Kitahed (http://twitter.

com/kitahed)
(http://www.faceook.com/page/K
(http://vimeo.com/heilemann)
(mailto:michael.heilemann@m
HOME (/) NARRATIVES (/EARLY-CAREER/) ABOUT (/ABOUT/) (/earch)
(/)
THE ORIGINS OF STAR WARS

TheComplete
ConceptualHitorof
theMillenniumFalcon

She may not look like much, but she's got it

where it counts, kid. I've made a lot of special
modi cations myself.

Han Solo

TheMillenniumFalconithemotfamoutarhipofall
time,andaonafideculturaliconinitownright.

utitunderwentalongandarduouconceptualphae
eforethatfinaliconichapeemerged;theonenowlating
itwaacrotheigcreenonceagain.Infactitwan'teven
knownitfamounameuntilwellintoproduction,having
upuntilthengoneunderthemuchmoremundane
moniker:Piratehip.

Theconceptualizationmthologaithaeenrelated
downthroughthedecadeincethefilmfirtlaredacro
cineplexegoethatthefinaldeign,perhapetdecried
aamandiledaucer,waoneLucahadfoundinaurger
withaitetakenoutofit,andanolivepinnedtoitide.

Voila;Falcon.

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 (/earch)

CorellianCheeeurgerAnguMacLane
(http://www.flickr.com/photo/27826007@N05/et/72157624705416003/with/4932718979/)

Therearevariationofthattor.Inomeverionhewa
eatingaurgeratthetime,inotherheawomeoneeating
aurger.Thegitremaintheameandmuchlikethedog-
a-copilotorigintorofChewacca
(http://kitahed.com/log/chewacca)it'compelling
enoughthatitwilllikeltaaroundapartoftarWarlore
forever.

Idon'tuit.

uttheFalcon'conceptualdevelopmenthaalwa
intriguedmeecauetheconceptualizationphaeiunclear
andhardtodicern.I'vereearchedthiujectextenivel
overearandit'onlrecentlI'veeenaletomakeout
omeortofenileproce.

othitheniTheCompleteConceptualHitorofThe
MillenniumFalconorHowItartedWorringandLotM
MindCompletelOveraFictionalpacehipomeonePleaeDo
omethingendHelpWhAreYoutillReadingomeoneDo
omething.

A Cowboy in a Starship
FromtheAdventureofLuketarkiller,ThirdDraft:

52. INT. MOS EISLEY SPACEPORT DOCKING AREA 23

Chewbacca leads the group along a tall gantry overlooking a

long Rube Goldburg[sic]-pieced together contraption, which can
only be loosely called a spaceship. Luke gives Old Ben a
skeptical look. Old Ben just smiles. As they approach the
ship, it looks even more homemade and shabby than it did at a
distance. The Wookiee calls out to someone inside the ship,
but there is no reply.

LUKE
What a piece of junk. This ship isnt going to get us
anywhere!

A tall figure steps out of the shadows of the imposing

spacecraft. This is HAN SOLO, a tough James Dean style
starpilot about twenty-five years old. A cowboy in a starship
simple, sentimental and cocksure of himself.

HAN

This ship has been to Terminus and back. There isnt anyplace

she cant go. She may not look like much, but shes special. I

built her myself, and there is nothing faster What can I do

for you?

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The Master Key

Inhortorder,ou'llgettoknowtheworkofartitand
modelmakerColinCantwellwhoworkedontarWar.In
2014heputupforauction
(http://www.julienauction.com/pre/2014/colin-
cantwell.html)awathofmaterialwhichhadn'teeneen,
andafaraIknowevenheardof,fornearlfortear,
includingaheapofconceptart
(http://kitahed.com/log/colin-cantwell-concept-
art)whicheitherprecededorwaatleatconcurrentwith
theworkofartitRalphMcQuarrie.

We'lltouchonomeofCantwell'artworklateron,utfirt
wehavetoturnourattentiontoaver,verpecialpieceof
ellowlegalpadpaperwhichwapartofthatauctionut
whichitturnedoutafterwarddepitewhattheauction
liting(http://www.julienlive.com/view-
auction/catalog/id/142/lot/59147/TAR-WAR-
ORIGINAL-PR-PRODUCTION-ART-T-RL-
amp-IMPRIAL-HIP-OUTLIN-FIRT-TI-
FIGHTR-amp-DATH-TAR-DIGN)awa
notfromCantwell'hand.

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Ye,thiifromthehandofGeorgeLuca
(http://twitter.com/jaon_deord/tatu/704875146109014
017)onhicharacteriticellowlegalpad.It'alitofhip
forCantwelltoeginworkon,whichgiventhatCantwell
wathefirtcreativehire,makethitheearlietconceptual
artworkfortarWar,andthereforetheholgrailfornerd
pacefantahitorian.

ItitoomuchtounpackinthiFalcon-centricpiecewithout
goingofftherail,utincethiithefirttimeIgetto
addreit,hereareafewnote:

1.RF-1(Dart);nowouknowwhatinpiredtheX-Wing
(anameColinCantwellcameupwith)

2.RF-2(tingra)nevermadeit,utiticircular,o
maeithowtheaucerhapealreadonLuca'
mind?

3.RF-3(WWIITorpedoFighter)colondeign.Thedrawing
eemtodepict(atractl)thecockpitofaTF
Avenger(http://www.google.com/earch?
a=G&hl=en&t=img:CA7Aa6QLKjU2AQa
AggKDAQInCpiCmAIAxIo3ArMwRLCr
Augaxq4dnQLVJtU5zznQOfgp1iXOdcm5TnWO
RowxAuuhQWoJhRHn1Y6Zx8OdUDmzJ8vAX
CzrIj9lA2tHHwqwJXMkrvhj_1WuIAMMCxC
Orv4IGgoKCAggQ-
QvpgDAQne3CRpXCgoKCGFpcnYW5lChMK
W1vZGUg2YgdHJhnNw3J0CgKCX3lG
xlcgoKCghhaXJjcmFmdAoChlwcm9wZWxZXIgZ
HJpdmVuIGFpcmNYWZ0DA&q=tf+avenger&tm
=ich&ved=0ahUKwivNCzaXLAhVMWh4KHZ
mfAxkQw4ILA&iw=1482&ih=1203&dpr=2#hl=en
&tm=ich&q=tf-
1+avenger&imgrc=m2j1H4kiL_nJrM%3A)torpedo
omer,indicatingthepoitionofthepeople,withthe
circleontherighteingtherear-facinggunturret;and
ideawhichmighthaveecomepiodeV'now
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peeder.
 (/earch)
peeder.

4.I-111(Finnedauage).Ye,thatiliterallwhatit
a!Moreover,itlittainleteelRat,whichi
nowourverifiedinpirationfortheTIFighter!

PulihedFourquareookin1966,1973,1974,1976&1978,coverddieJoneource(http://earalle.logpot.com/2012/08/harr-harrion-1925-2012.html).

AhitoroftheTIFighterioutofcope,oI'llcomeacktoitatomelaterdate.utIthink
it'afetoathat'Finnedauage'willitwithuallforeartocome.Here'ColinCantwell'
uequencedrawing.

