'STAR WARS' AT 45: DARTH VADER's DEATH FLIGHT!

In his advanced prototype TIE fighter and with loyal wingmen nearly an equal to his considerable piloting skills, the Lord Darth Vader has successfully destroyed two prior bombing flights of Rebel fighters that had penetrated a potential weak spot in the Death Star's defences. But with this final flight trio of X-wing fighters to whom he's now pursuant, Vader senses something unusual about the lead Rebel pilot and his latent skills in the Force. The Dark Lord's near successful attempts to shoot down Luke Skywalker soon come to no avail, however, thanks to the last minute arrival of a certain Corellian smuggling vessel...

Originally, it was planned that Darth Vader would be housed within a standard TIE fighter during the fast paced trench run chase/battles, but Lucas decides in post production that his craft should ultimately stand out to viewing audiences in the sequence alongside his wingmen, with money being made in the ILM model budget to see-in the necessary change requirements. A shot would be added to Post Production (the last change made to the film) by Lucas clarifying that Vader would survive the battle, his ship hurling out into space before he stabilises it and flies off.

Various storyboards.

Revised storyboard to incorporate Vader's new TIE design.

Side angle design by Joe Johnston.

Middle section final construction.

Gorgeous final detailing.

Two storyboard art pieces by Joe Johnston.

One of Vader's wingmen is suddenly taken out by the arriving Han Solo.

Early prototype for revised Vader TIE design.

Steve Gawley working on the model in varying stages.

In the model shop...

Ready for filming.

Various angles of the finished model.

Joe Johnston checks one of the model's fin's prior to filming.

Lorne Peterson and Grant McCune during filming on the ILM blue screen stage.

Classic BTS image of Dennis Muren with the models.

Filming the trio's departure from the Death Star hangar.

More filming images.

David Jones making some attachment checks to the model.

'STAR WARS' AT 45: ENTER THE X-WING FIGHTER!

Red Five (and Artoo) continue their attack on the Death Star surface in this special image composition used for publicity and merchandising.

The fifteen minute countdown to the planet Yavin's destruction has begun, and the Rebels have sent out their flight of thirty X and Y-wing fighters to attack the fearsome Death Star battle station and destroy it via its thermal exhaust port weakness...

Originally created as a prototype model for Star Wars by Colin Cantwell, based on three craft ideas concocted in the most basic sense by George Lucas, the legendary X-wing fighter, an older vehicle in the saga's historical timeline pushed into upgrade service by the Rebellion, would be enhanced further in the design stakes by conceptualist Ralph McQuarrie, then refined further to its ultimate onscreen visage by the talented Joe Johnston at ILM, from 1975 into 1976.

How to Build an X-wing, 50 Years Later | ILM.com

The original Colin Cantwell prototype reference model.

Joe Johnston concept art for the revised X-wing fighter.

Design schematic - year and project unknown.

Dave Beasley, Steve Gawley and Joe Johnston with an in-development model at ILM's Model Shop.

The nose cone take shape.

Creating the articulated wings.

Adding refinement details.

The model kit needed to make one fighter.

Lorne Peterson with an unpainted model.

Either a lightweight model or one needing painting.

Two X's awaiting painting.

Rear detailing.

Droid technical position area view.

One of the original Blue Squadron models before the paint scheme and squadron colour became Red.

Close-up look at the fighter.

Red Leader and Red Five models.

A great shot of the models awaiting filming.

David Jones works on one of the iconic original models.

Ready for filming.

Filming Red Leader's X-wing.

Test with an X-wing model on strings.

The Dykstraflex at work.

Bruce Logan adjusts the model for filming.

Dennis Muren with two X-wings.

John Dykstra and colleagues during filming.

Pyrotechnic legend Joe Viskocil puts a charge in a model, watched by Joe Johnston.

The X-wing's rear charge explodes against blue screen filming.