[Model MOC] T-47 Airspeeder (Snowspeeder)

[LiLmeFromDaFuture]

New Updates, Click Here (or arrow above)

Greetings to all,

Finally, after the course of almost 3 months of designing in LDD, I have finished my original creation of the beloved T-47 Airspeeder—but what we all know and commonly refer to as Snowspeeder, from the epic battle of Hoth featured in "Empire Strikes Back." Prior to building this airspeeder, I loved The Empire and everything concerning it, yet I despised the Rebels and everything about them. Well recently before the snowspeeder, I have been building a minifigure-scale AT-AT walker and numerous things related drew on me—especially the snowspeeder. I began to find the snowspeeder quite fascinating, and the idea to have one accompany my walker. Now the rest was made history in the course of about 3 months.

Proceeding to photos

Upon the level of detail, yet on a small scale, one would consider this a scaled down version of the 10129 UCS Snowspeeder model for minifigures. Like so it would be appropriate to design a display stand, for a "in flight" position.

The bottom is nothing less of a swooshy-esque

Now proceeding to various details of the ship:

Here is the inside of the cockpit

Unlike others, I decided to forgo a detailed interior. My priorities were to design the body with structural integrity, and readily accessibility for placing and displacing minifigures—even to having them sit on tiles instead of plates, because we all know how frustrating it is to pull minifigures off of studs by their headgear.

Besides the smooth uniform slope of the repulsor units or either the laser housing, one of the most unique details are the grille detail on the repulsor units. Prior to designing, I have not seen this detail properly represented, but with exception to Lego's UCS Snowspeeder. I am appreciative I was able to achieve this because they look absolutely attractive.

As well of something that is other times overlooked is the barrel diameter for the lasers. I believe any were to make their original T-47, the barrel diameter for the lasers should be according to. There is simply nothing else better than the use of technic pins for this aspect of the aircraft.

As you have notice, besides the new Speed Champions windscreen, I have implemented Larry Lars' nose design into my work. I originally used the decorated wedge brick used on Lego's former Snowspeeder products, but later on in the design it work as desired. But what I always find remarkable about the plated nose is how readily easy it was to implement without sacrificing any details on the wings.

Also I used Lars' most recent heat sink design, yet I made changes to it for implementation into my snowspeeder. Not only that, I as well replace that hinge plate he used for the plug detail on his with a modified tile with clip—for added accuracy of detail.

Thrusters.

What I believe is also critical to be represented, is the smooth, uniform, transition from the end of the wings to the boarder of the canopy. Simply the way this aspect must be, but mission accomplish here.

Onwards to the structure of the build:

The minifigures Luke & Dak

True, Luke & Dak did not operate a snowspeeder with orange markings, but who ever cared about this with the original snowspeeder back in 1999 and its reboot in 2003?

Unique 20 facts about this:

I have fidelity for details and for them to be accurately represented as possible in my models

Yes, I am perhaps a model maker, yet I aim to utilize Lego in unprecedented ways to incarnate the quintessence of that which I am modeling after

I have only implement Lars' design for the nose and heat sink the rest of this model genuinely original

The model is quite modular—can be separated in three pieces: body and wings

The body is structurally sound—comprised of mostly plates which are overly interlocked to each other

It would take such a crash to obliterate the body

This model consist of 486 Lego elements

The dimensions of the model from the wides and longest points (excluding the laser tips) are 20 x 23 studs

Only three parts are unproperly connected according to Lego's system

There is no black elements featured in the model (excluding the display stand)

The heat sink and the grille pattern of the repulsor units are featured in old dark grey—a stylistic preference to highlight these aspects of the model in a respect to have being weathered down by heat

The thrusters uses a dark grey antenna—a rare color unreleased before

The harpoon gun was redesigned 7 times before settling on the current version (which makes 8)

Despite some elements in older colors, the oldest part is the sunroof set for the canopy

The display stand consist of 30 Lego elements

While displayed, the snowspeeder is locked fixed onto the stand by the four fingers clutching the rib-esque section underneath

While attached the snowspeeder will not wobble and could even be handled upside down (though that is not recommended)

