Just because we were discussing scale and perceptions of size, here's a quick collage of images I put together of the figure-scaled fighters (theoretically 1:18). I took a shot of each next to an X-Wing, then scaled them so the X-Wing was the same size in each photo, so they're close to within a percentage point or two of all being how big they are to each other.

(L-r: Imperial Shuttle
(wings up), N-1 Naboo Starfighter, X-wing (FX), A-Wing, Y-Wing
(most recent one because I'm glad they fixed the nose guns... but my right engine frame is still warped from the box), B-Wing, TIE
(large wings... I sat it on its back just so the size of the wings can be appreciated... the wings stay straight vertical when it's right side u), P-51 Mustang
(for scale comparison...should've thrown in my F-16 Falcon to dwarf every thing else), and the shuttle again
(with its wings as extended as they can sitting flat... the actual wingspan would lose another 1/2 inch or so if it was actually 'flying').
While the Y-wing is disproportionate to itself (engines are tiny) and not in proper scale for 1:18, it doesn't look that out of place and most people who aren't Star Wars ship buffs rarely notice how wonky it is. The shuttle, however, almost looks more like a two-crew gunboat/bomber instead of a ship that should fit four in the cockpit and a squad of men in the back.
QUOTE (Fit For Natalie)
What I've never really understood about the Y-Wing was that it is kind of an odd-man out in the C-canon Star Wars vehicle designs. Most of the other vehicles, including the Millennium Falcon, cover their internal parts with external hull plating. The EU explanation is the Y-Wing was in such constant use and constant repair that Rebellion engineers simply left the panels and fairings off to save themselves time.
I never had too much issue with the plating on the Y-wing. If the ships do have deflector shields, the shields could be the main deterrent when it comes to space debris. The Falcon does have exposed parts as well, although granted, not nearly the entire ship like the Y-wing and the X-Wing has exposed stuff on the top of its main fuselage (presumably makes it easier for the astromech droid to perform in flight maintenance). When we got to see the overly sleek N-1s in TPM, I was one of those hoping that by the third movie we'd see early, fully plated Y-wings (or their direct ancestors). It's sort of a shame that we instead just got early X- and A-wings mixed with TIE parts.
Edited by Southpaw Samurai, 27 April 2008 - 02:38 PM.