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is another model that I'd call a classic. It is unique to the
first Star Wars film and it has that wonderful early ILM look.
It is a part of that legendary mind-blowing opening sequence.
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The
escape pod was one of the fastest models I have ever built
(ILM did in fact call theirs a "five day wonder").
In one day I made the construction plans and constructed the
entire body. I used the image in "The Lucasfilm archives"
for reference. It all took about 10 labor-intensive hours.
The rest of the job was done in the two following weeks. For
those of you that are new to scratchbuilding, this is a fast
and fun project to get started on. |
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| The
model is built entirely from polystyrene and PVC. (ILM used
discarded paint buckets for the body, but that just makes
mine more durable). I
constructed the model in two main sections, separated at the
equator parting line. Each section was made by cutting circles
and ribs to form the inner structure. The structure was then
laminated with 1-millimeter styrene sheets. The hull plates
were made from 0.5-millimeter styrene.
I
did of course go kitbashing for most of the details, but I
also used a lot of styrene rods and tubes from Evergreen plastics.
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| Several
details and the rocket engines were turned from PVC on a small
lathe.
PVC
is a fantastic material for this purpose. |
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The most time consuming part was applying the many rods around
the model equator, or "parting line" and the small
plastic squares around the entrance hatch on the side of the
pod. |
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| For
the "flexible" tubes connected to the rear engines
I glued two styrene rods together. I then softened them in boiling
water and bent them into the desired shape. |
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| Finished
Pictures and Blueprints |
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