Lucasfilm 3/4-scale X-wing - new engines!

[hyperdyne]

Finally got around to doing upgrades to the LFL X-wing. Installed new engine lights - had a burnout on one of the old ones.

I also added a subtle scintillation effect to each engine. Check it out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMct0pAU_Qs

Finally, I piped the audio up for the interactive trench run into the cockpit - now you can experience it with the cockpit closed! Cool stuff, cant wait to try it out myself... :thumbsup

The museum is having an open cockpit this Sat, only once per year that the x-wing is open to sit in!

 

[ave4uevoli]

wow - I would love to see that in person. It's looks awesome - great work on those engines!

what is this interactive trench run you speak of? Is that like a flight simulator or something?

 

[Prefect42]

Nice job, Hyperdyne!

Where is the display this weekend?

Ted.
Prefect42.

 

[rmschneider104]

That's looking darn good. Nice work!

 

[hyperdyne]

The X-wing is housed at the Wings over the Rockies museum in Denver, CO. It lives there throughout the year, but does make appearances for other events. It will be at C5 too.

 

[rmschneider104]

Cool that the xwing was at C1 in Denver and will be appearing at C5 in Orlando.

 

[Stormy320]

Why didn't they just make it actual size?

 

[Dann]

My question exactly. I mean, yeah it's awesome, and great work on the engines Hyperdyne, but it makes you wonder. If they went so far as to make it 3/4 scale, why not just go all the way?

 

[James Kenobi 1138]

I think the one used in the movies was only 90% life sized anyways.

 

[hyperdyne]

wow - I would love to see that in person. It's looks awesome - great work on those engines!

what is this interactive trench run you speak of? Is that like a flight simulator or something?

I outfitted the cockpit with a custom lit panel and a small LCD screen. One of the menu choices on the computer screen is the trench run simulator. Here the computer trench graphics and distance to target count down just like in ANH. Plus it is synchronized to an audio track - gives the person in the cockpit a nice interactive "ride" living out the trench run. I have an early video of it on my youtube page somewhere.

 

[Ham Solo]

Very cool!

I would love to see it in person.

 

[vaderdarth]

Nice upgrade my friend.

 

[Treadwell]

Why didn't they just make it actual size?

The half-dozen or so 3/4 scale x-wings were made in Europe for a promotional tour of the SW trilogy on VHS in the 90s. The "faces" release, IIRC. They had to be that size to fit on flatbed trucks without being "wide loads". The wings fold up so they don't overhang the truck bed.

 

[Boomerjinks]

I first saw it back in 1999 at the first SW:C, and I was blown away by it. My dream, my UNDYING DREAM, is to have a Colorado Movie Cars charity event held in the WOTR museum in conjunction with the 501st. The cars would be parked in a circle in the center of the hangar, facing each other. Oh it would be SO COOL. Absolute nerdgasm for whoever walked in there.

 

[hyperdyne]

Yeah, I was at C1 in trooper armor - representing the 501st which was like 6 of us back then. :lol

Not sure, but having a car collection at an aviation museum is like wearing a football helmet at a chess match. But hey, to each their own...

Here is an old video of the trench run before it got installed (it took me forever to design that thing!):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsMNBi1Vw_k

BTW, anyone in the area feel free to come by on Sat. for open cockpit. The X-wing is maintained by the RMFF (rocky mountain fan force), and there will be plenty of RMFF SW characters there representing.

 

[Boomerjinks]

Not sure, but having a car collection at an aviation museum is like wearing a football helmet at a chess match. But hey, to each their own...

Really? I mean, really? C1 was at the very same aerospace museum, so Star Wars+airplanes makes perfect sense but replica cars+airplanes deserves a contemptuous "to each their own?" The only way I could imagine putting Star Wars costumers, movie cars, spacecraft, and jet fighters into a single event could be any more awesome would be if you threw in some robots and monster trucks!

The X-wing does look great, and I've enjoyed watching it evolve from having pvc "stick" landing gear to getting a real star treatment by the RMFF. It's been a long process, but I've always been able to say "let's go look at the X-wing" on days when there didn't seem to be anything else we wanted to do. The "trench run" will surely be a huge hit with the kiddos, too!

 

[hyperdyne]

Yes, really. And I mean, really. Its just not for me, and the statement means just that.

In fact, the X-wing makes perfect sense at an aviation museum. The kids like it and it gets them interested. It allows them to use their imagination and become curious about real aviation, space travel, and planes. You know, cars don't do that. I understand when you have a hammer everything looks like a nail.

In the end, my disagreement does not translate into contempt - try to get over yourself as its not all about you.

 

[Crix]

Apparently someone has never heard of a 'Wings and Wheels' show...



On a lighter note, the x-wing is pretty cool, but I've always been more fond of the Skylab mockup.

 

[Prefect42]

Hyperdyne,

Great video! Nice touch with the "damage report" towards the end.

Now I really wish I'd be in Colorado over the weekend.

Ted.
Prefect42.

 

[Boomerjinks]

I understand when you have a hammer everything looks like a nail.

Indeed.

Maybe this would make more "sense" next to the X-wing, in front of a line of vietnam-era jet fighters.