Re: Bandai 1/72 Millennium Falcon
I discovered something while working on the Falcon this weekend that might add something to the group's trivia knowledge of the original studio model. While looking at my reference photos of the engine area, I noticed for the first time this strange gouge carved out of the plastic in the engine exhaust trench.
At the time, I didn't think about why it was there, but decided to add it anyway since I'm trying to replicate the 5-footer as accurately as possible, warts and all. :rolleyes
But then I noticed there's a corresponding gouge carved into the upper inner edge of the engine trench.
That's when it hit me why ILM made those mystery gouges. One of the Falcon's mounting points for the 2" support pipe was through the back engine trench. ILM used that mount for the shot in ANH where the Falcon is being tractor beamed into the Death Star hangar bay. We know it was mounted from the rear because the lower gunport gun is seen in position in the shot.
So it looks like the modelmakers made a little whoopsie while measuring the overhang of the plastic in the engine exhaust trench and needed to carve away some of the plastic on the top and bottom so the mounting pipe would fit. I'm not mounting my PG through the engine trench, but I added both gouges just for accuracy sake and, hey, because it's there!
One more thing to add to the 5-footer's lore.:cheers
