if you're a totally unreasonable purist.
- Includes landing gear lights, which arguably first appeared in ESB, and didn't exist in ANH. The Death Star scene has some lighting of the landing legs, but it seems to be lit from the set floor, not the ship itself. But this is kind of a pointless thing to argue about, as all you need to do is not install those LEDs if you dislike them.
Cons of the 1:72 Bandai Millennium Falcon:
- Limited edition; total production run unknown
- Not available in all countries (eg: the UK)
- Relatively expensive.
- Oddly, it has the incorrect ESB cockpit interior, rather than the shorter ANH cockpit. What the heck is this? De Agostini did the reverse - they put the incorrect ANH cockpit into an ESB model ship.
- Includes a stand, but it's sort of dorky looking.
- Has the arguably era-incorrect TFA engine grille design. Though if you want to slap a blank piece of white of plastic in there, to emulate the original shooting model's look, you obviously could quite easily. I'm sure people will make 3D printed Special Edition grilles for those who prefer them.
- Because it's so accurate, less futzing around will be required to make it perfect. You'll snap it together, paint it, and go - is that it? And you'll be all bummed that there's nothing else to do.
- Not only that, but any monkey who buys this will be able to make the perfect Falcon. What's the more prototype-than-thou Falcon aficionado going to do?
- Incapable of achieving lightspeed.
- Unlikely to cure cancer, bring about world peace, or generally stop people being crappy to each other.
Have I missed anything?
