jusdrewit
Sr Member
Hello guys, this is my first post. Anyways, this has been on my mind since I was a kid, and after briefly looking in RPF forums I didn't see a thread specifically on this, so I decided to make my own. I remember purchasing the Star Destroyer MPC kit and later AMT/ERTL years ago and being disappointed in the proportions and how it didn't appear like the movie SD. The sides where too thick, it appeared to short or fat in length and width, the side detail of course lacking, the neck angle was off, etc etc. Since then I have desperately wanted a movie accurate SDII kit.
Below I found 2 studio scale models photos from as close to the same side view as I could find. One is a behind the scenes shot with Lucas and a SDII, and the other grabbed from the SW Technical Commentaries also a SDII. Using Photoshop, I roughly outlined the side silhouettes for both. After overlapping them, and confirming they are very close (the Lucas photo camera angle is slightly higher thus the engine placement appears a bit lower but overall everything else lines up) I then decided to show the differences between a Studio model kit side profile vs a AMT/ERTL kit side profile, a Randy Cooper Model, Diecast SD model and a few schematics. This is just for people's reference, and while not 100% scientific, I hope it illustrates the differences.
First, studio models:
Lucas with a SDII, red outline establishing silhouette. Camera is pretty straight on, but is slightly from a top angle.
Here is 2nd studio model kit with Luca's SD red outline on top of it to compare that the studio models are close. They are, despite the slightly higher angle from the Lucas SDII which the red outline compares by the engine placement.
The same 2nd studio model with it's own blue highlight
Below will now be a comparison vs kits.
_____________________________________
Confirming the studio models lineup, I will now use the red & blue outlines as a basic guide comparing them against a AMT SD kit, and various others:
First:
AMT/ERTL kit that appears to be stock. One can easily see the differences when compared with studio kit outlines; bridge to high, the neck angle wrong, super structure off, too thick etc. I didn't highlight the sides on the studio kits, but the AMT kit side is too wide as well.
Next: Diecast Disney SDII. I bought this specifically because I could tell it was very accurate when I first saw promo photos of it. Once lined up with the red/blue outlines it confirmed my thoughts, it was very accurate to a studio kit despite being a toy. Pitty it is so small, but I might buy another one just because it is so accurate.
Here is a Randy Cooper SD and while this kit is absolutely fantastic (and expensive), and it does appear to have the right wedge shaped angle, it does seem Cooper's kits superstructure + bridge are too tall. I'm also not sure if he's corrected this in later kits, but at least from this one model, it appears slightly off. Everything else lines up though, and it seems if the superstructure and bridge were lowered just a smidge, it would be pretty close to the studio kit.
Schematic from Essential Guide, way off. Neck angle wrong, bridge to far back, the V angle formed by the top half and lower half by the engines appears to narrow as well.
I saw this posted on another RPF form as a schematic, and this too is off.
Anyways, this wasn't super scientific, and just thought I would share. I realize I could have outlined more features on the studio models, and I may later on. Based upon a few photos, it seems like the Rogue One Revell SDI released in a week will be pretty accurate, despite being pegged as a kids model/toy. I will post updates once I get that. Thanks all!
Below I found 2 studio scale models photos from as close to the same side view as I could find. One is a behind the scenes shot with Lucas and a SDII, and the other grabbed from the SW Technical Commentaries also a SDII. Using Photoshop, I roughly outlined the side silhouettes for both. After overlapping them, and confirming they are very close (the Lucas photo camera angle is slightly higher thus the engine placement appears a bit lower but overall everything else lines up) I then decided to show the differences between a Studio model kit side profile vs a AMT/ERTL kit side profile, a Randy Cooper Model, Diecast SD model and a few schematics. This is just for people's reference, and while not 100% scientific, I hope it illustrates the differences.
First, studio models:
Lucas with a SDII, red outline establishing silhouette. Camera is pretty straight on, but is slightly from a top angle.
Here is 2nd studio model kit with Luca's SD red outline on top of it to compare that the studio models are close. They are, despite the slightly higher angle from the Lucas SDII which the red outline compares by the engine placement.
The same 2nd studio model with it's own blue highlight
Below will now be a comparison vs kits.
_____________________________________
Confirming the studio models lineup, I will now use the red & blue outlines as a basic guide comparing them against a AMT SD kit, and various others:
First:
AMT/ERTL kit that appears to be stock. One can easily see the differences when compared with studio kit outlines; bridge to high, the neck angle wrong, super structure off, too thick etc. I didn't highlight the sides on the studio kits, but the AMT kit side is too wide as well.
Next: Diecast Disney SDII. I bought this specifically because I could tell it was very accurate when I first saw promo photos of it. Once lined up with the red/blue outlines it confirmed my thoughts, it was very accurate to a studio kit despite being a toy. Pitty it is so small, but I might buy another one just because it is so accurate.
Here is a Randy Cooper SD and while this kit is absolutely fantastic (and expensive), and it does appear to have the right wedge shaped angle, it does seem Cooper's kits superstructure + bridge are too tall. I'm also not sure if he's corrected this in later kits, but at least from this one model, it appears slightly off. Everything else lines up though, and it seems if the superstructure and bridge were lowered just a smidge, it would be pretty close to the studio kit.
Schematic from Essential Guide, way off. Neck angle wrong, bridge to far back, the V angle formed by the top half and lower half by the engines appears to narrow as well.
I saw this posted on another RPF form as a schematic, and this too is off.
Anyways, this wasn't super scientific, and just thought I would share. I realize I could have outlined more features on the studio models, and I may later on. Based upon a few photos, it seems like the Rogue One Revell SDI released in a week will be pretty accurate, despite being pegged as a kids model/toy. I will post updates once I get that. Thanks all!
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