Hot Toys Millenium Falcon Cockpit

[Mara]

Uh oh...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1ELl3unkVI&ab_channel=Danoby2

I haven?t looked much into this for price and space reasons but when he took it out of the box I thought it was an unpainted prototype. That hull color is an odd choice.

The exposed screws are the real killer here, for me it makes it a toy and not a replica.

That?s a shame. It does look way better all the lights on, although the incorrect voltage is alarming.

 

[Mad Old Lu]

Just watched the review and I have to say that if I was considering buying this, I would have appreciated seeing all the shortcomings the guy highlighted in the video. I think the reviewer was being a bit dramatic in his delivery, but I can't disagree with most of what he said.

The screws in the front, the dark grey hull color and the paint slop would all have bothered me, especially because of the high price. And I think the outer hull, aside from the overall coloring, could use more weathering. I agree it all looks much better with the lights on.

I understand it's basically a custom piece, hand painted by just 2 people, but it's damn expensive. At that point, I probably wouldn't mind if they charged a little more in order to ensure the paint was better applied and all those other things fixed.

 

[dukefett]

Yeah that guy was waaaay over the top. There are issues, and I really don't like the screws, but he's talking like it's a piece of garbage because when you put your face 3" from the console the paint looks bad.

 

[ArtDamage]

For the price this thing looks pretty awesome. I'd say maybe the flooring and the screws would be the most troublesome, but outside of that I think it looks great for the price.

 

[SwedishHeat]

People have to understand what they are stepping into when going into custom made pieces.

These products are not churned out by factories, these are all hand painted by a 2 man team with the occasional help by the families.

I don't know the specifics but I'm fairly certain this wasn't "hand-made". It was produced overseas or in some type of production facility. I really doubt it is possible to make this with a "2-man team" in someone's home. My assumption is that Jazz modeled this in CAD or some other sculpting program and the files were sent to a production facility and produced there.

If this was handmade with care, you wouldn't, or shouldn't, have a sloppy paint application like what is shown in the video. The product shows all the hallmarks of being produced in a factory with shortcuts taken in the paint application.

I'd be more willing to overlook the poor details if it WAS produced in a factory, but if someone passionate about building 'hand crafted' this item, I'd be much more disappointed with the final product.

On a separate note, looking at another video review was even more concerning as the front of the cockpit didn't have screws, but suffered significant damage in shipping. I'm curious why one cockpit has screws in the front and the other does not.

EDIT: I'm wondering if the above reviewer was accidentally shipped some pre-production sample or something. This other review doesn't have screws either. That might explain the crummy paint on the first example.

 

[ObiGlennKenobi]

p.s.
wtf is a Millennium ship?
Does the reviewer even Star Wars?

 

[Mara]

On a separate note, looking at another video review was even more concerning as the front of the cockpit didn't have screws, but suffered significant damage in shipping. I'm curious why one cockpit has screws in the front and the other does not.

We have found him. The most patient collector in the entire world. Item arrived damaged (arguably beyond repair) in several places, accessories broken, and he just kinda shrugs and says ?eh, still good for me?.

 

[dukefett]

I don't know the specifics but I'm fairly certain this wasn't "hand-made". It was produced overseas or in some type of production facility. I really doubt it is possible to make this with a "2-man team" in someone's home. My assumption is that Jazz modeled this in CAD or some other sculpting program and the files were sent to a production facility and produced there.

If this was handmade with care, you wouldn't, or shouldn't, have a sloppy paint application like what is shown in the video. The product shows all the hallmarks of being produced in a factory with shortcuts taken in the paint application.

I'd be more willing to overlook the poor details if it WAS produced in a factory, but if someone passionate about building 'hand crafted' this item, I'd be much more disappointed with the final product.

On a separate note, looking at another video review was even more concerning as the front of the cockpit didn't have screws, but suffered significant damage in shipping. I'm curious why one cockpit has screws in the front and the other does not.

EDIT: I'm wondering if the above reviewer was accidentally shipped some pre-production sample or something. This other review doesn't have screws either. That might explain the crummy paint on the first example.

The screws were added from what I read because some initial ones cracked on shipment.

Considering the huge box and large weight of these I doubt they're getting created overseas. I bought the cargo hold from them and it shipped from the Netherlands to the US, it wouldn't make sense to ship these giant boxes around the world twice. Joost has shown videos of their facility before I think.

