Okay, okay . . .

I know this is only tangentially related to the X-wing game . . .

But I wanted to show you guys something I built as a Christmas gift for my niece:

I spent a long time getting this model built and painted, and naturally she was very happy to receive it. It's fully lit and has motorized wings and canopy, and has a custom decal for the cockpit instrument panel:

Here are a few more beauty shots:

I've got a second one in the works at the moment which will be far more accurate and be totally independent of the base thanks to a miniaturized power source and an Arduino board. In addition, I'm trying to figure out how to motorize the landing gear as well. I'm sure I can do it, with all the mechanical photoetch bits I've collected over the years.

Anyway, hope you guys didn't mind the intrusion.

Very nice.. So how long have you spent flying it around the room going "PEW PEW"?

Oh, no, no, no . . .

I never do *that*.

Now, I do sometimes engage in "test flights." But as we all know, that's a *completely* different thing.

Just like we conduct "test flights" with the minis right?

Very nice work. Clean model with a spot on paint job. The weathering looks to be just the right amount overall, but perhaps a bit more on the blasters as they look a little too clean compared to the rest of the ship. I'm curious which kit that is and how long did it take overall.

Yeah it's perfectly alright to put 3 Tie Fighters on stems, put the stems between you fingers, and 'fly' them around the room to make sure they look right when flown in squadron formation... TOTALLY ALRIGHT

That is an excellent paint job and weathering. Man. I wish I had that kind of skill.

Wow. That is absolutely brilliant.

The whole thing is awesome, but that cockpit detail pushes it to a whole other level for me.

Unfortunately I can't press "✓ Like This" more than once, but if you ever post a video of the wings opening and closing too, then at least that will get another for sure

You must love your niece a lot! Nice work!

This is incredible! Reminds me of Quantum Mechanix' big replica ships for Firefly and Star Trek!

how much?

Wow, that's amazing!

how much?

what he said

how much?

Thanks a lot, you guys.

To answer some questions, this is the 1:35 AMT Pro-Shop X-wing Fighter kit released back in the 90's. I was fortunate enough to score one on eBay for a relatively cheap amount, and it comes with all the required electronics to open and close the wings and canopy as well as sound effects and lighting. But being a perfectionist I really couldn't keep from messing with it and accurizing it as much as I had time for. I mean, the torpedo launchers were 2mm depressions for crying out loud! And the droid strip was embarrassingly bare! And don't get me started on the ridiculous details they made up for the cutouts on the interior of the wings . . .

I forgot to mention something else: the base is basically a mini-museum of the X-wing and its various components. Here are some WIP pics of them:

http://i1183.photobucket.com/albums/x475/Millennium-Falsehood/Pro-Shop%20X-wing%20Build/DSC06228.jpg

http://i1183.photobucket.com/albums/x475/Millennium-Falsehood/Pro-Shop%20X-wing%20Build/DSC06248.jpg

And here are the finished pics:

Below is the only "component" I kept out of the whole ordeal. I was going to try and fit an entire engine and shield projector assembly in the display area, but it ended up too big. So I just opted for the combustion chamber and kept the engine/shield projector thing for myself.

http://i1183.photobucket.com/albums/x475/Millennium-Falsehood/Pro-Shop%20X-wing%20Build/DSC06212.jpg

There were many more small things wrong with this kit, but I couldn't fix all of them in time for Christmas, when I gave it to my niece. She's a HUGE Star Wars fan, so I got a very nice reaction from her. I think she needed to use superglue to get her jaw back on her head after she flipped the on switch and saw the wings split into attack formation.

Naturally, that means this ship isn't for sale at the moment. But I'm making another one which will be a heck of a lot better for several reasons, and I might be willing to part with that one . . .

Oh, who am I kidding?

And yes, I do love my niece very much. She's a great kid with a very bright future as a teacher when she finally graduates high school and moves on to college. That's awesome in and of itself: she already knows what she wants to be when she grows up and is working earnestly toward that goal. Plus she's a huge sci-fi nerd like her uncle. She's in love with Lost in Space, Star Trek TOS, and many other classic shows and movies. I really could brag on her a lot more, but she'd probably be embarrassed.

Unfortunately I can't press "✓ Like This" more than once, but if you ever post a video of the wings opening and closing too, then at least that will get another for sure

Oh, you guys want video, too?

Sorry the quality is crappy, but I'm not exactly a film student here. Hopefully the cliche'd use of Star Wars music will make up for that.

Okay. Now you're just rubbing it in.

Fantastic!

Oh come on! The engines light up too!? Ok. Is there an A-Wing version of this out there?

Um . . . yeah . . .

Umm yeah, with that museum base, the awesomeness just left orbit.

Dude, that is totally bad a$$. If you build any more Star Wars models, I recommend the Fine Molds line, which are totally to scale (1/48, 1/72 and 1/144):

http://www.hlj.com/scripts/hljlist?SeriesID=1578&Sort=std&Maker1=FNM&searchpage=sci&qid=5ENF1TNDNILKQ&GenreCode=sci&DisplayMode=images&set=1&Dis=-2&inStock=0

Here's the 1/48 X-Wing:

http://www.hlj.com/product/FNMSW-09/Sci

I can't say enough nice things about the quality of your construction. I haven't attempted this particular kit, but I know superior work when I see it.

It's funny the way we get to know each other on these forums. I read posts and try to gauge how much experience each person has in the game, and how much they are a gamer vs. a Star Wars fan, etc. It's impossible to know each other completely, but little gems like this really let us get to know each other. From now on I will remember that Millennium Falsehood is the guy who made the really awesome X-wing model for his cool niece.

Thanks for sharing this! Amazing work on the mini museum!

Aw, thanks!

Dude, that is totally bad a$$. If you build any more Star Wars models, I recommend the Fine Molds line, which are totally to scale (1/48, 1/72 and 1/144):

http://www.hlj.com/scripts/hljlist?SeriesID=1578&Sort=std&Maker1=FNM&searchpage=sci&qid=5ENF1TNDNILKQ&GenreCode=sci&DisplayMode=images&set=1&Dis=-2&inStock=0

Here's the 1/48 X-Wing:

http://www.hlj.com/product/FNMSW-09/Sci

Actually I've built every one of the Finemolds line except Slave I and the Millennium Falcon (mainly because they're dadgum expensive!!). I'll probably buy more of them and do some of Red Squadron. I really want to buy a Slave I and paint it as the Andrasta from X-wing Alliance:

I loved the X-wing kits. Here's my 1:72 X-wing:

I also did the Y-wing:

And here's a rather poingant diorama I did with two TIE Fighters:

I don't have pics of my TIE Interceptor or Jedi Starfighter. The Interceptor had an unfortunate run-in with my dog and I sold off the Starfighter before I took any pics.

Um . . . yeah . . .

I am going to go cry now.