Review: Jedi Starfighter (Episode I - III)

product code: #06731

Today we'll take a quick look at Jedi Starfighter from Episodes I - III of Star wars. This kit is one of the Easy Kits produced by Revell. Scale of this model is 1:80, which closes down opportunity for using this ship in your normal X-wing games, it's simply too big.

But lets have a look at construction process. As kit indicates it's an easy and straight forward process. Starfighter is 100 mm in length, 59 mm in wingspan and has 21 parts. In fact assembly was so quick that I had to re-do it for the camera. Price ranges from £8.50 to £10 depending on local supplier or online shop. This kit is a good toy, which hold together well and requires minimal amount of glue.

So why buy this ship if it cannot be used in x-wing? 

The answer is - Scrapheap:

First of all, ENGINES. Two engines of this starfighter are perfect fit for anyone who wishes to create a YT-1300 or other ship with tube engines. If you look in YT manual, there is a version of YT with 3 tube engines and central mounted cockpit, as well as YT-1200 series with tube engines under aerodynamic bonnets. Jedi will provide at least 2 detachable and ready to be placed engines, all you have to do is kitbash a bigger central engine and its bonnet.   

jedi starfighter cockpit is just slightly

 bigger than YT's

Second: ALTERNATIVE COCKPIT. Majority of YT ships are seen with cockpit stylised into B-29 bomber nose. However there are ships with different type of central or starboard cockpit. Again, YT Manual and Star wars RPG games provides an alternative view. So if you are looking for a easier way to create this kind of cockpit just cut away the cockpit of Jedi starfighter, and combine it with YT "neck". You may need some extra bits if you decide to leave canopy clear to represent insides of the cockpit.  

Third: ARMOURED HULL. 

Jedi Starfighter size comparison
with YT-1300. 

Some versions of YT-1300 and other YT series ships were modified with fully armoured engines and cockpits. In order to create fully armoured YT, most  crafters like Rob Jedi use layered plastic card with a lot of sculpting. However if you use jedi starfighter as a base for your modification you may save yourself some time and effort. However, if you are looking for "historically accurate" representation of YT it may not be the best option. But as a source of plain plastic with a lot of "technical relief" this kit is a good. 

The Verdict:

Left: fully armored YT-1300. Right: YT-1300 with alternative central cockpit
and 3 tube engines.

Quality: 4
Its a good pre-painted ship. Details are not striking, but for an cheap, beginner's build its a good quality.
Game: 1
Ship is unusable in x-wing, unless you substitute it for something like Imperial Star Destroyer.
Scrapheap: 80%
Depending on your plans for this ship up 80% of starfighter may be recycled and used for kitbashing.
Overall: 3
It's not most essential kit for a ship builder,but if you buy it just to have it on  table it will provide you with 20 minutes of excitement.

Review: YT-1300 Owners workshop manual

Honestly, they should've done two books just because the whole name is tooo long: Millennium Falcon, modified YT-1300 Corellian freighter, Owner's Workshop Manual. Publisher: Haynes. Authors: Ryder Windham, Chris Reiff, Chris Trevas.  Published in November 2011. It looks like creators, managers and even accountant of this book had a say in deciding it's name. But stuff it. That's the only major flaw of the book. 

First and foremost, this Manual is divided into two big logical parts: YT series and Millennium Falcon itself. Which is most important, is up to you. But, YT series covers all major variants YT-1000, YT-1200/ 1210/ 1250, YT-1760, YT-1930, YT-2000 and YT-2400. YT-1300 gets most of attention as well as most of its modifications like F, FP, P, it's optional variant like 3-tube engines, different cockpits, YT-XC mini-starfighter and so on. Though you may find it lacking some extensive detail, book gives a very good ground information on each ship, with information on size, maximum speed in atmosphere in both miles and kilometres, hyperdrive and navigation, armament, shielding, cargo,crew and passenger capacity. Costs includes prices for new and used ship! WHY they don't sell them yet?!! WHY???

Book also specifies that no YT series is similar to another, as each ship is highly customisable. On page 14 you will find a brilliant diagram of most possible hull layout options. Though it states that YT series was a favourite choice for many pirates, smugglers, planetary defence forces, paramilitary organisations and so on, there is only one ship described in detail: Millennium Falcon.

Second part of the book is semi-scientific voyage into ships history, pilots, weapons, electronic sensors and other systems, shields and even propulsion gets its own "how-it-works" chart. Piloting tricks and ship's abilities are described in detail with reference to history of the universe. This book has enough to keep you drooling over the pages for a long time. It's an easy read coupled with pictures from the movie, cutaways and guides to what's inside. Only £14.99. If you are short on credit, trawl through holonet, you might even find it. But nothing beats the real book, i tell ya. 

Millennium Falcon cutaway

Verdict:

Quality: 5 out of 5.

Game: 75%. book may be a source of new game scenarios and it covers most famous ship of the Galaxy. 

Scrapheap: 100%. Its your first and one of the most comprehensive guides to your customised YT-1300. 

Overall result: 5+ or must have.

   

Jedi starfighter

Some wonderful things are looming on horizon: Jedi Starfighter by Revell (Easy kit).

Soon.

well, the intrigue is lost. its huge. But just you wait...

Repainting YT-1300 (Millenium Falcon)

This slice of data is essential if you are looking on how to re-paint your Falcon. Just skip first 3 minutes of talking about mistakes author did with his previous ship. Learning curve, you see. Just for the fun of it, below the video you'll find the picture author is talking about. 

Review: YT-1300 Easykit by Revell

kit designation #06727 

Lets begin with the essential description: Easykit by Revell is a version of Millenium Falcon in 1/241 scale. X-wing uses 1/270 scale, so for the moment is the best option on the market for kitbashing. Price is also a huge modifier, Easy kit costs £8.50, some online shops sell it even cheaper, when your Falcon from Fantasy Flight games costs £22.50. Not a bad difference for a scrapyard kit, huh? Word of advice, Revell sell various kits of YT-1300, for our purposes you need kit designated #06727. You can order it online from revell.de, or ask your local scrap yard keeper, game store. Revell is quick and reliable supplier, well at least in Europe.

unboxed YT-1300. note that canopy and
engine bar in transparent plastic are sealed.

To give you an idea of the kit: length 100 mm, width 77 mm, number of details 20. Kit is well designed and pre-painted, each individual part fits into a slot designed specifically for that part. Instruction is well detailed and relatively simple, after all its designed for kids age of 6. For most part, kit holds well without the glue. 

But, trust me it will lose small bits, like flexible antenna, forward floodlight and rear section if dropped. So don't hesitate to use glue. Kits has minor issues with plastic overflows, but nothing a knife can't fix. They even included 2 figurines, but due to the size, that's a worst part of the kit - mold lines are horrible. See for yourself. 

those big bloops of plastic are pilots.

Scrapheap: if you are not willing to modify your pricey FFG ship, this kit is a must. All you need for either base of any new YT-1300 ship or just part for upgraded one. It may miss some extras, but you are a modeller, right? This kit is an easy base for YT-2400, Ebon Hawk, or YT-1000.  

Quality: 4 It not as well painted and well moulded as top quality FFG model, but it does not need to. It still looks good in Millennium Falcon colour scheme, if you repaint it and add a proper base, few will tell the difference.
Game: 95% compatible with x-wing game. Just a base and game essential are needed.
Overall: 5. Must have for anyone who is looking for cheap and easily customizable option.

Note: forward YT has replaced its
antenna with turret blister from Rebel LAAT.

YT-1300 kit by Revell

Well, hold your lightsaber, Jedi. It's coming. We still unpacking some stuff. So patience.