ILM X-Wing Models: Timeline & Status

[moffeaton]

Wow! I haven't seen those last two shots, very cool!

At the moment "Blue 4" is still a missing puzzle piece for some of us (along with the rest of "blue squadron"). It's generally agreed that it's a "Pyro" construction-wise, but painted up with more care than the non-heroes normally get. We don't know when they were made during ANH production, where/if they were used, and what became of them.

In those other two, it's hard to say which ones they are, but to me, it looks like Red 1 "in the lead" in that bottom shot.

 

[AT-AT Luvah]

WOW! For me to put up pics that you haven't seen, Jason, blows my mind.

I'd be happy to send along the uncompressed shots (not much bigger MPEG wise, but substantially bigger shots) - just let me know.

Hector

 

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I'm more of a visual person, so can we identify what models we see in the below pictures?

Heck yeah!

One is labeled Blue 4, so that should be pretty obvious. But what exactly is Blue 4 again and how does it fit into the X-Wing lineage?

Folks assume that "John D." means "John Dykstra," but in fact it's a character from the film:

John D. Branon



"Blue" became "Red" after the decision to go with an identifying color that wouldn't cause issues with the blue screen technology being used for the production. This is how "Blue 1" became "Red 2," for example. The photo above is of the Red 4 model built from the "pyro" kit but finished like a hero. There are a lot of "pyro" tells I could go over, given enough time and interest, but for now, trust me, this is a "pyro" kit model.



Above we have a "pyro" kit model finished as a pyro. In other words, this one is destined for destruction. It's doomed!



Ahhhhh, one of my favorite shots of all. These are all hero models lined up for a beauty shot. Red 5 up front, but not sure about the other two. How do I know these are all hero models? It's all in the wing angles. The hero miniatures wings hang open at about 27 degrees most of the time due to the alloy armature design, while pyro wing angles were around 45 degrees due to the fuselage mount design. I've spent a lot of time measuring such things. It's unhealthy...

 

[moffeaton]

Hah, I just assume there's a ton I haven't seen - it's what keeps me going

 

[moffeaton]

I totally thought it was Dykstra... makes WAY more sense that it refers to a character. Durrrr, Jason, durrrr. Beaz! Call me if yer up - my Blue 1 engines are nekkid right now and I have a Q for ya before I dig in!

 

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Dialing the X-Wing hotline now, Batman!

 

[darth_myeek]

Guy and Hector,

I am really thankful to see these images. This thread is going to be amazing.

:thumbsup :thumbsup

-DM

 

[lonepigeon]

Chris,

There were two types of X-Wing models built for ANH. The first type were almost entirely scratch-built and each had:

• hollow acrylic and styrene wings
• upper resin/lower styrene fuselage construction
• custom machined aluminum armatures
• hand-scribed panel lines
• hand-applied surface "chips"
• hand-applied greeblies

These models took a lot of time to build and are generally referred to as "heroes." There were hero models for Reds 1, 2, 3, and 5.

Except Red 3 (Biggs) was a "pyro" was it not?
Hero-type paint job on a pyro no different than Blue/Red 4.
Or are there two Red 3's?

BTW - Biggs lower port side laser tip is broken off (the stick and the "C" part) if that helps date the photos at all.

 

[ralphee]

That last pic of the Heros, my god what a stunner, thanks for posting!

There were two Red3's, one Hero, still in existence, and the Pyro, although having a very intricate paint job, a pyro...sadly, i dont htink she survived...as Kevin would say...doooomed :lol

Brings a tear to the eye fella's!

lee

 

[Qrest Fourstar]

So the profile shot of Blue 4, is that a finished, ready to film Blue 4? Looks like it's the one with the Yellow canopy.

Or am I seeing that wrong?


This whole thread ties into the one about 6 months ago detailing the differences between the hero's and the Pyro's.

 

[ralphee]

Yes Paul that is the finished ready to film Blue/Red 4...with a yellow canopy...anyone know what they were like to film...i wonder if certain hues used on these didnt work too well on the bluescreen?

lee

 

[stonky]

i wonder if certain hues used on these didnt work too well on the bluescreen?

That's why they changed from blue to red.

 

[ralphee]

I wasnt talking about the blue to red, thats been known for years :unsure I mean the dark yellows used on various Pyro birds!

lee

 

[AT-AT Luvah]

Glad to see my pics provided useful eye candy and prompted dialogue. Glad I could contribute in my own little way.

Hector

 

[ralphee]

There way cool Hector, im still looking on and off at the Hero formation..its a beaut, again, huge thanks!

lee

 

[MonsieurTox]

Glad to see my pics provided useful eye candy and prompted dialogue. Glad I could contribute in my own little way.

Hector

Those last 2 pics are just awesome, like Jason Ive never seen them before ! Thanks for those pics :thumbsup

 

[Carson Dyle]

There are a lot of "pyro" tells I could go over, given enough time and interest, but for now, trust me, this is a "pyro" kit model.

That may explain why the second photo shows pyrotechnician Joe Viscosil wiring the model to explode.

 

[voice in the crowd]

My pleasure :cool

Here it is again for late comers

Red 2 polaroid 14MB .tiff download

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=UEZTSABE

Got it. Many thanks for this Guy.

Top bloke thumbsup:thumbsup

Chris

 

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That may explain why the second photo shows pyrotechnician Joe Viscosil wiring the model to explode.

The biggest tell of them all!

 

[GKvfx]

You know you're working on a pyro model when Joe Viskocil walks in and starts looking at your work.......

I think this was a pyro model too -

Gene