Gizmodo Australia » millenium falcon

The Building of the Lego Millennium Falcon: The Definitive Movie

Jesus Diaz — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 01:40:00 +0000

Yes. It’s finished—but I didn’t do the video. I couldn’t compete with the genius and patience of David Gunstensen, who sent me the only Lego Millennium Falcon construction stop motion movie you need to watch.

David sent me this crazy 12 minute video—in reality, it was more than that, but I cut it down—and I lost my faith in the Force back then. How could I best this? I couldn’t. So I just kept pushing it back. Today I was doing some spring cleaning in my hard drive and thought it was too good to pass.

So here you go: The definitive movie on the construction of the Lego Millennium Falcon, crazy stop motion worth of the Go Miniman Go stop animation contest:

How To: Origami Millennium Falcon

Brian Lam — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 10:00:55 +0000

Wired’s January issue contains this origami Millennium Falcon tutorial. Even better, the creator, Philip Schulz, has a website full of origami directions almost every ship in the imperial and rebel fleet. [HappyMagPie via Wired]

Modded Millennium Falcon Can Pass for Real Movie Prop

Jesus Diaz — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 16:09:13 +0000

Giz reader Peter Clute saw the impressive Hasbro Millennium Falcon and instead of just buying it to play and go all pew-pew with it, he decided to make it better, painting new wear and tear details, and adding a motion sensor and infrared sensor, and a load of extra LEDs. The results are impressive:

The very next thing I did was set to tearing it apart to see how it worked. Once I had it apart, I decided to add some additional LED running lights and some interior lights as well. In all I have about 18 hours into this project and I am pleased with the results. Needless to say Pete Jr is certainly excited about it too.

If the cockpit wasn’t out of proportion, this would have been a perfect model for the movie. [Peter Clute]

Guest Review: Millennium Falcon Legacy Edition by Heroes Producer Jesse Alexander

Brian Lam — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 18:24:29 +0000

The only thing cooler than a review of the new Millennium Falcon toy? A review of the Millennium Falcon toy by geek storyteller Jesse Alexander, who has worked on Giz favourites like Heroes, Alias and Lost. P.S. I think that’s an Emmy on his desk. More of Jesse’s impressions, below:

“The new Legacy Collection Millennium Falcon from Hasbro is the greatest Star Wars toy ever made. No joke. Beats Amidala’s Royal Starship. Beats the AT-AT. And even the Imperial Troop Transporter. This Falcon is the “hunk of junk” we’ve been waiting for since May ‘77.

First thing you’ll notice when you crack the cardboard is her size. Some 30 percent larger than the original from back in the day. You know—the one your Mum tossed in the garbage while you were in college rolling D20’s and learning BASIC. So prepare to upgrade your playroom/display case shelves to docking bay 94 size.

This Falcon has plenty of interior room for parties. And doesn’t lack for little nubs to slot your figures atop. Or chairs where they can take a seat. The chairs are particularly cool. Remember those babies? From the scene where Luke trains with the saber and Han flips him attitude? The ones that George Lucas copied for his custom Lear Jet back in the ’80s. You knew that, right? That he took a large portion of his Star Wars gold and used it to have the interior of his private plane modified to resemble the interior of the Falcon! (Not true, of course. But still—my favourite old school SW rumour!)

This Falcon’s paint job is slick. And so detailed I’m guessing it must’ve been done by next-gen droids, or Jawa slave children with very small hands. All the tech in this Falcon is state of the art. She’s got sound effects up the gundark. Triggered via multiple buttons strategically placed around her sturdy Corellian hull. The orange light at the rear of the cockpit is cool. As is the sweet blue band of engine light that accompanies the jump to hyperspace. But my fave feature has to be the twin LED’s that illuminate when the boarding ramp slowly lowers at the touch of a button. Perfect for lighting up the squishy floor of any odd looking asteroid cave.

