Sci-fi & Fantasy Modeller V5

[GKvfx]

Well, the hard thing to do with any retrospective article is getting people to think back that far. A lot of time and a lot of shows have passed in the 30+ years. Truth be told, a lot of the guys really don't remember the minute details like which kit part was used on this portion of the model. In fact, we know that stuff better than they do. In fact, I think we know this stuff better than they did back in the day. And the magazine didn't want that kind of article. (and we, frankly, didn't want to do that kind of article) Also, as time goes on, they wind up telling a lot of the same stories - so they get repeated. You kinda have to do some research and propose some theories (like the change of the Falcon design) and get them to confirm or deny or add a little detail. We just didn't have the time to keep going back to the guys with additional questions.

I also tried to throw some technical stuff in there that maybe wasn't as well known that would shed some light onto other aspects of the show - like the lighting and camera work. It is all one big process - model making is just a part of it. We all like to build models, but I think it is interesting to find out why they did stuff the way they did. The camera techniques and motion control limitations all play a role in how a model is made. (I recently posted over at Starship Builder.com regarding the TMP Enterprise and how it's finish worked beautifully for one show, but was a pain in the ass for ILM on the other shows.) When modelmakers work in a bubble, it usually causes problems down the road.........

RKW - Hadn't thought about BUCK ROGERS in a while. But we have 2 more years till the 30th of that one. I helped out on CFQ's retrospective they did a couple of years ago (as well as their GALACTICA retrospective from 2003). As for the color - here is the quandry. Hartland used a really weird optical process in order to pump out the quantity of shots that was needed for BG and BR. For some reason (and it was explained to me a while ago), it really played havoc on the color of the Thunderfighter. The miniatures were painted a beige color that turned to light gray/off-white/white on the TV. The best out of the can match I've seen is Testor's Model Master Camoflage gray. It has a hint of warmth to it and it looks OK. I chose to go the "how it looked on my TV" route and went with a light gray. It looks a little contrasty, but I felt the beige color was a bit weird. I always say to satisfy yourself and worry about the RPF later.........

Gene

 

[ralphee]

OK somebody tell me im not nuts, im sure that pic of the X wing armature in this vol is of Red Leader being built!
Im sure thats the "strip" type cans on all engines?
Even the pics of the Red Jammer seem to be as first built, some of the piping is different!

lee

 

[GKvfx]

In a thread somewhere here on the RPF, someone brought up the theory that the Red Y-wing was an early model that was built, roughly painted, and then photographed as a reference for the full size set crew over in England. Also note that the earliest X-wing prototype had a blue stripe. Likely, as the production progressed, the details got changed. I've actually see some early publicity type photos of the spaceships in combat and the Y-wing is the red one.

Funny thing is - I haven't gotten my copy yet and nobody around here carries it. Oh well..........

Gene

 

[ralphee]

I think it was Jason Eaton who mentioned she could have been a build master Gene. Either way, shes my favorite Y so any new pics are always welcome.
The blue squad X wing is very out there, god to have a bit more ref and do a build up lol.
Hope you get a copy real soon Gene, your efforts here are very appreciated :thumbsup

bests...lee

 

[swfan]

I just got mine today. Awesome book. The blue x-wing is also in the Sculpting a galaxy book. Slightly better picture, but still small.

Isel

 

[Carson Dyle]

...note that the earliest X-wing prototype had a blue stripe. Likely, as the production progressed, the details got changed.

Given the issues that arise when a blue surface is photographed against a bluescreen it wouldn't surprise me if Dennis Muren and/ or Richard Edlund lobbied for the color change.

Then again, Lucas may simply have preferred the term "Red Leader" to "Blue Leader."

Well, the hard thing to do with any retrospective article is getting people to think back that far. A lot of time and a lot of shows have passed in the 30+ years. Truth be told, a lot of the guys really don't remember the minute details like which kit part was used on this portion of the model.

So true.

A mutual friend of ours recently interviewed Lorne Peterson, who vividly recalled exactly which model kit parts wound up on the original Star Wars (`77) models.

Alas, subsequent research revealed the kits in question weren’t manufactured until May of `77, and therefore could not have been used as Peterson recalled (turns out the parts in question were employed during the making of Empire).

Memory is a very dodgy thing (said the old guy).

 

[moffeaton]

Yeah, that was my working theory. I have a pic taken in England that shows the Red Y and an X (maybe the blue one? it's a B&W pic) on a table with the set blueprints. This seems to point to those two being sent to the UK as reference for the full scale props.

 

[lonepigeon]

Anyone know what bookstores carry this magazine?
Borders? Barnes and Noble?

