My custom X-wing, with some recent and much needed upgrades.
About this creation
Here is my custom X-wing fighter, based on my design first created in 1983, and probably the first Star Wars ship I created with LEGO. In the last several years I've worked to bring the ship closer and closer to the ILM models used in the films. The new 2x4 wedge plates have helped greatly, making the wing shape much more accurate than the classic 4x8 wings (though I'll always love 'em anyways). The engine intakes have also been totally reworked with new pieces.
I've not yet found a way to incorporate opening wings and still keep proper scale and accuracy in minifig scale, but I'm going to attempt a new version from the ground up, with opening wings and tapered fuselage, as done on the UCS X-wing and several nice custom versions like Brucey-Wan's (the last two pics below are a preview of the new fuselage).
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Side view. At 45 studs long, it is, like many of my customs, stuck right between 6 and 7 studs equaling 6 feet (because I build to minifig WIDTH, not height - I imagine them as a bit taller, to avoid the ships looking too squat). The wingtip laser cannons have been changed several times in this custom's lifetime, with the most recent revision involving added length (my previous versions, as well as most people's customs that I've seen, were much too short). think they look too long? Check out good photo reference of the ILM models, or look no further than the official UCS LEGO version (or the fantastic Hasbro Power F/X X-wing) to see that they, in fact, extend well beyond the front of the cockpit!
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A rear angle shot, showing the new wing profile created by 2x4 wedge plates.
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Straight-on rear shot (hmmm...red LEDs in the engines would be pretty cool).
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A closer detail of the wings, engines, and cockpit. It's clearly Luke's Red 5, between the wing markings and distinct pattern of red and yellow stripes on the fuselage.
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Closer yet, for a look at R2 snug in his socket (including the bulky LEGO legs/oversized feet would butcher the lines of my design, so I pull 'em off when the droids are in my customs), as well as the detailing behind him.
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Closeup of engine access compartment revealing the powerful innards!
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Side shot of R2, the deflector shield generator, and other detailing.
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Moving forward, we see Luke through the canopy. The "real" X-wing's canopy is sleek and low...there just IS no goo LEGO equivalent (man, I wish they'd have made a new mold for the official set), so I have mine offset by one plate (in other words, the front of the cockpit sits one plate higher -or the back one plate lower, if you will - than it would if it were on flush) to avoid having it too high in the back - or the fuselage too low in front.
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A lower angle, showing how the console rises up in front of Luke's face, while not blocking his eyesight, as in the films.
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Rear overhead view with canopy removed. I use the 1x1 plates with clip to attach the canopy to instead of clicky hinges because it allows the cockpit to sit slightly offset when closed (as mentioned above), as well as allowing a smooth opening and closing motion).
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With Luke removed. I know it seems like I shoudl use the Star Wars tile controls in here, but I just like the way the UFO one looks for some reason, and as for the classic space 2x2 slopes, you just can't go wrong there (besides, they've been there since the ship was first built - though they were blue ones originally, replaced with grey about five years ago).
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A last-minute change, with 1x2 slopes added on either side of the main console, adhering to the "get as much detail in the cockpit as possible" school of thought.
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The new wing profile, courtesy of the 2x4 wedge plates, is much closer to the actual angle than the previous (God love 'em) classic space 4x8 wing pieces.
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The wingtip cannons. While they're now much more authentic, there are parts that just aren't going to match, and I'm OK with that...I kind of like the 2x2 radar dishes. While 1x2s with one stud on top would be the more proper thickness (and were on the ship originally), they don't have the curve. I guess I could pretend that this is the newest upgrade by Incom Corp! As for the main body of the lasers, attached to the wings...mine may look a bit big, but I'm tellin' ya, the "real" ones are much bigger than most people realize. Using 1x1's instead of 2x2s would look ridiculous on this ship!
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Here's the ship with landing gear and ladder in place.
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Closeup of front gear. When I first put small pics of the previous version of this custom online, many people asked about this design, as the pics were not digital and couldn't reveal closeup detail. Well, here it is...not really accurate, but I always thought it looked OK.
