The garbage will do ...

[Contains Spoilers for Star Wars: The Force Awakens - You have been warned!] When Rey uttered those fours words and the camera then panned into a shot of the Millennium Falcon, it was a joyous moment to behold. It took me completely by surprise, and the inner geek in me wanted to jump out of my seat and yell hell yeah. That I would be holding in my hands, one of the most detailed model kits of this iconic Star Wars vehicle, wasn't something I had envisioned doing at the start of a new hobby year ... not even in my wildest dreams. But here I am, in geek heaven with the Bandai Millennium Falcon 1/144 scale model kit thanks to an early birthday gift from the missus and son.

Bandai Star Wars Model Kit - Millennium Falcon 1/144 scale

Detailed pictures of a completed Millennium Falcon on both sides of the box

With this new Bandai project I'll be entering the unfamiliar territory of vehicle painting and weathering. It's perhaps a tad suicidal that I will be doing so without an air brush (I'm under no illusion as to how difficult it is to paint large surface areas smoothly with a normal brush versus an air brush) but that painting tool is something I can ill afford in such testing economic times. On a brighter note, one thing within my budget are weathering kits of which I'll have need of to render realistic effects on the Millennium Falcon. As far as I know, the most readily available (and more importantly affordable) weathering kit where I live is the Tamiya Weathering Master. At least a few shops claim to stock it but I'll have to go there myself to see if they've the colours I need. 

Bandai Millennium Falcon 1/144 scale model kit unboxed

Instruction manual for the Millennium Falcon model kit

Still looking for an English translation of the manual as the one in the box is all in Japanese

Model kit contains decal and sticker options for the Millennium Falcon's markings

Model kit comprises a total of 10 sprues/runners

In terms of scale, this model kit will be the largest I've ever attempted. Size-wise, the closet rival would be the Black Legion Forgefiend which I completed two-and-a-half years ago. Placed next to a paperclip, both the upper hull and figurines included in the model kit show in relative terms what the Bandai 1/144 scale means visually.  I'm hugely impressed with this Bandai model kit - quality, detail and scale are all spot on as far as this Star Wars fan is concerned. It even has space for LED lighting which is a whole other level of awesome cool. Sadly though, the model kit in question does not include the LED lighting system. That piece of hardware is sold separately.     

For scale, a paperclip is placed next to the Millennium Falcon's upper hull and the characters

Numerous finely detailed pieces are to be found on the sprues

Below is a look at the various sprues that came in the box. In total there were 10 sprues altogether labeled A, B, C, D1, D2, E1, E2, F (two identical sprues) and SWB. All are still wrapped in clear plastic as I'm loath to remove them yet for fear of accidentally damaging the pieces. A key thing to note for Star Wars fans who are particular about which version this Millennium Falcon is, is that the radar dish of this model is rectangular in shape as seen in The Force Awakens. The old round dish was torn off in Return of the Jedi during the Death Star attack. I'm down with that as ... [Last warning, major spoiler ahead] ... the death of Han Solo (my son had this awful news sprung on him by a classmate who delights in spreading movie spoilers) means the Falcon is now in the hands of Rey and Chewbacca. So it's fitting that she has a new radar piece to mark this new journey.

Sprue A: Clear pieces, small detailed pieces and figurines

Sprue B: Upper Hull

Sprue C: Lower Hull

Sprue D1: Mandibles and misc

Sprue D2: Mandibles, cockpit (exterior hull) and misc

Sprue E1: Sidewalls, cockpit (interior), escape pods and misc

Sprue E2: Sidewalls, escape pods and misc

Sprue F (X2): Gun turret, escape pods, subspace hyper-drive and misc

Sprue SWB: Base

To date, this model is not 'officially' available to consumers in the US and Europe. Due to licensing issues the Bandai Star Wars model kits are only available in the Far East. But I'm sure this isn't going to stop resourceful modellers in that region from getting their hands on the Bandai model kit. Even now, I see them being sold via Japanese specialty hobby shops in Amazon.com. I'm still pinching myself that I now actually have this model in my collection. Holding it, I am that 5-year-old boy again who was utterly enthralled by the spectacle that is Star Wars. Home again ... about damn time!

State of my worktable ... what's in store for next year

In the proverbial (and perennial) blink of an eye, the year is already fast approaching its end, and soon 2016 will be upon us. And while I haven't been active hobby-wise over these last few weeks, I've been taking stock of what I had done this past year and what I'll be doing in the coming one. So it's pertinent that my last blog post of the year starts with a recollection of what I've painted in 2015.

Miniature projects completed in calendar year 2015

I've never been much of 'quantity painter' with a miserable output of over 10 to 15 miniature painting projects completed over a period of 12 months. Adding salt to injury is the fact that I can't even claim to be a 'quality painter' as I have a ways to go before I hit the skill level I want to be at. Granted that this is an ever moving target so such a goal tends to be all about the journey rather than destination. Vincent van Gogh captures this sentiment in a quote attributed to him ... If I do nothing, if I study nothing, if I cease searching, then woe is me, I am lost [cue John William's Binary Sunset score].

Board game miniature project transitioning into 2015 from 2014

Analysing what I have done over this past year and the latter half of last year, I guess it's safe to say I have made decent progress in the quality of some of my work though in the same breath some other projects had results which left a lot to be desired. Inconsistency is perhaps a hallmark of one trying to improve. Something to console myself with then, as I seek to paint (and draw) better. 

Miniature projects completed during 2H 2014

So what then lies in store for me next year? To date, the 2016 main project pipeline comprises the Nocturna Models Battle Chick and Crusader; the Knight Models Loki; the Dark Sword Miniatures Female Mage and Bard as well as Wood Elf Goddess; the Ax Faction Urban Monster Hunter; and last but not least a set of four Chaos Space Marines in an ode to the four Chaos gods.

