Posted by admin in AircraftFeb 22nd, 2008 | no responses
The Snowspeeder is decorated to resemble the speeder designated as "Rogue One," Luke Skywalker's speeder in The Empire Strikes Back. It includes all markings, weathering and battle damage. This has been accomplished using a combination of pad printing, decals, spray painting and hand painting.To ensure intricate detail and durability, many of the fine parts have been reproduced from injection molded plastic and cold cast resin. The Snowspeeder rests on a cradle consisting of three clear, triangular acrylic supports topped with black rubber pads to protect the undercarriage of the speeder. At the climax of the Battle of Hoth in The Empire Strikes Back, the Imperial forces seemed unstoppable. The battle appeared to be one-sided as the AT-AT Imperial walkers lumbered towards their intended targets unhindered by cannon fire or Rebel heavy blasters. However, the Rebels had another weapon in their arsenal: the modified T-47 airspeeder, known more commonly as the Snowspeeder.These swift, two-man vehicles utilize repulsor-lift technology to hover above the ground. Two primary engines in the rear provide forward momentum, while a pilot and a rear gunner occupy the tiny cockpit in the center. In addition to two blaster cannons mounted atop the wings, this light-weight craft also carries a cannon/harpoon launcher in the rear. Using this harpoon and an attached tow-cable, one of these small Snowspeeders was able to topple over a mighty AT-AT. These fascinating vehicles were created by the ILM model crew in resin, metal, and plastic. There were several different sizes of miniature models created for filming. These ranged from tiny models only a few inches long, to a four-foot long model used for close-up shots like the scene when the foot of an AT-AT foot crushes Luke's Snowspeeder. Several full-sized speeder mockups were also created for action shots of the actors. Measures 16" x 14" x 4".