OurmainfocuhoweverareitemCandD,Reellockade
Runner,thehipthatopenthefilmaweknowittoda,
andPiratehip,amonikeritwouldcarrthroughoutmotof
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development,untilitwafinallrenamedTheMillennium
 (/earch)
development,untilitwafinallrenamedTheMillennium
Falcon.

TheoriginaltarWartorwentthroughalotofchangea
Lucaworkedoutitkink,turningitfromahotmeinto
thetorthatecamethefinalfilm(aprocewhich
continuedthroughoutproduction,andargualtothida),
andthoecontinuingchangemakeithardattimeto
knowwhenwhatoccurred.

Whatthipieceofellowpapertellu,ithattheReel
lockadeRunnerandthePiratehipwereconcurrent,ut
thatLucaeemedintwomindregardingwhichonewa
uppoedtohavethe"longih"deignhehadfound.Firtit
wathelockadeRunner,utthenrightafterheeemto
havechangedhimindtothePiratehip.Anironicdeciion
awe'lleelater,whenoutideinfluenceforcedhimto
changehimindack.

Healowroteeeookcover,althoughwehavenoidea
whichookireferringto.Heclearlhadomethingver
pecificinmindincethenoteirightnexttothatdrawing
(andotheci-fiookcovertrawlingeginanew).Thi
alongwiththetainleteelRatreferencereaffirmLuca'
approachtodevelopingideaandviualtartingpoint,
trawlingeverciencefictionookandmagazinehecould
gethihandon.

We'llrememerthiitlateron,utfornow,let'get
introducedtoourcat.

Colin Cantwell
Aoutaearandahalfintohipacefantacreenpla,
GeorgeLucahiredoneofthefirtcreativetohelpfleh
outtheworldofAdventureoftheLuketarkiller.Thetudio
didn'tgetwhatLucawaelling,andhietidwato
jumptarttheirimaginationwithomeviual.

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ColinCantwellandGeorgeLucainpectinganearlY-Wingmodel

ColinCantwell,whotartedafewdaorweekefore
RalphMcQuarrie(accordingtoMcQuarriehimelf )in
Novemerof1974,hadworkedwithtanleKurickon
realizingmanoftheextremelcomplicatedeffecton2001:
ApaceOde.Hewaanavidpacehipnut,amodel
makerandapaintertooot;aperfectfitforLuca'pace
film.

Heimmediatelettoworkringingringingthe
creenpla'manvehicletolife,tartingwiththeY-Wing
andworkinghiwathroughtheX-Wing,thelandpeeder,
theDeathtar,theJawaandcrawlerandtheo-called
PiratehipandfinalltheReellockadeRunner.

Cantwellianintriguingperoninhiownright,andI
highlrecommendJaonDeord'videointerview
(http://www.originalprop.com/log/2014/11/13/colin-
cantwell-video-interview-tar-war-prototpe-model-
naa/)whichexplorehivariedcareer,includinghiworkfor
NAA,C,Kurick,tarWar,Cloencounterofthe
ThirdKind,WarGameandmuchmore.

aJoeJohnton
(http://www.faceook.com/JoeJohntonketchook/pot/8
52331911579599):

Colindeervealotofcreditfortheinitialviionofwhat
ANWHOPlookedlike,atleatintheformofit
hardware.It'truethatallhideignwerere-deigned
toavaringdegreeutatrongCantwellinfluence
howthroughonmotofthem.
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 (/earch)

Ralph McQuarrie
IftheprimordialoozeoftarWariLuca'mind,thenthe
followingRalphMcQuarrieketchearewhatcrawledoutof
it.

ketchedonthedahereceivedthecreenpla,the
repreentomeoftheearlietviualdevelopmentontar
War.

ThefirtketchwatheverfirtdrawingMcQuarriemade
fortarWar.utitithefollowingtwo,alomadeonthat
firtda,thatareofparticularinterettouatheeara
reemlancetowhatwewillecomeketoundertanding
theevolutionofthePiratehipandReellockadeRunner.

Notetherearwardenginecluter,theelongatedhape,the
poilphericalcockpitandjutehindthat(onthe
econdketch),twoprotruding'pod'.

RalphMcQuarriewaanotherearlhireandperhap
contriutedmorethananoneelearLucahimelftothe
ucceoftarWar.Theexactdiviionoflaorinthe
conceptartdepartmenthardtodecipher,utwe'lldoour
ettonavigatethedeignproceomefortearhence.

Firtupiaheetofpaperwithanumerofdoodleonit,
aouthalfofwhichlooktoerelatedtoexplorationaround
thePiratehipcockpit,withtheoneonthefarlefthaving
thefollowingnotenexttoit:cockpitpiratetarhip(maller
like-52)eingtowedtowardImperialcitofAlderaan.Thee
ketcheprettmuchnailthegenerallaoutofthecockpit
thatwillmakeitwatothecreen(andthere'evenwhat
looklikeagunportinthere).

Theketchinrownpencileemtolineupprettwellwith
thehipeeninthefollowingerieofverearl
toroard.

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Thefollowingketche,motofthemfromTheRalph
-52Cockpit
McQuarrieArchive(2007)althoughtheecondonei
fromMakingoftarWar(2010)weredecried
McQuarriehimelfaeingpecificalloftheMillennium
Falcon,althoughfortheakeofcorrectchronolog,theare
fromtheperiodwhenitwatillreferredtoathePirate
hip.

Thiequence,whichwouldurvivetothefinalfilm,aleit
changed,howthePiratehipeingovertakenimperial
tarDetroerandecortedTIFightertothe
Imperialprionfacilit.Theorderingoftheemighte
lightloff;thehaveneverappearedtogethereforeafar
aIknow.Themaalohaveeenconceivedatdifferent
time,althoughafaraIcantellthealldepicttheame
proto-Piratehipdeign,whichmuthaveeenaverearl
iterationaitappearinnootherpaintingormodel;oI
puttheeketchecloetogetherinconception.

Acoupleoftheehot(#2and#8)eventuallwoundupa
productionpainting(we'llreviitothlaterinthiarticle).

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 (/earch)
What'remarkaleaouttheeketcheitheirdepictionof
aall-likecockpitdeignwhichonlhowuphere,anda
ucharelikeltoeomeofthefirtroughthoughtaround
whatadeignmightlooklike.Althoughitirather
undefinedandrough,ittrikemeaalmotFlahGordon-
like.

hownhere,thefirttwotillarefromthe1930
production,andtheright-mot(whichlookexactllike
McQuarrie'firtketch)ifromthe1954production.

Perhapthiapproachwadroppedecauethepherical
cockpitwatooimilartoTheDicoverfrom2001:Apace
Ode(eeelow)?

lementfromtheDicovercropupinmanofthe
uequentdeignneverthele.Thelitcockpitwindow
andaimilarenginecluterappearonthefinallockade
Runnerdeign,themid-hipradardihappearoththere
awellaontheFalcondeignitelf.toroardartitAlex
Tavoularialoadoptedtheengineforhitoroard(ee
later).

