Han Solo: Han Solo. I’m captain of the Millennium Falcon. Chewie here tells me you’re lookin’ for passage to the Alderaan system?
Ben Obi-Wan Kenobi: Yes indeed, if it’s a fast ship.
Han Solo: Fast ship? You’ve never heard of the Millennium Falcon?
Ben Obi-Wan Kenobi: Should I have?
Han Solo: It’s the ship that made the Kessel Run in less than twelve parsecs. I’ve outrun Imperial starships. Not the local bulk cruisers mind you, I’m talking about the big Corellian ships now. She’s fast enough for you old man. What’s the cargo?
Ben Obi-Wan Kenobi: Only passengers. Myself, the boy, two droids… and no questions asked.
Star Wars, 1977
A long time ago, in an origami book far, far away…(cue the music)
The Origami Millennium Falcon Model
Star Wars: The Force Awakens opens today, so I thought I’d mark the release of the most anticipated film of the year with a Star Wars origami model – the Millennium Falcon. Like almost every small boy, the Falcon was my dream spaceship when I was growing up.
I thought it was one of the two greatest spaceships ever imagined. The Starship Enterprise was good, but nowhere near as good as the Millennium Falcon, or Doctor Who’s Tardis that was bigger on the inside. Now, with the new films coming out, a whole new generation of kids will grow up watching the Falcon in dog-fights with TIE-Fighters on the big screen.
Note: This post contains affiliate links. See Disclosure below for more information.
The Millennium Falcon is not a very easy subject to replicate in origami. It is basically round with two prongs at the front and a flight deck on the right side. It’s shape was apparently inspired by a half-eaten hamburger with an olive on the side. Of the numerous Falcon origami designs out there, this one, by Chris Alexander is by far my favourite.
It’s simple, with a relatively clean and unbroken shape which reflects the design of the ship in the films. There are others, such as Shu Sugamata’s version which try to provide more detail, but they end of being too busy, with unnecessary folds and creases spoiling the shape of the model.
Folding the Millennium Falcon
It’s a relatively simple model to make. It’s derived from a bird base, so if you can make one of those, you can make this. There is only one slightly complex fold, as the tip of the small central point of the base is sunk down inside. The two ‘feet’ of the bird base form the two points at the front of the Millennium Falcon. One of the two flaps that are traditionally used to make the wings of the bird makes the cockpit on the side, and the other is folded down at the front to lock the model together.
Ordinary white or light grey origami paper, or kami, will do for this model. I have made this one out of a standard 15cm x 15cm (6in x 6in) sheet. The final model size is 5.5cm (2.25in) long. It takes about 15 minutes to fold.
Origami Millennium Falcon Diagrams
Diagrams for this Origami Millennium Falcon model can be found Chris Alexander’s book Star Wars Origami: 36 Models from a Galaxy Far, Far Away. This Star Wars Origami book is out of print but there are copies available from resellers on Amazon here. I suspect the demand for these might go up in the next few weeks!
Get Involved
I’d love to hear your views on this or any other Chris Alexander origami models. Feel free to let me know what you think in the comments below, or you find can me on Instagram or Twitter. Check out my Pinterest boards too!
Sign up for my origami newsletter here and get our free Origami eBook.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. This means we will receive a small commission for some purchases made using links in our blog with no additional cost to you. Please be assured we would not promote any product unless we believe that our readers will also benefit. The commission does not influence the editorial content of this site.
Origami Expressions is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.
