Falcon Rebuild Diary · Part 2

Cockpit Restoration Begins

After kicking off this rebuild journey last week, I decided to begin with the cockpit—arguably the most iconic part of the Millennium Falcon.

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Step 1: Dismantling & Cleaning

The cockpit was already partially assembled years ago, so I carefully disassembled every part— from the wall panels to the central control console, the pilot seats, and even the yoke. All original decals were removed, and each piece was thoroughly cleaned. The difference was instantly visible. Everything looked fresher and more precise again (see above Photos).

Step 2: Rethinking the Cockpit Decals

I was never a fan of the original stickers—they felt too simplistic and inaccurate (see above Photo). With most of them already peeling, this was the perfect opportunity to redesign them from scratch.

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I started with the cockpit sidewall decals. First, I measured all the necessary dimensions precisely, then began redrawing them digitally. 

After several test prints to confirm size and alignment, I adjusted the layout to make sure the button placements were exact—this was the most time-consuming part of the process.

To control light bleed later on, I’ll be layering black vinyl behind the decal sheets. This allows me to selectively light up only the buttons and panels I want.

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Step 3: Coffee Required ☕️

In between design tweaks and endless adjustments, I took the occasional coffee break. Because every serious Falcon rebuild deserves caffeine support 😌

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Let’s rebuild this beast together.

— Chong

DeToyz Journal · 2025.05.21

→ Read Part 1: Falcon Rebuild Diary · Part 1