Long-time customer and professional model builder Steve Gawley was in the store yesterday. He was looking at the recently rereleased Space 1999 Eagle kit when he turned to me and said, "I have some history with this."

Steve was a model-builder for the original Star Wars and the model crew had just finished building the Millenium Falcon model when they got a call from the director who was over in London. "How could you!," he exclaimed, it seems he felt the Millenium Falcon was a copy of the Space 1999 Eagle. You see, the first Millenium Falcon had a cockpit in front, a long thin body and an engine cluster in the back. Steve thought that was pretty typical of many spaceship designs but you don't argue with the boss.

Time was tight and some one suggested sticking rocket engines on a B-25 bomber fuselage where the wings should be. "Oh NO!," said the model crew and they went to work on a completely new design. Three months later, the Millenium Falcon that we all love was born and history was made.

What happened to the first Millenium Falcon? Watch the opening scene of Star Wars: A New Hope; it is the Rebel Blockade Runner being pursued by the Star Destroyer.

Thanks for the great story Steve!