Lorne Peterson was at Wonderfest last year, and one of the miniatures discussed was the Death Star tunnel, because we were curious about how wide the miniatures were and how they were filmed(they seem to stretch to infinity in all directions). He told us about the materials used as part of the answer, and five to six miles of cardboard tubes and three to four miles of sprinkler pipe and PVC, and seven or eight miles of wooden dowel rods were explicitly mentioned as being used because they could get them cheaply in the enormous lengths needed for each of the three tunnel sections, which were each a good
seventy-two feet long. They also used fishing poles for the floor and ceiling of the reactor core chamber, because they taper. This is all discussed in the book "Sculpting a Galaxy" by Mr. Peterson, who was the chief model maker on Star Wars in every episode of the original trilogy, so I'd take his word on it. :thumb:
He's a great guy, by the way. If you ever get a chance to meet him in person, be sure to shake his hand. Believe me, he's every bit as big of a modeling geek as we are.
Interesting story: one of my modeling buddies on Starship Modeler has a model of the Executor which is about three feet long. He had it at last year's 'Fest on the display table. Lorne Peterson wandered by and just gawked at it, then complimented him on the fine craftsmanship. My friend said it was like being told by God that he was doing a good job. :mrgreen: