How big is the Gunstar from The Last Starfighter

[RedTwoX]

Is there any information on the dimensions for this ship? I've done some Google searches, but I'm not getting any good hits. Monsters in Motion has a model listed as 1/48 scale and 14" long. That would be 56 feet. TM Lindsey had one in 1/100 scale at "about 7.5 inches" which would yield a length of 62.5 feet. What are they basing these measurements off of? Both seemed to come up with something in the high 50 to low 60 foot range, but I'm wondering if there is any more accurate information out there.

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[Lancer]

I did a 3D gunstar based off the original plans and DVD screengrabs. I never scaled it out at the time, but she is certainly bigger than 56 feet. the pilot and the gunner are very small within the scale of the entire ship.

at a rough estimate with my mesh on screen she'd be about 75 to 80 feet long from nose to tail. with the landing legs extended, add about another 10 feet to her.

if someone wants to tell me how to figure out the scale in lightwave,be my guest.

 

[Wolvster1]

Lancer, when you load your model into Lightwave
Modeler go to the TOP of the screen and click
the tab

DETAIL

from there look to the LEFT of the screen where
it says MEASURE and click the drop down menu.

You want the one that says

BOUNDING BOX

and that will give you the measurements of your model
in the 3D environment.

Mind you, the size of your model
will depend on what scale you STARTED
with when you began your mesh ?

 

[RedTwoX]

Just a bump to make sure that's all we've got. I know the film makers aren't necessarily concerned with the "in real life" size of things and tend to make "what looks good on film". Since this was a CG model I thought there might be some more exact scale information as opposed to a kit bashed physical studio model. I can try scaling it from screen captures, but didn't want to spend the time re-inventing the wheel if someone else had already done so and was willing to share their results.

I'm in no hurry on this project, but if I work out a size I'll be happy to share. I'm still hoping someone has the info.

 

[Nwerke]

Since this was a CG model I thought there might be some more exact scale information as opposed to a kit bashed physical studio model.

Bear in mind this ship predates LightWave, 3DS Max etc etc, so exact analogues of the features and toolsets commonly used these days may not have existed in the software they were using. (Descriptions of the modelling methods used sound terrifyingly laborious.)

There is a good copy of Ron Cobb's side elevation blueprint in the Cinefantastique, by the way. That may help.

Cheers,
Martyn

 

[RedTwoX]

There is a good copy of Ron Cobb's side elevation blueprint in the Cinefantastique, by the way. That may help.

Cheers,
Martyn

Awesome! I did some poking around online, and it was the January 1985 issue. I found a copy online here:

http://www.break-in-studios.com/archive/TheLastStarfighter_CG.htm

and it has the pick you mentioned! I'll need to get it in photoshop to really get accurate, but looks like it's going to be very close to 70 feet.

 

[Nwerke]

Awesome! I did some poking around online, and it was the January 1985 issue. I found a copy online here:

http://www.break-in-studios.com/archive/TheLastStarfighter_CG.htm

and it has the pick you mentioned! I'll need to get it in photoshop to really get accurate, but looks like it's going to be very close to 70 feet.

Groovy! It's a great drawing and I think they used it very closely. Would be fantastic if the other views turn up some day. I've been waiting 24 years. :cry

If I was directing a big new SF film, hiring Ron would be pretty much my very first move. :lol

Edit - checked the link, pic is a bit low-res. I'd have scanned it for you but the issue is put away somewhere. If you need a higher-res copy, I'll see if I can dig it up.

I'd forgotten there was actually a scale! Love Ron for that, he always does it. Man's a living legend.

 

[seven]

Sorry to bump an old thread...but

According to the original blueprint the Gunstar is 58'-6" long from the nose to the rear, with a 3' aft gun, making its full length 61'-6" and a height of about 37'-0"

At 1:48 scale it should measure 15 3/8" long including the aft gun. Without the aft gun it does measure at 14 5/8" (descriptions have a tendency of rounding the numbers)

At 1:100 scale it should measure 7 3/8" w/aft gun, and if rounded, it's close to 7.5"