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  • Cockpit du B-Wing Bandai 1/72

  • Bandai B-Wing Starfighter

  • "Blade Wing"

The context

Screenshot d'un B-Wing dans le Retour du Jedi

Star Wars VI
The Return of the Jedi

I’ve already introduced the B-Wing in this article but since you are so insistent, I will do it again. Especially as since those days we know many more about the ship.

The B-Wing (for “Blade Wing“) has been put into operation at the very end of the galactic civil war. Designed by the planet Shantipole shipyard by Admiral Ackbar himself, it became quickly a master piece of the rebel plan. It was meant to replace the very old Y-Wing in bombing missions but difficulties due to the complexity of its flying control gave a deferment to the old bomber.

It is seen only a few seconds in the Return of the Jedi, just before and during the battle of Endor but never in combat situation. The shots were to difficult to shoot with the shooting models. Indeed, it is the only rebel fighter which is not more or less a modified plane and the directors thought it was to difficult to “read” during battle. We had to wait Star Wars Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker to see B-Wings during the battle of Exegol, in an early version.

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The project

  • Model : : B-Wing Starfighter
  • Maker : : Bandai
  • First edition year : : 2018
  • Scale : : 1/72
  • Matter :: Plastique injecté

Just this once, a single little modelkit. No diorama, no theatrical production, no complicated decor. just a little building “out of the box” of a Bandai B-Wing.

One says that it is no longer usefull to write texts by ourselves. There are many alogorithmes doing this in no time. Let’s go:

“Good morning dear ChatGPT, can you please write a text describing the assembly of a Bandai B-Wing ?”

(you must be polite with thos things in anticipation of the time they will hold us in slavery).

“Assembly of the Bandai B-Wing model begins with the cockpit, paying particular attention to the details of the pilot and control system. The rotating gyroscopic mechanism is then integrated, allowing the cockpit to pivot around the ship. The asymmetrical wings are assembled in several sections, each with cannons and thin radiators that must be positioned with precision. The engines, detailed with nozzles and ventilation elements, fit together smoothly. Each part is easily attached using the snap-fit system, eliminating the need for glue. Adjustments are essential to ensure proper articulation of the wings and engines. To perfect the look, decals and weathering effects can be added, such as a light dry brush or dirt effects. The end result is an accurate 1/72 scale model, faithful to the Star Wars universe.”

(…)

(…)

Well, maybe I’m going to continue to write my own texts…

The cockpit

I always begin a model assembly with the cockpit interior. That usually means many hours in going into details but in this model, no needs. The detail level offered by Bandai is quite remarquable.

I just designed the cockpit ligthup and paintjob. Not so bad, is it ?

B-Wing Bandai : vue du cockpit
A sullustéen piloting
Passage des fibres optiques dans le nez du B-Wing
Optical fibers go through the hull…
B-Wing Bandai: tableau de bord éclairé.
…to light the dashboard

Featuring : optical fibers and LEDs. The only difficulty was to place the LED in the ship’s neck. Unfortunately, it can no longer rotates so I glued it in its final position.

The thrusters

This unclassifiable starfighter has many unique features. One of them is the quadri-thruster. Bandai did here a great job by providing the mean to light them with only one LED with an optical fiber system.

The result is very satisfying although not much luminous :

The main assembly

Contrary to my previous assembly of a B-Wing, I didn’t have to build this model like a kebab. The model is smaller, hollow thux very light and everything holds together well enough.

Câblage du B-Wing
Réacteurs du B-Wing éclairé.

After positionning the wires, the assembly is very easy, just follow instruction.

B-Wing Bandai paintjob

First, the gunmetal underlayer. I usually use two underlayer colors: gunmetal when I want a dirty ship, chrome-silver when I want it cleaner. This one is dirty.

Sous-couche gunmetal;

Then, the main color is applied, a very white grey (80% mat white / 20% skygrey) and then pre-shadded:

B-Wing Bandai: préombrage et pré-panelling.

Please note the yellow and red colored pannels. I often do that in order to diversify the tints of a plain model.

The next step is decisive: I need to melt all these layers in the main color. I apply a very diluted version of this main color with reduced pressur on the aero:

Maquette de B-Wing Bandai : réalisation d'un fondu
Maquette de B-Wing Bandai : réalisation d'un fondu, étape finale.

The number of melting passes controls the opacity level.

This model naturally took place in my “Sullust” diorama which features almost all the rebel ships during the battle of Endor.

by petersteven

Photos