X-Wing Research: Differences Between the Hero and Pyro Models

[Scott Graham]

Yep, just looked through reference this morning and noticed the chamfers on many of the closer up pics. I haven't noticed that in the kits so far, but then again haven't pulled any out to look them over before talking here.

So this is another note to take in order to replicate them accurately. As frustrating it is to answer previously answered questions at least some new light comes from all the questioning. It's too bad all of this info can't be kept in some orderly way in all these threads we have. It really takes a notebook to get all the info.

 

[TheRealMcFly]

I believe most of it is still here somewhere. There were three main threads I referenced for kit info and construction accuracy before I started a scratchbuild. The links are in the first post of my X build thread. Yes, some photos are missing but there is certainly a trail of research available for those looking to take the plunge.

Plus when folks start building the finer points are highlighted and discussed. I do not want to diminish any research thread but I think some of us are so X wing obsessed we've built a virtual model in our minds so it's sort of locked in already. It's great to discuss the details and update it once in a while, but ultimately it must be realized.

I think the best discoveries come from actually building and we as a community do share. I was satisfied with my droid plate but someone built one from scratch and noticed how the part at the end does not lay flat. I was thrilled to be able to make my own pattern more accurate as I would have completely missed this detail.

If there is to be a new location for all X related details then there would need to be a master thread for construction. And ideally each individual bird would require its own thread to serve as detailing and painting reference. Which I'm all for when more photos turn up.

 

[Nwerke]

Chamfers have come up before. The v3 and v3.1 lacked them but they're easily worked into the wings of any of the resin kits.

 

[-... . .- --..]

Chamfers have come up before. The v3 and v3.1 lacked them but they're easily worked into the wings of any of the resin kits.

That's right. And they're already there in Frank's pyro wing castings, as they were on the original pyro wing patterns. Perhaps a little less pronounced, but there.

 

[Blue 5]

I don't want to muddy already murky waters as far as Red 3 goes and I don't want to do battle with greater minds when it comes to X-Wings but I just want to ask a few questions on things that are not yet explained to me.

If you look at the leading edges of the top left and bottom right wings of Red 3 when it is "rolling over" it appears that the markings extend down the front of the wings edge.

In pics "Red 3" and "Red3a" when the ship is upside down you can clearly see what appears to be the Red marking on the edge. Yet in the third pic "Red 3b" of the ship in the archives it is not there. Has Red 3 undergone a re-paint and did this occur when they added the landing gear?

I noticed the same bleed over of the red stripe too, but since it only appears on the leading edge of the bottom wings (on top due to the roll in the pic), I assumed it was an artifact of the motion blur of the image.

 

[jedimaster]

I think we need to explore what I believe is one of Kevin's favorite ILM models...
( Runs For cover)...

 

[ralphee]

Whoa, is that a new batch of unseen prop ref Simon?
What kind of model is that? Doesnt look like any Hero i know.

Lee

 

[jedimaster]

C'mon Lee , can ya not tell by the way the paint runs into the panel lines....:behave

 

[ralphee]

An, as yet unseen Pyro? Its very nice whatever it is, makes me want to break out the Poly cement and Humbrol right away!

Lee

 

[Junk Pilot]

I noticed the same bleed over of the red stripe too, but since it only appears on the leading edge of the bottom wings (on top due to the roll in the pic), I assumed it was an artifact of the motion blur of the image.

I have to disgree with you there, Blue 5. When I look at the bottom wings (on top due to the roll) I see the colour on the leading edge.

But look at the top wings (on bottom). You should not be seeing any colour at all due to the camera angle that prevents you seeing anything from the top of the wing.

 

[Miniaturizer Ray]

But look at the top wings (on bottom). You should not be seeing any colour at all due to the camera angle that prevents you seeing anything from the top of the wing.

I have to agree with this. I'm still of the opinion that this is, in all probability, hero Red 3, but it's not the smoking gun evidence that I remembered it to be. As well as the wing front discrepancies, there's also the olive panel in front of the lower mounting hole plug. This appears to be the same shade as the noseblock underside, and therefore ought to have the same slightly pinkish tinge as the nose in the screenshot.

 

[ralphee]

Its is, 100% the Red3 Hero, the Pyro looks nothing like the bird in the screengrabs.....PERIOD....i know, its like ice skating up a mountain huh :behave.

lee

 

[jedimaster]

ITS HERO RED 3!!!! Now can we get back to my above pic please...... Jeesh.

 

[ralphee]

Simon, you cad, thats an AMT bird isnt it! EVERYBODY knows they didnt use those in filming, you nearly had me going there..... scoff!

Lee

 

[jedimaster]

Ahhh you can read me like a book Lee.:facepalm :behave

 

[Miniaturizer Ray]

Its is, 100% the Red3 Hero, the Pyro looks nothing like the bird in the screengrabs.....PERIOD....i know, its like ice skating up a mountain huh :behave.

lee

The point is, it's not 100%. Some intriguing discrepancies have been pointed out. There are also some dark patches on the leading edges of the wings that are definitely not apparent in Jason's photos, and moreover, one might expect these dark patches to wrap around into dark streaks on the outer wing surfaces, but no such streaks are apparent in any of the pictures that I've seen.

I can't find the pictures of Red 3 when it was on display in Japan, so if anybody would care to post those, I'd be interested in seeing them again.

Questioning what you see can be helpful. I caught a fair bit of ridicule when I originally suggested that the lower hero fuselages were vac-formed, but I believe that all you "experts" accept this as fact, now.

 

[Nwerke]

Since I spotted the vacform buck in one of the model shop pics, yes, pretty much.

 

[Blue 5]

I have to disgree with you there, Blue 5. When I look at the bottom wings (on top due to the roll) I see the colour on the leading edge.

But look at the top wings (on bottom). You should not be seeing any colour at all due to the camera angle that prevents you seeing anything from the top of the wing.

Actually, I wasn't saying that I rejected your observation, just what my first assumption was on what I was seeing. You're right, why can we see a little red on the other set of wings, we shouldn't see any red at all. Overspray, repaint, optical illusion; I don't know?

 

[jedimaster]

Ok .... The pic you are having trouble with. Sod the wings... If you have a look at the table top pix most of the x's on that table have some sort of overspray on the wings edge. And what type of x are most of those? Now look at the pic of the underside or PYRO Red 3 that jason showed. What color is the underside of the nose? Now look at the pic of the roll you are having trouble with... What color is the underside of the nose?

Keep in mind that colors wash out on film ie red five in the trench run and also keep in mind that models were switched, and also keep in mind that for the first 15 years of the films release nobody gave a flying **** what xwing was what and that's the way they intended it to be.

 

[Nwerke]

They probably DID intend to keep the shots straight ship for ship at a very early stage, but it didn't last long once they encountered the problems they had with the early FX shooting. Then models were switched, and repainted, and altered, and shot without motion control under sodium lighting that destroyed the yellows and greens and etc etc etc...