Death Star Welding Robot Miniature 01 | STAR WARS: RETURN OF THE JEDI (1983)

Sold Stock #36657 | Sold May 5 2014

Death Star Welding Robot Miniature 01

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Our expert's notes

An original Death Star Welding Droid Model Miniature created for the production of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi. Two welding droids were built in the model shop at Industrial Light and Magic, to be used for Jedi’s VFX shot number OP 11. In the shot, Vader’s shuttle arrives in the waistband of the under-construction Death Star. The welding droids were storyboarded as an element in the top of the shot, and were constructed based on this storyboard. They were not ultimately used in the shot due to time and budget concerns about completing the film. It is possible they were filmed as an element at some point, but never composited into the final shot.
This model miniature was scratch-built in the model shop alongside all of the models built for ROJ. One of the basic shapes of the piece is actually an upside-down Darth Vader helmet, likely taken from an off-the-shelf Vader plastic kit. The detail greeblies on the piece are also kit-bashed from other sources. The model is attached to an aluminum rod to allow it to be mounted for filming, and the section of the rod nearest to the model has been blacked out to allow it to be removed during optical compositing. The rods, measuring 9 inches (29cm) in length, have not been cut down – rather a custom display base has been made to accommodate their size. This model remains in good condition.
Size

Item size: 5" × 7" × 16" (12.7cm × 17.78cm × 40.64cm)

This item is located in London.