Summary
- The long-lost Red Squadron Leader's X-wing miniature from A New Hope has been sold for $3,135,000, cementing its place in Star Wars history.
- The X-wing model was a key part of the Rebel Alliance versus Empire battle scene over the Death Star and has influenced the way movies are made today.
- The Red Leader's X-wing has paved the way for the use of X-wings throughout the Star Wars franchise and continues to inspire the creation of detailed miniatures in modern storytelling.
An important piece of Star Wars history is the long-lost X-wing of Red Squadron Leader as seen in A New Hope, and now it's just been sold for $3,135,000. The miniature has been considered "long-lost" for years as one of the original four miniature models created for the infamous battle scene of the Rebel Alliance versus the Empire over the Death Star in A New Hope. This scene is not only known for its impact on the Star Wars franchise, but also on the way movies are made today, paving the way for the creations of miniatures in addition to bringing the iconic X-wing look to life. Now, it's been located after many years, and it's proven to be worth a fortune.
The Red Squadron Leader's X-wing miniature has just been sold at Heritage Auctions for $3,135,000, its single red stripe confirming it to be the long-lost piece of history. The model was found with the late Oscar-winning miniature-maker Greg Jein, and it's said to be just as valuable to visual effects as the infamous ruby red slippers of Dorothy. The miniature was a part of the trench battle of the Death Star and has capabilities that include locking its S-foils into attack position.
A New Hope's Red Leader X-Wing Is A Piece Of Star Wars History
The X-wing of Red Leader Commander Garven Dreis is the one that led Luke Skywalker into the Battle of Yavin, cementing its place in Star Wars history. While this battle was its first appearance, Red Squadron was also present at battles such as the Battle of Scarif, all of which derived from the creation of this X-wing miniature that made its presence possible. Both within universe and behind the scenes, the Red Leader X-wing has paved the way for the Rebel Alliance and the use of X-wings in all of Star Wars, from this very first moment to the X-wing's most recent appearance in the Ahsoka series.
Innovations such as Red Leader's X-wing miniature have made ILM the best of the best, leading the way to other incredible inventions such as the Volume LED screen stage technology. Miniatures are still made with incredible detail to this day, from Din Djarin's Razor Crest in The Mandalorian to Moff Gideon's Imperial light cruiser - all of which are now blended with brand-new technology to bring these scenes to life. The careful work of miniatures like the Red Leader X-wing in A New Hope being continued in modern stories help to bring that familiar Star Wars nostalgia to new media, as the excitement of hearing about the one X-wing of Luke in The Mandalorian season 2 finale can be traced all the way back to this very model.
Source: Heritage Auctions