Millennium Falcon - Star Wars Empire Strikes Back asteroid diorama (Bandai model kit)

Vignette recreating the famous asteroid scene from Star Wars Episode V The Empire Strikes Back, where the Millennium Falcon is chased through an asteroid field by TIE fighters. The Falcon kit is from Bandai while the TIE fighters were printed on my new 3D printer and the asteroids were made from XPS foam and sculptamold.
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Music credits:
KZbin Audio Library
Galactic Filmstro

[@daviddickinson6346]

Good job one of my all time favorite scenes in star wars

[@ModelNerd]

Thanks! Mine too!

[@alericc1889]

Love the SW Models

[@ModelNerd]

Me too! I've got a couple more Bandai kits to build and I'd also like to look at some of the Star Wars Legion sets as they include nice models.

[@rons5438]

Welcome to the world of 3D printing. I started two years ago, and am now running four printers 24/7 in a hobby ebay business. ; ]

[@ModelNerd]

Thanks Ron. That's cool that your business took off like that!

[@rx--sz2ny]

今でも好きなシーンです。

[@ModelNerd]

Thanks. Mine too!

[@robbo1068]

A very different build to your usual but definitely worth watching. Your method of delivery is really great....visually and orally....you don't hold back when it comes to 'failures' but provide us with reasons and solutions for these (i.e., first batch of TIE fighters). A successful 3D diorama!

[@ModelNerd]

Thanks Robbo. If I only showed the successes the videos would be a lot shorter! :)

[@ModeliteDiorama]

The details are really fantastic on the falcon in this little scale!

[@ModelNerd]

They really are, aren't they? It's amazing how companies can get this much detail on a fictional vehicle when they sometimes get real ones wrong :)

[@jason-sp8nb]

I love that that's brilliant

[@ModelNerd]

Thanks Jason

[@allanrichards3752]

I also have to admit I am no Star Wars fan but this was a really good video. I think these printers are going to be a thing of the future. One won't be buying detail stuff, one will be down loading files to print the stuff ourselves. It looks really good and a really 3D diorama

[@ModelNerd]

Thanks Allan. Yes, I think you're right. I think larger models like the tanks themselves will remain largely traditional - it takes so much skill to model these things in large scales - but the detailing options will expand and maybe allow smaller independent sellers into the market too, I think.

[@Argent377]

This is the best Millenium Falcon display I've ever seen. Grear job!

[@ModelNerd]

Thank you!

[@jamesnix729]

Brilliant! Caught me off guard with the Star Wars theme, but it was good. I appreciate you sharing your thought processes and tips to create the dioramas.

[@ModelNerd]

Thanks James - I'm glad you liked it.

[@daimyo2k]

Absolutely wonderful project! Thank you for sharing!

[@ModelNerd]

Thank you mate!

[@der_fuxs]

Well, I’m absolutely no Star Wars fan (throw your stones at me😅), but this was so interesting to watch! I really enjoyed it! Nice craftsmanship, clever ideas and especially the minimal dry brushing gives a good feel that the asteroids would be huge in reality! A light grey pin wash, maybe with slightly blue tint, would have worked on the larger surfaces of the Millennium Falcon. But it look‘s nice anyway!

[@ModelNerd]

Thanks mate. Good tip about the wash. What I didn't mention in the video is that Bandai plastic is quite sensitive to enamel thinners (my Y-Wing is literally cracking and falling apart after an enamel wash), so I was a bit reluctant to do that. But I could have investigated acrylic washes too, of course.

[@der_fuxs]

@@ModelNerd thanks for the further information! I would have been carefully, too. And it definitely look’s nice!

[@ScaleMilitaryModels]

Nice little scene! Very creative! I’ve always thought about adding gun tracers to a model using clear stretched spruce painted a transparent color. Not sure if it would work, but might look cool.

[@ModelNerd]

Thanks mate. The Bandai kits include florescent "laser beams" for their TIE fighters etc - I have a few spare but they are a bit big for this scale.

[@bobz1736]

One of your best videos ! 👍 Love your asteroids and looking forward to seeing more of your 3D prints in future videos. 😊

[@ModelNerd]

Thanks Bob!

[@TheRyatt]

Superb!

[@ModelNerd]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@andersdenkend]

Looks pretty awesome! Very nice arrangement, looks like a good action scene.

[@ModelNerd]

Thank you mate

[@t.j.w3561]

Well done! Love the detail on the MF…and Santa was very kind, I see!

[@ModelNerd]

Thanks T.J. Yeah, he's a good guy!