AnotherthingthattarWarroughtoverfrom2001:A
paceOdewathereal-worldNAA-likelookandfeel
whichlentKurick'eminal1968filmitairofauthenticit.
Thepanelinvaringgreandthekitahedurfaceofthe
2001vehiclewaatemplateforallmanciencefiction
filmtocome,evenonewithafantaent.Andworth
rememering,aidefrom1975'ilentRunningandNAA'
actualendeavor,2001:ApaceOde'pacehipwerejut
aouttheonlrealitic-lookingpacehiparoundefore
tarWar.

FurthermoretarWar'famourevealofthelockade
RunnerihotnearlidenticaltoTheDicover'revealin
2001(onlflippedhorizontallandpedupaoutfift
time).Thatinvertedhotcomparionmightnotea
conciouchoice,etitetalihetherelationhipetween
thetwofilm(onegoingthiwa,anotherthat,onelow,the
otherfat),andthereforetwoverdifferenteraofilver
creenciencefiction.

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Whenexactlthemodelandthefollowingdrawingwere
doneihardtoacertaininceonlRalphMcQuarriehad
gooddiciplinearounddatinghipainting,andowe'releft
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toourowndevicetofigureouttheexactprogreion.ut
 (/earch)
toourowndevicetofigureouttheexactprogreion.ut
CantwellwenttoworkanddreamtupaPiratehipmodel,
andthiiwhereitgetcomplicated.

Atatedearlier,atimelineihardtodefinefortheething,
utaedonhowtheretofthedeignphaeendup
plaingout,Ifeellikethenexttepmighthaveeenthi
drawingJoeJohnton,primarilecaueitcarriea
numerofdeignelementthatarealointhelaterdeign,
etlackanumerofelementwhichonceintroducedmade
theirwathroughtheretofthetimeline(thecro-ectional
clinder,whichoucanalmoteeeginninghere,awella
theradardih),whichindicateitmighteaninflection
point.

It'poileJohntonmadethideignwithoutevenhaving
eenCantwell'firtmodel;afterallitervealmotaa
frehtart,ratherthanacontinuation,andcouldjutawell
havedrawnonlfromthecript'decription.

CominethiJohnton'cockpitandroadrectangularrear
withCantwell'hexagonalnotionanditegintolooklike
omethingwe'refamiliarwith.

ColinCantwelleemtohaveiteratedontheaoveketch
withaplandrawingofthehip,whichwoulderevied
eforeitwamadeintoamodel(althoughTavoulari'
toroardfurtherdownthepagecarroverthideign).

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 (/earch)

Cantwelldrawing,imilartoMcQuarrieplandrawing
furtherdown,laoutwherethelocationrequiredthe
creenplawoulde.Noteworththatthiverionhathe
ameextrudedpodaMcQuarriehaddrawnonhifirt
da.GiventhatCantwellhadtartedaafewdaorweek
eforeMcQuarrie,it'poilethatthiplandrawing
precededMcQuarrie.

It'unclearexactlwhatthetepweretogetfromtheaove
totheactualmodel.IfIweretoventureague,theaove
planwadoneverearlonintheproceandTavoulari
mighthaveervedaaninterimconceptartitforCantwell.
That'entirelpeculativehowever.

Theprotrudinggunturretalohowupinthidrawingfor
hot3fromILM,whichwauedtocalculatecotfor
hootingtheeffectequence.

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 (/earch)
We'llreviitthideignhortlagaininamoment,utnow
theecondCantwellmodelieginningtolooklike
omethingwemightrecognize.

Noticeinthiiterationthedetailingaroundthegunport
jutehindthecockpit,whichechothe-17gunport
LucahadeeninHowardHawk'AirForce(1943),awell
atheaforementionedecapepodinred(threeofwhichare
miing).

ColinCantwell'Piratehipmodel,ancockpit,withJoeJohntonlingeringontheideline.

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 (/earch)
Cantwell'modelwereuedtoelltheefuddling
creenpla,utLucaalotartedringingontoroard
artit,thefirtofwhichwaAlexTavoulari(hiredmid-
Feruar1975).

Herefollowamixoftoroardfromtheopeningofthe
film,howingthePrincehiporReellockadeRunner,
awellaaequencehowingthePiratehiparrivingatthe
ImperialpriononAlderaan,alocationwhichwalater
cominedwiththeDeathtar(thefloatingcitconceptof
coureendedupaCloudCitinThempiretrikeack).

ThearepreentedintheordertheappearintarWar
toroard(I'veleftoutnon-tarhipoard)anditoon
ecomeovioujuthowfluidthetwodeigneemedtoe
atthitageofproduction.

Preumaltherewaaitofoverlapetweentheeproject
athedeignwagettingettledon,andTavoulariwould
ringoverwhicheverdetailherememeredfromwhenhe
latawthemodel,orfromon-goingconverationetween
Luca,McQuarrie,Johnton,GarKurtzandanoneele
around.

imilarlthecockpitgoefromonethatiimilaronlin
overallhapetoCantwell'econddeign,utwithdifferent
window(uggetingperhapthatJohnton'drawingcame
firt,inceitdoen'thowthecockpitfromthefront),toone
thatiimilartotheecondCantwellmodel(withlitted
windowallthewaaroundthecockpit),tothefinalone,
whichimoreakintowhatweknowatheactualFalcon
cockpit.

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 (/earch)

Noticetheecond-to-lattoroard,withitcurvedprion
facilitperimeterandtheChriFo-likeenginecoop.

Thatdeigneemtohowupintheackgroundofaingle
RalphMcQuarriepaintingwhichwaloggedafinihedon
March28th,1975,awellathelattoroardwhichlook
alotlikealaterMcQuarriepainting.

RalphMcQuarriefinihedthipaintingonMarch28,1975

TavoulariwacopingMcQuarrie'deignforthe
toroardincehein'tlitedaadeigncredit.

ThiMcQuarrieketchforhifirtproductionpainting
featuringthePiratehipindetaileemtoharethefront
McQuarrie'preliminarketch.
halfofitdeignwithCantwell'econdmodel,utalo
introduceomenewtouche,uchatheclinder-likewirl
mid-hipandwhateemtoenotionoftherectangular
enginethatwehaven'teenet.

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Thedifferenceinprofileinparticulariagiveawathat
omethingignificanthappenedtothedeignatthitage.

McQuarrie'ketchhatheflatandalmotoringprofile
fromCantwell'deign,uttheactualpaintinghaamuch
moreulkprofile.

It'alittleunclearwhenthefinalelementforthenexttage
fellintoplace,althoughMcQuarriedidanumerofpencil-
drawnexplorationforthicene(right).Forintance,it'

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aroundthitimetheengineconfigurationchangefromthe
 (/earch)
aroundthitimetheengineconfigurationchangefromthe
Cantwellmodelgreplatetotherectangular-clinder-
cluterengine,forlackofaetterdecription.

AoveiaMcQuarrieketchwhichfitinhere
omehow.Theturretaretillrightehindthecockpitain
earlierverion,utunlikethefollowingpainting,etit
profileidifferentfromtheearlierverion.

