Repainting a MPC Millennium Falcon ***FINISHED*** with tons of pictures

[Leinads]

She’s looking great Michael! I haven’t grabbed a peek at your progress for a bit and it’s great to see you back at it full-throttle again! Nice. You know the weather has been kinda kooky everywhere of late, so your late season snow is not surprising. It’s just our collective new normal.

 

[JediMichael]

She’s looking great Michael! I haven’t grabbed a peek at your progress for a bit and it’s great to see you back at it full-throttle again! Nice. You know the weather has been kinda kooky everywhere of late, so your late season snow is not surprising. It’s just our collective new normal.

Thanks.
I'm definitely feeling better. Doctor wanted me to rinse out my nose a lot more, and wow, the stuff that comes out is kinda crazy. I think that is helping a lot.
Still not 100%, but enough to get some stuff done.

 

[JediMichael]

Little more done.
Got the right side now glued on, and it lines up pretty well.

I did notice the sidewall was slightly bend it a bit too much,,which made lining it all up with the top on come out a little odd. So I added this brace. It also left a gap, so I cut down a square rod to fill in, which also helped straighten more of the whole part out, just had to hold it in place a few mins.

It helps a lot, but I'll still try and add more to the ouside to match the other side. Hopefully I can get it to work.

 

[Analyzer]

Looking good

 

[JediMichael]

Added a little filler piece. Hard to really tell how it will look until painted.

Got all the sides glued back on, so doing a dry fitting of the top. Its all lining up pretty good actually, for being such an old kit and all.

I have to hold down a lot of areas, so once the glue is there to hold it in place, then I'll know if I need to also add some filler.

Kinda hard to do with one hand.

 

[JediMichael]

Got the back engine part glued on.
Needed to be bent even more than it was, so had to hold it in place for like 5 mins just to make sure.

As expected, each side has a little gap, since this part is entirely scratch made, so I'll just have to cover it with something.
I figure this whole kit isn't so accurate anyways.

Just now, once I do the final base coat paint, Ill have to cover these parts, but glad I got most the base coat on already.

 

[Oddmar]

I didn't read all the posts (skipped from page 1 to page 4) but NEVER use nail polish remover (acetone) on clear plastic parts. Looks great for 5 seconds before the acetone eats the plastic then it's f__ked. Good job on redoing your model (praise is difficult for me), I'd LOVE to do a Millennium Falcon build but my forte is 1:1 or bigger, and i don't currently have the space or cash.

 

[JediMichael]

I didn't read all the posts (skipped from page 1 to page 4) but NEVER use nail polish remover (acetone) on clear plastic parts. Looks great for 5 seconds before the acetone eats the plastic then it's f__ked. Good job on redoing your model (praise is difficult for me), I'd LOVE to do a Millennium Falcon build but my forte is 1:1 or bigger, and i don't currently have the space or cash.

Well, too late now, and guess I got lucky, because it helped clear it up a little, mainly in the middle part, which is the most noticeable area and didn't eat the plastic at all. 1:1 would surely take a bit of room....and money.

 

[pengbuzz]

Well, too late now, and guess I got lucky, because it helped clear it up a little, mainly in the middle part, which is the most noticeable area and didn't eat the plastic at all. 1:1 would surely take a bit of room....and money.

Next time: toothpaste.

 

[JediMichael]

Next time: toothpaste.

Hopefully there is no next time...but yeah, incase there ever is. Reminds me of trying to fix scratches on a cd, never really worked.

 

[JediMichael]

Added some styrene filler for the gaps.

Couldn't find anytype clip to hold the side that needed pressing together...but thankfully found this ladybug clip for a bag of chips...it worked.

So I then added this square rod over that...and here it looks alright...but....

I quickly realized it was now in the way to close it completely.
And since this whole piece is really sticking out a tad farther out than it should be, its going to be real tricky when gluing it all together.

So the only way to fix it was to dremel the corner part just a little.

And it technically is too much to the left, but thats where the real piece ends at. The other side fits better.
I guess its just a mix of it being an old kit and me trying to make it work and weird fighting each other the whole way through...but I'll win this one.
This has become the perfect George Lucas model....We'll just fix it in post.

The right side actually goes under the top flap part. Its really just how this kit lines up, in its weird wacky way.

 

[JediMichael]

Got the whole entire top now glued onto the bottom.
I used this clear gel tacky glue for the the little pegs and edges, and glad I did, as pieces always seem to go together better on a dry fit. Then I blue taped everything together, since I don't have type of clamps.
It worked.
Was able to then get some superglue in a few areas.....and then ran out.
After seeing Return of the Jedi tomorrow (later today, as its 2:30am) time for a glue run at the store.

I'm so glad that this whole part actually went together really nicely.
I still have an idea for a little trick that will help it look even better.

Finally getting there.

 

[kermet]

I love the way you did your engines makes me want to revisit mine but to many things going on in the old shop might be something I look at later looks so cool Great workmanship cool stuff

 

[JediMichael]

I love the way you did your engines makes me want to revisit mine but to many things going on in the old shop might be something I look at later looks so cool Great workmanship cool stuff

Thanks...I hear you. Always got WAY to many projects going on at once.
It is nice to actaully finish one of them....all the while starting 3 more.

 

[yuumi2891103]

I remember I built this model back in 45 years ago. I put the circle fluorescent tube inside. That was lit like heaven. I was using it as a reading light.


Go for it Michael-san!

 

[JediMichael]

Heres my best attempt at fixing up the gaps on the top and bottom by adding these 1.0 x 2.0 mm strips along the edges.

Both added, without flash.

And with flash.

The bottom part looks near perfect.

The top here, flipped over, is bumpy because of how they moulded it, so still has little gaps, but better than it was.

 

[Analyzer]

Seems like a reasonable fix

 

[JediMichael]

This thing is fighting me the whole way through.
It shall be called, The NPG Falcon.
...for Not Perfect Grade.


After getting most every other part lined up, seeing that the sides are just off a tad, evern with the inside pegs lined up and now glued.

Heres the other side, and putting it together, it lines up a little better.
But I now had that gap on the left.

I was able to fit a strip of the styrene in it.
I see I'll be using a lot of the Tamiya putty.

Back to the other side, the piece fits, but leaves this big space (which is the bottom side).
I'm just wondering, once painted, might not be as noticeable.

And the top looking down, another gap.
It was just, line up one part and have a gap in another, and back and forth.
Gap looks kinda big in the pic, but a 1mm piece of styrene is actually to big to fit.
I have thinner, just have to go find it and see how it then fits.

For this side, like the other, added some pieces in the gaps.

Hoping that between the putty and then the paint will help fix it up.
You can thankfully hide a lot of issues with painting.

 

[JediMichael]

Thankfully, over all from a few feet even, its not too bad.

 

[JediMichael]

I totally forgot I had this guide to try and add the lines here.

I drew some lines in pencil.
But no matter how careful I am and what tool I use, it slips EVERY SINGLE TIME.
So I already sanded it down and decided to just forget the lines. Scribing has never been my thing.