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Now, the story of an (nearly) unknown #starwars ship, which was entitled to a kind of rebirth after 33 years. 🥳
Dornean gunship, Braha'tok-class - Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (Richard Marquand 1983) 
Do you remember? No ? Unless you're a big fan of the George Lucas saga, it's impossible. This ship appears only briefly, on a handful of shots of the Battle of Endor. You know, this kind of shots 😄
This ship was made by Bill George, an @ILMVFX model maker. This model was fast kitbashed (a practice whereby a new scale model is created by taking pieces out of commercial kits, see @Wikipedia ).
Here before the Rebel fleet goes to Endor (a Mon Calamari cruiser is behind).
Here before the Rebel fleet goes to Endor (a Mon Calamari cruiser is behind).
Bill George: "I remember the main body being made of a very thin vacuformed fuselage of something that was on our kit wall. It was too thin to use. I filled it with urethane to strengthen it. That made the small model VERY heavy".
(modelermagic.com/?p=90967)
Here, at the bottom.
(modelermagic.com/?p=90967)
Here, at the bottom.
For the same movie, Bill George made the B-Wing.
Bill George: "When I presented it to Joe Johnston he stated that it looked like “Something from Galactica”. (That wasn’t a compliment by the way.) Honestly I didn’t even know that it was used in the film up until recently".
But it was.
But it was.
A few years ago, @pablohidalgo published a photo of the ILM model.
Since 1983, fans have spotted this ship, and someone used it in a mod for the #Lucasarts strategy game Empire at War (2006).
After Disney bought Lucasfilm in 2012, the Dornean ship deserved a comeback.
First, the ship "appeared" in books ("Lost Stars" by @claudiagray and "Battlefront: Twilight Company"), then in the movie A #starwars Story: Rogue One !
Thank you to the person who masters the red circles! 😄
Then, the ship appeared in #starwarsrebels third season final episode, Zero Hour (march 2017).
In fact, the 3D model was made for Rebels, and then improved for Rogue One. Here is a concept art:
And now, the Braha'tok-class gunship is a substantial ship of the Rebel Alliance fleet.
After 33 years.
Here in the "Rebel Files" book :
After 33 years.
Here in the "Rebel Files" book :
Thus, never lose hope! 😌
Okay this is like an endless circle, but... more info ! :)
Nice !
I said that this ship had been kitbashed. Here is a picture of @ILMVFX dating from the mid-1970s. Look at all the commercial model boxes, which were used to retrieve model elements for use in creating new ships.
Yes, even Formula One.
Yes, even Formula One.
Several people told me they had trouble finding Gunship in Return of the Jedi.
The best time to see this ship is at 00:08 in this video!
The best time to see this ship is at 00:08 in this video!
In Rogue One, at 00:36 (on the top left AND lower right), 02;00 (screen center), and others times. :-p
In Rebels, at 00:31, and one (seems to be destroyed) at 00:46 too :
In fact, we can see the Dornean Gunship better than ever at 00:43 :)
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