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A shot detailing the very simple rear gear as well as the brand spankin' new engine intakes (previously, I just had 4x4 radar dishes (bottom facing out) on the front of each engine.
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Other side o' the nose, revealing the sloped underside (where Luke stores his supplies in ESB) a landmark feature (IMHO) inexplicably missing on the first official set (as well as many customs) and misplaced horribly forward on the otherwise fantastic UCS version. To LEGO's credit, it looks like the new ESB version in the Dagobah Swamp set has it, and possibly hinged as well, as it was on my original custom before I decided to replace function (a hinged inverted 4x6 grey "canopy" piece) with sleeker form.
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Here's a preview of the new tapered-wall fuselage tha I'm attempting, with the current version for comparison, as well as my Y-wing hanging around in the rear. I want, ideally, to combine what I feel is accurate about my existing X-wing with opening wings (tough to do accurately without bulky wings two plates thick) as well as the more accurate overhead sightlines of an angled fuselage as done in the UCS X-wing.
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Here's a front shot of the new project. I'm already dissatisfied with the way the top looks (cockpit area will be right in front of the red bricks)...I just don't know if I can make the forward fuselage look right this way without making it too tall. Oh well, wish me luck!
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Comments
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I like it |
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October 11, 2011 |
This is one of the better X-Wings I have seen. I really like the playability features and the detail. Great job! Oh and congrats on MOTD! |
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I like it |
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October 11, 2011 |
Congrats on MOTD! |
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I like it |
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February 15, 2010 |
OMG... anyways, 9volt, would you accept an invitation to a group called The Galaxy Defenders? And, er, post about your arrival in Conversation? |
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I like it |
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February 15, 2010 |
Yeah,with the LED light thingy,I'm doing it too, Except.....I only have white LEDS D: |
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I made it |
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November 4, 2009 |
Quoting Austin Karl
Amazing. Out of 10, I rate it 100. I'll rate it 200 if that new fuslage in the front works out, nose should be longer.
Hey, thanks very much (and thanks to all who have commented)! For those wondering if/when I was going to finish the new angled fuselage version, or why I never did, check out what I did instead, this heavy duty rebuild of the official Dagobah X-wing: http://www.mocpages.com/moc.php/3142. Also, there are some shots of my even more recent version with better wingtip lasers here: http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=93184 |
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I like it |
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November 4, 2009 |
Amazing. Out of 10, I rate it 100. I'll rate it 200 if that new fuslage in the front works out, nose should be longer. |
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I like it |
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July 9, 2008 |
It's the BEST MOD EVER, it looks exactly like the X-wing from the movie, the only problem is the yellow on it's 'nose'.6/5 |
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I like it |
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October 16, 2007 |
Loose the yellow on the nose. Beside that pretty good |
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I like it |
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September 23, 2007 |
You have one of the best lego star wars sites cool! |
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I like it |
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Seungman Chang August 23, 2007 |
Best X-wing ever. My pathetic X-wings will never live up to yours. Kudos! |
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I like it |
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March 7, 2007 |
wow! very aerodinamic! i love the colour... unlike mine! |
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I like it |
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March 1, 2007 |
I love it and I will never rest until I find out where he gets his peices from!!! The only iffy things are the colours wich are kinda dodgey. |
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I like it |
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April 25, 2006 |
Wow! Not bad Brian. The detail is magnificent! The only problem is just that the wings can't open. But other than that, way to go. By the way, my X-wing has recieved a lot inspiration from yours. Thanks! |
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I like it |
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January 27, 2006 |
That's another great very accurate MOC!!! I'm not too sure about the yellow though. I have the new official one. Although the plates are whote, I do like the new official one. I am trying to work to improve it though. You have very nice Star Wars MOCs! Star Wars LEGOs are my favorites. (as you can tell by my MOC page.) |
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I like it |
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September 19, 2003 |
What a perfect X-Wing! I'm sure it goes along so very well with everything else! I'm not so sure about the yellow though, perhaps tan would look better. But that's up to you. Anyways, you did a good job Brian. |
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