Bandai Perfect Grade Millennium Falcon 1:72 WiP
Comments
29 20 November 2019, 20:20
DemigodHere we go again, this time for real. The Bandai MF is a great kit - but the provided lighting kit is just crap. Too dark and pink. I need MORE POWER!
So here I go installing my own lighting solution in the cockpit. Have fun watching!
20 November 2019, 20:26
BozzerLooks like a good start. I'm hopping aboard for this lightyear journey.
20 November 2019, 23:12
DemigodThe Bandai figures are boring, so I replaced them. The new ones show a little more action ;D
30 November 2019, 19:23
DemigodNow I'm playing around with the engine lighting. The kit lighting is crap, so I used LED strips to pimp it.
25 December 2019, 12:28
Starbase101Looks great! Many people have been carving out behind the cockpit for lighting. Are those figures from the kit or aftermarket? I haven't seen an out-of-the-box lighting kit yet that doesn't need replacing with something better. Often the best you can hope for with upgraded kits for lighting are clear parts that might otherwise have been opaque.
9 February 2020, 18:13
Stephan H.Following! The effort you put in on the lighting is totally worth it! Great start
10 February 2020, 10:33
DemigodGlad you like it!
Mike, the figures are aftermarket. Check this:
Figure Set C (Falcon 3D Parts None, 1:72)
11 February 2020, 17:37
DemigodThe open pits won't be readily accessible after installing them, so I have to paint them now. For that, I brownbased and used MRP-099 Insignia White as top coat.
7 March 2020, 15:58
Starbase101@Demigod, thanks - yes, I already had Falcon 3D Parts bookmarked, and I've got a hefty order from them working its way through the postal system at the moment. Nice paint job on your figures.
7 March 2020, 22:10
DemigodQuite little progress: construction is almost completed, and I installed the main power connection via the landing gear.
1 May 2020, 17:41
bughunterIt's not my subject, but I have a deep respect for such beautiful detail painting 👍 How the hell did you paint it so clean?
17 May 2020, 10:31
SpanjaardI dinot know if the grade if the kit deserves to be called perfect (I do not have it in my stash) but what you are doing certainly does....
17 May 2020, 19:06
DemigodGlad you like it! The kit itself really deserves the term "perfect". My challenge will be to add a free floating base ... something like Cloud City or Coruscant.
18 May 2020, 11:29
TreehuggerEngine grills in photo 25 looks interesting. I had no idea there was any detailing to this.
18 May 2020, 12:06
Starbase101"Perfect Grade" isn't specific to this Millennium Falcon model kit - it's Bandai's premium class of kits, most of which are Gundam (the Millennium Falcon was the first non-Gundam PG kit). The PG kits are pricier from their advanced tooling and number of parts.
18 May 2020, 13:05
DemigodTreehugger, right you are. On the original movie prop this was only a milky white screen. Also, the back of the Falcon is never seen unlit. So, Bandai seem to have taken a little bit of artistic freedom ...
18 May 2020, 17:08
Dave FlittonFantastic work. Can't to see what else you come up with to complete this build
18 May 2020, 20:12
DemigodSo, let's dive into painting this beast. To get a subtle weathering right from the start I black based and added white marble and blend coats.
25 July 2020, 13:04
DemigodThe next step is masking, painting and chipping the various off-colored panels. Enjoy!
6 October 2020, 18:14
TreehuggerI think the figures are surprisingly nice looking, the modling of the faces mean. And nice work on the figures.
8 October 2020, 07:07
Marcel KlemmerA very impressive paint job. This will be a very interesting model
8 October 2020, 09:39
Stephan H.Awesome paint work. but not using 50 shades ... might result in "punishment"😉
12 October 2020, 12:59
Spanjaardi am more concerned with the room it would leave on my wallet 😛 i got the 1/144 instead. would love the perfect grade one but....
17 October 2020, 22:19
Starbase101Try finding room for the studio-scale DeAgostini kit....now THAT one is big.
17 October 2020, 22:29
DemigodTrue. To be honest, my models only come out for shows and club meetings. I still have to find the perfect (and spacious) display case for my home.
20 October 2020, 17:53
Starbase101Yeah, gone are the childhood days of simply hanging them from the ceiling with "invisible" fishing line.
20 October 2020, 18:17
DemigodOh, I do miss these days. But, on the other hand I am not going to invest 400+ hours into a model and let it be a dust catcher. Glass cabinet, silicone sealing, 5000k LED lighting in the corners. That's what I'm looking for.
20 October 2020, 18:34
SpanjaardLook for cabinets from closing shops, I got one that usually would have cost 800 to 1000€, for just 100.....
21 October 2020, 23:36
DemigodAfter decalling now is the time for some streaks. Those are done in oil color - Abteilung Starship Filth does a marvellous job!
15 November 2020, 18:45
DemigodI am in the middle of the weathing process. Oil paint streaking, filtering, washing, you name it. It's incredibly time-consuming due to the sheer amount of details.
3 January 2021, 11:02
TreehuggerDo you have a method of sorts for deciding to apply weathering on around the model? Or do you just focus on one area and then move on to the next?
3 January 2021, 11:23
DemigodTreehugger, my first rule is to have good references. Yes, I'm buildung a model of the "real thing" and not of the studio prop, but the abundantly available fotos of the studio model do give clues where to apply the weathering. So, that's the start. The blueprint if you like. From there I enhance and add more details and weathering where I see fit. 😉
3 January 2021, 13:25
Black BaronLooking great! Is there a lot of variation between scenes or original films on the wear & tear and details on the Falcon? Or is it consistent and you don't need to pick a particular referense scene that is your trooth?
5 January 2021, 15:55
DemigodThank you, guys!
@Black Baron: They had one studio scale model for ANH and a second, smaller one for ESB and RotJ. Althoug it was smaller in scale, the second model reproduced the form and weathering of the older one quite faithfully. So, the reference to be had is photos of these models that are abundant from the exhibitions of the past. The movie footage does not provide acurate views of the details of the MF. So, I take the studio models and transform them into what they would look like in real life (in my opinon).
@Bernie: The white is MRP-099.
FS17875 U.S. Navy White, MR.Paint Satin, Acrylic Lacquer, 30ml
8 January 2021, 13:17
DemigodFinally, I'm nearing completion of painting that thing. Also I installed the electronics package.
16 January 2021, 13:04
DemigodOnly a small update - I finished the boarding ramp and the landing gear. The cables are old guitar string.
4 April 2021, 10:18
