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A Rebel T-47 snowspeeder art department reference model from Irvin Kershner's Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. Rebel pilots, including Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), flew modified airspeeders known as snowspeeders in the Battle of Hoth, used their tow cables to take down the Galactic Empire's All Terrain Armored Transports (AT-ATs).
The earliest snowspeeder designs were created by the original trilogy's conceptual artist Ralph McQuarrie. They featured details drawn from designs for the Y-Wing starfighters' cockpits, as well as exteriors paneled with flat steel-like sheeting. From there, visual effects art director Joe Johnston refined the design into today's famous ship.
This original snowspeeder model originates from the collection of Gerard Bourke, a member of the props team on the production. It was created by the Elstree Studios art department to allow Kershner to plan shots and block out sequences. Models of this style later appeared in production photographs of the Echo Base hangar set.
This model is constructed from paneled plastic with metal structural supports under its nose and both wings, and with components casted in plaster. It is hand-painted matte gray with red stripe decals applied under its laser cannons. Originally this model was made with the cockpit in an open position, tilted up, but the cockpit is now missing. The snowspeeder exhibits chipping, cracking, and is missing the front portion of its cockpit canopy. It remains fragile and should be handled with caution. Dimensions: 3.25" x 3.25" x 1.75" (8.25 cm x 8.25 cm x 4.5 cm)
Estimate: $3,000 - 6,000