It'alothefirttimeweeethemidhipclinder,which
woundupmakingitwathroughothtothelockade
RunnerawellatothefinalMillenniumFalconmodel.
Andlatltheiconicradardihiintroducedforthefirt
time.

McQuarriehimelfnotedonthefollowingpaintingthathe
addedalotofurfacedetail,whichItaketomeanthathe
watheonewhotookthedeignfromtheCantwellmodel
tothinexttep.

Thegunporthavemovedfromthenecktotheclinderaft
ofmidhipandtheecapepodhavegonefromphericalto
angular(downtotwofromthreeoneitheride).

omewhatconfuingl,theengineectionlookatfirt
glancelikethelaterlockadeRunnerconfiguration,et
uponcloerinpectioneemtohaveomeortoftapered
clindricalmainengine,elaoratedononlinthelueprint,
uteeminglnowhereele.

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 (/earch)

Thiwait.ThiwathePiratehipaintendedforthe
creen.Itgotturnedintoalueprint,whichgotentto
ngland,wheretheetwaeingcontructed.verthing
wareadtogo.

Hereiaidlueprint,inwhichoucaneethenewengine
lock,withamaintaperedenginecenteredamidtacluter
ofooter.Unfortunatelonlthiideviewiavailale.

FromtarWarlueprint.

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ThePiratehipittingintheDockingainMoile

Avariantofthinewnacellecluterwouldeventuallendup
ontheReellockadeRunner,andioneofthemoreiconic
piecefromthevehiculardeignoftarWar,etthiithe
firttimewerealleeit,owherediditcomefrom?

Letmereiteratethatthechronologofthedevelopmentiat
eteducatedguework,depitemetattemptat Cro-ectionecapepodlueprint

ourcingatimeline.

ThefollowingCantwellmodeliaitofanoddfih.A
ourcetoldmethatitwaproaldonelatein1975,and
thereforeiproalmeanttoetheReellockade
Runner,notthePiratehip.J.W.Rinzler'languagearound
thimodelinTheMakingoftarWar(p169,iook)refer
toitinalightlamiguoumanner.

[...]analternateCantwellprototpehadmorerocket
ooter,andthoewereincorporatedintoalaterketch
Johntonofthepiratehip[1]andintoapainting
McQuarrie[2].

TheMakingoftarWar,p72.

1):Johnton'ketchfollowMcQuarrie'paintingelow
2):McQuarrie'paintingw.rocketooterfollowthee
photoofCantwell'model

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 (/earch)

RemarkalLucafilmrarelhowthithingoff.It'hard
tofindproperphotoofitandafaraIcantellit'onl
eenatoneexhiition(CelerationV,2010)andifeatured
onlinpaingintarWarChronicleandTheMakingof
tarWar(wheretheaovephotoifrom,theretarefrom
Jaonaton
(http://www.flickr.com/photo/rooterkampf/3733666516/i
n/phototream/)).It'alonotfeaturedatallonthelu-ra
extrawhichotherwiedogothroughalotofCantwell'
model.

Aidefromthecript-mandatedlongdeign,it'hardto
eemuchofthefinaldeignpringingfromthi.Thenacelle
cluterwouldendupeingreconfiguredfromtheXlaout
intoamorerectangularone,theredphericalpodehind
thecockpitmodulewouldecometheecapepod,and
Cantwellignaturequahedhexagonaloutlineoftheplate
thatinterectthehulleemtohavemadetheirwaintothe
upertructuredeignofthenextCantwellmodel,thehape
ofwhichmadeitwaintothelockadeRunnerdeign
andargualthetarDetroerawell(aaloindicatedon
Cantwell'unuedconceptart
(http://kitahed.com/log/colin-cantwell-concept-art)).

Thatmodelidefinitelanodditinthelargerchemeof
thing,andIwouldlovetoknowmoreaoutjuthowand
whenitcameaout,utfornowwe'llmoveontothenext
tage.

Theaforementionedourcealotoldmethathehadeena
drawingofthenear-finallockadeRunnerdeignwiththe
X-likeooterinteadoftherectangularconfiguration,
althoughthathaneverurfacedanwhere,oIcan'tvouch
foritexitence.

The Final Pirate Ship

RecallthefirterieofketcheRalphMcQuarrie;while
thePiratehipdeignwainflux,thoeamecompoition
weretillthefoundationuponwhichthefilmwauilt.

ThefollowingpaintinghowthePiratehiparrivingatthe
prionfacilit,ecortedTIfighter.Totheuninitiated
thilookalotlikeCloudCit,utiinfacttheimperial
prionfacilitholdingPrinceLeia,fromeforeitwa
cominedwiththeDeathtar(toavemoneand
treamlinethetor).
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TheconceptoriginateaomucheleinFlah
 (/earch)
TheconceptoriginateaomucheleinFlah
Gordon,althoughit'worthnotingthatGulliver'Travel
actuallfeaturedafloatingcitwhichcouldargualaloe
conideredtheoriginalinpiration.

Aacallacktothe2001:ApaceOdeconnection,the
crafttakingofffromthetopofthefacilitalwalookeda
lotlikethePanAmhuttle(http://www.google.com/earch?
q=2001+pan+am+huttle&epv=2&iw=1440&ih=801&o
urce=lnm&tm=ich&a=X&ved=0ahUKwj5panfiZvLAh
VJCYKHZgCDQQ_AUIgC)tome.

McQuarriefinihedthefollowingpaintingonMarch
31t,1975,aoutahalfearafterhefirttartedonthe
production,howingthePiratehipintheprionfacilit
(/earch)
hangar.
 (/earch)
hangar.
venearlierprionconcept,frominidePirate
Thefirtverionofthiproductionpaintingiclearlaed hip

onColinCantwell'model,ofwhichMcQuarriehada
photohehadtaken,forreference.

McQuarrie'firtattemptatthePiratehip,fromCantwell'model.

AnotedinthephenomenaltarWarArt:Ralph
McQuarrie,wheretheaovepaintingwafirtpulihed(it
remaineduneenuntillate2016),theecapepodwhichare
roundedhere,earatrikingemlancetotheecapepod
from2001:ApaceOde.

oonhowever,thedeignofthePiratehipevolvedinto
omethingamoretoneddownandwithaditinctlmore
WWIIaviation-likelook,McQuarriereviitiedhipainting,
ahewoulddoonmanoccaion.

(/earch)
FromtheeketcheitlooklikeMcQuarrieevaluateda
 (/earch)
FromtheeketcheitlooklikeMcQuarrieevaluateda
coupleofdifferenthotwiththeupdateddeign,ut
eventuall,perhapduetotimecontraint,neverthele
ettledontheexitinghot.

Nowthefilmwaeginningtogainitmorerealiticlived-
inlookandfeel,andthehipfinallegantoolookmore
andmorelikeomethingoutofHowardHawkAirForce
(http://kitahed.com/log/air-force-1943-and-the-
detruction-of-alderaan),withrootinthenutandolt
aeronauticofthewar,andrimmingwithheavgun.

