Spacecraft discovered in cardboard box belonging to late model-maker Greg Jein becomes the ‘most expensive Star Wars screen-used prop sold at auction’
A long-lost prop from the original 1977 Star Wars film has sold in an auction for a record-breaking US$3.135m.
The prop, a 20-inch model of an X-Wing starfighter that was used in the climactic battle sequence of Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, had been considered missing for decades before it was discovered in a cardboard box in the garage of the Oscar-nominated model-maker Greg Jein. Jein died in May last year at the age of 76.
On Sunday the X-Wing became the “most expensive Star Wars screen-used prop sold at auction”, according to a statement from Joe Maddalena, an executive vice-president at Heritage Auctions, who facilitated the sale.
Man all this time it’s just been chillin in the garage! That’s pretty awesome.
How does one just forget that they have one of the most famous scale models in movie history just lying about in the car-hole?
Given the sheer amount of times extremely rare and expensive collectibles/art was discovered to be in someone’s storage, completely forgotten, I’m not surprised.
The article does not mention which X-Wing it is. And from the single image provided we cannot tell. I just watched the Death Star trench scene twice and almost all of the shots of the X-Wings are from the other side. I figured for $3.1million it is likely Red Five, but as Luke is exiting his X-Wing you can clearly see there is no damage.
Anyone know which model this is?
Is this the info you were looking for?
It is one of just four known “hero” models that were built for closeup shots, featuring detail including articulating wings, working lights and battle scars.
The model stood in for the X-Wings known as Red Leader, Red Two and Red Five, the latter flown by Luke Skywalker.
It is. I missed that in the article. Thank you.
Oh no, that means you watched the trench scene twice for no reason… better watch it again to be sure.
My wife was rather confused when I sat down and fast forwarded to the Battle of Yavin and began watching (and quoting) the rest of the movie. She finally asked what was going on. I said, “it is the 16th, time for my monthly rewatch of the trench scene.”
