[MOC] T-16 Skyhopper

[Brickdoctor]

The shape is perfect! It's quite a difficult design with all the triangular corners. I like the combination of top wing which smoothly merges with the nose element a lot. Well done!

Thanks. That part was actually one of the easier portions The white lower 'deck', on the other hand...

Yeah, hey, wait a minute... two cockpits? Does this mean it needed two pilots? Maybe I've been ignorant, but this seems like a significant piece of information. Could Luke have flown it on his own? If it required two pilots (or plus a copilot) what are the implications for the similarity between these controls and the xwing?

Supposedly copilot's seat. Not necessary to put someone there. And holographic displays covered up the blind spots for the pilot.

Anyone know the meaning of the griffin symbol?

Symbol of a racing team Luke was a fan of.

I see, thanks for clearing that up! I figured out a way to do a closed cockpit; I think I'll return to that model and put some pics up, but it will never compare.

Well then, I might have to steal it.

[M<0><0<DSWIM]

Nice work, Doc! Love the SNOT techniques that you're a master of and the shape is very accurate. This was actually one of the few earlier sets I never got. may have to pick one up on Bricklink some day for nostalgia's sake. Despite the few flaws you pointed out, this is still better than than the official set (and more accurate).

[Brickdoctor]

This was actually one of the few earlier sets I never got. may have to pick one up on Bricklink some day for nostalgia's sake.

Same here. I picked up just the figure from a local source, so I don't have the set either. If I ever do a rebuild of this and not just a mod, I have a couple ideas to integrate the griffin printed slope and I do need another pilot for the second cockpit.

this is still better than than the official set (and more accurate).

I'd be pretty disappointed if it wasn't.

[mania3]

Ah, I was so genuinely hoping this was going to be a great MOC. I wasn't let down. My Kenner T-16 was one of my most often enjoyed toys as a child. Great, great MOC. I'll be sharing this with friends.

[lightningtiger]

Aw, man how did I miss this one yesterday.....sorry 'Brickdoctor'......I will say AWESOME SNOT craft and a nice big pneumatic cannon....yep, the skyhopper used an air cannon..gee those older DK books are really full of good information eh ?

Keep them comming 'Doc' and may the brick be with you !

[Praiter Yed]

Sweet Skyhopper Brickdoctor. I particularly like the weapons and the engine but it's all good.

[Brickdoctor]

those older DK books are really full of good information eh ?

Not really. A lot of their illustrations and stats are inaccurate. I for one own only the Ep. 1 Visual Dictionary that I got for a ridiculously low price, and I never use it. (well, and the LEGO Visual Dictionary) If I can't find it in one of the Art of books, I go to Wookieepedia or one of fallenangel's modeler sites.

Sweet Skyhopper Brickdoctor. I particularly like the weapons and the engine but it's all good.

Thanks.

[Jedd the Jedi]

Hey Brickdoctor, sorry that this is a little overdue:

Using this technique solves the closed cockpit problem to an extent, but also ruins the triangular effect of each half.

[Brickdoctor]

Hey Brickdoctor, sorry that this is a little overdue:

[snip]

Using this technique solves the closed cockpit problem to an extent, but also ruins the triangular effect of each half.

Yeah, unfortunately.

Hopefully TLG one day will make some sort of triangular piece in trans-clear. I could easily do it in black, but in the studio model the pilot can be clearly seen, and I didn't want to ruin that effect. Plus at this scale, it wasn't possible to turn that black stipe on the lip into four black squares, and that'd just look like it was part of the window.

I mean, if I wanted it in black, all I have to do is get some black 3 x 2 wedge plates and continue building up that plate in front of the pilot, but I don't think it'd look as good.

[apemax]

Very nice T-16. A very interesting design. Well done.

[Ritz Brick]

Great MOC, just out of curiosity, has this ship only been seen in ANH when Luke is flying it around his room or was it in some other segment?

[Brickdoctor]

has this ship only been seen in ANH when Luke is flying it around his room or was it in some other segment?

