Star Wars Celebration Red 1pyro model
- Thread starter swgeek
- Start date
Keiko
Sr Member
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.
Analyzer
Master Member
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?
"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
Sr Member
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.
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
Master Member
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
Sr Member
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.
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Keiko
Sr Member
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:
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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
Sr Member
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.
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.