Placed on horizontal surfaces, the display would not topple unless intended force is applied

There is 176 white elements, 151 light blueish gray elements, and 136 dark blueish gray elements

A LDD file is available and is free as for now

*FILES REMOVED*

Edited September 7, 2016 by LiLmeFromDaFuture

[GuyDudeMan27]

I seriously love this model more and more the more I look at it. I can't stop singing its praises (that and I've said them in the other thread ) The Snot wings are a huge attraction here, especially considering its almost never been attempted before. I love the final heatsink, and the old dark grey is really growing on me. I have a few questions though. How do the flaps on the bottom open up? They look really good, but I wanna see them deployed. Also, does the cockpit fully open up? I know I could check the LDD file but eh . I really just can't get over this model. I'm definitely gonna build this at some point. I can't wait to see this with your AT-AT!

[ScottishDave]

Well done on completing your MOC!

Thank you very much for the LXF file. I'd like to have a go at adding your wings to my MOC (to create the ultimate accurate snowspeeder )and this will help a lot.

[Kristof]

Fantasctic! Congratulations to the completion. I watched you progress all the way through and I can only repeat my praise from previous threads. Thank you for sharing lxf file as well. I have one question - where did you get these LBG 'golden' ingots? I need a bunch of these but could only find one seller on bricklink who didn't reply to my emails.

EDIT: Well I probably did something wrong while searching before. Now I already see more lots for sale..

Edited August 1, 2015 by krisandkris12

[Markalus]

Its amazing the level of detail you managed in a minifig scale MOC that is true to the UCS version. Its also very generous of you to provide the LDD file to the community. Fantastic!

[LiLmeFromDaFuture]

I seriously love this model more and more the more I look at it. I can't stop singing its praises (that and I've said them in the other thread ) The Snot wings are a huge attraction here, especially considering its almost never been attempted before. I love the final heatsink, and the old dark grey is really growing on me. I have a few questions though. How do the flaps on the bottom open up? They look really good, but I wanna see them deployed. Also, does the cockpit fully open up? I know I could check the LDD file but eh . I really just can't get over this model. I'm definitely gonna build this at some point. I can't wait to see this with your AT-AT!

Your enthusiasm never ceases to delight me in my accomplishments.

Perhaps you did not notice this photo, but the bottom flaps are fully opened and the top are slightly opened:

Physically you open it by lowering the 2 x 2 traffic sign, which the design is secured by the wings. It should flow smoothly down, but sometimes it drags its side of the heat sink with it—simply push that side back in place. The cockpit can fully opened—at the sunroof that is. When photographing this feature I did not do so because it can look quite weird. Then if you wish to place the gunner in the back, simply squeeze the rear windscreen and easily pull up, as it's only connected to two studs on the body.

Edited August 1, 2015 by LiLmeFromDaFuture

[LiLmeFromDaFuture]

Well done on completing your MOC!

Thank you very much for the LXF file. I'd like to have a go at adding your wings to my MOC (to create the ultimate accurate snowspeeder )and this will help a lot.

Your very welcome, but what is there else to approve upon? Perhaps you could implement your own canopy that slopes, a sloped heat sink, maybe even include a working winch like others have, a detailed cockpit like others have, a detailed bottom accurate to the studio models, or feature yours in a gray color scheme?

[Schneeds]

This is excellent. I'll have to add it to my growing list of Mocs that need to be built.

[LiLmeFromDaFuture]

Fantasctic! Congratulations to the completion. I watched you progress all the way through and I can only repeat my praise from previous threads. Thank you for sharing lxf file as well. I have one question - where did you get these LBG 'golden' ingots? I need a bunch of these but could only find one seller on bricklink who didn't reply to my emails.

EDIT: Well I probably did something wrong while searching before. Now I already see more lots for sale..

Much appreciated. Good to hear you found the multiple stores selling light gray ingots. But hey leave some for me! Because I need quite a bunch for my upcoming AT-AT and AT-ST !

[LiLmeFromDaFuture]

Its amazing the level of detail you managed in a minifig scale MOC that is true to the UCS version. Its also very generous of you to provide the LDD file to the community. Fantastic!