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(/earch)

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 (/earch)

AtthitagethedeignofthePiratehiphadeenettled
on.aedonMcQuarrie'deignJoeJohntondidthe
followingdrawingtohandovertothemodelhopwhich
woulduildouttheherohipitelf(referencedearlierin
relationtothealternateCantwellmodel).

(/earch)
AccordingtoJ.W.RinzlerinTheMakingoftarWar
 (/earch)
AccordingtoJ.W.RinzlerinTheMakingoftarWar RalphMcQuarrieinhi
hometudio,workingonthe
(p170,iook): piratehipproduction
painting(elow),d
ummer.
WithLuca'approvalateachtage,JohnDktradrew
additionalketcheofthePiratehip,whichJoe
Johntonturnedintomoreconceptdeignthatteve
Gawletranlatedintoorthographicdrawing;thenthe
hourtandGrantMcCunetartedcontruction.

Dktra'ketchemighthaveeenoftheilkeenearlier,
howinghowacenemightepracticallhot;atleatI
don'tknowofanotherketcheofhithathaveurvivedo
that'metgue.

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 (/earch)

Rightiaverionoftheaovedrawingwhichhathetext
"Concept/ReellockadeRunner"aovetheApprox6
longnote,eeminglintheamehand,preumalJoe
Johnton',utafaraIcantellthattitlewanotpartof
theoriginaldrawing(itwan'ttheReellockadeRunnerat
thetime).Alo,thelineonthatverionlookthicker,aif
thehaveeencopiedpoilforthetarWarketchook,
althoughIhavenotverifiedthatitiinthere.

itherwa,themodelwauiltlargeltothiver
chematic,andincludeoththefamiliarcockpitawella
thecircularradardih.

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 (/earch)

TheILMmodelhop,withPiratehipdrawingonthewallandthefirtPiratehipinprogreattheottom.

(/earch)
 (/earch)
idenote:AhoitthenameofLaurentPerini
(http://www.modelermagic.com/?p=44765)uiltaprett
omodelofJohnton'Piratehipketch,andtinon
Lentzuiltafantatic3Dmodel
(http://deeploeed.logpot.com/2013/06/millennium-
falcon-what-might-have-een.html)oftheaove,final
Piratehip.

Athecaptionontheimageaoveorightlnote,what
happenednextifilmhitor.TheTVhowpace1999
eganairingin1975andfeaturedarecurringtpeofhip
calledTheagleTranporterwhichataglancelooked
omewhatlikethePiratehipdeign.Infact,there'aphoto
eemingltakenattheexact'ohhit'momentinILM'
modelhop!

Yep,that'pace1999'agleunderthenot-et-paintedPiratehip.

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 (/earch)

TheaglehadaverNAAvietoit,
withatru-likeframeworkandmodular
panel.ThePiratehiplookedlike
omethinginpiredJuleVerneinpace,
uttheothwerelongandrelativel
narrowwithacockpitatthefrontand
cluterofengineattherear.George
initedonadifferentlookentirel,
omethingthatwouldntlooklikeithad
eeninpiredanthingwedevereen.
JoeJohntonat

http://www.joejohntonketchook.com/millennium-falcon

Notwantingtoeperceivedaridingthecoattailofacheap
TVhowwaenoughforLucatothrowthePiratehip
deignunderau,oatonotdrawanunwantedparallel.

ThewereallverupetthatIchanged
thedeign,cauethehadjutfinihed
uildingtheotherpiratetarhip,Luca
a.Thehadpentanenormouamount
ofmoneandtimeuildingthatother
hip,andIthrewitout.Itoneofthoe
deciionthatwavercotl,utIfelt
thatwereallneededtheindividualit
andperonalitofaetterhip.

Theexactcotofthefirtpiratehipi
difficulttoacertain,ecaue,accordingto
McCune,itgotilledforeverthing,ut
aroughetimatewouldearound
$25,000aoutathirdofthetotaludget
forthemodel.Itwaevenfeetlongand
hadfourhundredccleofelectronicgoing
throughit,hea.ointeadofcrapping
itcompletel,thathipecamethereel
hip,whichwaonlinacoupleofhot,
whiletheveelwithmorecreentimewa
redeigned.Joe,George,andJohnworked
upthinewideaforwhatthecalledthe
roundPorkurger,McCunelaugh.

(/earch)
 (/earch)
J.W.Rinzler.TheMakingoftarWar(nhanceddition).

RandomHouePulihingGroup,2013.iook.

http://itun.e/u/Mtm4N.l

Thiiwherethetorgetintereting,awellaomewhat
confounding.Firtiteemliketherewaanattemptat
retainingthePiratehipdeignonlalteringpartofit.

Thitageeetheintroductionofthehammerheadcockpit
(twopaintucketfluedtogether),andwhatireferredtoa
the'tru-likecockpit'.Theearlierverionwaalotakento
paintingcompletion,awathiverionaevidencedthe
paintingchemedetailingonthecockpit.

Althoughit'conjecture,iteemthatatthipointet
contructionhadalreadeguninnglandandtheudget
andchedulewaotightthatthePiratehipwaforcedto
uetheexitingcockpitdeign.

oevenifLucahaddeemedthialargeenoughdeviation
fromTheagle,thedeignwouldhavetouetheoriginal
cockpitdeigntofittheexitinget
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 (/earch)

The Rebel Blockade Runner

Right,atechnicalillutrationofthelockadeRunnerJoe
Johnton.Thedetailaroundthidrawingareomewhat
carce,owhetheritwaactualldoneduringproductionor
afterwardialittlehardtopindown.

Remarkaltheproportionaren'tquiteright,althoughthe Atechnicalillutrationofthelockade

cockpithowthefinaliterationofthemodel(aoppoedto RunnerJoeJohnton.

theaovePiratehipvariant).

elowithefinallockadeRunnerfilmingmodel,AKAthe
TantiveIV,anamewhichiwidelknown,likemantar
Warname,etneverhowupinthefilm.Thepowerof
merchandiing.

HowthenewPiratehipdeignevolvefromherei
omewhatvagueandundefined.Thetimelineianopen
quetion;whetherthelockadeRunnerwafinihedfirt,or
iftherewaanintentionoftringtouethefirthammer-
headdeignatheFalcon.Theedetailareaentfromthe
manehind-the-ceneource.

WhatIlookforinituationlikethiimiinglinkinthe
formofoutideinfluence;thethingthatcauetheoverall Cockpiturgerin-progre

tortoclickandmakeene.utinthinarrativethat
miinglinkhaettofullurface.

The Second Pirate Ship

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Nowwe'regoingtotrtofigureouthowthedeignwent
 (/earch)
Nowwe'regoingtotrtofigureouthowthedeignwent
fromthelongCantwell-equedeigntotheaucer-like
Falcondeign,theo-calledhamurger,aweknowand
loveit.WeturnfirttoLucahimelf.

