Did you know that the world of model making has two exciting sides? Most of us are familiar with the fun of picking up a boxed kit, following the instructions, and putting it together piece by piece. But there’s a whole other side to this creative hobby that’s both incredibly fulfilling and—let's be honest—a little frustrating too!
Welcome to the world of scratch-building!
This is where model makers take things to the next level, crafting their own parts or combining pieces from existing kits to create something entirely unique. In fact, did you know this was the very technique Lucasfilm used to build the iconic props for the original Star Wars trilogy? They cleverly repurposed parts like engines and pipes from other kits to create the unforgettable props we all know and love today.
Fast forward to today, and there’s a thriving community of passionate scratch-builders who follow in their footsteps, recreating these iconic models piece by piece. It’s an incredibly rewarding hobby, one that blends creativity with research as fans strive to recreate faithful replicas of these classic designs.
But here's where the challenge comes in.
To perfectly replicate those beloved models, you’ve got to hunt down the exact parts used in the original builds. And while that may sound like a fun treasure hunt, it’s not always easy! Those vintage kits are rare, and when you do find them, they can be seriously expensive. What was once an affordable process for Lucasfilm back in the day is now a bit of a luxury for hobbyists.
And even if you’re willing to invest the money, gathering all the parts can take a lot of time and effort, which can be a little disheartening when all you want is to dive into your next build.
But here's some good news for scratch-builders: Merlin Models is here to help!
We’ve faithfully recreated the model kit parts used in the original Star Wars trilogy, and we’re excited to announce the launch of our brand new Digital Parts Store! Starting this week, you can visit our website to download 3D STL files of all our Kit Part Replicas. This means you can now produce your own parts with a 3D printer—quickly, easily, and at a fraction of the cost of tracking down vintage kits.
And here’s the best part: if a certain part appears multiple times in your model, you only need to purchase it once! Print as many copies as you need to complete your build.
We hope this opens up the world of scratch-building to more creators, removing some of the cost and frustration while keeping all the fun and creativity intact. So whether you’re an experienced scratch-builder or just curious to give it a try, we’ve got the tools to help you bring your dream model to life!
Happy building!
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