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 Rank: Newbie Groups: Registered
Joined: 19/11/2016 Posts: 3 Points: 9 Location: San Diego, CA
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Hi all! Looking for a bit of feedback from folks that have completed (or have nearly completed) this beautiful model. I received a subscription for my bday from my husband, and after finishing my recent Jupiter II build (Moebius), I have found a love for detailing interiors. Plus I'm a wee bit OCD... which is probably why I like dealing with all the itty-bitty elements so much. ;-) ...so, was wondering if the infrastructure for this model could hold up to "leaving the top off" for me to scratch-build a complete interior? We'd probably place her in a display case then (so there would be minimal moves of the build). I'm assuming there are brackets that are visible, but assume I can blend those into walls, etc... Any feedback/thoughts from you experts out there? Or is this a nuts idea?  :-) I still have a Fine Molds Falcon I haven't built/painted yet, so we were thinking of putting them side-by-side in a case (and then use the "lid" of the ship as a wall display somewhere else in the house). Thank you in advance for any thoughts you may have! R, Sandy
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 Rank: Super-Elite       Groups: Registered
Joined: 27/01/2014 Posts: 5,060 Points: 14,980
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Welcome to the Forum Sandy.
The Millennium Falcon build is a great build and has a lot of different customisation possibilities.
I really love the idea of a detailled interior and think it would look amazing when complete, however I would have to very strongly advice against it as with the top off it would cause permanent damage over time.
The frame work is designed so that it works in partnership with the top whereby when the top is put on everything is pulled together and held securely.
As an example the mandibles themselves weigh a considerable amount and when attaching them you are advised to use the supplied jig to support the weight. If you take the jigs away while the top is off the mandibles start to droop under their own weight, whereas when the top is attached the weight of the top counter acts the droop and balances everything out. Over time permanent damage would be done.
For a top off idea to work there would need to be some serious reworking of the frame work to strengthen it up, I wouldn't know where to start to achieve that.
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Rank: Administration   Groups: Registered, Administrators, Global Forum Support, Moderator, Forum Support Team, Official Builds Joined: 04/01/2016 Posts: 6,734 Points: 20,519 Location: Northamptonshire, England
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Welcome to the forum Sandy As Dave has stressed in the previous post, without the top piece fitted, parts will be under stress and may buckle the frame over time. I myself have attached the top frame on temporarily, but I am still using the support to hold it in place. Because of the sheer weight of the model, until the bottom, side and top sections are bolted together, you may damage some parts. I think the idea of detailing the interior is a great idea, but to reiterate what Dave said, some work around will be needed to strengthen the framework as the model was not designed with that in mind. Mark Regards
Markwarren
(Mark) Admin
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Rank: Newbie Groups: Registered
Joined: 19/11/2016 Posts: 3 Points: 9 Location: San Diego, CA
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Dave, Mark,
Thank you so much for your replies and your advice! Having only the first 5 months delivered thus far, I was concerned this would end up being the issue (not knowing how the infrastructure ends up).
Hmm. I'm wondering if I can do cutouts at key areas across the top hull, perhaps adding additional bracing along the plastic that remains to help ensure there's adequate support? That would at least give "peeks" into every room/area of the ship (beyond the already removable areas - looks like they're using magnets for a few rooms?), particularly the engines.
Maybe that's a compromise scenario. What do you (or any other readers <s>) think?
Thank you again for taking the time to answer, that was really nice of you! Have a great weekend!
R,
Sandy
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Rank: Super-Elite Groups: Registered
Joined: 27/01/2014 Posts: 5,060 Points: 14,980
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You're welcome Sandy Cut outs do sound like it would be a good compromise, you'd have to study the current framework to try and work out where you'd need the extra bracing, not something that I could give any help with I'm afraid as that's beyond my abilities so would be at your own risk. However if you can pull it off it would certainly be unique and add that extra wow factor that no one else has done  You are correct that the current cut away parts use magnets on the hull panels.
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 Rank: Beginner Level 2  Groups: Registered
Joined: 10/01/2017 Posts: 16 Points: 38 Location: U.S.A.
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Another option could be simply replacing parts of the upper hull plating with thin Plexiglass or Lexan. The clear panels could be screwed into the existing metal framework in lieu of the hull plating, resulting in no loss of structural support. The effect would be pretty impressive as it would also show off portions of the Falcon's metal skeleton which is a work of art in itself.
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Rank: Super-Elite Groups: Registered
Joined: 17/12/2013 Posts: 3,982 Points: 11,974 Location: NY, USA
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Hi Corellian Hyperdrive,
welcome to the forum.I am forum support for USA so let me know if I can help in any way. I tihnk it would be very difficult to use lexan or plexiglass because you would need to have a compound shape on some parts and this is very challenging to due with plexiglass and lexan.
Carl
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Rank: Beginner Level 2 Groups: Registered
Joined: 10/01/2017 Posts: 16 Points: 38 Location: U.S.A.
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The OP mentioned scratch building the interior so I would assume they have at least a passing knowledge of cutting & manipulating plastic. If it isn't a challenge, it isn't worth doing. (I think I read that in a fortune cookie once).
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Rank: Newbie Groups: Registered
Joined: 19/11/2016 Posts: 3 Points: 9 Location: San Diego, CA
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Hi Corellian and Hyperdrive! :-) I've become pretty enamored with the cutout idea using acrylic (though ugh, it scratches so easily) or plexiglass. While I'm not an expert, I have worked with at least acrylic enough to be comfortable it may work if placed properly (supported by judiciously-applied lighting in the interior). I'm still missing one of the earlier shipments (on back order as of November - I should probably ask my hubby to follow up on that), otherwise, am about halfway through receipt of my parts. Am looking forward to the challenge (and the terror of mucking up this beautiful model, lol)! Does Model Space sell one-shot replacement issues (in case I do mess up a key part)? I'm assuming I'd have to rebuy an issue vice an individual piece, as they're packaged together frequently. Knowing that is a backup plan would make this more of a relaxing vs. stressful experience.  And again, thank you, to you great folks and all your advice!!!
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