Ground Zero of an ambitious project
Jack_Hilkewich
| Posted in New To Woodworking on
Hello from a newbie. I have some experience in wood working but not in the area I am posting about. In short the end goal is this: I want to build a scale model of the Millennium Falcon out of an exotic wood and I want to build in such a way as to mimic the way a real life one would be built in in regards to it’s assembly. Building each piece and then assembling it. I have some plans to work from.
My question here is what would be a great starting point for reference books and must have tools along with any wood suggestions (I was thinking about Zebra Wood but I have read that it may not be the best for planing)? I anticipate this taking several years to complete so I can gather tools as I go along. Any advice would be much appreciated.
Replies
You might want to start with something simpler?
I view this as my learning project. That's why I think it will take me years. If I'm going to learn I might as well learn and build the thing at the same time.
Research woods before you dive in. Some are difficult to glue, and require specific adhesives. Some will not take some finishes well. Some look great at first, but the colors will change radically as they age.
Firstly, I'm no expert so use this with caution.
A few thoughts:
Do you want a uniform look where perhaps grain pattern accentuates details?
Are you keen to use different woods for accents
Keen for it to be pale like the original, or darker?
Mahogany is a good choice if you don't mind dark. Nice grain patterns and very forgiving. Hard enough to stand up to knocks (you will be making this for years) and relatively stable. Lots of movement initially when re-sawn though so you will need patience.
Oak may not meet your definition of exotic but white oak is hard, dense and will take all the fine detail well.
Basswood I have never used personally but is top bet for carving from all accounts, pale but soft. Not an ideal choice I think
Victorian ash if you can get it has interesting grain and colour, nice and pale but very unforgiving grain. If you are turning any parts your tools need to be razor sharp and tearout is still likely.
If you can get Kauri it is a beautiful wood. Relatively inexpensive and relatively smooth grained.
Rimu is darker with some truly amazing grain. Very easy to work or turn and multiple colours. Dust is very irritant. Both Can be hard to get outside New Zealand but are worth the search.
If I was going to undertake this, I'd pick a tough wood with even grain that has shade variation. Oak wins for me, but if you want people to ask what that beautiful wood is that you have used, pick Rimu. Just wear a dust mask.
Do you want a uniform look where perhaps grain pattern accentuates details?
Maybe in terms of colour but not in grain patterns.
Are you keen to use different woods for accents?
Yes
Keen for it to be pale like the original, or darker?
I wasn't thinking that I would keep it like the original as in my mind I was going to be using Zebra wood. That changed after doing some research. I may still use bits of it for various things though.
But now that you asked and pointed out other types of wood that may work, I may try and use light and darker wood in the appropriate areas.
That Kauri wood looks amazing!
Thanks for you thoughtful and well laid out reply, this helps a great deal!
That sounds awesome to build the Falcon!
May you wanna share where you got the plans from?
May the woodworking force be with you on that project
Proxxon makes a number of precision tools specifically geared toward model building. Another potential source is micromark. With the different densities and characteristics of different exotic woods and working in small scale you will definitely need to hone your sharpening skills. It would be a good idea to prototype your components in a more forgiving wood before taking a tool to the expensive and more challenging material.
There are a number of wood guide books "Understanding wood" that would be a good resource to get information about various species of wood. Also check the scrap bin at your lumber supplier. Also pen or bowl blanks could be a good option to get small size and quantity of something that you don't need a lot of and/or let you test out the characteristics of a wood before investing in a larger supply.
Sounds fun! Good luck!
user-7052313: May you wanna share where you got the plans from?
Well that is a long and complicated story. I have some blueprints that they sold in 1978 which are not very complete. I also have been scouring the internet for them and have found bits and pieces. There is a model kit you can buy from the UK, very expensive, which seems to have a very detailed set of plans. You buy the kit and they send you a magazine along with the model parts. The magazine is the instructions. I can't afford the kit (deAgostini Studio Scale Millennium Falcon ) which runs $2000 US ish. But some one has uploaded the magazines in pdf form and I can use those as a guide to help me build the pieces I need. http://www.scaleautofactory.com/build.php?file=starwars%2Fdeagostini%2Finstruction.xml&fbclid=IwAR2oaFs0wk4multHRPpJYFAEjHs9fogkaMI2LT0u5OoFedm9lsfn20LzJ-g
user-7126236 Thanks for the tool tips!. I am realizing now that I know even less than when I first posted about this!!!
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