 

[SwedishHeat]

The screws were added from what I read because some initial ones cracked on shipment.

Hmm, well, I can't agree with sacrificing the product to protect it during shipping. They should've changed the packaging, not the product.

 

[Brett Banner]

As I understand it, the parts are molded/manufactured overseas and then shipped to Netherlands where they do the paint, electronics, and assembly.

I love Danoby but that video was pretty overly harsh, like he wasn't that excited about it before he even unboxed it. There were definitely some valid points, like the sloppy paint job in spots he pointed out that honestly should have been better. I just hope that continues to get tightened up as they move ahead. I thought the thing about his friend being upset that the floor wasn't a dark grated floor was kinda ridiculous considering all the set photos I have seen have the floor exactly the way Joost did it.

I really hope they find a better solution than those screws on front. It is major eyesore. I feel like the group members created that problem in the first place by demanding he include acrylic but then also demanding that it can be removed. It doesn't really bother me, but I think most agree that the gray color is not quite right (I think Joost said he got that color from an old model kit?) but again, the time for people to bring up their grievances about that was after they did the first prototype, not now in the middle of their production.

I'm still super stoked to get mine later this year. But I really hope they do something about those screws!

 

[SwedishHeat]

I really hope they find a better solution than those screws on front. It is major eyesore. I feel like the group members created that problem in the first place by demanding he include acrylic but then also demanding that it can be removed.

That's pretty wild. If I had placed my order in the initial batch but other customers voted to add screws, I would have canceled my order.

It's just kind of unfortunate that the only two reviews I see, that really go into detail, are one with poor paint and another with broken parts. The third review seems more like it was product placement, like Joost sent him one to review. The reviewer hardly talked about the product at all, just spoke in general terms about how awesome the thing was.

 

[Auel]

People who are not in his group tends to fuss over the screws, those are specifically requested by group members as the previous versions without are prone to cracking.

Joost is very contactable and responses to you in a very timely manner.

I don't know why this "Youtuber" is making a video making a big hoohaa instead of contacting him in person.

 

[siquisiri]

I think the video is overkill. The focus on "Killing the illusion for instagram pics" is something most peeps don't have to worry about, or even care.
As a kitbasher, this a a great base. When you see 1/6 tanks going for 6k. I dont like the screws either, but thats a MASS easy fix with a little tamiya DIY. The rest, with a little weathering. Its no different that what so many of us do when we get our 1/6 figs..

 

[TaliBane]

People have to understand what they are stepping into when going into custom made pieces.

These products are not churned out by factories, these are all hand painted by a 2 man team with the occasional help by the families.

Many of the fix and changes are requested by customers who have been with the project since day one and have provided certain inputs to improve the final product.

I'm honesty more disappointed by the reviewer than what Joost has churned out.

Such a shameful video by the Youtuber.

Yeah, I have to agree. Joost has pulled together something truly remarkable here for a 2-person team, and the fact it's around the same price as what the HT one would have been is also remarkable (if the HT went up for PO today it would be over $1200 - at least.)

Yes, the HT proto is most definitely better in every regard, but this really is an apples and oranges comparison and its a bit sad that this guy can't see that. This piece is a "consolation prize" for the HT version never making it to production - a fan made, hand painted/built piece (I have never seen any proof of otherwise) that is never going to equate to a factory-produced item, especially under macro/zoomed-in scrutiny. And the inclusion of lights/sound is a huge bonus that is by no means automatic in these types of projects.

What did these guys expect for something that is 3D sculpted, printed and assembled by a couple of people (again, I see nothing that indicates this is outsourced to an unnamed/located "factory,") then meticulously hand painted (hundreds of buttons) and lights installed/fitted (dozens and dozens of individual lights)?

If they were expecting something near or equal to a HT standard they were dreaming, regardless of "what I paid." You paid for the fact it was made at all and still looks pretty incredible at normal viewing distance.

 

[davejames]

Have to admit I was quite surprised by how rough and sloppy this looked up close in some places, and by the lack of much weathering at all... but ultimately have to agree that it still makes for a very impressive display piece in the end, and that you need to make allowances for Jazzinc being a very small-scale operation.

Perhaps they did bite off a bit more than they can chew with this, but it's still pretty damn cool that they even tried. And it's probably also not fair to compare with a HT prototype that is always much more detailed than their production pieces.

