Uncarina

Thanks, Rich! Tom

Looks like I am incorrect with the shape: http://www.airliners.net/photo/USA-Navy/Grumman-A-6A-Intruder-G-128-A2F-1/1069424/L but then I also see this: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3a/A-6A_Intruder_VMA%28AW%29-225_over_Vietnam_1969.JPG Cheers, Tom

It's been a while since I worked on this kit, but I will see if I can find the pics that led me to this conclusion—if they exist! Cheers, Tom

If you are building an “Aâ€, you will have to correct the wingtip, which Trumpeter misses: http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UtzvnCl0Fmc/VqyaOKVYSjI/AAAAAAAAJMk/8Td7mRxgpps/s1600/A-6A%2BECM%2Bsuite%2B1969%2BRev%2BA.jpg Remove the slime lights, reduce the size of the leading edge light, make the outer edge slightly concave, and add a wedge-shaped light. Here is my version with corrections: Hope this helps, Tom

Carl, That would be great! I'm curious how the FM differs from the Bandai counterpart in 1/144 scale; I believe FM used the 32†filming model for reference in this scale as well. Here's a link I found today to a PG build by one of the kit designers: http://bandai-hobby.net/sw/jp/special/millenniumfalcon_building_guide.html Cheers, Tom

Thanks John! Pretty exquisite paintwork on your BB8! That BF-109 is awesome. Cheers, Tom

Lights and legs... Cheers, Tom And a gunners station:

Thanks! Hope to post more very soon. Cheers, Tom

Carl, I saw this as well. Hopefully this will allow more people to start building and sharing their work on this remarkable kit. I've been watching this for some great info: https://www.therpf.com/showthread.php?t=262348 Cheers, Tom

Dave, thanks! A much better price. Cheers, tom

Carl, no worries! Thanks for the feedback; those figures would be nice. I'm glad to share any info about these builds; your previous work has been a great reference for me. Cheers, Tom

Shawn, thank you! Here is a link for the kit: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B014VTPQ22/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 For some reason this is listed as $30 more than the price I paid in mid-November. Hopefully you can find it cheaper. Cheers, Tom

Thunnus, thanks! It would be great to see you work your magic. Cheers, Tom

Carl, I must yield to the superior plushness! I shared a Shapeways link to the same figures. They look amazing, and it is indeed the price holding me back, which I know is funny considering the cost of the kit! For the 1/144 build the Green Strawberry photoetch worked perfectly, and I used Quickshine (a Future floor polish alternative) to attach. One challenge is that the parts are not keyed, so I had to line them up by eye. Cheers, Tom

Thanks! There are some great looking aftermarket figures available, and I am tempted: https://www.shapeways.com/product/2EABEEVNU/1-72-scale-figure-for-bandai-millennium-falcon?optionId=63810353&li=marketplace https://www.shapeways.com/product/V2CYLTUY9/1-72-scale-figure-for-bandai-millennium-falcon?optionId=63806296 Cheers, Tom

Dave, thanks! I read that the TLJ version is improved, though strangely Bandai changed how the engine grills are attached, meaning there are holes to be filled if you use aftermarket photoetch. Cheers, Tom

An update. The PG kit is MASSIVE. It is going together well. I've read from some others that they have a gap in one of the underside maintenance bays; when I looked, there is indeed molded spacers that creates this gap, so it must be a feature of the 5' version. I've also read that some had a gap around one of the docking bays, and I had this also when test-fitting. This is not intentional. I found that the two lower hull halves, parts M1 and N1, had not seated fully together, and apparently this is easy to overlook. When I had them fully together the gap went away. Overall it is a fast build, and surprisingly heavy! Cheers, Tom

Gaz, Thanks! The fit is also amazing, and the 1/144 decals fit pefectly. As the author of the link I posted above wrote, the 1/144 kit punches above its weight! One of the nice things about the kit is that the focus can readily shift from assembly to finish, due to the great fit. Cheers, Tom

Brian, thank you! These kits are an absolute blast. I hope that refund works well for you. Kev, thanks, you are very kind! I was skeptical about the decals, but Micro-Sol/Set, along with some TLC, works miracles. Carl, thanks! I read good things about the 1/350 kit, but I'm trying to limit my scale diversity, especially since I have two Slave One kits in the queue. I really recommend the 1/144 kit. Have you seen this? https://sites.google.com/site/millenniumfalconnotes/bandai-s-millennium-falcon Happy Holidays! Tom

Amazing detail. And the Perfect Grade version is even better! I have more confidence and familiarity with this kit now that I completed the smaller (and MUCH less expensive) 1/144 version. For this build I've started with the bridge. Even though the Bandai kits come molded in "appropriate" colors, I painted the interior Tamiya XF-63 German Gray, then after a coat of Quick Shine I used the kit decals almost exclusively. I started with my usual decal softener, Solvaset, but for whatever reason the Micro-Sol/Micro-Set combination worked much better: As I mentioned the build progresses in the same sequence as for the 1/144 kit:bridge, then mandibles, then main body, adding a lot of detail along the way. Some suggestions: --use a fine saw to remove the more delicate parts from the sprues --if you are using a dark basecoat, precoat the maintenance bays before attaching them to the ship, due to the overhangs. Once installed, paint won't reach these areas. --make sure each part is seated fully to it's mating part. I'm really enjoying this--hope you do too! Cheers, Tom

I've been on a bit of a Star Wars binge lately, and after working in a desultory fashion on my Fine Molds Millennium Falcon, I took the plunge and purchased not one but TWO Bandai Millennium Falcons. They arrived within a week of each other: first the Perfect Grade 1/72 kit, then the 1/144 smaller counterpart. They have many similarities: --snap-together --astounding detail --build sequence --complexity --stellar fit And some differences: --scale, obviously --the PG kit is based faithfully upon the 5 foot prototype built for "A New Hope" (for example, the Bandai engineers purchased all of the original model kits used in the original prototype and scaled down all of the parts used from these kits) --The PG kit comes with lights --the 1/144 version is based upon “The Force Awakens†version (eg, five landing gear, different radar) I recommend building the smaller version first. I had a blast building it, and can't stop looking at it: the detail really sucks you in. The biggest modification I made was performing surgery to remove the overly raised greebly detail atop the bridge tunnel, and lowering it to a level that more closely matched the prototype. I bought Shapeways parts for the bridge windows, the round radar dish, and the gunners windows, and Green Strawberry photoetched grills. After a black base coat I painted it with a mix of Tamiya XF-2 White and XF-55 Deck Tan, with some gray. After an overcoat with Holloway House Quick Shine I applied almost all of the 100+ decals, then weathered with Flory Washes and pastels.

That is exquisite! You really brought the finish to life! Cheers, Tom

Great work, and very distinctive! Cheers, Tom

Excellent work! I'm impressed with those rivets, but it all looks good! Cheers, Tom

Just revisiting this. These are amazing. I built the Blackhawk years ago, and it was a lot of work. This build takes it to another level. Cheers, Tom