[@stevecool7096]

Awesome. I am going to do one of these but in a bigger scale.

[@ModelNerd]

Thanks. Are you going for 1:144 or 1:72? I've built the Bandai 1:144 in the past (before this channel) and it was great. Even added some LEDs for the hyperdrive :)

[@wwt17]

Fun looking build! Maybe use black 4.0 on the base?

[@ModelNerd]

Is it widely available? I thought it was super expensive.

[@statoilbensin2190]

Wery nice! Great attention to details!

[@ModelNerd]

Thank you mate. Glad you liked it!

[@SchweizerBastelbude]

very nice built, looking awesome

[@ModelNerd]

Thank you mate!

[@tonyperez4791]

Outstanding build, Thank You for sharing. Hope you and your family have a great/safe weekend. Cheers, Tony

[@ModelNerd]

Thank you Tony - you too!

[@bjw4859]

Well done, so much detail in such a small package.

[@ModelNerd]

Thanks!

[@BrushQuill]

Awesome build, a lovely recreation of a great movie scene.

[@ModelNerd]

Thanks mate, I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[@handznet]

nice little build. Next level would be making one Tie crashing to asteroid exploding and adding some nice explosion effect.

[@ModelNerd]

Thanks Jan. Yes, I was considering doing the explosions - I might implement them on a future kit involving a Star Destroyer :)

[@stevenpuderbaugh821]

Your asteroids look fantastic!

[@ModelNerd]

Thanks Steven!

[@stevebryant5417]

Very good job. SIFI everyday

[@ModelNerd]

Thanks. I have lots more coming up!

[@Modkits131]

That’s looking awesome dude! Hope to see more Star Wars dioramas in the future. Possibly from the clone wars era. :-)

[@ModelNerd]

Thanks mate. That's definitely possible - especially now I've got the 3D printer.

[@jindo74]

@@ModelNerd now the inner nerd kicks in. . Yoda and Skywalker in training . There there I said it.

[@halo3master11100]

superb

[@ModelNerd]

Thanks mate

[@wwt17]

Tbh, I am not sure cos I don’t make anything but I see a lot of makers using 3.0 and 4.0.

[@davegiles2344]

Great diorama 👍👍

[@ModelNerd]

Thank you 👍

[@jasonhoughton8303]

Nice job very inspiring

[@ModelNerd]

Thank you

[@Toni_G_Castroviejo]

SuperB work, my friend! Absolutely love it!! Cheers!! :)

[@ModelNerd]

Thank you Toni - much appreciated!

[@Shakes_The_Clone]

Excellent

[@ModelNerd]

Thanks

[@johannisson77]

I am a huge fan of scifi and fantasy. Hopped on the patreon when you where doing the Zombi diorama. So I love these builds...

[@ModelNerd]

Thanks Fredrik. I'm thinking of doing another post-apocalyptic diorama in the future (I just need to dig that Soviet Object 279 out of storage.

[@johannisson77]

Would love that.

[@the-primered-thumb]

Epic 😉👌

[@ModelNerd]

Thanks Tim

[@michaelkibble740]

Nice job with the secne

[@ModelNerd]

Thank you

[@wonsworld61]

That is an Awesome diorama.!!! When i built my Falcon, I saw someone here did a black primer with a light grey over coat coat. I did the same and it came out just the right colour and saves doing a pin wash. The stickers worked brilliantly when "buffed" down not just placed (and I got the guide for where they go from the Bandai website :) )

[@ModelNerd]

Thanks for watching mate!

[@wonsworld61]

@@ModelNerd watched, saved, liked and enjoyed.. and not the first of your vids that done that to. You also added a plus to my "should I buy a 3D printer?" reasoning :)

[@davidjacobs8558]

you should try "vantablack" to paint the supporting rods.

[@ModelNerd]

I've just looked it up - that is black and then some! Good tip, thank you.

[@foreverplastickits138]

*A little composing with little models but it's a success and the 3D printer gives a good result (after some arrangements).*

[@ModelNerd]

Thanks mate. I feel I'm getting a bit better at the 3D printing and a future project will definitely feature some more printed stuff!

[@rustedbeetle]

This is great! I've been wondering what to do with my small Falcon. I'd be really tempted to have one of the TIEs blowing up after hitting an asteroid.

[@ModelNerd]

Go for it! I like to do something similar on future Star Wars models.

[@greg8938]

That looks fantastic 👍🏻 I usually build armour, but have recently discovered Bandai Star Wars kits and am hooked!

