12-05-2009, 07:08 AM
These models were originally made with a polyurethane resin fuselage,and polystyrene bottom on some. These were formed from a buck that was made by casting the original model over a wooden form. This was made from urethane.
The resin of these was originally a catapillar yellow that was painted over with a tan primer over the pyro models,and a black primer on top of that. The same treatment was used for all models. The tan wasn't satisfactory,as you couldn't tell where all the white paint was applied evenly,so it was decided to use black under the white. This is why you'll see some patches that are dark yellow/orange in colour,and not tan where the paint was intentionally removed. The same is also true for the four foor Return of the Jedi model. Polyurethane resists aging in colour,and it's easier to use - more than other resins,which is why it was used. Remember,this was new technology back in the day. It took several tries by the ILM team in small quatities to get this down without having to throw away a lot of expensive product.
When we were all a lot younger,all you had to choose from is the MPC model,or the Maxi-Brute model. This latter was also formed from the same buck - not simply measured,then a scratch made version offered to the public. Yes,the Star Wars chronicles is wrong most of the time. That lends me to believe that this guy was making a lot of his misinformation up,or he was high at the time he wrote it.
The ILM models were kitbashed to save a lot of time,and money to make an entirely new vehicle design. This also saved them from having to make forms for a lot of small details,and complex parts with the new moulding technology that was shown to them by a few experienced mould makers at the time.
The resin of these was originally a catapillar yellow that was painted over with a tan primer over the pyro models,and a black primer on top of that. The same treatment was used for all models. The tan wasn't satisfactory,as you couldn't tell where all the white paint was applied evenly,so it was decided to use black under the white. This is why you'll see some patches that are dark yellow/orange in colour,and not tan where the paint was intentionally removed. The same is also true for the four foor Return of the Jedi model. Polyurethane resists aging in colour,and it's easier to use - more than other resins,which is why it was used. Remember,this was new technology back in the day. It took several tries by the ILM team in small quatities to get this down without having to throw away a lot of expensive product.
When we were all a lot younger,all you had to choose from is the MPC model,or the Maxi-Brute model. This latter was also formed from the same buck - not simply measured,then a scratch made version offered to the public. Yes,the Star Wars chronicles is wrong most of the time. That lends me to believe that this guy was making a lot of his misinformation up,or he was high at the time he wrote it.
The ILM models were kitbashed to save a lot of time,and money to make an entirely new vehicle design. This also saved them from having to make forms for a lot of small details,and complex parts with the new moulding technology that was shown to them by a few experienced mould makers at the time.