Good Morning everyone!  It's time for the first installment of many to come.  I tend to do rather big picture posts but am going to limit the individual posts to 10 or 12 pictures at max then do a second if there are more pictures.  Why pictures instead of just photos?  You'll see.  

Ack!  Posting from a phone and am really used to doing this with just text and code (which is MUCH easier and faster)  but the code editing on this site is unusable.  So cleaned up the extras and moving on.

Continuing on with Issue #2 and the initial piece of rework on a part.

That's all for now folks!

Please let me know what you think and if you have any questions, be sure to ask.   There will be much more to come!

You're gonna need a bigger boat...

The screws description in the first post has been revised and updated.  The Type 6 screw is now added in and shown in detail.

There will be more photos in a day or 2. 

It has been a few days and I have some more of the basic kit info and comparisons to the movie props.  A lot of the interior parts for the kit will give an "impression" of what the movie sets were, but really misses the mark if you are into the details of things.

So here are some more pictures to round out the first shipment Issues 1 through 4.  Please bear with me on the photos as I am uploading them via my phone and FSM's interface is not that easy to work with.  (OK it is a royal pain, as I can do with plain text in 5 minutes what takes 20 on here and the source code tool is worthless.) 

That is all for Issue #3  I find the cockpit ok for a passing glance, but if you were to really take a look and know what you are looking at, it fails.  In addition now that I am actively working on it, the stickers in the kit don't even really fit right.  It is all a mess, so when it is right and studied, it will be a good thing.

Issue #4 is next.

Here is Issue #4 from Shipment #1

Next I will be posting some pictures for the extremists.  They will look slightly different and will be all kinds of how to and what I have done for some of the extreme modifications that will be coming along.

After that will be posts from Issues #5 and #6 of Shipment #2.  Those will finish up all of the stock cockpit parts.

Until next time.

Here is the first installment of my EXtreme Falcon modificatins.    Part TP-3 is going to get a thorough revamp by the end of this session.  There will be several more installments on this modification session.  Please let me know what you think.  While I know this is supposed to be "The 32 inch scale replica" , it is just too clunky and blah compared to the detail found on the 5 footer  (5F from here on)

Here we go. . .

Let me know what you all think, would ya?   I am curious as to if anyone really finds this build worthwhile.

I should have a bigger post in a couple of days.

Cheers!

OK then,  Here is part 1 of the next EXtreme installment.  Using a rather old Dremel drill press, I set it up and use it as a cheap milling machine.  Can't do that with the newer designs.  Who ever said that new was better!

Here ends part 1, stay tuned for part 2.

SO!  Would anyone like to see a video of the Dremel cutting the part off in the previous post?  Let me know.

With the modification I now have a window problem.

That's about it for now.  More Cut-n-Chop later.

It has been a few days and I have a ways to go to catch up.  I have to say there seem to be LOOKY Loos but no one seems to be interested in saying anything.

Here is a basic installment for Issues 5 thru 8.

There are Issues 5 and 6.  Issues 7 and 8 coming up.

Here are Issues 7 and 8.

That's all for now. Hope you and the crickets are enjoying this.

Here is the  next installment on the EXtreme part of the build.  In this I am still changing the part TP-3 to something resembling the part on the 5 footer.

In this post, I am making masters for 5 parts that there are multiple copies all over part TP-3 (the turret)  and some surface rework of the part to change it to something a lot more interesting.

So is anyone out there finding any of this interesting and worth watching or am I just piddling in the wind here. . . 

Hi Heavens Eagle,

I am fairly new to this forum, and I just found this post as I am still exploring the different areas of the forum. I was pretty excited to find this as I have been curious about this DeAg MF. So in answer to your question, I'm enjoying it! In fact, I have this post bookmarked. 

TF

Thanks for posting TF!  Much appreciated!  I don't really understand why there are a bunch of folks looking in but no one posting anything.  Kind of odd and despiriting.

I try to build and then post so that the complex stuff I do others can learn and try it.  This build so far is becoming the most challenging I have ever done.  Not because the model is difficult, but because of everything I am having to do to upgrade the detail.

The hard part is I am just getting started on this and there is a bunch more to go.  The entire cockpit I have determined is going to have to be scratchbuilt to get it right, the hold and corridors will need almost as much redo, the boarding ramp is getting a complete makover and the actuator will be redone, and the engine area will have a huge amount of work too.    (take a big breath) 

That is just the stuff I know something about at this point.  Surface detail changes will depend on things when I cross that particular point.  If it looks good and similar to the 5 foot model I will leave it.  If there is a big difference or something missing that obviously should be there, it will be changed or added.  That bridge will get crossed when I get to it.

However, I am also a little like a stage actor and even though I can tell folks are looking, without some comments and folks posting questions it leaves me thinking "why bother" .

So TF thanks for posting!  You don't know how much it is appreciated!

No worries, Heavens Eagle, I can relate!

I really like and appreciate WIP posts like this one. I find that even if the skills and techniques shown are beyond my skill level, I can often find something to take away from it and apply it to my own projects. For instance, I was able to take auto painting and bodywork techniques I learned from some of the car forums and apply it to my current aircraft project to achieve my best-ever airplane finish. Now, I've made TONS of mistakes on this little P-51, but as a result I've learned tons as well and have achieved what I think is a respectable result, especially considering that it's the first airplane I've done in like 30 years! 

