Neophyte_brickie

Finally got my delivery of bricks to complete @Lock's cockpit mod - no photo yet, but it all went together well - I love the design, and it looks great! Have to say though, it's a pretty tight fit!

Well, since you offered... The LDD of your cockpit mod on the website doesn't seem to include the little bit of corridor you added behind the seating area (visible in the photos). Can you give me some guidance as to how you achieved that? Is it very difficult (ie does it require any changes to the overlying structure? Thanks!

I love the look of this and have spent the afternoon in Stud.io making variations of it and looking at how to chain them together. The problem is that this is too tall to fit in the available space - you'd need to get rid of the plates on the top and bottom (even then I suspect it might be just slightly too tall) and in doing that you lose all structural integrity :(

You’re welcome. I think my next mod will be @Lock’s cockpit mod. Fortunately you can import LDD files into Stud.io - so if you download the LDD for Lock’s cockpit mod from his website, you can pull it apart in Stud.io to see exactly how it’s done (I’m in the process of doing that, but it’s a little complicated so it’s taking some time).

Here's a link to the build instructions, which includes a parts list on the last page: https://www.dropbox.com/s/ho49fl22u0evwla/btwn_mandibles_mf_mod_2.pdf?dl=0 I ought to once again give credit to @bdestena - this is really their mod, I've just adapted it slightly.

I'm no expert and am relatively new to this too! But my understanding is that LDD is now defunct. I think Stud.io is very similar, in that it is basically a CAD program in which you can create virtual Lego builds. I think it was developed by the people at Bricklink.com, it's free of charge, reasonably easy to use and works really well. I'm playing around with it at the moment to see if I can create build instructions, and will post the results if I can figure it out.

Do you have Stud.io? You can access the io file at this dropbox link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/jmo64rhea9fahd7/Btwn_mandibles_MF_mod_2.io?dl=0

Here's the completed mod: IMG_0198 The next two photos show how/where it connects: IMG_0199 IMG_0202 And the final result: IMG_0204

There are some spare technic pins provided - especially the small black ones, but some other types as well, and a lot of tiny parts, but you shouldn't have any plates larger than 1x1 or bricks left over. A lot of spares of the smaller greebles as well.

So I've been working on a mod to cover the exposed Technics elements between the mandibles. I've essentially copied @bdestena's design for this mod, but have altered it to get around a few issues; I wasn't happy with how far forward it had to be placed in order to fit; further, it also required removing (or at least turning by 180 degrees) the three thin inverted 2x2 hinge plates at the front edge of the upper surface of the lower hull panel that juts out between the mandibles on the underside of the ship. Looking closely at bdestena's photo it appears they have done a fair bit of modification to the upper side of that panel (the one that 'hangs' directly underneath where the mod sits), and I didn't want to modify the kit that much. But I love the aesthetic of bdestena's design, and I'm not fussed on installing concussion missiles (as cool as that is - sorry @Lock!) so I wanted mine to fill the full 10 x 4 gap. Basically all that was required was to increase the size of the cutout along the bottom part of the mod to accomodate the elements connecting the underside panel to the Technics frame, and reorient some of the greebling on the front of the mod. Here's the Stud.io render: Untitled And here's a proof of concept/mock-up installed (note this is not the final mod, I am still waiting on some parts from a Bricklink order - there is too much dark bluish grey on my prototype and it is missing the wheel pieces): Untitled

All mods completed, for now: View of the upper side, showing elimination of some of the dark bluish grey from the front mandibles (inspired by @bricksmarlin), and the vents mod (credit to @ClassicLook) Secure on the Efferman Stand - kudos to @efferman for a simply brilliant piece of engineering! @ClassicLook's engine mod, with LED strip light. The IR receiver unit is concealed within the empty interior space. Also modded the rear underside panel that sits under the engines, to reduce the sagging in the middle - simply replaced the hinge connections of the right and left wings to the central part with solid plates. It doesn't completely eliminate the gap but it's good enough for me. That's enough for now, I think. Thanks to all the users who have contributed to this forum topic - it is a goldmine of inspiration. I want to eventually fill in the gap right inside the front between the mandibles (not the escape pod, but the bit you only see if you are peering up between the mandibles) - @bdestena, your solution to this is the best I have seen, would you be prepared to share the io file? Maybe one day I'll mod the cockpit to add seats - I like @Lock's cockpit mod the best.

Mods are coming along; cosmetic changes to the upper front mandibles inspired by @bricksmarlin, and used @ClassicLook’s solution to turn the circular vents to the correct orientation. Well along the way to @ClassicLook’s engine mod as well, just waiting on a final shipment of trans light blue 2x1 plates (miscalculated my original order), and still waiting on some parts for the Efferman stand. Also need to get some led strip lights. https://imgur.com/gallery/qEb379W

I think I've found the answer to my question, after studying the assembly instructions - the arches can just be swapped out, but otherwise the upper surfaces of the mandibles use a much higher number of tiles and other parts with fewer studs than the undersides of the mandibles. Bummer.

New member here - just wanted to start by saying hats off to you all - amazing creativity and technical ability on display with these mods! Received the UCS MF75192 for my forty-fifth birthday last week and am really enjoying the build. It’s my first foray into Lego since I was a kid in the eighties, have always been a huge Star Wars fan, and this model is just phenomenal in every respect. I’m considering trying my hand at some of the mods on here once I’ve completed the build (currently about to commence stage 12), but to start with I want to eliminate some of that dark grey hull detailing on the upper surface of the front mandibles. I really like the look of @bricksmarlin’s exterior, but don’t have any additional parts to what’s already in the set (I know how to order additional parts through the various online resale markets). What I’d like to know is are there sufficient parts in the set already to just swap light grey elements from the underside of the mandibles for the dark grey elements on top, without needing additional parts? Thanks.