What I wanted to be able to do is scratchbuild/kitbash a Y Wing that is 1/2 the size of the ILM Studio Y Wing, and had very similar details. To do this, one needs to know what kits were used on the studio model, and search for kits that are half the scale (mostly 1/72 armor kits - which is not exact, but close enough). This has been done before by a couple of people, namely SMT and Rafael Mateo. SMT's Y Wing (
http://www.starshipmodeler.com/starwars/jc_ywing.htm), while a very nice kit, is not very accurate when it comes to details. Rafael Mateo's Y (
http://www.starshipmodeler.com/starwars/rm_ywing.htm), however, is a beautiful model and looks to be pretty close detail-wise to the studio model. In reporting what I have found, I want to start by naming some of the kits one would NOT find...
1/288 Saturn V - The ILM model used Airfix 1/144 scale Saturn V rocket kits, as is well known. AMT had a "man in space" pro shop model kit that had a 1/200 scale Saturn V in it. I have this kit and it is not the right size. I found a 1/290 scale Saturn V by Cashulette Engineering Co. but it is all one piece and looks more like a toy (does anyone have this model?). All in all, one could just get some plastic tube of the correct diameter (1 3/8" I think) and use that pretty nicely. I plan to get Plastruct tubes, and modify some of the pieces from the AMT pro shop model for mine. There is also a part on the top/rear detail of the Y. The AMT model may be good enough for this part.
1/144 Sealab III - The 1/72 Sealab used on the ILM model is hard enough to find, and I think one could be pretty certain that there is no 1/144 scale kit that has the same pieces.
1/18 Kettenkraftrad - The DML 1/9 Kettenkrad proved to contribute to the elusive "dome struts" on the ILM model. To my knowledge, there is no 1/18 scale version.
1/144 Schools Class Harrow - the Airfix/Kitmaster/Dapol Harrow is a valuable kit for both the X Wing and Y Wing studio models, and I am pretty sure there was no kit half the size produced.
1/50 Centurion - I recently found out that the Tamiya 1/25 Centurion contributes more parts to the ILM model than I had previously thought. I think it is safe to bet that there is no 1/50 equivalent with all the same parts.
There are some others that have a slim chance, but I am still investigating them. If you have any info on these, please share!
1/72 M1 155mm Howitzer or equivalent
1/48 Harrier (there are several kits, but none that I know of that has engine parts)
1/48 Shiden
The rest, believe it or not, have a suitable half-size exact or close counterpart, or are easy enough to scratch build.
Rear Plate Detail - I don't think it was ever pinned down exactly what kit was used on the studio model. The closest I've seen to the exact detail is a Tamiya 1/35 King Tiger. This detail could also be from a Jagdtiger. There are plenty of 1/72 kits that have nice detail to be used here on a 1/48 scale Y Wing. The Revell Germany 1/72 Panther G looks real nice, but I am going with either the Italeri King Tiger, or the Revell Germany King Tiger.
Sides of the Neck - The Tamiya 1/35 Panzerspahwagen SdKfz 232 (8Rad) was used on the studio model for either side of the "neck" right before the head. Airfix has a 1/72 kit called "German 8 Wheeled Armored Car". I have not been able to find any pictures of the underside of this kit to see if it is right. However, if it is not right, there are some ways around this particular detail. Anyone have any pictures of the parts of this kit?
"Dome Strut Box" - The box part of the "dome struts" on the ILM model was found to be from the Tamiya 1/35 PzKpfw III Ausf M/N. There is a 1/72 kit from ESCI that has all the same parts from this kit! There are more parts than just the box that is used, but it has them all! I am not certain about the availability of this kit, as it is an old one, so I went for a Revell Germany 1/72 PzKpfw IV Ausf H. instead. This kit has only the box detail, and it needs to be cut free from the surrounding turret. It also has shovels that are an almost exact copy of the ones used for the ILM model. Another kit that has the box detail is the Italeri 1/72 PzKpfw IV Ausf G. This has to be cut out as well.
Some of the ILM studio models use "exhaust canisters" (I think that's what they are) from a 1/35 Tiger I kit on the wings, in place of the track links from the DML 1/9 Kettenkrad. The Revell Germany 1/72 PzKpfw VI Tiger I Ausf H has these "canisters" and could be used perfectly well. However, Rafael Mateo seems to have found some track links to fit his 1/48 Y. Rafael, if you are out there, please enlighten us!
There are pretty significant parts on the ILM Y Wing that come from the DML 1/15 Hummel. Is there a 1/35 counterpart to this (1/35 being as close as one can get)? It turns out that DML itself recently released a 1/35 Hummel (initial version) that has most of the parts used, only half the size. As far as I can tell from pictures I have found, the parts need only some slight modification to be just right.
I thought I was not going to be able to find the engine parts from a 1/48 Hurricane. The engine block halves, oil pans, and valve covers from the Airfix 1/24 Hawker Hurricane are used on the ILM model. These are some really prominent pieces. I knew from owning other 1/24 planes that some other props had used the same engine. After posting a question on some Plane Talking message board, I was told that the ICM 1/48 Spitfire Mk 9 kit has these engine parts in them, only 1/48 scale. The oil pans from this kit are close, but not right on. The engine block halves look kinda weird, and may not be usable... then again they might. The valve covers are right on as far as I can tell.
There are still some loose ends to tie up, and if enough people are interested then it will happen. Some others I didn't mention are Messerschmitt landing gears for the "dome struts". Any 1/48 Messerschmitt should have landing gears close enough, but there is also part of the propeller that needs to be used. The engine halves from this kit are also used on the bottom of the Y Wing, but I am not sure if there are any 1/48 Messer's with engines. I also didn't mention the 1/12 JPS part on top of the rear detail area. I plan on using a 1/20 Tyrrell part and modifying it, or just scratchbuilding it.
That is pretty much all I have right now, even though I may have forgotten one or two things. If any of you out there have any ideas/confirmations/pictures/anything please share. 1/72 kits are relatively inexpensive. I bought 6 1/72 armor kits, and the 1/35 Hummel and spent about $80. With a couple of airplane kits, and some styrene sheets and shapes, most of the crucial parts would cost about $160. That contrasts to the thousand or so you could spend on kits for a studio scale replica, and these kits are easily obtainable. Plus, you can make a fleet of nicely-sized Y Wings to complement your X Wings, and not fill up your living room with klunky, studio-sized Y Wings!
