Joek3rr
Master Member
The first picture looks like it doesn't have notches. But the second picture it does have notches.
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- Thread starter SethS
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We have the photo evidence of both notchless and notched grips during the Norway shoot, as well as the photo where the grips have fallen off. Logic dictates that the shoot began with the notchless grips glued on, but then they fell off due to the intense cold. The notches and screws (presumably silver, then painted black at least by the time of the publicity photos and the snowspeeder escape scene, some of which was shot on location) were added to solve that problem.
Also note that, in the shot where Luke is knocked off of the Tauntaun, the prop has a proper d-ring and silver screws, which indicates the use of at least two props during the Norway shoot. One with the tri-ring (and no notches/black screws, then later with notches/screws) and one with the d-ring (and silver screws).
The Bespin/studio shoot features the idealized version of the prop As we know it, with the d-ring/notches/black screws. And the Dagobah/studio shoot features essentially the same version, but with the missing red button and the extra screws added to the upper grips. These may well be the same prop, but seen in an increasingly battered and reinforced state by the end of filming. Still up for debate.
Joek3rr
Master Member
Some of the Snowspeeder crash was filmed in Norway? I thought all of that was at Elstree?
I don't see any screws at all on the speeder escape-- I also thought that the close-ups were shot on stage. You could very well be right though.
I think that the only thing we know for sure if that they started with glued grips, they started falling off, so the silver screws were added, and at some point they were painted/sharpied/replaced to be black.
Generally speaking, the glued grips, missing grips, and silver screws seem to be what we see from stuff shot in Norway, and studio stuff is all black screws. That may not be sacrosanct in all cases, but generally speaking, that's what we see.
I think that the only thing we know for sure if that they started with glued grips, they started falling off, so the silver screws were added, and at some point they were painted/sharpied/replaced to be black.
Generally speaking, the glued grips, missing grips, and silver screws seem to be what we see from stuff shot in Norway, and studio stuff is all black screws. That may not be sacrosanct in all cases, but generally speaking, that's what we see.
The bluescreen shot of Luke jumping out just before the AT-AT’s foot crushes the speeder was filmed on the stage. But, in Norway, they filmed Hamill scrambling to get out of the smoking, full-sized speeder mockup.
The spacing is never going to be consistant They didnt have grip guides like we do. We know there are multiple hangers, so knowing they just slapped them on, no way they'll match.
I would love a pic that shows us if the early glued grip versions had six or seven grips.
I would love a pic that shows us if the early glued grip versions had six or seven grips.
The notches are there on the snowspeeder escape prop. Which must mean the screws are there, too. It’s easier to see in motion than in a screencap.
...but the spacing variations can help us identity specific props from shot to shot.
Joek3rr
Master Member
So the shot that you posted is from Norway?
The first day of shooting was for the scene with Luke scrambling out of the Wampa cave. As the story goes, it was intensely cold, and was filmed right outside the hotel where the crew was staying.
We have the photos of Hamill hanging outside the hotel in costume, and the prop has the notchless grips. And then NO grips. Everything after that seems to have the notches and screws.
I don’t have the shooting schedule handy, but logic dictates that they would have subsequently filmed the other scenes featuring Hamill in that costume during the early scenes, then moved on to the Hoth battle/snowspeeder stuff. So, I’m thinking that the shots with the Wampa attack and whatnot came early on, then then moved onto the showspeeder stuff. With TWO props being used throughout. The tri-ring version (black screws) and the d-ring version (silver screws).
The grip spacing between the silver screw and Bespin props looks pretty darn similar, so it may be that they spruced the props up for studio filming, and painted/replaced the silver screws at that time.
We have the photos of Hamill hanging outside the hotel in costume, and the prop has the notchless grips. And then NO grips. Everything after that seems to have the notches and screws.
I don’t have the shooting schedule handy, but logic dictates that they would have subsequently filmed the other scenes featuring Hamill in that costume during the early scenes, then moved on to the Hoth battle/snowspeeder stuff. So, I’m thinking that the shots with the Wampa attack and whatnot came early on, then then moved onto the showspeeder stuff. With TWO props being used throughout. The tri-ring version (black screws) and the d-ring version (silver screws).
The grip spacing between the silver screw and Bespin props looks pretty darn similar, so it may be that they spruced the props up for studio filming, and painted/replaced the silver screws at that time.
Looks that way. There’s behind-the-scenes footage of the crew on location filming those shots with Hamill and the smoking speeder.
...a trick of the light, or a screw? There don’t seem to be any on the other grips.
Also note that the clamp card has the same horizontal marking/scrape on the gold traces that the version seen in the Luke in Bespin fatigues publicity photos (and the onscreen R2 bump shot) has.
Also note that the clamp card has the same horizontal marking/scrape on the gold traces that the version seen in the Luke in Bespin fatigues publicity photos (and the onscreen R2 bump shot) has.
That's an awesome thought! Nice to think that that ring could tie the histories of those two props together! Going to have to try one out for size on my graflex tomorrow.
From what we know, the Ranch saber (which has a d-ring) isn’t an exact match for the Dagobah saber. The upper red button was missing, yes, and the lower matches some of the reference, but it’s not exact.
We also know that a Graflex (with d-ring) was initially on-set for JEDI, and that may well have been the Ranch saber.
That distinctive scuff on the clamp card in both the snowspeeder escape/R2 bump scenes indicates that either the same clamp card was used in two different props, there was ONE prop which underwent numerous changes during the rigors of filming (no notches to notches, silver screws to black, tri-ring to d-ring, upper red button lost, and screws added to upper grips), or that the tri-ring (or perhaps the entire Graflex lower) was swapped out for a d-ring when they started studio shooting.
We also know that a Graflex (with d-ring) was initially on-set for JEDI, and that may well have been the Ranch saber.
That distinctive scuff on the clamp card in both the snowspeeder escape/R2 bump scenes indicates that either the same clamp card was used in two different props, there was ONE prop which underwent numerous changes during the rigors of filming (no notches to notches, silver screws to black, tri-ring to d-ring, upper red button lost, and screws added to upper grips), or that the tri-ring (or perhaps the entire Graflex lower) was swapped out for a d-ring when they started studio shooting.
Daaaaamn!! Looking at the tri ring this whole time!! (In the snow speeder)
We always thought the notches were because of the snow shoots because of a couple shots outside without notches.
This is very interesting! Though im not sure why theyd go back to a D ring. My guess is they used a different bottom can for the internal shoots. Unless this is the misshapen SRS D ring
This is very interesting! Though im not sure why theyd go back to a D ring. My guess is they used a different bottom can for the internal shoots. Unless this is the misshapen SRS D ring
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