[@ModelNerd]

They're great kits, aren't they? I do miss living in Asia though, where they were so much cheaper than they are here in the UK.

[@greg8938]

@@ModelNerd they certainly are great kits. I’m in Australia and they are a bit costly here too. I recently built a diorama with their 1/144 AT-AT, for which I paid around $90 AUD. With that said, I have regularly seen them marked down on special - which is when I usually grab them.

[@philippealain-art]

This is a nice diorama. For those who would like to make a diorama with Bandai's small 1/350 scale version of the Empire Strikes Back Falcon (box #015), it is interesting to know that the model is not accurate at all. If you look at all the greeblies and compare them to the filming models, you can see that they are the ones from the A New Hope version to which two landing gears have been added so that there are five.

[@ModelNerd]

Yes, there are a couple of accuracy issues for sure

[@philippealain-art]

@@ModelNerd, you are too indulgent. This model is completely inaccurate. As much as the one from A New Hope is very well done, on this one they just added landing gears.

[@ModelNerd]

Fair enough. To be fair, inconsistent Falcon models is very much in keeping with Star Wars tradition as there were significant differences between the difference scale models they used on set during filming :)

[@philippealain-art]

​@@ModelNerd, What you say is not quite right. There are two different versions of the Falcon for the original trilogy. The one from the first movie, then the one made for the Empire. Both versions of the Falcon were built with the same basic elements at two different scales. The general shape of the ship is a bit flatter in the Empire version and two landing gears have been added, but all the greeblies have been changed. When I talk about inaccuracies, I mean that the version that should have the Empire modifications has none except for the landing gears. In this "Empire" version of the Bandai kit no greeblies have been changed. This is the version from A New Hope. Take a look at the pictures of the filming models to see for yourself.

[@goforitpainting]

Cool

[@ModelNerd]

Thanks

[@markfergerson2145]

Not bad at all. Good dramatic composition, good "tricks" mounting the TIEs, only negative criticism might be the base and wires aren't dark/flat enough but overall I like it a lot. Every diorama should tell a story and you nailed it, even to someone who sees it has never heard of Star Wars. I don't have a 3D printer but from what I read and am told you're right about the learning curve. You're also right about the use of unusual parts and accessories found online that you don't get in boxed sets. There's modeling software out there you can use to design things you want but nobody has made yet either in boxed stuff or online. (IMO 3D modeling is where the hobby is going. Expect the major manufacturers to stop spending money on molds and boxes and just sell files online instead fairly soon.)

[@ModelNerd]

Thanks Mark. Yes, one of my goals this year is to start to learn some 3D modelling software skills. Luckily most of what I would want to model is "mechanical" rather than organic forms, which are much harder to model!

[@epicforger12345]

Very cool diorama, a few questions how long did the printing take and how did you remove the tiefighters from the supports

[@ModelNerd]

Thanks mate. The printing took about 2.5 hours if I remember correctly. To remove the supports I used a hobby knife for the thinner ones and some snippers for the thicker ones.

[@droneracer]

Rest the complete asteroids to dry on a few drawing pins.

[@ModelNerd]

Good tip, thank you

[@splodge561]

I do love a hand made asteroid

[@ModelNerd]

Thanks :)

[@joshboy1st]

Dam great build!! Them tie fighters wow, you should sell those on ebay!! All the best

[@ModelNerd]

Thank you Josh. Yep, there's some great stuff available on Thingiverse.

[@BOABModels]

You cloned the Tie Fighter? But the Empire no longer used clones by then!! Great build, mate! I've made a few of the small scale Revell kits myself.

[@ModelNerd]

Hehe, it was a secret clone TIE army, ssshhhhh :)

[@ItsGGlive]

Does anyone know the pasty material he used for the asteroids ?

[@ModelNerd]

I know! :) It's called Sculptamold. It's basically a combination of plaster and paper I think. The generic name is just modelling compound.

[@georgepappas3790]

🏆

[@ModelNerd]

Thanks

[@daviddickinson6346]

I am building a 1/144 scale bandai falcon at the moment and think i may build a bespin landing platform for it or a tatooine docking bay

[@ModelNerd]

Sounds like a plan!

[@Brian-WolfmanJack99]

Not bad. This is one of my favorite scenes from the movie. It's really cool to see you bring it to life. Do you think the Falcon is big enough to make the "exhaust" clear and add LED to the inside of the ship?

[@ModelNerd]

I think it's too small to be honest

[@rickmoreno6858]

Dude that's awesome, Santa still brings you stuff. How long did it take for those to print?

