Starfleet Jedi

I read some time ago that the models in TPM were not CGI but physical ones, solid stuff (which I prefer for a good number of reasons).

If true, how can it be that there have not been any pictures on internet of these models?

I was always under the impression that the vast majority of models for the prequels were CGI models. CGI, especially for that generation, still required a lot of computing power that made it expensive, but I suppose there comes a point where props and models simply become even more expensive (the large studio model for the SSD, for example, is reportedly one of the most expensive props ever built and made up a significant part of the budget of ESB and ROTJ, or so I hear). Plus, George Lucas heavily sold the movies on pioneering "whiz-bang" computer special effects. Thus, I would expect that whatever source you read that from was in error.

Yes, there were traditional physical models built of the Trade Federation Battleship and the Republic space cruiser, as well as models used for the battleships' interiors and landing craft. Models were also built of Theed city and other locations. [1]

Alas, I don't know anymore where you can see the behind the scenes photos of all this online.
-Mike


[1] Cinefex 78, pages 84 through 164.

ILikeDeathNote wrote:I was always under the impression that the vast majority of models for the prequels were CGI models. CGI, especially for that generation, still required a lot of computing power that made it expensive, but I suppose there comes a point where props and models simply become even more expensive (the large studio model for the SSD, for example, is reportedly one of the most expensive props ever built and made up a significant part of the budget of ESB and ROTJ, or so I hear). Plus, George Lucas heavily sold the movies on pioneering "whiz-bang" computer special effects. Thus, I would expect that whatever source you read that from was in error.

Actually, and to a good convincing extent, TPM highly relied on physical models. The waterfalls of Theed being salt, the podracer arena at Mos Eisley being largely made of solid stuff, with the people being coloured ear sticks, etc.
Even for RotS, Mustafar's lava or the embarkation ravine on Coruscant, with all those Venators parked, were first made from real stuff before being enhanced with CGI.

I have found a large picture of a standard battleship, small scale model with medium detail.




This is from the SW Exhibition, that's been touring the world since '07 I think.
According to the fact page, there are "over 240 original objects, costumes, props, drawings, vehicles and models."
Taking their word, they're not replicas. Some stuff looks in such good shape though, it's hard to say. But I found pictures of the crowd in the podracer arena, and it's exactly like it was shown in the making of, so I suppose these models are the original ones.
There's plenty of models, walkers, speeders, a TPM Republic cruiser, some podracers, etc.

Mr. Oragahn wrote: According to the fact page, there are "over 240 original objects, costumes, props, drawings, vehicles and models."
Taking their word, they're not replicas. Some stuff looks in such good shape though, it's hard to say. But I found pictures of the crowd in the podracer arena, and it's exactly like it was shown in the making of, so I suppose these models are the original ones.
There's plenty of models, walkers, speeders, a TPM Republic cruiser, some podracers, etc.

During the OT, Lucas and his assistants used kitbashing because it was cost-effective while being convincing, and indeed, it's still being done a lot today; but with the money he had in 1998 and the money he has now, he can easily afford custom molds for props, even if it'll only ever be used once; though this is really only cost-effective for smaller props, which the TF ship seems to be.

ILikeDeathNote wrote:

Mr. Oragahn wrote: According to the fact page, there are "over 240 original objects, costumes, props, drawings, vehicles and models."
Taking their word, they're not replicas. Some stuff looks in such good shape though, it's hard to say. But I found pictures of the crowd in the podracer arena, and it's exactly like it was shown in the making of, so I suppose these models are the original ones.
There's plenty of models, walkers, speeders, a TPM Republic cruiser, some podracers, etc.

During the OT, Lucas and his assistants used kitbashing because it was cost-effective while being convincing, and indeed, it's still being done a lot today; but with the money he had in 1998 and the money he has now, he can easily afford custom molds for props, even if it'll only ever be used once; though this is really only cost-effective for smaller props, which the TF ship seems to be.

Trouble is, during the film, there are all these flyby shots, when first, the yatch, and later, the N-1s, fly around the droid control ship. There were lots of details there, but were these high detail shots made in CGI, or were they part of a very large model for the special battleship?

I have a picture of a real quadgun turret that sits on a surface, this surface being a portion of the hull of the ship.
If it's CGI, I just wish there were a ZOIC in ILM to show high detail shots of the CGI model.
Lucas has always been so retentive with his CGI models...

Mr. Oragahn wrote: Trouble is, during the film, there are all these flyby shots, when first, the yatch, and later, the N-1s, fly around the droid control ship. There were lots of details there, but were these high detail shots made in CGI, or were they part of a very large model for the special battleship?

I have a picture of a real quadgun turret that sits on a surface, this surface being a portion of the hull of the ship.
If it's CGI, I just wish there were a ZOIC in ILM to show high detail shots of the CGI model.
Lucas has always been so retentive with his CGI models...

The N-1 starfighters and Amidalas yacht were made as models, sometimes mounted on a classic motion control rig, and later post-production enhanced with CGI. The same is true of the batteship turret scenes; it is a large scale model enhanced with CGI. In some cases the models were painstakingly scanned into a computer and a digital model of them made. This was especially true of Amidala's yacht where it was vital to create a realistic look effect for the smooth, shiny hull and it's reflections. So the in-flight scenes are a CGI model, and in the case of the "on location" scenes, a 3 meter long physical model.
-Mike