Ready to destroy the hidden now found Rebel base once and for all, the technological might of the Galactic Empire is formidably represented by the ominous
Death Star space station, as it enters the Yavin star system.
Despite it’s intimidating on-screen presence, in reality the
model of the Death Star was only about 3 to 4 feet in
diameter. It was made from two
Plexiglas domes and lit from
inside and behind. Once painted
grey by artists Ralph McQuarrie
and David Jones, they scratched
the surface down to the clear
plastic to create all the points of
light. The space station originally had its laser eye along
the equator, and one early matte painting of it by McQuarrie would be
abandoned, replaced with a model which now had the laser
eye moved above the equator. However, the computer
graphics for the Rebel briefing room scenes for UK filming in May 1976 had already
been completed by this stage, and it was too late to
change them, so the original design can still be seen in the movie.
Enjoy this great selection of ILM behind the scenes images linked to the superb model and its filming back in late 1976...
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Original Death Star prototype model, glistening with surface weaponry, by Colin Cantwell, 1975. |
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Joe Johnston holding the Cantwell prototype Death Star model, likely circa late 1975/early 1976. |
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The second ILM prop version under construction |
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Dennis Muren checks the exterior shell rear of the later in construction Death Star which had no detailing. |
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ILM matte painting from Ralph McQuarrie for the first version of the Death Star, where the superweapon was located at its horizon. |
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Presumably a lighting test overlay for the first matte painting. |
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Various shots of the new spherical model filmed against blue screen at ILM. |
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Dennis Muren prepares to light and film the model. |
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Byron Werner and Liz Ziegler add additional light to the Death Star model. |
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Enhanced by light and mist. |
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Richard Edlund adjusting the model's stand for additional filming. |
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Additional close-up shot from 1977, this is likely a production painting than from the model. |
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More close-in details of the space station. |
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