Gallery: The Awesomest Props From Inside ILM's Vault (And Your Childhood)

  • Image may contain Clothing Apparel Helmet and Crash Helmet
    Dan Winters
    01

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    Boba Fett helmet, *The Empire Strikes Back* (1980)
  • Image may contain Clothing Apparel Helmet and Crash Helmet
    Dan Winters
    02

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    Imperial stormtrooper helmet, *A New Hope* (1977)
  • Image may contain Whip Bracelet Jewelry Accessories and Accessory
    Dan Winters
    03

    prop-gal-whip

    Indy's leather whip, *Indiana Jones* movies
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    Dan Winters
    04

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    All Terrain Scout Transport (AT-ST) model (aka "chicken walker"), *Return of the Jedi* (1983)
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    Dan Winters
    05

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    This model of the Death Star turbolaser turret was used in the very first shot at ILM.
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    Dan Winters
    06

    prop-gal-blue-ship

    The TIE fighters from *Star Wars* got their name for a very simple reason: The crew thought they looked like bow ties. The models were actually spray-painted a light blue (a Pactra color called "stormy sea"), despite appearing white or grey in the movies.
  • Image may contain Tire Wheel Machine Car Wheel Spoke Alloy Wheel Transportation Vehicle Automobile Car and Sedan
    Dan Winters
    07

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    DeLorean DMC-12 time machine 1:5-scale model, *Back to the Future* (1985)
  • Image may contain Sphere Building Architecture Clock Tower Tower Vehicle Transportation and Boat
    Dan Winters
    08

    prop-gal-death-star

    The reason the "under construction" section of the Death Star II from *Return of the Jedi* (1983) looks so impossibly thin? ILM model makers used a roll of paper-thin stainless steel purchased from a mini-mall next door to the original building.
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    Dan Winters
    09

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    Luke Skywalker's lightsaber hilt, *Return of the Jedi* (1983)
  • Image may contain Helmet Clothing and Apparel
    Dan Winters
    10

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    Snowtrooper helmet, *Return of the Jedi* (1983)
  • Image may contain Transportation Vehicle Aircraft Airplane Warplane and Bomber
    Dan Winters
    11

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    Snowspeeder model, *The Empire Strikes Back* (1980)
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    Dan Winters
    12

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    This Sandcrawler model from *A New Hope* was so strong the ILM guys could ride it around the warehouse.
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    Dan Winters
    13

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    All Terrain Armored Transport (AT-AT) model, *The Empire Strikes Back* (1980)
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    Dan Winters
    14

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    The Ark of the Covenant, *Raiders of the Lost Ark* (1981)
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    Dan Winters
    15

    prop-gal-star-ship

    Originally, George Lucas wanted the *Millennium Falcon* to fly as a sunfish swims. He dropped the idea after he saw the finished model.
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    Dan Winters
    16

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    R2-D2, all *Star Wars* movies
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    Dan Winters
    17

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    Model maker Lorne Peterson refers to this escape pod model from *A New Hope* (1977) as "the one-week wonder" because it was made so fast—out of two paint buckets covered with plastic sheeting.
  • Darth Vader's lightsaber hilt A New Hope
    Dan Winters
    18

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    Darth Vader's lightsaber hilt, *A New Hope* (1977)
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    Dan Winters
    19

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    Alien spacecraft miniature, *Cocoon* (1985)
  • Image may contain Helmet Clothing Apparel and Crash Helmet
    Dan Winters
    20

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    Darth Vader's helmet, original *Star Wars* trilogy
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    Dan Winters
    21

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    Han Solo frozen in carbonite, *The Empire Strikes Back* (1980) and *Return of the Jedi* (1983)
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    Dan Winters
    22

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    *Messiah* command module 1:7-scale miniature, *Deep Impact* (1998)
  • TIE Interceptor model Return of the Jedi
    Dan Winters
    23

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    TIE Interceptor model, *Return of the Jedi* (1983)
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    Dan Winters
    24

    prop-gal-space-suit

    Igoe's pod from *Innerspace* (1987) was created using Formula 1 model kit bodies, with the grabber arms and thruster legs attached.
  • Ywing miniature A New Hope
    Dan Winters
    25

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    Y-wing miniature, *A New Hope* (1977)
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    Dan Winters
    26

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    Darth Vader's TIE Advanced x1 model, *A New Hope* (1977)
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    Dan Winters
    27

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    Kuwahara BMX bicycle miniature, *E.T. The Extraterrestrial* (1982)
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