If one were to use the studio interior sets seen in Episode IV and Episode V as a foundation of scale, it became apparent that they simply could not fit comfortably within the Falcon's exterior dimensions as defined by the ILM models. If the cockpit indicated a certain size, than the hull height meant Han, and especially Chewie, would have to crouch to walk around the crew compartments. Furthermore, the full-sized Falcon exterior built for The Empire Strikes Back was, in actuality, about 75-80 percent of its intended true size, if one were to make an imaginary blow-up of the ILM miniature to the appropriate dimensions.
Years of expanded universe publishing used an estimate of 87.6 feet (26.7 meters) as the Falcon's official length, but Reiff and Trevas discovered that that would be an impossibility. Using a 1976 scale illustration by visual effects art director Joe Johnston as a foundation, and comparing the known lengths of X- and Y-wing fighters they came up with a measurement of about 110 feet (33.5 meters). Unfortunately, Johnston's sketch was too sketchy for it to produce an accurate measurement.
Trevas and Reiff used their blueprints to further refine the Johnston-scaled Falcon and came up with a surprising number. "The first time we measured, it very nearly came out to 113.8 feet," says Trevas. "When I suggested we use that length, Lucasfilm thought it would sound like we made it up." That measurement, you see, looks an awful lot like an Easter Egg reference to THX 1138. The artists instead rounded up to 114 feet.