One can only hope this magnificent spice smuggler heralds an approaching renaissance from the boffins at Hasbro. The build quality, attention to detail, and sheer number of features on the Legacy Collection Falcon will raise the expectations of Star Wars Fans the republic over. Owning your own freighter ain’t cheap. You may need to sell your mint in-box landspeeder from ‘77 to cover the cost. But she’s worth it. See you on the Kessel run! I think 11 parsecs is doable! “

Jesse Alexander also blogs at Global Couch.
[Hasbro]

Millennium Falcon Cake Can’t Hyperspace, But is Best Birthday Cake Ever

Kit Eaton — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 11:41:00 +0000

This Millennium Falcon was never going to do the Kessel Run… but it might just qualify as the most awesome birthday cake ever made. I mean, look at the detail! Made by Charm City Cakes in Baltimore, one lucky guy received it this weekend… and can you guess his generous brother’s profession? Yup, you were close: it’s as a sysadmin. I just hope he appreciated it, since I know an armload of people who’d weep with joy if this arrived on their birthday. Particularly if it were cunningly combined with LED birthday candles for special lighting effects. There’s another pic below, if you haven’t seen enough.

Now all I need to do is remind my wife of this posting when my birthday comes a little nearer… [LaughingSquid]

First Peek at Hasbro’s Relaunched Millennium Falcon

Gizmodo US Edition — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 12:15:00 +0000

This, is Hasbro’s new Millennium Falcon, unveiled to ExtremeTech’s Brian Heater in a Manhattan hotel yesterday. The only reason the toy giant reworked it was because the original mold broke, which made us chuckle. Thirty percent larger than the original, it’s got room for up to 18 action figures—and Han and Chewy (the only two characters I like) are thrown in for free. You can hear the late Sir Alec Guinness’ disembodied voice Obi-wanning it, and dazzle yourself with the flashing lights, but cross your legs, Star Wars fans, because it’s not out until July. There’s also a whole bunch of Clone Wars merch on its way, including an AT-TE walker and some helmets, check out ExtremeTech for a video of that in action. [ExtremeTech]

How to Love a LEGO Lunatic

Addy Dugdale — Sun, 11 May 2008 15:00:00 +0000

At a party once, Jesus was asked if he were a leg man or a tit man. The answer is neither. He’s a LEGO man. Well, to be honest, he’s all three, but rather like faith, hope and charity, the greatest of my husband’s loves is LEGO. I’m not bitter. The colourful, benippled bricks have just been around rather longer than I have. That’s not to say LEGO has never caused problems in our relationship. When it did, though, I came up with the following 10-point solution to cope.

Stunning Hasbro Millennium Falcon Jumps Out of Hyperspace

Jesus Diaz — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 01:30:00 +0000

This is THE Millennium Falcon toy that never arrived when every 9-yo kid wanted it back in 1977—and now every 39-yo fanboy is going to buy to secretly play with it in the closet: the 2.5-foot Hasbro’s Star Wars Legacy Collection Millennium Falcon. It’s probably the closest model to the movie you can get this side of an actual prop, with LEDs everywhere, sound, movable parts, and absolutely every detail imaginable. And when I say every detail, I mean every single detail:

• Light-up cockpit with room for four figures.
• Medical bay.
• Secret smuggling compartments to hide from pesky Death Star crews.
• Auto-opening boarding ramp.
• Pivoting gunner station.
• Crew quarters with light-up dejarik table.

Here are all its features:

• Light-up headlights and loads of electronic vehicle and weapon sounds—engine boost, cruise mode, fly-by, firing cannons, and much more.
• Opening, light-up cockpit can fit up to four figures.
• Remove outer panels to access the ship’s interior.
• Authentic movie phrases from Han, Luke, Obi-Wan, C-3PO, Chewbacca, and R2-D2.
• Movie sound effects everywhere.
• Rotating laser turret fires two missiles and makes weapons sounds.
• 3-missile launcher with blasting sounds.
• Cannon that launches a “laser” missile (whatever that is.)
• Missile-firing mini-fighter inside an opening docking bay that makes electronic boarding and flight sounds (oooook.)
• Light-up engines.
• Pivoting training probe with lightsaber sounds.
• Includes Han Solo and Chewbacca and can hold up to 18 figures.

In other words: a whole bunch of pointless, completely unnecessary, amazing plastic junk that arrives thirty years too late, but is a complete must. And yes, perhaps it’s not as fun as building your own LEGO version, but it’s the closest thing to the movie available. [Galactic Hunter —Thanks Eddie]