Star Wars X-wing fighter model sells at auction for $3million

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An original model of an X-wing used in the final space battle of 1977’s Star Wars has sold for $3.135 million at a Heritage Auction in Dallas.

The 20-inch miniature sold this week, and had been one of four ‘hero’ models built for close-ups during the seminal scene.

Some others had already been accounted for – but this one, part of the newly unearthed collection of late Oscar-nominated modelmaker Greg Jein, had long been considered lost.

Bidding Sunday subsequently began at $400,000 but quickly burgeoned into the millions – before it was snatched up by an unidentified super fan.

First reported by The Hollywood Reporter, the transaction shatters all previous records of most expensive screen prop sold at auction from the iconic film.

An original model of an X-wing used in the final space battle of 1977’s Star Wars sold Sunday for $3.135 million at a Heritage Auction in Dallas

The 20-inch miniature sold this week, and had been one of four ‘hero’ models built for close-ups during the seminal scene

Joe Maddalena, executive vice president of Heritage’s Hollywood memorabilia, celebrated the sale in a statement.

‘Heritage just set the record for the most expensive Star Wars screen-used prop sold at auction,’ said Maddalena of the model, which was found last November by friends of Jein while clearing out his garage.

‘The worldwide response to the Greg Jein collections been outstanding a true testament to Greg and all he accomplished as visual effects artist and collector,’ the exec added, hailing the miniature maker for his own work.

Known for models used on Star Trek, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and even Avatar, Jein died in May of last year aged 76, leaving behind a trove of memorabilia in the process.

Featuring detail including articulating wings, working lights, and battle scars, the just-sold X-wing was found hidden in the modelmaker’s floorboards at his home in LA, hidden in a box filled with packing peanuts.

The rest of his collection, which included an original Stormtrooper costume, an astronaut suit from 2001: A Space Odyssey, and miniatures from Battlestar Galactica, sold Sunday as well, Maddalena revealed – likely fetching a pretty penny considering Jein’s lifelong devotion to the craft.

This dogged determination is likely what led him to somehow securing what many memorabilia experts have referred to as model-making’s ‘White Whale’ – especially when it comes to Star Wars.

Now nearly a half-century old, the franchise’s inaugural installment has since gained cult status – and many of the items that went into its creation can now be valued in the millions.

On Sunday, the X-wing took the cake in terms of Star Wars-related sums secured at auction – beating out those fetched by the famous R2-D2 droid in 2017 – $2.76 million – and a near identical X-wing in June of last year bought for $2.3 million.

On Sunday, the X-wing took the cake in terms of Star Wars-related sums secured at auction -beating out those fetched by the famous R2-D2 droid in 2017 – $2.76 million – and a near identical X-wing in June of last year bought for $2.3 million

Some others had already been accounted for – but this one, part of the newly unearthed collection of late Oscar-nominated modelmaker Greg Jein, known for his work on Star Wars and Battlestar Galactica, had long been considered lost. He died in May of last year at age 76

Featuring detail including articulating wings, working lights, and battle scars, the just-sold X-wing (a similar model pictured) was found last year in the modelmaker’s floorboards, hidden in a box of packing peanuts

Bidding Sunday subsequently began at $400,000 but quickly burgeoned into the millions – before it was snatched up by an unidentified super fan

Built by Industrial Light & Magic and not Jein, it was believed to be lost when the studio moved north to San Francisco following the movie’s release – which saw millions see the X-Wing and three others seek to destroy the Death Star.

Several ‘pyro’ models were also built – with a much simpler design – so that they could then be blown up during what was framed as a dangerous, daunting mission.

The four ‘hero’ models, as a result, featured more intricate painting, wings that spread open into ‘Attack Position,’ a mini pilot, internal wiring to power lights, and minute details like blast marks and heat-scorching – in essence, a collector’s dream.

A few have been sold since – including the aforementioned figure made to look to be flown by Red X-wing Squadron Leader Garven Dreis, a character played by the late Drewe Henley.

Stories of hero models that went unaccounted for when ILM changed headquarters have resonated since – paving the way for the discovery of this figure, also a Red Leader, which also appeared in part as the ship for Red Two, and most notably, Luke Skywalker’s Red Five.

A few have been sold since – including the aforementioned figure made to look to be flown by Red X-wing Squadron Leader Garven Dreis, a character played by the late Drewe Henley.

VFX historian Gene Kozicki – one of the few that found the ship while cleaning out old friend Jein’s garage – told The Hollywood Reporter: ‘This model has not been displayed or modified since it left ILM.’

A time capsule back to the film’s 1976 set, ‘It became something of a mythical ‘white whale’ — the missing Star Wars X-wing,’ he said.

Confirming the discovery, he immediately realized the figurative weight of the miniatured.

‘For those of us that grew up in the ’70s or ’80s and those of us that work in visual effects,’ the Face/Off and Flight of the Phoenix effects artist said, ‘this model is as significant a find as the ruby red slippers or the Maltese Falcon.’

The buyer of the model, as of Monday, remains unknown.