Only then. Originally, there was the scene where Luke and Fixer raced through Beggar's Canyon, and Luke won by being only the second pilot of that era to thread the Stone Needle, but he broke off a stabilizer in the process. Uncle Owen then grounds Luke (as in he can't fly, not that he has to stay in his room; grounded meaning literally stuck on the ground). The set for the life size T-16 couldn't be completed in time, so the scene was cut and the only remnant is Luke playing with the studio model (also apparently never finished) wishing he was flying instead of taking care of the droids. The deleted scene can be heard in NPR's radio dramatization of AnH. (and if you ever get the chance, those three radio dramas [AnH, ESB, RotJ] are fantastic)

[StoutFiles]

Great MOC, just out of curiosity, has this ship only been seen in ANH when Luke is flying it around his room or was it in some other segment?

In the background of that particular scene you can see the incomplete hull of the ship.

Other appearances:

In the Special Edition of Return of the Jedi, the T-16 does a flyover of Mos Eisley when they show different cities at the end of the movie. I believe it's in Attack of the Clones as well when they go visit Lars.

Edited February 15, 2011 by StoutFiles

[Brickdoctor]

In the background of that particular scene you can see the incomplete hull of the ship.

That's a matte painting, but okay.

Other appearances:

In the Special Edition of Return of the Jedi, the T-16 does a flyover of Mos Eisley when they show different cities at the end of the movie. I believe it's in Attack of the Clones as well when they go visit Lars.

Well, yes, but those are CGI models as opposed to physical studio models. fallenangel can tell you the difference. Or well, actually, I'm not sure about the one in AotC... Edited February 15, 2011 by Brickdoctor

[StoutFiles]

That's a matte painting, but okay.

Well, yes, but those are CGI models as opposed to physical studio models. fallenangel can tell you the difference. Or well, actually, I'm not sure about the one in AotC...

He just asked when it was seen. Nothing beats the models though.

Your T-16 is excellent; it makes my TLG one look like crap in comparison. I hope they revisit this ship someday (unlikely, but they've got 10 years to burn).

Edited February 15, 2011 by StoutFiles

[Brickdoctor]

Your T-16 is excellent; it makes my TLG one look like crap in comparison. I hope they revisit this ship someday (unlikely, but they've got 10 years to burn).

40^th Anniversary of Star Wars is our best chance. I'm rooting for an all-AnH wave.

[Lance]

Nice moc! I didn't see it in the film (probably my bad eyesight )

I really like the cockpit!

[Brickdoctor]

Nice moc! I didn't see it in the film (probably my bad eyesight )

It's there. Like has been said, Luke plays with the model while C-3P0 is taking the oil bath.

[Fallenangel]

Only then. Originally, there was the scene where Luke and Fixer raced through Beggar's Canyon, and Luke won by being only the second pilot of that era to thread the Stone Needle, but he broke off a stabilizer in the process. Uncle Owen then grounds Luke (as in he can't fly, not that he has to stay in his room; grounded meaning literally stuck on the ground).

And the radio drama was the one I mentioned... isn't that also the one where they explain the name 'Death Star'? (It's a code name.)

In the background of that particular scene you can see the incomplete hull of the ship.

Other appearances:

In the Special Edition of Return of the Jedi, the T-16 does a flyover of Mos Eisley when they show different cities at the end of the movie. I believe it's in Attack of the Clones as well when they go visit Lars.

There was a T-16 in Clones? Where?

Well, yes, but those are CGI models as opposed to physical studio models. fallenangel can tell you the difference. Or well, actually, I'm not sure about the one in AotC...

Yeah, they always change something with the CGI model so the end product ends up looking funny. Like the CGI Cloud City Falcon in the Special Edition of Empire.

I hope they revisit this ship someday (unlikely, but they've got 10 years to burn).

Well, if they can make some kind of 'Dathomir speeder'...

[Brickdoctor]

And the radio drama was the one I mentioned... isn't that also the one where they explain the name 'Death Star'? (It's a code name.)

Yep. Leia gets the plans and accidentally refers to the battle station by its codename 'Death Star' during dinner with an Imperial official. In the end, the official is shot, taken to one of Alderaan's hunting grounds, and said to have died in a hunting accident.

There was a T-16 in Clones? Where?

In the background in the Lars' garage, supposedly.

[Ceroknight]

great job brickdoctor! looks great

[Algernon]

Wow, this is great. The T-16 is actually one of my favorite models - I used to have the official version back in 2002, I believe. You really pulled off the feel of the design, which is a feat considering how unusual some of those angles are. Great work.