DELETED SCENE: LUKE INSPECTS A Y-WING!

Han and Luke observe the hangar activity and a nearby Y-wing fighter.

Having delivered the Princess to her supporters within the Rebel Alliance on Yavin IV, young Luke Skywalker, perhaps now feeling surplus to requirements with his task accomplished, is easily distracted by the old but impressive X and Y-wing fighters assembled within the Massassi temple, and soon goes to inspect one, watched by Han Solo, in a brief deleted scene moment from the original Star Wars, filmed as part of the first unit on the massive Stage H at Shepperton Studios from the 9th-11th June, 1976. The moment was ultimately replaced with a close-up of Artoo Detoo dismounted from the transport vehicle and with overlaid dialogue about the droid's importance from Princess Leia to General Willard (Eddie Byrne).

The overall set was supplied with 10 British extras dressed as Rebel fighter pilots, 30 as ground technicians, and 10 as Rebel Troopers, most of whom had prior appeared with the prior shooting in May of the film's finale medal ceremony scenes, also captured on Stage H. Mark Hamill had sustained a toe injury at this time of new filming at Shepperton, but was recovering.

Arriving in the Massassi Temple hangar.

General Willard (Eddie Byrne) is pleased and relieved to see Princess Leia again as Han watches and a quiet Luke moves towards the Y-wing.

Luke is distracted as he sees a nearby Y-wing fighter, whilst Han dismounts the travel vehicle.

Han watches Luke examining the Y-wing fighter's energy pod.

Han and Luke by the Y-wing which only had the one pod attachment created in the UK during studio filming, probably singular due to size issues on the soundstage for fighter prop re-positioning camera shots. Whether there was any filmed dialogue between the two characters here is unknown but not an impossibility.

'STAR WARS REBELS': THE Y-WING GAMBIT!

Image: Disney+

Protecting the vulnerable Mon Mothma, a fugitive now pursued by Imperial forces, Ezra Bridger proves his worth as a skilled Rebel Y-wing fighter pilot, as he and the rest of Gold Squadron fight off a score of TIE fighters and several Star Destroyers during the tense and exciting events of the space battle action-packed Season Three episode, Secret Cargo.

'STAR WARS' AT 45: THE Y-WING FIGHTER TRENCH ATTACK RUN!

The time for the first trench run to the Death Star's thermal exhaust has begun, by the trio of pilots comprising the speedy Y-wing bomber fighters of Gold Squadron. Despite early hopes that their attack run would be uneventful and successful once past the heavy weaponry emplacements on the surface and towers, the arrival of top pilot Darth Vader and his two TIE fighter wingmen soon see the brave Rebel pilots quickly obliterated. 

Classic 1970's interview with John Dykstra:

https://www.therpf.com/forums/threads/rpf-first-look-john-dykstra-intergalactic-man-of-magic-part-1.99564/

https://www.therpf.com/forums/threads/rpf-first-look-john-dykstra-intergalactic-man-of-magic-part-2.100149/

https://www.therpf.com/forums/threads/rpf-first-look-john-dykstra-intergalactic-man-of-magic-part-3.100686/

The fighter trio would soon be in the murderous targeting sights of Darth Vader and his wingmen.

Working from Colin Cantwell's original model concept for George Lucas in 1975, the ultimate version of the Y-wing fighter seen onscreen was once again design refined and upgraded for model miniature building and filming at ILM by Joe Johnston.

The original model design by Colin Cantwell.

Conceptual work and blueprints for the refined Y-wings by Joe Johnston.

The revised Y-wing fighter model takes shape at ILM.

Unpainted models on poles.

Joe Johnston applies paint detailing and weathering to the models.

Various angles of the Y-wing for reference.

One of the original Y-wing models with the Red Squadron markings later changed to Gold.

The models gathered for filming at ILM.

Joe Johnston at various work with the models.

John Dykstra goes through a potential move for the model during ILM filming.

Joe Johnston at work on one of the fighter models.

David Jones (?) at ILM with model and trench section.

High angle shot, that may have been for either Star Wars or Return of the Jedi. If anyone can confirm which, please get in touch.

EPISODE IX: THEIR FINAL CONFRONTATION....

It's had very little release fanfare, but the second of Dan Mumford's great art pieces celebrating The Rise of Skywalker in IMAX/AMC cinemas worldwide has now arrived online, and its another gem, showcasing the against-the-odds rush of the Resistance fighter squadrons against the overwhelming combination of the First and Final Order Imperial forces near Exagol...

