This is the 1/72 Scale Star Wars Millennium Falcon(TM) – Predecorated
SnapTite® Max Model Kit by Revell from the new Star Wars The Force Awakens movie.
At first glance this Millenium Falcon model kit looks like the previous iterations from Revell. But there are a few differences besides the rectangular radar dish featured in the Force Awakens so read below.
- No paint, glue or tools required
- Landing gear
- Pre-painted graphics
- Cockpit details
- Illustrated instructions
- Scale: 1/72
- Length: 14.7″ (373.38mm)
- Width: 10.75″ (273.05mm)
- Height: 3.875″ (98.42mm)
- Skill level: 2
- Parts: 85
- Kit# 85-1822
- MSRP: $64.95 (US)
This is the 1/72 Millenium Falcon from Revell kit 85-1822. It is the most recent iteration of the kit since I believe 2006 when it debuted in Clone Wars packaging. It was also available as Revell 06658 Easy Kit. The last Millenium Falcon available which was a Snap Tite MAX version was the kit # 85-1854. Besides the obvious round antennae dish lost during the attack of the second Death Star, a few changes have been made. First and foremost the rectangular dish. The production design could have easily gone with another round dish replacement for the Millenium Falcon. But after 30 years within the story the new shaped dish easily sets apart the Falcon from the new trilogy. Although the new kit sports the new dish, the old round dish is *still* included. The paint in which this ”new” Falcon is offered has a few shades of gray color on some of the panels not seen on the previous model.
What else is different?
The lower hull of the ship has been changed from the 85-1854 version. This time our beloved piece of junk has real landing gear wells. The previous version had a very superficial mount and a simple panel for gear up mode. The’re’s a slight but notable change inside the cabin. The cockpit part has been painted in a dark gray omitting the brown pilot and copilot seats plus the aluminum trimming painted on the 1854 is also gone on this one. The front seats no longer have the mounting hole points for the crew. That is because Revell sadly ditched Han and Chewie and no figures are included to populate the cockpit. The boarding ramp is also different on this version.
The sidewalls are still the same tooling. Not too thin but not as tall as the old MPC kit either. The maintenance wells on top and bottom this time have been painted in black with some white dry brushing done to them. The landing gear features different baffles and pads. The rear engine grills are painted as if the Falcon ran on coal.
There’s a lot of negative rap about this model and other Star Wars model kits in different community forums and Facebook groups. I believe that many folks are missing the point and are not taking this model kit for the market it is intended for. C’mon, I’m big fan of the Millenium Falcon; from a tiny die-cast to the sought after Saga 3 3/4” they reside in my personal collection. I’m a model kit builder. I have plenty of resources to build, scratch build, cast parts, paints, airbrushes and a plethora of tools at my disposal. As a fan of the ship that made the Kessel run in 12 parsecs if I want a heavily detailed model I understand that this is NOT the kit to go after. For instance; If I want a detailed Audi R8, I have the option of kit 80-7398. I’m not going to purchase the Audi R8 kit 85-1687 and then complaint about the lack of detail.
These kits are for the first timers or someone who saw the kit and wanted to give it a try either as fandom, curiosity or both. For those who are not committed to the the hobby and don’t even know what kind of glue or paint is used to paint a model and will twist the parts off from the runners because they don’t even own a set of cutting pliers.
For a more detailed version of the Millenium Falcon, you will be better suited with 85-5093 Master Series. It will cost more and comes with no paint, glue or building skills in the box.
To those above, I have no problem recommending this kit. You will like it very much.
Downside, Revell skipped the figures although Chewie and Han are still relevant to this version of the Millenium Falcon.
My sincere thanks to Revell USA for this review sample.