A major portion of my work-in-progress miniature painting projects

Work-in-progress miniatures shown at a slightly different angle

An Ode to Chaos project should allow me to play with colour combinations I've always wanted to try out

Then there is the half-assembled Knight Models Thor and the 'nearly completed paint job' House Martell Knight. The latter has been shelved indefinitely due to an unfortunate accident in which practically more than half to two-thirds of my Vallejo Model Color Light Orange was spilled onto the wet palette. Barely a quarter was salvageable because a huge portion fell on the worst possible colour on the palette ... black. The inset image in the second photo below doesn't do justice to what really happened as I had thrown most of the paint away by then. More to the point, this 'little' accident has totally dampened my mood for this particular Game of Thrones miniature project. Time will heal they say so maybe after a cooling off period I won't feel so bad when I look at the said paint bottle.  

Knight Models Thor, mostly assembled and soon-to-be primed

A sad accident with one of my favourite Vallejo Model Color hues has put this project on hold indefinitely

It has been a wonderful couple of weeks spent doing just the simple things with the family e.g. lazing around watching TV/movies and playing video games, window shopping and such. To cap it off, as I was putting the finishing touches to this final post of the year, I was gifted with the most awesome ever early-Birthday present from my wife and son. My birthday isn't even due for another three-weeks-plus but this absolute modeller's dream of a gift means it will be added to my project pipeline, heck ... bumped up the line even. As to what this gift is, all will be revealed in a future post.

What could the gift be? Let's just say it's something I've always imagined holding in my hands as a kid

So there you have it. My last post of 2015. It needs to be said that the set of primed/assembled/half-painted miniatures you see above are not necessarily a comprehensive road map of what I'll be doing in 2016. The mystery birthday gift and many other ideas floating in my head will inevitably add to the pipeline provided I can make decent progress on the existing work-in-progress miniatures presently on my worktable. With that I bid you adieu and a Happy New Year!

Star Wars Pewter Figurine Collection

My now seemingly extended break from the hobby continued with a visit to a local mall (1Utama) to check out a Star Wars pewter figurines collection on display. Sadly though, this set of beauties from Royal Selangor came with a rather hefty price tag which ruled out any chance of them landing in my personal collection. Maybe this will be the final straw that pushes me to sculpt my own pieces.

Royal Selangor Star Wars Pewter Figurines exhibition

This shot (together with the poster above) kinda gives you a sense of how big the figurines are

From left to right: Princess Leia, Han Solo, Darth Vader, Boba Fett, Yoda and a Stormtrooper

Sculpted out of pewter (a metal alloy comprising mainly of tin), these figurines looked good as is. In fact, they were created as display pieces without the need for any coat of paint. That however didn't stop me from daydreaming of what I could have done, painting-wise, to bring these figurines to life.   

Your lack of confidence in my pose is most disturbing ...

Much maligned for his aiming skills, the Stormtrooper is nonetheless my favourite character

Yoda eyes an easy kill

Well sculpted pose and textures on Yoda made this piece exceptionally realistic

Boba Fett is a blast to play in the new Star Wars Battlefront multiplayer game

Of all the figurines on display, my favourite has to be Princess Leia in her slave costume. She would be the one I would most love to paint, followed by Yoda, the Stormtrooper and Darth Vader. Actually I wouldn't mind painting all of them but if I had to choose, those four would be my preferred choices.

Oh Han Solo, Han Solo, wherefore art thou Han Solo?

Princess Leia in her slave costume

Han Solo's pose is awkward at best, or just simply ridiculous ...

... partly redeemed by good sculpting to capture the character's features

I could only spot one character from Star Wars: The Force Awakens in the collection i.e. the Chrome Stormtrooper with a cape. There was also only one diorama on display - the Luke Skywalker versus Rancor scene from Return of the Jedi. Poor Luke, he is so unpopular that he's the smallest figure in the whole collection. And if you ask me, the diorama was definitely missing a Gamorrean Guard!

Not sure what is he called ... 'the Chrome Stormtrooper with a cape' is my best guess

Luke Skywalker versus Rancor diorama ... poor Luke, he's the smallest figure of the whole lot

In addition to the figurines, there were some odd pieces here and there namely cuff links, USB drives and a hollow-on-the-inside Death Star, whose purpose I can't quite discern - paper weight? candy holder? decorative piece? It's obvious the highlight of the collection are the figurines themselves. 

Power cuff links to ace any job interview you may have, force not included

16GB USB drives coming in at a whopping RM238.50 each

A geek's personal disco ball, or the Death Star to diehard Empire fans

While waiting for the latest installment Force Awakens to hit the big screen, I have been getting my Star Wars fix by playing the PS4 version of Star Wars Battlefront. Moreover, coupled with the fact that playing a first-person-shooter using a console gamepad is akin to shooting like a Stormtrooper ... you could say this game is not only fun but extremely realistic. ;) My kill ratio is bad (my son calls me a feeder) ... really bad, but I can hold my own despite having the reflexes of a freezing tauntaun.   

If you ever find yourself in a multiplayer session on Star Wars Battlefront and get shot in the back by a player called FourEyedGamer ... know that your death is not in vain. It's helping my kill ratio!

It pays to be part of the Empire you rebel scum ...

Well that's it from me as I continue with my self-imposed break from the hobby. Getting some video game playing time is going a long way towards recharging my batteries so hopefully I will soon get back into the groove of painting and hobbying in general. Now where's that bush I can camp in and shoot all the rebel scum as they spawn ... muah ha ha ha ha ha ha ... darn it I missed. Pew pew pew!