 

[TurdFurgusonsHat]

That's pretty wild. If I had placed my order in the initial batch but other customers voted to add screws, I would have canceled my order.

It's just kind of unfortunate that the only two reviews I see, that really go into detail, are one with poor paint and another with broken parts. The third review seems more like it was product placement, like Joost sent him one to review. The reviewer hardly talked about the product at all, just spoke in general terms about how awesome the thing was.

I have bought five total dioramas from Joost and my experience was mostly positive. I love the dios I bought and appreciate the work he put in to make them. But I did notice a dip in quality/materials as the popularity of his products grew. I was happier with his earlier stuff. It's the primary reason I personally skipped the Falcon and now likely the Snowspeeder. I don't think some constructive criticism is unreasonable and personally I thought the video makes some valid points that were backed up by video footage.

All that being said, I feel more comfortable buying something like a moisture vaporator for $250 than I do a $1500 Falcon Cockpit.

 

[MGS_OldBoy57]

Yeah, that price is so steep. Looks awesome but Im not sure if it looks $1500 awesome.


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[Auel]

I have bought five total dioramas from Joost and my experience was mostly positive. I love the dios I bought and appreciate the work he put in to make them. But I did notice a dip in quality/materials as the popularity of his products grew. I was happier with his earlier stuff. It's the primary reason I personally skipped the Falcon and now likely the Snowspeeder. I don't think some constructive criticism is unreasonable and personally I thought the video makes some valid points that were backed up by video footage.

All that being said, I feel more comfortable buying something like a moisture vaporator for $250 than I do a $1500 Falcon Cockpit.

If there's something you want and no other companies makes it.

I mean go for it if you have the cash, but you have to know that it's done by a fan that's fulfilling another fan's dream.

I have the Justice Mobile on order, and I wouldn't cancel it even with all these new problems arising. Because I knew no one else would have the capabilities or have a backing that's so supportive on creating the product to be as accurate as it can be.

So it's really each on it's own.

You think it's worth your money, buy it. Just because someone say it's **** that it changes your mindset.

Email him, cancel it. Let someone else who wanted it more have it.

 

[BACON!]

Part of the fun of this hobby for me is to add my own paint apps/weathering or sometimes even more detailed mods. It makes the object mine and gives me more of a connection to it. That Youtuber scratching his chin and asking "is this New Hope or ESB? This cockpit is in reference to which film?" is missing the point entirely of why this got made in the first place

 

[SwedishHeat]

What did these guys expect for something that is 3D sculpted, printed and assembled by a couple of people (again, I see nothing that indicates this is outsourced to an unnamed/located "factory,") then meticulously hand painted (hundreds of buttons) and lights installed/fitted (dozens and dozens of individual lights)?

Just from the packaging alone, it's clear this team has access to advanced production facilities. From the outer shipping box, to printed art sleeve and the interior styrofoam tray, these are all things that are not just hand-made in someone's garage.

It's clear it's not 3D printed. You'd need an absolutely massive printer to create an item of this size, and the clean-up of the parts would be an extremely time-intensive endeavor. Watching this video I posted earlier, when the owner shows the broken parts, it looks a lot like polystone to me.

I used to work for a 1/6 manufacturer and we made a few polystone dioramas and statues. We were a small-scale operation, it was two of us working out of the owner's home. He would contract out the actual sculpt to artists found on ArtStation, and we'd send the files to a factory in China, and the owner would arrange the production with a factory. I'd do what most people consider 'art direction' and/or QC. I'd send the factory reference materials on how we wanted the finished product to look. The factory would send us a sample, and I'd photograph it and photoshop in changes and work with the factory to fix it, or if it was good as is, I'd take promo photography, and get all our promotional materials ready for our website and send the info to retailers. Once the product was finished, I'd arrange the inbound logistics and overnight a check to our freight forwarder and they'd truck the product from the Oakland port to our 'warehouse' which was a storage unit a few miles away. I would print out shipping labels, slap them on boxes, and then drive them over the the local UPS store. All that to say, you'd be surprised by what two people can accomplish, though it's fair to say it was more than just two of us working on these products.

I'm not passing judgement on it because it was made in a 'factory' as opposed to 'hand-made', I just think people are forgiving major problems because it's 'hand-crafted by two people' when it's clear that is not the case.

It's awesome that this was made, it's just unfortunate that it has as many issues as it does.