Theflinghamurgerwamfavorite
deign,Lucaa.Ithoughtthatthe
otherdeignwatoocloetopace:1999
andtooconventionallooking.Iwanted
omethingrealloffthewall,inceitwa
thekehipinthemovie;Iwanted
omethingwithalotmoreperonalit.I
thoughtofthedeignontheairplane,
flingackfromLondon:ahamurger.I
didntwantittoeaflingaucer,utI
wantedtohaveomethingwitharadial
hapethatwouldecompleteldifferent
fromanthingele.
xcerptFrom:J.W.Rinzler&PeterJackon.TheMakingof

tarWar(nhanceddition).RandomHouePulihingGroup,

2013.iook.http://itun.e/u/Mtm4N.l

Caecloed,right?

Wellno,ecaueawithomanquoteonthehitorof
howtheethingcametoethionetoocompreethe
event,iterationanddeciionintoaound-itethatia
littletooea.AndinparticularwithLuca,it'importantto
takeintoconiderationwhenexactlhiinterviewtook
place,ahehaatendenctocleanuphitorieovertime.
Thiparticularinterviewmightverwellhaveeenoneof
thefollowupinterviewRinzlerdidwithhimfortheookin
2006,inwhichcaeitcountformuchlethanifitwa
fromthe1974-80era.

Here'JoeJohnton(http://www.outue.com/watch?
v=LF51Y7rU-I)whocreatedthenewdeign,comingat
thifromalightldifferentangle.

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 (/earch)

ThePiratehipwawellunder
contructionwithmancomponentofthe
modelfinihedingreatdetail.Georgegave
methetakofquickldeigninganew
hip,aingthatthehapewant
importantalongaitdidntlook
anthinglikethehipfromtheTVhow.
Themodelhophadtoticktoprettmuch
theamecheduleofhootingthathadeen
plannedforthePiratehip.Grant
McCuneandhiteamwerewellaware
thatthimodelwagoingtohavetocome
togetherverquickl.

Ipentaoutadadoingaerieofver
roughketchethatoonevolvedtowarda
dik-hapedhullwithalonghorizontal
lot-hapedengineattheackinteadof
thetraditionalroundnacelleeenon
almoteverotherhip.GrantMcCune
akedifIcouldincorporatetwoelement
fromtheoldhipthathadalreadeen
finihed,thecockpitandtheradardih.
ThelockadeRunnerwagiventhe
Hammerheadcockpitaareplacement.

IhowedGeorgethetackofketcheand
weagreedonthegeneraldirection,with
theoffetcockpitandtheraiedwaitline
hexagonaltructure,oppoinggunport
andammetricdetailliketheradardih.
ecaueofthetimecrunchtherewerenta
lotofdrawingdoneafterthipoint,athe
contructionneededtogetunderwa.I
workedwiththemodeluildertomonitor
thedeignathehipegantotakehape.
JoeJohntonreplingtothieaat

http://www.faceook.com/JoeJohntonketchook/pot/852331911579599?

comment_id=852580204888103if_t=like

Thereiacontingentofpeoplewhothinkthatthe
inpirationforthitageofthedeignwadrawnfromthe
X982hipfromtheFrenchcomicValrianandLaureline
(/earch)
(coveredinomedetailinmeaonthatuject
 (/earch)
(coveredinomedetailinmeaonthatuject
(http://kitahed.com/log/valerian-and-laureline)).

Inummar:it'certainlpoilegiventhatJoeJohnton
waafanoftheartit;nevertheleIperonallremain
omewhatkeptical.TheValriandeigniquitedifferent,
andjutecaueoucanputthetwonexttooneanotherand
haveitlookvaguelimilardoenotindicateactual
inpiration.

Whateverthecaemae,evenifitdidinpiretheFalcon,
itdidoinawawhereitmightwelloildownimplto
theideaofhavinga'aucer'-deign.Andonceou'veaid
aucer,wellahamurgerin'tfarehind.

Moreover,thehamurgernotionmightreallhavearien
notfromomeoneingingatthelocalMcD',utfrom
ettlingtheideaofaaucerwiththeexitingdeign
language,aaloeeninthePiratehipdeign;eentiall
twoplatewithgreeltuffinetweenthem,aithadeen
inceCantwell'earlketche.It'ditinctiveinhiearl
tarDetroerpaintingandthemodelitelf,anditfeature
prominentlonthePiratehipmodel.

Andifouweretotalkaoutwhataaucermighte
expreedainthatlanguage,itcouldeomethinglikea
urger;twoplatewithtuffmahedinetweenthem.
(/earch)
 (/earch)

[George]mahaveaidatomepointthat
itcouldhavetheeenceofflingaucer.
Imnotureaouttheconverationthat
happenedalmotfortearago,utIdo
rememerthatitwaaituationof
anthinggoe!Itartedwithidentical
upperandlowerdihhapethatlooked
likethehadeencutawaaroundthe
edgetoencloecomponentthathadeen
hot-roddedtogether.Landinggearaon
theottomandthecomdihonthetop
helpedtoreakupthemmetrandgive
itaditincttopandottom.

Idideveralketchewiththecockpit
centered,jutaovetheloadingarm,utI
realllikedtheoffetcockpit.Italoletme
addanotherammetricaltuehapethat
lookedlikeithouedthecorridortothe
cockpit.venthoughthehipiuppoedto
eapicefreighterIdidntwantthe
hapetogiveanindicationofitpurpoe.
Itaighotrodpureandimple.
JoeJohntonat

http://www.joejohntonketchook.com/millennium-falcon

Andtojutputafinalnailinthe'inpiredahamurger'
tor,hereiJoeJohntoninrepl
(http://www.faceook.com/JoeJohntonketchook/pot/8
52331911579599?
comment_id=852645154881608&repl_comment_id=85289
2381523552&comment_tracking=%7%22tn%22%3A%22
R9%22%7D)toacommentonthepothemadeaoutthi
piece.

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 (/earch)
Alright,withthatoutofthewa,thiiwhereitget
intereting.TheketchementionedJohnton,withthe
cockpitcenteredjutaovetheloadingarmhavetothe
etofmknowledgenevereenreleaed,andmano
longerevenexit.

utIthinkthereremainanechooftheideainthiketch
RalphMcQuarriehowingthepiratehiparrivingatthe
Deathtar(ameceneatheearlierprionfacilit
equencemovedtoitnewhome).

Theketchinearlroughenoughthatitcoulde
interpretedannumerofwa.YetwhenIlookatit,Iee
theaucer-likeFalcondeign,utwiththecockpitmounted
onthefront,poilwithalittledetailaroundtheengine
ection.

Thiiprettignificant,ecauetherearenoother
pulihedverionofthatparticulardeignvariantavailale
outthere,utitmakeeneaanattemptatcreatinganew
deignwithouttartingfromcratch.

ImaginelookingatthefirtPiratehipwiththeeethat
attemptedtoreakuptheoutlinewithahammerhead
cockpit,tomakeitdifferentenoughfromtheagledeign.

tarWardeignwaallaoutprimitivehape(phere,
clinder,quare,wedge),andaflingaucerin'tfarout
ofreachwhenou'remakingaciencefictionfilm.