[@ModelNerd]

Hehe, thanks Rick. Yes, I should have said in the video - they took about 2.5 hours if I remember correctly. The height is what really affects the build time - so one of these TIE fighters alone would take the same amount of time as a 3 x 2 grid of them spread across the build plate.

[@arcort669]

I was thinking of doing this with 1/144 scale tie fighter kit but i think they are to big

[@ModelNerd]

The 1/144 scale Falcon is fairly big, but not too bad

[@user-jd9un1yt8z]

Hello. Nice work. What is the material for asteroids?

[@ModelNerd]

Thanks. It was just XPS foam (you could use packing foam too) glued together and then surrounded by Sculptamold (a kind of plaster paper mix).

[@johnhayes6414]

Is their a way to buy all the star wars miniature sizes. I don't have access to make any. I am very interested to buy many micro miniature scale models. Want to start building diorama sets

[@ModelNerd]

In Asia, Bandai do a lot of the smaller kits. In the UK I've seen Revell kits in places like Hobby Craft. I'm not sure about other parts of the world.

[@johnhayes6414]

i am from canada would you or is their people that sell models like the ones you made with 3D

[@Shakes_The_Clone]

Love it. I have the same printer. A hand me down from a buddy. It’s great when I can get it dialed in right. I’ve been looking for a formula to convert scales, this will come in handy. 14:13 Do you know a website that has other scale conversion formulas?

[@ModelNerd]

Yes, it can take a bit of setting up, but once the printers are right, they're very useful. For scale conversions I'm sure there are websites out there, but I just use these formula: To find the scale size of something divide its real world size by your intended scale. For example, a 185cm person in 1/35 scale would be (185/35) = 5.28cm To convert from one scale to another, multiply by the current scale and divide by the desired scale. For example, if you have a 5.28cm figure in 1/35 scale and you want to see how big it should be in 1/72 scale, it would be: (5.28 * 35) / 72 = 2.56 cm Are there any other formulas that would be helpful?

[@Shakes_The_Clone]

@@ModelNerd That should do! You’re SO much more helpful than a Google search for that information. 😆 Many thanks

[@statoilbensin2190]

Mr model nerd will you ever try building gunpla or warhammer?

[@ModelNerd]

I've looked at a few Gunpla kits (they were very common where I lived in Malaysia), but to be honest they never really grabbed my interest. I think maybe because I've never seen the series, films etc.

[@robertjensen1438]

Just a comment for the algorithm.

[@ModelNerd]

Thanks Robert

[@statoilbensin2190]

I dont know why so many of the new Bandai kits are back to stickers instead of water decals. I bought the new 2021 Figure rise standard Lena from anime series 86 but it has stickers for everyhing and that is annoying.

[@ModelNerd]

Oh, I thought it was only the small kits (this is the first one like that I've built). That's a bit annoying really.

[@statoilbensin2190]

@@ModelNerd When the figure rise standard Nanami was realesed in 2017 people complained about stickers, so the next figure rise standard kits where realesed with both sticker and water slide decals for us who thinks it easier and better. But suddently their back to stickers like their older kit. Maybe I need to try Kotobukiya model kits but they are slightly more expensive tho.

[@johnhughes2653]

You could have saved a lot of effort on the asteroids by using several oddly shaped potatoes and a sneaker.😆

[@ModelNerd]

Haha

[@wwt17]

Nice Easter egg reference!!!

[@BROCKUPPERCUT]

could have used some of your messed up tie fighter prints by crashing them into the asteroids

[@ModelNerd]

I considered that, but without explosions I wondered if the sense of speed and crashing would be there

[@davebarrett4644]

You need to sharpen up the edges of the bits you painted as they stand out quite badly, just a creative comment

[@ModelNerd]

Yeah, it's a fair comment - quite hard to do at this scale though

[@thee_number_six6227]

It's not an accurate diorama, there is no shoe

[@ModelNerd]

Haha, I had to look that up!

[@MVeminor7]

Nice work. I think the 'damaged' tie fighters look great!! Maybe they will make an appearance in the future? Very cool diorama. PS Do things jiggle/wobble around because they are mounted on wires?

[@ModelNerd]

Thanks Michael. I threw those TIE fighters away but I see your point and I've remembered the 'technique' for in future. The parts do wobble a little bit, yes - you can see it slightly in the video at the end when the model is on the turntable. If the items were bigger I'd use clear acrylic rod which I think would be more stable too.

[@davegiles2344]

Great diorama 👍👍

[@ModelNerd]

Thank you Dave 👍