Star Wars Celebration Red 1pyro model

[swgeek]

Not the greates photos but I thought people might want some more pictures of the pyro Red 1 from Celebration.

 

[edge10]

Adam was able to look at this model as well:

 

[Bjorn]

Thanks for taking the time to post the pics!
Very much appreciated!

 

[joberg]

Great pics swgeeks Reminded me of the first time I saw, in person, an XWing + YWing in a small expo (Brussels, 1977).
Didn't take pics at the time; quite impossible with a Kodak Instamatic and a Cube flash

 

[Keiko]

It's just incredible to see this. For us fans, this is an incredible piece of history. As a reference, it's an invaluable survey of a pyro X wing.

I wonder what else has been in private collections for 45 years, just waiting to see the light of day. Hero Red 1 anyone?

 

[swgeek]

I have more if anybody wants more? Some are not so great but...

 

[Keiko]

I have more if anybody wants more? Some are not so great but...

Sure, I'd love to see more. Even if they're not great photos, they all have potential to reveal some mystery detail previously unknown.

 

[swgeek]

Some of these might be repeats...

 

[Analyzer]

So is this the Red Leader that "went missing" many years ago during production, or was that a different Red Leader model?

Or was there only ever one Red Leader model?

 

[swgeek]

As far as I understand, there was a hero Red 1 and a pyro Red 1. This is the pyro Red 1 that wasn't destroyed when the charge went off, so it was turned into pyro Red 3 when it wasn't needed as Red 1 anymore.

 

[Analyzer]

So in the Prop Store auction site, it mentions

"It is understood by enthusiasts to be approximately: 4 hero models, 6 high-quality pyro models, and an unknown-quantity of lower-quality pyro models"

the heroes then are Red 1 (that went missing), Red 2, Red 3 and Red 5?

then the "high-quality" pyros are...

- the Red 1 (converted to 3) we see here
- a different Red 3
- Red 4
- Red 6
- Red 10
- Red 12

?

Then some low-quality pyros no one really cares about that were barely more than stryrofoam shapes and sticks for guns?

 

[Keiko]

I've often contemplated the same questions. I think it's clear on the hero X wings and you're right with that count.

The pyros are full of mystery to me. According to the first Chronicles book, there were 9 pyros made. I don't know if this is accurate or if it means 9 "high quality" pyros. You've listed 6 there. Are there 3 more good ones, or 3 more total?

There are also mid-range pyros such as the other Red 4 that we have photos of Joe Viskocil and Joe Johnston rigging for explosion during the Ep IV filming. It's of lesser quality than the high quality pyros listed above, but still nicer than some of the crude models that made the final cut of the film itself.

 

[Analyzer]

I've often contemplated the same questions. I think it's clear on the hero X wings and you're right with that count.

The pyros are full of mystery to me. According to the first Chronicles book, there were 9 pyros made. I don't know if this is accurate or if it means 9 "high quality" pyros. You've listed 6 there. Are there 3 more good ones, or 3 more total?

There are also mid-range pyros such as the other Red 4 that we have photos of Joe Viskocil and Joe Johnston rigging for explosion during the Ep IV filming. It's of lesser quality than the high quality pyros listed above, but still nicer than some of the crude models that made the final cut of the film itself.

ooh, I have not seen that Red 4 that I remember

Do yo have any pics you can link/post?

I assume this is the X-wing at celebration/going up for auction before it was repainted? (it is labelled as Red Leader Pyro where I found it)

 

[Keiko]

Here's what I call a mid-grade pyro. It's a full casting, same as the high quality pyros, but assembled and painted pretty crudely. Pieces of this model survive to this day in private hands. I have other photos of other scraps too, plausibly claimed to be from the original film, and as crudely finished as this one. Compare to the screen explosion of Red 3 and Red 10 from the film itself though - this is much better. Note, I believe they used the same shot for both Red 3 and Red 10.

 

[Analyzer]

definitely looks like a less finished paint job

 

[Keiko]

Yes, that's the Red Leader Pyro in your photo which is now up for auction as a Red 3. Sorry, I missed your photo before. You can see the auction site does points of comparison here:

https://propstoreauction.com/lot-details/index/catalog/319/lot/89089?url=%2Fauctions%2Fcatalog%2Fid%2F319%3Fpage%3D1%26view%3Dgrid%26catm%3Dany%26order%3Dorder_num%26xclosed%3Dno%26featured%3Dno%26key%3Dstar%2Bwars&fbclid=IwAR2GRznzpU013AuebXKjjmi1HqZ8-NnNbQhf8LjEE-zFLiDcCxq6FBpCItw

 

[Analyzer]

Wow! they added a lot more pictures than when I first saw the listing

also a few vintage pics I had not seen before like that one of it on the table

..and a cool PDF!

 

[kh39]

Thank you for sharing great pictures! I have a question. The pyro Red Leader in these pictures and video look rather cool light grey to me. Did the pyro Red Leader look rather like Reefer White unlike these picture or light grey just like these pictures?

 

[Treadwell]

I think the high grade pyros mostly didn't even make it into the film. Their first filmed explosions were too fast and without enough billowing flamage, and by the time they figured out explosions, they had to make do with hastily made pyros. Or so I seem to recall reading. Happy to be corrected.

 

[Keiko]

This is my understanding as well. In the film, Red 1 pyro is obviously used per this thread, and Red 4 seems to have a better quality miniature for its explosion as well. Red 3, 6, and 10 are really cheap looking miniatures - with no engines, simple sticks for cannons and even the wrong wings. I think they were made out of scraps from earlier explosions.

The same can be said for the Y wing explosions - Gold Leader and Gold 2 are relatively cheap looking, Gold 5 is one of the top grade pyros, known as "4 triangles".

There is documented interview material about the explosions and the trial and error for same, but a behind the scenes story I've never heard is the tale of the pyro miniatures themselves.