IfouweretointerectCantwellPiratehipdeignwitha
aucer,itmightinfactgetouomethingthatwouldcreate
theoutlineintheaoveketch.

(/earch)
YetitwagoneaoonaMcQuarriewenttocleanupthe
 (/earch)
YetitwagoneaoonaMcQuarriewenttocleanupthe
ketchpriortotartingonthefinalpainting,andheworked
fat,owecouldelookingatachangethatliterall
happenedovernight.

HereareMcQuarriefourproductionpaintingwiththe
updateddeign,includingthefinalverionoftheaove
ketch.Notethattheclindricalcro-ectioniaentin
theketchawellainthefinalverion.

ThiverionofthePiratehiplacktheclindricalcro-ectionehindthecockpit.It'poilethatMcQuarrieimplforgottoinclude
it,anddidn'thavetimetoreturntoit(afterallhedidn'thavetimetoreturntopaintintheurfacedetailonotherFalconpainting),ut
giventhatitimiingfromtheketchawell,itcouldaloindicateanin-progreredeign.

(/earch)
(/earch)

(/earch)
 (/earch)

Herethecro-ectionipreent.Alo,notethetwoprongjuttingoutfromthemandile;poilomeortofcanon,utcouldalopla
intothenotionofthemandileeingwherethecargowauppoedtogo.Thicockpit,thewaiadeparturefromtheCantwell-
originatedcockpitofthepreviouPiratehip.

McQuarrie'rearviewalohathecro-ection.Noticehowthecro-ectionterminateeforethedic(indented),veruthenext
painting,whereitterminateoutidethedicradiu(outdented).

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 (/earch)

Accordingtotarwar.com(http://www.tarwar.com/new/an-annotated-guide-to-the-tar-war-portfolio--ralph-mcquarrie)"Ralph
confidedthatthipaintingwaactuallunfinihed.HewanotintendingfortheedgeoftheMillenniumfalcontoemooth,utnever
gotaroundtoincorporatingtheadditionaldetail."Aaidenote,itlooklikeR2ileaving,utatthetimehedidn'troll,hewalked!o
thatihimcaughtinmid-tep,enteringthehangar.

Nowwe'reackinomewhatfamiliarterritor,although
howwegothereiaithaz.Ovioulacoupleofthing
haveoccurred:aradicalldifferentaucer-likedeignha
comeintoeingandverpoilahort-livedverionhada
front-mountedcockpit.

What'goingon?

(/earch)
 (/earch)

Theaoveketchthrowevenmoregravelintothe
machiner.Thefourprevioupaintingalleemedtoagree
moreorleonthecockpit(glaontheupperideonl),et
here'anotherin-progrevariation.

IftheverionofthehipapproachingtheDeathtar
(withoutthecro-ection)waanearlverionofanew
deign,itheaoveketch,whichhathecro-ection,then
aniterationonthatdeign?

Whateverwathecae,thiimperonalfavoritedeign.

IfIweretogue,I'dathatitwaproalnixedecaue
itwouldhaveeentechnicalltoohardtopulloffthecurved
glaothintermcreatingit,greencreeningpecialeffect
awellacontrollingreflectionandlightingonet,which
waproalwhthefinalcockpitdeign,fromCantwell'
firtmodel,waultimatelchoen.

AddingtothemterithiJoeJohntontoroardwhich
featurethefinalaucer-deign.Radardih,clindricalcro-
ection,except...nocockpit!

Johntonhoweverauredmethatitwaaimpleoveright,
intheheatofattle.

Heilemannicorrectinhiaumptionaoutthe
toroardwiththemiingcockpit.Ijutforgottoadd
it.Therewerefarmoreegregioumitakemadein
manofmotheroard!

JoeJohntoninrepltothipiece
(http://www.faceook.com/JoeJohntonketchook/po
t/852331911579599).

(/earch)
 (/earch)

There'anotherodditfromupplementartoroardartit
GarMer,whomRinzlernoteintarWartoroard,
weknownexttonothingaout(whichinitelfiacraz
notionatthilatetageoftarWarfandom).

(/earch)
Hiverionofthehipiimilartothefinalaucer-and-
 (/earch)
Hiverionofthehipiimilartothefinalaucer-and-
mandiledeign,onlitalolacktheide-carcockpit.
Merdidtoroardhowingthecrewinideofacockpit
lookingout,utitimpoiletotellmuchaoutwhereon
thehipituppoedtoe.

Togetomeeneofthechronologoftheeoard,while
theackgroundehindthehiplooklikecloud,andnot
tar,thenoteonthitoroardpegthemtotakeplaceon
theDeathtar(whichmeanthata)ithouldetar,and
)werenonethewieratowhatcamefirt).

Onaidenote,Rinzlerpegtheartitofthifirtoarda
JohntoninTheMakingoftarWar(p99),utinthelater
releaedtarWartoroard:TheOriginalTrilogookha
itaGarMer,whicheemtomakemoreene.

Inalllikelihoodthetoroardartitituationwavagueat
Johnton'earliertoroard.
eteforeRinzlerrealldoveintoitwiththetoroard
ook,andinthecaeofthiparticularoard,itiactualla
copofanolderoardJohnton(right),whichfeatured
theoriginalPiratehip.

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(/earch)

(/earch)
 (/earch)

Merrounded-edgedtleioditinctthatit'hardto
imaginehimhavingfedoffofMcQuarrie'ovioulhard-
edged(andcockpit-laden)verionelow.utthenwhenwe
lookackatomeofthecomicthatcameoutinthewakeof
thefilm,artitmi-rememeringhowpacehiplooked
wouldn'tethatigaurprieafterall.

I'dliketoelievethatomehowthimteriouMercame
infromthenowhereanddreamtupthicompleteldifferent
verionofthePiratehip,onltothendiappearackinto
thinair,utJoeJohntonhimelfhelpedmecorrectanuch
notionaddreingitdirectl.

Heilemannmakereferencetotoroardthathowa
lightldifferentdeign.toroardwereneverueda
deignketche.achindividualoardartitwa
drawinghiownverionofthehiputtheoardwere
notreferredtomodeluilderfordeigndetail.
xceptintheverearltageoftoroarding,model
werealreaduilteforetheoardweredrawn.Gar
Merdidomeexcellentworkontoroardingeveral
oftheFXequence,uthewanothiredaadeigner
andtomknowledgedidn'tworkoutidethefieldof
toroarding,atleatnotonANWHOP.

JoeJohntoninrepltothipiece
(http://www.faceook.com/JoeJohntonketchook/po
t/852331911579599).

The Pork Burger

elowareJoeJohnton'lueprintforthefinalFalcon,now
namedtheMillenniumFalcon( Johntonconitentl,to
thida,mipellitMilleniumoverMillennium).Worth
notinghereithatthenewcockpitdeignitillhere,ut
nevermadeittothemodelhop,whichliterallawedthe
exitingcockpitoffoftheoldmodelandglueditontothe
newone.