Thank you. It is quite a novelty that such was accomplished on such a small scale.

[LiLmeFromDaFuture]

This is excellent. I'll have to add it to my growing list of Mocs that need to be built.

Indeed, this is certainly a bucket list-er—glad you like it.

[ScottishDave]

Your very welcome, but what is there else to approve upon? Perhaps you could implement your own canopy that slopes, a sloped heat sink, maybe even include a working winch like others have, a detailed cockpit like others have, a detailed bottom accurate to the studio models, or feature yours in a gray color scheme?

Yes, these are all excellent ideas. In fact, apart from the sloping sides to the canopy, I've done all of the above. My speeder's heatsink slopes from top to bottom. The string was not included in the LXF: but it goes around the hidden winch drum and goes out through the middle of the heatsink. The cockit interior is reasonably detailed, and the bottom of my snowspeeder is as accurate to the studio model as can be achieved in this scale - if non-SNOT and a bit bland - and I have made mine available in grey :-).

However, I have always wanted to try a SNOT wing design, and your snowspeeder certainly has that. It also has that cool and interesting grille design in the engines. I also love the look of the cockpit.

I'd love to figure out a way to angle your heatsink (either with dark gray 2x2 tiles or more modern 2x4s) and I have an idea about the cockpit canopy which I'm not quite ready to share just yet!

[LiLmeFromDaFuture]

Yes, these are all excellent ideas. In fact, apart from the sloping sides to the canopy, I've done all of the above. My speeder's heatsink slopes from top to bottom. The string was not included in the LXF: but it goes around the hidden winch drum and goes out through the middle of the heatsink. The cockit interior is reasonably detailed, and the bottom of my snowspeeder is as accurate to the studio model as can be achieved in this scale - if non-SNOT and a bit bland - and I have made mine available in grey :-).

However, I have always wanted to try a SNOT wing design, and your snowspeeder certainly has that. It also has that cool and interesting grille design in the engines. I also love the look of the cockpit.

I'd love to figure out a way to angle your heatsink (either with dark gray 2x2 tiles or more modern 2x4s) and I have an idea about the cockpit canopy which I'm not quite ready to share just yet!

Indeed, as I based those suggestions on your current version of Lars'. I am assuming you are only implementing the wings of my model to your own, so I suppose you won't have much issues including a working winch, an angled heat sink, or your own detailed bottom accurate to the studio model (improved upon your current non-SNOT design). As of now, if you choose to make your improved snowspeeder in light gray still, acquiring those 4 x 1 slope bricks in this color might present a problem, as only one set consist it in only one quantity.

[LegoPercyJ]

That is one fantastic snowspeeder! The smooth feel is perfect, all the detailing is amazing! All the time and woork you put into this is apparent! Great job overall!

[LiLmeFromDaFuture]

That is one fantastic snowspeeder! The smooth feel is perfect, all the detailing is amazing! All the time and woork you put into this is apparent! Great job overall!

Much appreciated! The smooth-esque is imperative to properly represent an actual model that's not laden with studs.

[La Chupacabra]

Im tring to rebuild the roof to avoid using transparent sunroof. And here is the problem - shame that all windscreens are not made in transparent version or sunroof isn't made in trans black.

[LiLmeFromDaFuture]

Im tring to rebuild the roof to avoid using transparent sunroof. And here is the problem - shame that all windscreens are not made in transparent version or sunroof isn't made in trans black.

Greetings La Chupacabra,

The glass of the sunroof for my model is the version that features no ridges—this is a particularly rare part and only comes in two colors: transparent clear or transparent light blue. If anyone else considers to keep this design in their rebuild simply because it's simple yet elegant, I consider they acquire the version with the ridges 2348b, which is more readily available in trans-clear than its counterpart.

Though this part is exclusively available in trans-clear, dark blue, or light blue, as judge by the photos of my model, the sunroof glass in trans-clear blends rather nicely with the other trans-black elements—especially with the dark interior.

Using this part is your best option, as there is no other rectangular elements alike that can be used in the same fashion, as according to the studio models.

