STAR WARS (the original!) SS Model lights ?

[jlwshere]

I see so many wonderful works of art in the forum with fabulous lighting jobs. However, it appears that in STAR WARS (the original!) there were no interior or exterior lights on any of the models except for the Star Destroyers (and Sand Crawler).

I know the 5 foot falcon did not have it's headlights or the Colored bulbs that are seen in the exhibition tours (added for ESB) and any shots we do see of it in STAR WARS are in bright "daylight" which fills in the (passenger less) cockpit. I know that the light blasting out of the Death Star and Mos Eisley were optically added (as well as the x and y wings) but Was there a florescent light in the MF engine bay?

Can any one definitely confirm this?

Thanks

 

[JPolacchi]

Do you mean the engines?Thee s custome neon tube/lighting for the Falcon model(both large scales).The other stuff they used was the reflective tape,but I don't remember the name of it.

 

[PHArchivist]

I know that the light blasting out of the Death Star and Mos Eisley were optically added

The Death Star was clearly illuminnated from an interior light source (not sure what sort of bulb). I really don't think they enhanced the lighting in post.

 

[MonsieurTox]

There were lights on most of the models :

Here's a quick list (you can complete it) :

- Star Destroyer Desvastator : bulbs for the engines

- Star Destroyer Avenger : Fiber optic on the superstructures, bulbs in the engine bells.

- Super Star Destroyer Executor : Custom neon for the superstructures and city scape, bulbs for the engines.

- MF 32" lights for the mandibles, cockpit and probably neon for the engine

- Sandcrawler : grains of wheat all over the model

- Tydirum Shuttle : grains of wheat and neon

- X-Wings : bulbs for the engines, FO for the laser cannon tips

- Y-Wing : bulbs for the engines

- Slave One : bulbs for the engines

- A-Wing : bulbs for the engines

- Pyro AT-ST (2 footer) bulbs into the cockpit

- Blockade Runner : bulbs for the engines

- MonCal Cruiser : bulbs for the engines

- Death Star Turrets : bulbs and FO (?)

Of course, they added the true glowing light we all know by compositing, but the light of the engines allow the light to reflect realisticly on the models. And was a great help to 'track' the engines and do the compositing a lot easier. Same with the FO into the laser cannon tips. It was easier to have a right "starting point" to know where and when begins the laser.

 

[PHArchivist]

The Death Star, demonstrating approximately how it was lit:

 

[MonsieurTox]

The Death Star was clearly illuminnated from an interior light source (not sure what sort of bulb). I really don't think they enhanced the lighting in post.

My bad, I forget the DS ! :sick

It was enhanced... like the ISD,SSD or Tydirium Shuttle were. Using the go motion, they shot the models in 2 (or more) passes. First pass, the model with regular lightning, second pass, no lights, only the own model lights (so basicaly they shot only hundred of tiny light spots in case of the ISD or SSD). Then they composited both shots. The reason is there huge lightning on the set to shot the models (to allow the good focal etc) and in this case the lights of the model itself cant be seen by the cam.

 

[Treadwell]

- X-Wings : bulbs for the engines, FO for the laser cannon tips

??

 

[REL]

??

There were fiber optics in the guns on the x wings. Here's the 24 scale red 3's gun tips.

 

[bobasfett]

A lot of the larger models were also made of clear acrylic, much like the Death Star. They would then paint and 'scrape' small areas where they wanted the light to shine through.

I had no idea on the FO for the Xwing lasers....interesting. Thanks for the insight REL. As much as I probably already know the answer, are we sure they were there for production? I just am having a hard time seeing a purpose for them.....

Great thread BTW.

 

[MonsieurTox]

There were fiber optics in the guns on the x wings. Here's the 24 scale red 3's gun tips.

Thanks for the great pic Rich.

There is also famous pics in the Chronicles where you can see the wirings on the tips of the wings, for the bulbs lighting the FO.

 

[PHArchivist]

There were fiber optics in the guns on the x wings. Here's the 24 scale red 3's gun tips.

Yup... So that they could more easily go in and animate in the laser blasts, and align them properly with the gun tips...

C'MON guys! This is OLD news!

 

[MonsieurTox]

As much as I probably already know the answer, are we sure they were there for production? I just am having a hard time seeing a purpose for them.....

Great thread BTW.

Hope it helps, sorry maybe it's not clear due to my poor english :

And was a great help to 'track' the engines and do the compositing a lot easier. Same with the FO into the laser cannon tips. It was easier to have a right "starting point" to know where and when begins the laser.

 

[PHArchivist]

My bad, I forget the DS ! :sick

It was enhanced... like the ISD,SSD or Tydirium Shuttle were. Using the go motion, they shot the models in 2 (or more) passes. First pass, the model with regular lightning, second pass, no lights, only the own model lights (so basicaly they shot only hundred of tiny light spots in case of the ISD or SSD). Then they composited both shots. The reason is there huge lightning on the set to shot the models (to allow the good focal etc) and in this case the lights of the model itself cant be seen by the cam.

And now MY bad! Of course - the multiple passes to isolate the lights of the model!

I suppose in "enhance", I mean like engine flares, or otherwise artifically embellishing the light output.

 

[MonsieurTox]

And now MY bad! Of course - the multiple passes to isolate the lights of the model!

I suppose in "enhance", I mean like engine flares, or otherwise artifically embellishing the light output.

Oh ok so you're right, the lights of the DS were its own, no articial effect to enhance them !

 

[Treadwell]

Yup... So that they could more easily go in and animate in the laser blasts, and align them properly with the gun tips...

But that actually limits the choices for the animation later, rather than helping. Now you have to draw in the lasers when the light's on, rather than put them in on whatever frame you want.

I'm not saying the picture isn't right, I just find it perplexing.

 

[swpropmaker]

The guns (LEDs) on the TIE Fighter flashed for registartion for animation of the laser bolts also. Watch frame for frame of some of the shots in the X Wing cockpit and a TIE is behind..you can see them blink on and off.

Steve

 

[vaderdarth]

I believe the Devastator also had a lighted docking bay on the belly. That and the main engine pods were the only things lighted on that beastie.

Dave