[MOC] Minifig Scale Clone Wars "The Twilight" G9 Rigger Freighter

[IcarusBuilds]

I've been working on this build since '7680 The Twilight' set came out in 2008. It started out as just modding the set to give it some interior, and slowly evolved with the continuous advances to LDD.
Building this was the driving force behind designing my minifig scaled Delta-7, because I wanted to ensure that it would fit inside like in the show. I've gone through countless revisions to my design, even as far as starting from scratch at least 3 times. With every redesign came more research and I learned more and more about the design of this ship. I learned about a lot of things that never made it into the show. Things like that this ship actually has 3 levels to it, and that it uses an elevator to get between them. That they used 2 distinct 3D models of the ship and would switch between them during episodes, etc.

It has been a long journey, but I'm finally happy enough with my design to share it. So into the details; Currently the ship sits at a total of 11,259pcs, measuring in at 102 studs (81.6cm) long by 132 studs (105.6cm) wide, by 37 studs (29.6cm) height (landed) or 84 studs (67.2cm) height (both outriggers extended). In other words, this thing is pretty big, still not as big as the Ghost, but it is the same length as the UCS Millenium Falcon.

While I did find images and video of the majority of the interior I sacrificed a few of the unseen rooms in lieu of having more structure to hold the whole thing together. I did however keep all of the main areas, this includes the cockpit, cargo hold, connecting hallway and the boarding area.

Comparing my build to the official Lego set.

Here is a comparison between my Twilight, the UCS Millenium Falcon and my Ghost.

As well as some comparisons with some of the official images that used to be on StarWars.com, I couldn't get the angles exactly right, but they're close enough to compare.

And as a final note, I am currently in the process of building this monster, I have been slowly gathering pieces for the last few years, I have about 80% of the total pieces required,
though I'm sure I'll have to make some modifications as I go. I will be posting updates as I go, but for now, here are my bins of parts, please forgive the unsorted disaster that they are currently in.

[Makin Bacon]

This is impressive, it's always fun to see minifigure scaled versions of such large ships. I love the shapes you've pulled off, especially the larger bends and curves

[TeddytheSpoon]

Wow, I didn't realise the ship was this big! This looks fantastic, I'll be interested to see how it holds up in the brick. Are you planning to build a stand?

[Jerac]

o_O

Alright, this MOC is pretty alright. Very much, in fact. Normally I'd produce sad noises due to all the studs but in this scale? Those are no studs, those are texture. 
I do not possess much knowledge about source material, but from what I managed to google quickly, it seems to be a really good reproduction.

How is this thing managing to fly straight though, having just one engine at the side? 

Edited December 15, 2020 by Jerac

[Terrasher]

Wooooah, this is incredible! This was one of my favorite Clone Wars ships, and I remember when I had it a few years ago. You've captured the geometry perfectly. I can't wait to see it built!

Good grief, it's enormous compared to the UCS MF.

[La Chupacabra]

Impressive! 

[JintaiZ]

Wow, very impressive. The shaping is perfect!

[Flieger]

Love this ship, great job!

This makes we want to buy another spice freighter.

[dmaclego]

Absolutely awesome rendition of a.... Well, let's stop right here - it is irrelevant if the original Twilight was beautiful or not so much ;) . Matter of taste, I guess.

But what you did here is just great. Proportions, tons of details, colors (well, technically gray is not a color but still ;) ) - it is all spot on.

Congratulations!

 

[DarthMario]

Impressive, most impressive.  I did not realize how big this ship was until you set it down next to the UCS Falcon.  Working on this for 12 years is some serious dedication.  Do you have any images of some of the older variations?  I'm guessing a lot changed during the build processes, especially with all the new pieces released in that time.

[IcarusBuilds]

On 12/15/2020 at 12:43 PM, TeddytheSpoon said:

Wow, I didn't realise the ship was this big! This looks fantastic, I'll be interested to see how it holds up in the brick. Are you planning to build a stand?

If I do build a stand I doubt that it would be out of Lego, with how far this thing will be off of a table and given the weight it will have, I will probably need something sturdier and weighted.

On 12/17/2020 at 11:07 AM, DarthMario said:

Impressive, most impressive.  I did not realize how big this ship was until you set it down next to the UCS Falcon.  Working on this for 12 years is some serious dedication.  Do you have any images of some of the older variations?  I'm guessing a lot changed during the build processes, especially with all the new pieces released in that time.

I definitely took some breaks in those 12 years, building the Ghost was one of those moments that really made me re-evaluate how I was building the Twilight. I went back and re-framed the whole thing, and redesigned a lot of sections to make them stronger and lighter.

