Knowing that a new, bigger filming space area was going to be needed for Star Wars II, Gary Kurtz and George Lucas negotiated in advance with Elstree Studios for a new soundstage to be built for 1979 filming. The soon christened Star Wars Stage was finally near finished by June 1979 to first house the immense Rebel Hangar bay set that would showcase numerous Snowspeeder props, a full-size, newly-built X-wing fighter (with additional nose-length, wing-less partial props that would be positioned in darkened hangar bay alcoves), and the incredible full-size Millennium Falcon built in secret in Wales and transported to London for pieces re-assembly.
 |
| UK Elstree Studios production map/blueprint for the Rebel base hangar bay. |
Despite the size, however, the final stage still proved too small, with an extension built onto the end of it which also allowed for natural lighting to open through and simulate the Hoth environment outdoors for several excellent establishing shots of the bay. The set and all it house could be rearranged so that it would seem on film that there would be several hangar bays/base entrances, rather than just one.
Here's a selection of superb images from the work-in-progress hangar bay...
 |
| Note the shield door in final construction and testing. |
 |
| Image: via Star Wars Archives. |
No comments:
Post a Comment