Second Hand Find: Hasbro 2004 Millennium Falcon

We just returned from our annual camping trip through Europe, and while staying some days at Camping Les Terrasses du Périgord *** the son of the owner held an outdoor used toys sale, and I could not help noticing the Falcon sitting prominently on the table. I got it for €40 as it is missing some pieces (but that's what 3D printers are for, right? 👀)

The Imperial Assault Hera Syndulla is there for size comparison.

The model has access to some of the interior, and it should be possible to put some bits and bobs in there fitting 28/30mm models (I definitely have to lower that gaming table a tad).

The Belgian roads had shaken this piece loose, and I found it when unwrapping the Falcon from the carpet that protected it on the trip from Périgord to Denmark. At first I had no clue what it is, but watching a couple of presentation videos made it clear that it is the 'dashboard', meant to sit inside the cockpit canopy, and I managed to get it 'clicked' in place without any damage done.

I am quite happy with the purchase, as this Corellian freighter should make a great piece on the table when I get the exteriors properly fitted (and I have not yet tried putting batteries in it to find out if the lights and sounds still work).

NOT 3D Printed Star Wars Rebels Phantom

*Gasp* 😛

I have been seaching and asking for a printable version of the modified VCX-series auxiliary starfighter known as 'Phantom' in Star Wars Rebels, and was pointed to this Hasbro toy.

It is probably a wee bit oversized - Wookiepedia has it at 11.63 metres, and the hull is a bit more than six Heras long (my new official Star Wars measurement unit 😉), which would indicate about the right length, but Wookiepedia does not state if the front twin laser cannon is part of that length.

On occasions, we see up to three members of the Spectres in the cockpit, and i think that with bases swapped with 20mm washers, I should be able to squeeze that many minis in there.

Wookiepedia also gives passenger capacty as eight, which is probably what can fit in the back compartment, so all in all I think this is the Phantom I was looking for!

I am very happy with this purchase, and it is now time to begin prepping Hera and Copper so that they can be painted and fly their first solo missions (as soon as I have decided on which skirmish rules system to use, that is - I may go for the Goal System, either Blasters&Bulkheads or Void Pirates, while I wait for Galactic Heroes to be published...

Star Wars: Latest Toy Acquired

When we were browsing a shopping mall in Odense to find some presents for Anna's birthday tomorrow, I stumbled on this discounted RotJ Luke Skywalker figure. At about €7/£6/$8, I could not resist getting it for displaying in the study/office/hobby room.

I was not sure whether or not to use flash, so I took a photo both with and without it.

It is about 45 cm high.

And, yes, there is a lightsaber, I have not unpacked it, yet.

LEGO Elves Terrain Project, Part 5

I have been 'painting' the styropor base boards with diluted PVA glue which has been a slow process, as I could only work on one board at a time and had to wait for the glue to dry before applying the second layer.

As all tree boards had to be given two layers on both sides, it was a rather tedious process, but now it is done, and I could move on to the next stage.

Today, I got the board representing the open sea of the Izdur Ocean painted, and I am fairly content with the way the colour matches the LEGO plates representing water on the models.

Next step is to continue work on the coastal area that holds the Treetop Hideaway.

LEGO Elves Terrain Project, Part 4

I went to Svendborg today to get some paints from a craft store that match the colours of the LEGO Elves bases.

I also visited a DIY market to get some water-based varnish to use for arrows (I ordered tools and materials for making wooden arrows yesterday). Apparently, arrows need 4-5 layers of varnish, being sanded with a very fine grain of sandpaper in between layers.

The varnish is meant for indoor use, but I hope it will prove good enough for arrows - we are not going to shoot in rough weather conditions, anyway, so with several layers, it should be able to withstand handling.

LEGO Elves Terrain Project, Part 3

I am hardening the styrofoam boards that are going to be the base for the terrain by giving them a couple of layers of slightly diluted white glue.

The project suddenly got extended, as Ulolkish/Duregar who is a Godparent of Lea brought the sets 41076 'Farran and the Crystal Hollow', and 41074 'Azari and the Magical Bakery' as a delated birthday present.

 The bakey, back view.

The bakery set contains 2 minis, Azari, and a hitherto unnamed Elvish baker boy.

As you can see below, the bakery has a 'working' oven with a loaf of bread.

The bakery has to be placed on a rather high level, with lava flowing down the rocky hillsides, so I am going to need more styropor before I can get it sorted.

LEGO Elves Terrain Project, Part 2

This weekend has mostly been used for work outside; the night temperatures finally crept over 0 Celsius, and the garden must be tended to.

But a part of this afternoon I was able to use on the LEGO Elves terrain project:

1. Drawing a grid on the map of Elvendale
2. Transfer outlines to a sheet of styropor
3. Employ the thermocutter to cut out the shapes of the land mass.

Below is the progress so far; I hae used my old GW hot wire cutter to bevel the short piece of riverbank/coastline to the far left, but I think I need to buy a powered model like this one: http://dorchdanola-netbutik.dk/product/proxxon-gloedesav-thermocut-12e-4201/

I shall cut out the shape of the Treetop Hideaway, plus a 'creek' running from the water section (the light blue part) to the coast.

The land mass is cut from 10mm styropor, and already at level 2 the thermo cutter slides through the material like a sharp knife through butter. I am going to have SO much use for this device!!

All Quiet... or is it...?

I have not had time for updating these hallowed pages the last couple of days, but it does not mean that I am not doing anything that could be reported here - far from!

Monday, Lea got her (delayed) present from her school class - another set of LEGO Elves: 41072, Naida's Spa Secret (I know, kinda cheesy title).

Here is a shabby photo of the build:

It is, of course, going to be integrated in our upcoming mutual project, introducing my Proxxon Thermo-Cutter:

And lots of styrofoam:

I have not told the girls, yet, but when I was in Bilka (a kind of BIG supermarket (think Wal-Mart) here in DK) earlier today to get honey for another batch of mead, I bought the LEGO Elves set 41073. Naida's Epic Adventure Ship (http://dk.midhobby.com/produkter/1648-lego-elves/48311-lego-elves-naidas-fantastiske-eventyrskib/) to add to the collection.

We are going to flesh out the Land of Elvendale, using the map provided with the Treetop Hideaway, and we are going to do it bit by bit at the same pace as we acquire the various sets!

LEGO Friends and Elves - Lea's Birthday

My youngest offspring turned 9 yesterday, and among the presents were the LEGO Friends 41033 set (some Jungle Animal Rescue setup with a waterfall that slides aside to reveal a cave with green crystals), and the LEGO Elves 41075 'The Elves' Treetop Hideaway'.

Both sets had to be built immediately, and Anna was given the task of constructiong the Friends set, while Lea dug into the massive buch of bricks for the Hideaway herself.

The building instructions are very graphically detailed, with no text, allowing children down to 6 years of age to follow them and construct the sets, which is one of LEGO's big strengths, in my opinion.

Below you'll see pics of various WIP stages, as well as the finished builds.

Both girls digging in.

A tree made of bricks. It is almost like Minecraft.

Jungle rock and cave entrance.

Details are being added.

Things are shaping up!

Almost done with the first tree.

The canopy of this tree is movable...

...and can be 'closed' in front of the Hideaway to 'conceal' it.

The full set of the Treetop Hideaway

PLAYTIME! Several other Jungle Rescue sets added to the setup, and play in progress!