(/earch)
(/earch)

(/earch)
 (/earch)

TechnicalillutrationJoeJohnton

TheILMmodelhopuiltthenewPiratehipmodel,and
quicklfoundawatoditinguihitfromtheoldonein
converation,adoptingGrantMcCune'nickname
(http://www.creativeloq.com/3d/ecret-ehind-tar-war-
pecial-effect-11514064?page=3)forit:ThePorkurger,
proalecaueitwaalreadeingreferredtoaa
hamurger-likedeign(Cantwell'plateandgreelaa
aucer,rememer?).

(/earch)
 (/earch)

Themodelwauedtocreateaetofchematicwhichwere
hippedofftonglandwhereprincipalphotographwato
takeplaceatltreetudio.uppoedl,accordingtoet
deignerRogerChritian,ecaueofthithefull-izeFalcon
hafeaturethatwererealljutremnantofglueonthe
originalmodel,copiedtothechematic.

(/earch)
 (/earch)

Youcanalmotmakeoutinthilueprint,howthedeignevolved.Theaucerretainthenewangularcockpit,whichwaproalreplaced
rightaftertheedrawningweremadeup,ecauecontructioninnglandontheoldonehadalreadcommenced!

(/earch)
(/earch)

(/earch)
 (/earch)

Theilluionoftheilvercreenatitet;onlhalfthehipwaeveruiltforthefirtfilm.

(/earch)
 (/earch)

Dockinga94waoneofthefirtcenehotatltree.OnlhalfoftheFalconwauilt.Whenhootingfinihed,theetaroundthe
hipwatorndownonltoereuiltatheDeathtar.

(/earch)
 (/earch)

Ipwithmlittleeeproto-Jaa,Chewacca,andonthefarleft,GeorgeLuca.

(/earch)
 (/earch)

TheDeathtarhangarawapartmattepainting(whenourheroeglancedownfromaove),utotherwietheameFalconet.

(/earch)
 (/earch)

A Name for the Ages

inceogartwaaourceofinpirationforHanolo,I
alwathoughtthenameofthehipwaomehowinpired
TheMalteeFalcon(1941),ormaefromaourceof
inpirationfortheoundtrack,TheeaHawk(1940)in
whichthehipinamedTheAlatro.irdallaround.

IalonoticedofcourethatTheaglefrompace1999wa
imilarlairdofpre,utitwantuntilIranacroa
redditpot
(http://www.reddit.com/r/tarwar/comment/37upp/toda
_i_realized_where_the_millennium_falcon)thatitclicked.

Addaeartopace1999andougetpace2000,anew
millennium.

TheMillenniumFalcon.

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 (/earch)

In Closing
OneoftheinteretingthingaouttarWarihowthe
creativeproceoclearlwantlockedfromtheeginning.
Itwaalongandwindingroad,andthroughoutwritingthe
eaforKitahedIvefoundthatdepiteintenepreure
therewaalwaanenergeticadventurounewithidea
whichinevitalleadtoomeofthemoticonicdeignin
filmhitor.

TheFalconiagreatexampleofthat,pecificallecaue
thefinaldeignioditinct.Itmakeitamuchmore
enticingtotrtodecipherhowitcameaout.

WhileIveeenpuruingthiujectforear,itwantuntil
ItartingputtingtogetherthieathatIfinalleganto
findomeofthefinerdetailoftheFalconcreation.

RalphMcQuarrieketcheinparticularwereomethingof
arevelationforme;Idforgottenthathehaddonethoe
earlPiratehipketche,andIdneverevenconideredthe
verfirtketchehedidaportraingthePiratehip(nor
haanoneeleafaraIcantell).

ItalojutapleauretoreviitMcQuarrietarWar,
whichiquiteaitdifferentfromwhatendeduponthe
creen.AmuchaIlovetheued-univereofthefinalfilm,
IaloappreciatewhLucawouldhavefoundthefilmtoe
omewhatdiappointingwhencomparedtowhat
McQuarriehadputinhihead.Hiueofcolor,light,
hapeandpaceiunparalleled.venhiketcherim
withlifeandpotential.

Therearetillalotofvagueandunanweredquetioninthe
exactdeignprogreion(I'vedonemettorecreateit,ut
itianattemptfraughtwithmitep),utIwillcomeack
andlowlfillinthelatmiingpieceovertime.

UnfortunatelJoeJohntonmthicalmiinglink-centered
cockpitketchehavenoteenreleaedovertheear.It
wouldcertainlfillinalankonourmap,evenatheaucer
deignproceieginningtocomeintofocuforme,and
hopefullforouthereaderawell.

utI'veeenauredtwoeparateourcethatthe
drawingdotillexit,utareinprivatehand,otherei
hopeet.Itilikelthatthewillenduponauction,when
thatprivateowner'grandchildrenneedtogotocollege;it'
plaedoutlikethateveraltimeinthepatanwa.

AtleatIfeellikeIfinallmanagedtolargeldipelthe
urgercreationmth,whichhahauntedmeforear.

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Ileaveouwiththeetillfromthefinalfilm,andhopefull
 (/earch)
Ileaveouwiththeetillfromthefinalfilm,andhopefull
afeelingthatounowknowmoreaouttheMillennium
Falconthanoueverwantedto;maeitllcomeinhandat
ometrivianightdowntheroad.

(/earch)
 (/earch)

The Empire Strikes Back

We'renotquitedoneet.

TheFalconunderwentaignificantchangefromANew
HopetoitreappearanceThempiretrikeack.The
originaldeignhathreelandinggear,twoontherearof
theaucerandoneatthefront,inthemiddle.

Theepecialmodificationhowevercauedthehiptoe
unalanced,whichwafixedintheoriginaletforDocking
a94andtheDeathtarhangar(ameFalcon,different
et)havingafuelingtuecoverupametalrodwhichwa
inrealitproppingupthehiptoavoidhavingittipover!It'
theoneHanolotepawafromwhenhefirtgreethi
paengerjuteforetakeoff. Thatfuelingpipeiallthat'holdingherup

Formpirehowever,thihadtoefixed,otwoox-like
tructurewereaddedoneitherideoftheauceronoth
the5-footandthe32-inchmodelthathadeenuedonA
NewHope,andthelandedFalcongainedtwoextralanding
gearforatotaloffive.
(/earch)
Themandilealogainedheadlight,althoughI'llleaveit
 (/earch)
Themandilealogainedheadlight,althoughI'llleaveit
uptothereadertoinvetigatethatontheirown.

TheANewHopeverionoftheFalconhadonlainglelandinggear,centerhull.

TheFalconundercarriageaddedtwooxecontainingnewlandinggear.

(/earch)
 (/earch)
Thiarticlewouldnothaveeenpoilewithoutthehelpof
manpeopleandexitingource,motofwhichIwon'tnamefor
fearorforgettingmot.However,IwoulderemiifIdidn't
highlightthetarWarRareVintagePhotogrouponFaceook
(http://www.faceook.com/group/tarwarrarevintagephoto/),
whichiauniquetreauretrovefromwhichIhaveplundered
manofthephotouedhere.

Michael Heilemann
ornandraiedinDenmark,MichaelreideinNewYork
withhiwonderfulwife,whereheitheDirectorofProduct
DeignatquarepaceInc.

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