I have most of my LDD files from the start of this project, so I will see about making a compilation of images to show the major design changes.

 

And now time for the first update.

Since I don't have 100% of the pieces for this build I'm starting with what I have. Here is the base for the main wing, I had to do a fair amount of redesign for the support structure for it to be strong enough to support it's own weight. I've also subbed in some large plates until I receive the tiles to replace them.

And just to show how big this wing is compared to the Falcon.

[IcarusBuilds]

Progress update #2

Dual blaster cannon is almost done, just need the pieces to build the barrels and do the dark orange details on the sides.

Also built the 'face' of the ship, only missing a couple pieces on the opposite side.

[TheRealBeef1213]

On 12/15/2020 at 1:11 PM, Jerac said:

o_O

Alright, this MOC is pretty alright. Very much, in fact. Normally I'd produce sad noises due to all the studs but in this scale? Those are no studs, those are texture. 
I do not possess much knowledge about source material, but from what I managed to google quickly, it seems to be a really good reproduction.

How is this thing managing to fly straight though, having just one engine at the side? 

There are thrusters in the wings as well

[IcarusBuilds]

Progress update #3

Left side front with indent for main intake & right side front panels.

Main boarding ramp & Bottom front section. The white piece is temporary. Missing x2 49668's to fill the gaps.

Main engine intake.

Rear door. The black plate is only temporary.

Start of the main build, boarding level with access to elevator.

Edited December 29, 2020 by IcarusBuilds

[Mr Ogel]

A really outstanding build - proportions, angles and all features are matching perfectly the original.One of the most impressing model in such scale. If you compare the pictures there is nothing which can be improved. And as you said having sources which are differing gives you also a little freedom in designing your version. 

It is marvellous that you holded on to this project for such a time.

We need more pictures and we wish you all the bricks you need for a fast build. Also that is not such easy to keep listings of what you still need when you are already building.

Did I mention already that I am following this thread?

[MAVERICK26]

Amazing job as always

[MAVERICK26]

Are instructions for this on Rebrickable? I couldn't find a link anywhere...

[IcarusBuilds]

Progress update #4

I know it's been a while but some of my parts orders finally came in after 3 months of waiting. So here's what I've done.

Boarding area with access to elevator & the beginning of structural build over top of boarding area.

The boarding area from below & some additional internal structure build.

The cockpit from the front & from the back.

Start of the swing-wing.

Landing gear retracted & deployed. (Honestly how these tiny things are supposed to hold up such a massive ship, I do not know.)

 

On 3/30/2021 at 3:21 PM, MAVERICK26 said:

Are instructions for this on Rebrickable? I couldn't find a link anywhere...

I do not have instructions for this on Rebrickable, nor am I currently planning to make any. This has been a bit of a passion project for me, so for now I'm going to keep it to myself. Additionally this thing would be a nightmare to make instructions for.

Edited April 9, 2021 by IcarusBuilds

[Mr Ogel]

nice development and good pictures as always.

1 hour ago, IcarusBuilds said:

(Honestly how these tiny things are supposed to hold up such a massive ship, I do not know.)

They will not...such questions are usually not considered in animation pictures...

[MAVERICK26]

1 hour ago, IcarusBuilds said:

I do not have instructions for this on Rebrickable, nor am I currently planning to make any. This has been a bit of a passion project for me, so for now I'm going to keep it to myself. Additionally this thing would be a nightmare to make instructions for.

Ah, yes. I completely understand. Good luck!

[IcarusBuilds]

Progress Update #5

The completed dual blaster cannon.

The start of putting things together.

Start of the main engine build.

Adding the start of the outer plating.

More to come soon, been making some good progress lately.

[MAVERICK26]

Wow!

[Clone OPatra]

Wow this is awesome! I thought that design was atrocious in-universe but seeing it so big in LEGO almost makes it look cool.

[Utinni Utinni]

9 hours ago, Clone OPatra said:

Wow this is awesome! I thought that design was atrocious in-universe but seeing it so big in LEGO almost makes it look cool.

Agreed. This ship is by far (in my opinion) the worst ship design. But I'd happily put this MOC design on my shelf. Looks great.

[IcarusBuilds]

Progress Update #6

Been making some good progress on this lately, still waiting on more parts orders, but it's getting there.

The engine side is coming together quite well, the ship is also at full length now.

A look in at the cargo bay, with my Delta-7B sitting inside.

How the wing side is coming along.

More of a top view to show the full size of this monster.

More to come as pieces arrive.