'STAR WARS' AT 40: A DIFFERENT VIEW OF THE BATTLE OF YAVIN!

The classic space fighter craft of the original STAR WARS, most notably Darth Vader's unique TIE fighter, are locked in fierce combat around the Death Star, as seen in this special composition work that was used for various promotional/poster items in 1977 going into 1978, especially for Coca-Cola and in the later Japanese marketing.

Having done much of the laser blasts/engine airbrushing to effects composite publicity shots at that time, we assume artist Ralph McQuarrie was involved in this great poster too...

'STAR WARS' AT 40: ENTER: JOHN DYKSTRA!

Adapting and improving on existing technology and techniques to revolutionise the realms of special effects in 1977 for Star Wars, Special Effects chief John Dykstra, former assistant to another effects legend, Doug Trumbull, was a lucky hiring for Lucas and Kurtz, at a time in 1975 when none of the Hollywood effects elite were available to work on the project, or thought that the film's effects couldn't be realized for the screen from the printed page and concept paintings. From scratch, building a whole new computer controlled camera system along the way- the Dykstraflex, Dykstra and a variety of fresh talent would prove them wrong, though the setting up time for the equipment and filming proved an early and continuing irritant for Lucas, and a strained relationship with Dykstra, founding the director' Industrial Light and Magic company with much of the income that came in with Lucas's long-awaited profits for American Graffiti.

Dykstra and editor Richard Chew talk about Star Wars:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=64&v=sgQL-ckabuQ

THE CLONE WARS: A STRATEGY IS FORMED...

In their Republic Cruiser hangar bay, Anakin, Artoo and Ahsoka discuss their planned attack/bombing strategy against the massive and dangerous Malevolence cruiser with Plo Koon and Admiral Yularen, in a scene from THE CLONE WARS early Season One episode, Shadow of Malevolence.

'STAR WARS' AT 40: "THEY CAME FROM BEHIND!"

Fierce and determined, Darth Vader begins his systematic termination of the trio of Gold flight pilots as the first Rebel attack run through the Death Star trench is soundly defeated, and time begins running out for our heroes.

'STAR WARS' AT 40: SPEEDING TARGETS!

The Y-wing fighters continue their speedy trench run towards the target shaft of the Death Star, but danger in the form of Darth Vader and his wingmen isn't far behind.

Closer detail model shot of the Y-wing.

'STAR WARS' AT 40: Y IS FOR Y-WING!

Dennis Muren readies one of the Y-wing models for blue screen filming at ILM sometime in late 1976. The colour scheme for these craft was originally red but later changed to yellow, presumably when the Blue flight of X-wings changed colour designation to Red by the Summer of 1976. It was a change to the Y-wings anticipated with time by the UK crew, however, as the one-off partially built full size prop at Shepperton Studios would have the replacement yellow colour.

An early Y-wing with the red covering.

https://starwarsaficionado.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/ilm-classic-image-living-in-box.html

https://starwarsaficionado.blogspot.co.uk/2011/01/ilm-classic-image-y-wing-close-up.html

'STAR WARS' AT 40: MODEL ASSEMBLY!

Designer Joe Johnston and the original ILM model making team of STAR WARS (including Grant McCune, Paul Huston,Steve Gawley and Jon Erland ) pose for this terrific image at Van Nuys, alongside the models they'd create that would fuel the imaginations of fans of all ages worldwide, and propel all kinds of merchandise iterations for decades to come.

http://www.starwars.com/news/paul-huston-on-making-models-and-history-for-star-wars-a-new-hope

'STAR WARS' AT 40: DESCENT TO THE AXIS!

Above the Death Star, diversionary X-wing fighters peel off and dive towards the space station's surface, in this great imagery that was likely unused/rejected test optical composite shots later used as promotional imagery. In the completed film, the fighters descend like this but not with the Death Star background.

Unused ILM storyboard of X and Y-wing fighters peeling racing around the Death Star surface.

'STAR WARS' AT 40: SHEPPERTON FLIGHT!

The superb X-wing fighter prop takes to the air at Shepperton Studios, suspended by a crane wire support whose entry point above came via a specially created hole in the soundstage ceiling at Shepperton, supervised by John Stears and his team- the only way the scene could be realized practically. This iconic moment was also shot from numerous angles for the editorial process, in order to make it look as if more than one X-wing was actually taking flight.

John Stears (under the camera crane) confers on the Shepperton set.