At any rate, I find this Millenium Falcon build most interesting, because although I am back to building aircraft for the time being, I have several sci-fi kits in my stash that I will build only when I think my skills are up to the task of adding in detail I would really like to see. For instance, I have some Star Wars A-Wings and Snowspeeders I would love to superdetail someday. Not sure if I really want to make the cockpits as close as possible to the "hero" units used in filming, or if I want to take a bit of "artistic licence" and scratchbuild my own stuff.

Of course, there's also a Buck Rogers Starfighter in my stash that deserves a proper build, as well as a couple Battlestar Vipers. Those will all be down the road a bit.

But yeah, I'm diggin' your work on this MF so far. I would totally understand if you decided not to keep up with the updates on this project, but I, for one, am enjoying it!

TF

Friggin' awesome!!!

I'm glad I'm not that big a SW fan since:

A). I need the money for a new car.

B). I don't have anywhere to put anything that big!

Thanks for letting us ride along with you on this trip!

I thought about how expensive it will be overall too Gamera and decided to look at the monthly outlay instead.  I blow on stuff more than I am paying each month on the subscription, so why not go for it.  As for where I am going to put it, I won't worry about it until I have to.  Have no War Dept to pitch a fit so why worry.

Anyway, thanks again for posting folks, it is appreciated!

Here is another update:  

There is plenty more to come, I am still playing catch up on where I am on the build.

Questions are most welcome and appreciated!

Hahaha War Department! I had a good chuckle over that!

TempusFugit

Hahaha War Department! I had a good chuckle over that!

 

My thanks to all who have been looking in,  please at some point take a minute and let me know what you think.  Any questions or problems with your DeAG Falcon, please feel free to ask!  I am always glad to help!

Tonight I will have two posts covering shipment #3.  There is also some info on straightening a bent zinc casting without breaking it.

Enjoy!

To be continued.....

Here is the continuation.  If you noticed, one of the stiffening ribs in Issue #11 was bent slightly.  After Issue #12 and some other info, I will show how I straightened it without breaking the part.  Zinc castings can be fairly strong, but they can bend and become quite brittle.  It takes some finnesse and a little knowledge to straighten them, and it can be done successfully.

Here is the continuation. . .

There you go sports fans!  Hope that little demo helps.

I should be getting shipment #5 tomorrow, and I have been scratchbuilding a new cockpit rear bulkhead.  At this point I don't know for sure if my idea for lighting it will work well or not so I am just building it up, add paint and do the other little details, and add light to see how it works.  Wish me luck!

Next installment will be a little more detail on the window, modifiying the gun mount and a few more details leading up to the unveiling of the fully modified Upper turret TP-3.

So stay tuned!  

wow this is detailed!

Keep bringing the awesome please!!! 

Compressorman

This is some really fantastic work here, I love to see a really high-detail no-holds-barred build. I am really surprised at the 'lack of accuracy' on the original however. I had always assumed that for the price you pay for one of those kits that it would be spot-on accurate. :( 

Thanks for looking in and commenting!  

I believe the outside part is pretty accurate to the 32 inch filming prop.  Why they decided to use the 32 inch prop as the basis instead of the 5 footer I don't know for sure.  At a guess (and it is only a guess)   It probably has a bit to do with how much more stuff the 5 footer has on it, and the fact that when George Lucas went back and upgraded the original trilogy, the graphics guys used the 32 incher for the basis for the computer model.

As to the interior detail however, it pretty well FAILS.  It could have been done much better and to a more accurate level.  As it is, it resembles something that would be found in a toy.

After watching a number of Utube videos however,  I suspect that DeAgostini hit the "It's good enough I like it!" spot with most folks.  It's only the nut cases like me with AMS (Advanced Modeler Syndrome)  that are compelled to go the extra lengths.  

As to how much it costs, yeah the total cost at the end is a large chunk, but it is only $61 a month, and I blow more than that on buying DVD's or lunch every month.  The benefit is that I am enjoying the heck ot of all the special work I am doing on it and at the end I should have something really unique.  Whatever floats your boat.

Time to post some more modeling goodness.  Or in other words, show how far off the deep end I am sliding on this build.  

On with some more EXtreme Falcon!

To be continued....

Here is the rest leading up to the finish of the top side turret TP-3.

Till next time sports fans!  Same bat time, same bat channel!   

Man, Heavens Eagle, this is some intricate stuff! I am rather in awe of how much you are "accurizing" this kit. I was wondering why the details differed so much from the 5-footer, compelling you to adjust them, until I read your comment that this kit was based on the 32-incher. Makes sense. 

I wish I had the tools and skill to do something like this to a project of my own. I'll just keep makin' 'em 'till I get there, I s'pose.  Anyway, nice work, sir!

TF

Thanks again for your kind comments TF!  Tools are something that I have always appreciated.  There was a time when I would get ideas and thoughts on doing something and couldn't because I didn't have any tools.  Had an opportunity a number of years ago to obtain some of the tooling I had wanted and have never regretted it.  

I have been a bit busy lately with some other projects but I see you folks have been checking in to see more, so here it is.

Hope you like what I did.  If you have any questions or requests, please ask.

Until next time, unless the Empire strikes back. .