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Star Wars Incredibuilds

Posted by Jay on August 22, 2016 at 07:59 AM CST

When I first heard about these new wood-model kits, I was confused. I wasn't sure how you could make a wood model for Star Wars ships. Sure, there are plastic model kits, and metal laser cut models, but how do you do this with wood? That was soon answered with copies of the first two kits from Incredibuilds: a TIE Fighter and everyone's favorite droid, R2-D2.

Both models are contained on 1 sheet of thin balsa wood, laser cut to be easy to pop out, and etched with design elements, such as Artoo's doors, or the sides of the TIE panels. No tools or anything are needed for assembly, but they do suggest some paint schemes which you can do prior to assembly using acrylic paint (or markers, I suppose).

Star Wars IncrediBuilds: TIE Fighter (Finished Model) Star Wars IncrediBuilds: TIE Fighter (Front-Side)

TIE FIGHTER
The TIE was the first model I put together. It is deceptively hard, and only knowledge of what the ship should really looked like saved me. The instructions promised that the parts were numbered on the diagram, but they were not. This made it a little difficult, as many pieces look the same, but are not. You also need to pay close attention as you assemble the cockpit area. The front and back are very similar, but different; and if you put in pieces backwards it makes the steps further down the plan impossible to achieve. So, with a little backtracking I was able to complete this model, and I think it is the best one of the two! It's amazing what the designers were able to accomplish with laser cutting. And the engineering to make a 'spherical' cockpit from these pieces of wood is stunning.

Star Wars IncrediBuilds: R2-D2 (Finished Model) Star Wars IncrediBuilds: R2-D2 (Left)

R2-D2
Artoo was a much easier build. This kit has all the pieces numbered, and the instructions are more clear. Thank goodness for that as he has probably twice as many pieces as the TIE Fighter. The assembly on the dome takes a while, due to the 24 small pieces that you need to install. He looks a little funky, as it's not a smooth round droid (wonder if they can figure out how to make BB-8?) but in the end, it's totally recognizable as R2-D2.

Both kits come in a model-only, and a deluxe version with book. The books recount history and tech specs on the subject of the model, plus give additional painting options for you to try. All in all, both kits were extremely fun to put together!

You can hear Chris and I discuss them on the latest episode of Jedi Journals. Be on the look out for the Millennium Falcon and X-Wing kits, coming soon!

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