 

[swfan]

I don't think they sell them at book staores. Starshipmodeler sells them and you can get them directly from England as well.
Isel

 

[GKvfx]

Yeah, that was my working theory. I have a pic taken in England that shows the Red Y and an X (maybe the blue one? it's a B&W pic) on a table with the set blueprints. This seems to point to those two being sent to the UK as reference for the full scale props.

Well, the Y-wing in the photos we gave the magazine was also missing the starboard thruster vanes. The paint chips look close, but it's hard to tell based on the photos I have since they aren't from the exact same angle.

And I can't tell about the X-wing. The blue stripe was a very deep blue - almost black. Even though it wasn't the same color as the blue screen, it was deemed similar enough in value to warrant a change. The pic in the magazine also has narrow red stripes on the top section of the engines. Note in Jason's ref that the canopy is busted.

Gene

 

[GKvfx]

A mutual friend of ours recently interviewed Lorne Peterson, who vividly recalled exactly which model kit parts would up on the original Star Wars models.

Alas, subsequent research revealed the kits in question weren’t manufactured until May of `77, and therefore could not have been used as Peterson recalled (turns out the parts in question were employed during the making of Empire).

Memory is a very dodgy thing (said the old guy).

Well, that's probably the pesky Anzio Annie rumor coming up again. Actually, Lorne would have first encountered them on Galactica, as there are shots of them on the workbench as they are working on the ships from that show. It's odd seeing them in their original boxes.......

But, Lorne noticed right away that Rolando had included the Aurora SeaLab parts in his Escape Pod replica. And he noted that the kit was rare, even back then.

Gene

 

[Carson Dyle]

G:

Give Van a call re: the dangers of photoshoping kit boxtops into pre-existing model shop photography. It's a funny story, if you haven't already heard it.

And while you're at it tell him Rob M says hi.

 

[Less than Super Ostrich]

What is the Anzio Annie rumor?

 

[GKvfx]

The rumor is that the ILM guys used Hasegawa's "Anzio Annie" kit (aka: the Leopold Rail Gun) on the models for STAR WARS. Photo surveys of the miniatures that are on tour haven't shown up evidence of this. Furthermore, evidence has surfaced in the form of an old catalog that they weren't released till AFTER the models were completed (summer of 1977). But the rumor is still around and Lorne inadvertantly added fuel to the fire in the DVD that's included in the uber-geek edition of "Sculpting a Galaxy" by mentioning the "Anzio Annie" kit several times.

Memories notwithstanding, based on the catalog evidence and lack of proof otherwise, it does appear that the "Anzio Annie" kit made it's first appearance on GALACTICA - not STAR WARS. That kit is everywhere in GALACTICA - launch tubes, Viper, Galactica itself. And there are photos of the kit on the workbench during the GALACTICA model building phase (which started in the late summer of 1977).

Actually, I believe the "Anzio Annie" kit was used on some stuff from SPACE ACADEMY or JASON OF STAR COMMAND. Some of the ILM guys worked on that in between shows and I think the grabber arms from the little shuttle were the gun tube.

Gene

 

[ShowCraft]

Anzio Annie (Leopold) barrels added to engine mounts for ROTJ.

 

[star-art]

I would consider the Blockade Runner pics to be suspect. The model was heavily altered for Jedi. Then, years later, when it was to go on public display, the model was "restored" to more closely match its original state. It's quite possible a number of substitute parts were applied at this point. So, what we see today is not necessarily original. . .

 

[ShowCraft]

Your right Charles. As always, I lept before looking. Closer inspection of 1977 era pics of the BR show the engine mounts to be free of almost any detail.

 

[moffeaton]

Just got my copy! Excellent article Gene!

Those red Y pics are of the Red Jammer - was an amazing treat to see it so free of dust and vibrant! All the decals are still there (as of 2005, when I documented it), and all the weathering matches the pics - I matched up the wash on the Lancaster turret, the decals and yellow banding on the tube/struts on the neck, the sctaching on the head, and tube bends themselves all match up. It was very nice to see that underside pic, as it shows the placement/bends in a pipe that is no longer on the model - the holes match up though!



Again - thank you so much for the article!!

 

[Tony]

I got my copy yesterday and it definitely is a keeper.
I haven't heard the history of the 'Red Jammer' till just a few months ago and just that little pic of it was cool enough!

I'm still kind of bummed that I never got my Red Five/Exhaust Port article done to submit for that special issue.

 

[belloq]

Can this be purchased anywhere in the US (New York City specifically) or did most people order online/shipped from the UK? Thanks.