Though, If you were attempting to alternate from my design I would like to see what you are considering doing.

Edited August 7, 2015 by LiLmeFromDaFuture

[La Chupacabra]

I made some grille and harpoon changes and I have added some interior details.

[LiLmeFromDaFuture]

I made some grille and harpoon changes and I have added some interior details.

Alright. Might you share them (photos) here?

[La Chupacabra]

Edited August 8, 2015 by La Chupacabra

[LiLmeFromDaFuture]

Interesting cockpit alterations.

I see what you did with the roof. A version prior to what is now available was like this, but upon real life application, the connection proved too weak, therefore I changed it to what it is now. However, my actual model still portrays this former design.

The harpoon gun is nice. I had design similar to it, but I scratched it, since the 3L bar does not com in dark gray—though this is your MOD.

Edited August 8, 2015 by LiLmeFromDaFuture

[La Chupacabra]

I have solution for non trans clear sunroof:

http://alpha.brickli...lor":13,"ii":1}

Also I redesigned rear flaps (similiar to Lary Lars) and changed color of bottom of airspeeder:

Edited August 9, 2015 by La Chupacabra

[LiLmeFromDaFuture]

Indeed, I see the notable alterations.

[BEAVeR]

Stunning creation, LiLmeFromDaFuture! It's amazing how you can still build such an impressive representation of a vehicle we all know so well and have seen represented countless times. Your version just stands out. It's very tight, with the SNOTted wings, the perfectly offset cheese slopes that form a uniform casing, the shape of the heat sink perfectly flowing into the rest of the model... There isn't a part that doesn't look finished and that I love (except for the controls in the cockpit maybe, but you might have hit the limitations of the brick there. And there's also that gap on the backside between the cheese slope and the larger slope, but that really is everything!). I loved watching the progress on your creation, getting every aspect just right, taking your time to craft the perfect creation. I hope everyone can see the dedication. Usually, I give suggestions to improve the creation, but there's barely something I can think of with this creation: you used those 486 elements perfectly.

So hat off! I can't wait to see you tackle something larger, like that AT-AT you mentioned. I'll be patient .

[LiLmeFromDaFuture]

Much appreciated BEAVeR. Thank you so much for highlighting the details of the aircraft. I myself, could not come to write something as extensively detailed to express my MOC on this topic, (it is quite a lengthy process for me—I would not really know where to start because there is so much), so thank you again, for reviewing and mentioning the numerous techniques implemented and then blogging about it.

With those slopes in the back of the wings, I tried to represent the gap that is present on the model I modeled this MOC after. Though compared to the model, it is not as wide as should be. So perhaps, it is not worth representing, and I will probably revisit it and patch it up.

As for the detailed interior. I did forwent this unlike others, though I congratulate them for their accomplishments. However, I sacrificed this feature for structural integrity, ease of seating the minifigures inside/taking them out, and (perhaps if it would interfere) the alignment of the wings to the body. Though all could be resolved with stickers! Joking !

However then, I am not really one for interior details, as I dedicate myself primarily to represent the quintessence of the exterior, as well the proper angles. For an example, this process as for my AT-AT, involves bricks to express the smoothness of the body and a multitude of details, a robust infrastructure to support the weight of those thousands of bricks, and a technique to allow rotation in the joints (especially the knees) that will as well support the head, body, and the infrastructure supporting both. In conclusion, this means that the walker will not feature interior in any manner—it is really heavy as it is now, and I only have one side of the body attached.

I have been building the AT-AT before the snowspeeder, but paused its construction to design the snowspeeder. Afterwards, I was quite scattered after I finished the snowspeeder and built it, as I then wanted to design a minifigure scale AT-ST or in UCS scale, and a LAAT as well. But perhaps, those will take more than a week of work, as like the snowspeeder. Now I am going back to the AT-AT. I don't know when I will have it finish, but as for now I will continue building it 'under the radar' (so to speak), as it is extensively phenomenal, greatly extraordinary than what some have seen with the snowspeeder, and truly unprecedented—it will be a genuine surprise!

Again, much appreciated,

LiLmeFromDaFuture