ROTJ Speederbike reference needed

HI Guys,

I'm thinking of making this my next studio scale project. I've got quite a lot of experience with vac forming so that's how I'll make the main shape. I'm a bit worried about the thinner front boom and pedal suspension but I'll see if I can tackle that somehow.

I really have very little in terms of reference material of the studio model. I was wondering if you guys can help me out by pointing me towards online reference or share any references you can. I'm especially looking for HQ top and side views (you know those black and white shots with the ruler) to get a sense of overall dimensions.

Thanks to anyone able and willing to help!

Marvin

hello marvin,
here are some of my references for the speeder bike....

I hope it help you!!

more details

more...

Get a copy of STAR WARS TO JEDI: MAKING OF A SAGA used VHS on ebay or transfered to DVD in bootleg form - They have some good footage of the small speeder bike

I'm not sure which kit it is, but I see some steering/suspension linkage used from an F1 car on the S.S bike(I'm almost 100% sure of it).1/12 scale I think?Probably Tamiya.I also heard that the Matilda tank offered some parts to the lower body at the rear,but again...not sure and if so..."the scale".Might be a larger scale and who knows who made it?Just my 2 cents.

Ive not yet found any concrete donors on this prop, at least not the big stuff such as bodywork.
Its all f1 based, on the 312T i believe, the front vanes also replicate parts from the BT46, but scaled up.
Its another A wing style build, kit parts maybe made a maquette, then got scaled up into a more camera friendly studio filming mini ?

Just my two cents... Lee

@ Roberto
Thanks! Those are some pretty good shots I hadn't seen before! Although I believe the first few shots are for the full scale bike right?

@TylerH
I'll see if I can find that documentary somewhere. Sounds promising.

@Lee and JPolacchi
Yes definitely F1 based. I believe Jason commented in an old thread as well that he thought that kit parts were used only for the mock-up after which everything looked scaled up scratchbuilds. That's why I'd really like some f those ortho pics with the ruler so I can deduct the overall dimension and get somewhere scale wise.

Here's a pic I have of the mockup, just to help...

I believe it's what they used for ROTJ. Could be wrong.

That's one of the bikes used for the video animatics. I'm not sure where it comes in the design lineage, but Johnson's first model is said to have used the halves of a Space Shuttle nose section upside down at the rear. You can see the 'echo' of it in the final design, down to the window cut-outs.

Rear flaps are based on the flakvierling38 shields. I like this prop !!
And the Scout trooper puppet is awesome !

MonsieurTox said:

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Rear flaps are based on the flakvierling38 shields. I like this prop !!
And the Scout trooper puppet is awesome !

Second that Julien, the scout puppet is a work of art, looks soooo cool with those elbows down MotoX style.

lee

Belly front pan is a dead ringer for the Ferrari 312b. Also, i see a Brabham BT44 front caliper in the nose, so, it must have used a modicum of original donors.

lee

Yep those engine flaps were the first things i recognised when i opened up my first flakvierling kit

I've found a sideview with ruler that Julien posted in an old thread so i have very rough dimensions. I'd like to see if the parts have all been scaled up because that front end is an exact match for the brabham nose cone in terms of proportions and detailing. Anyoneknow hoiw i could get the measurements of the brabham noscone?

Marvin

You sure Marvin? Nose cone seems to be 312t to my eye bud?
Along with the side intakes, also Ferrari 312t based.

Lee

Yeah i meant the 312. I must have had my kit scans mixed up. You can see the same indentations on the speeder that are on the 312 nose cone. I'll do some basic proportion measurement this weekend. Still looking for a top view for that.

Marvin

The seat and back end are Tamiya BT46 based BTW.

Lee

From what I understand, these donor parts were indeed used on the prototype but then the actual production models were scratched based on those proportions and details, at other scales. If true, you're not going to find exact matches in other models.

Id have to agree with Jay, the parts are too large to be donors from the box Marvin.
That back end is BT46 Brabham, and way too large to be the actual kit part bodyshell.
I think a search for larger kits will be futile too, they seem to be all modeled off the Tamiya parts, as i said, its pretty much spot on what they did with the A wing, modeled off the F14/F16, and scaled up by hand.

lee

This is what i get for the basic forms bud.

lee

Yeah I agree too. Parts are way smaller than the filming model. Fun to see that they really did stick very close to the original kit parts. Took little artistic license when they were upscaling. Guess I'll be vacforming these parts then.

I'm a bit surprised that I haven't been able to find a single top view of the filming model online. I will need it if I'm going to make plugs for vac forming.

Marvin