Main Menu Index Page About SWTNZ Links Creative Build a LightSaber The Vacuum-Saber DIY 12' Bandolier Inside the X-Wing Restoring Toys Creative Reviews Inside RC R2D2 Broken 12' R2D2 Prop Reviews The Hildebrandt's Collecting Vintage Collectibles Collecting & Pricing Toy Concepts Wampa Revealed Behind the Beast Behind the Vehicle Droids & Ewok From Steve to Star Death Star Play Sets Downloads Video Edits Rebel TieFighter Wallpapers Star Wars Browser R2M-Player Toy Company's Kenner Toltoys Palitoy Remco SWTNZ Creature Review - Behind the scenes of ESB, The Wampa Standing over two meters in height the Wampa is a stealthy predator, its white fur is the perfect camouflage and is strong enough to snap the neck of any hardy tauntaun. Wampas live in caves carved from the ice and they never hunt when hungry preferring live meat whenever possible, as such they keep their victims alive within their caves using their hot breath and saliva to suspend the prey against the cave ceiling. Well adapted at conserving heat the Wampa do not show up on most life form sensors and this is why they have escaped detection for so long and they have recently become the favored target of big game hunters.. Behind the scenes Images of ESB, Des Webb in full Wampa Costume, (Click To Enlarge) One of the most difficult creatures to bring to the screen in a realistic manner, the first version of the wampa started off as an enormous costume designed by Joe Johnston. Assigned to shooting in Finse Norway and already a tall man himself, Actor Des Webb wore the large Wampa outfit with stilts to add even more height to the creature, unfortunately stilts and snow do not mix well and a lot of film was shot of him constantly falling over. A part of the original "Empire Strikes Back" plot never made it to film which intended the Rebel's Echo Base to be the victim of chronic Wampa attacks, supposedly sections of the ice caverns were infiltrated by wampas attracted to the beeping of astromech droids. Eventually, the Rebels would figure out the reason for the mysterious attacks and succeed in capturing several Wampa's putting them in pens with clearly marked warning labels.. Behind the scenes Images of ESB, Inside the Wampas Ice Cave, (Click To Enlarge) For the attacks a Wampa suit with eerie silver eyes was used and the actors inside these heavy suits would suffer from heat exhaustion, though several of these scenes were attempted none looked good enough to commit to the final film. The labeled doors are still visible in the released version of ESB, in fact the trailer shows a scene cut from the film, while Imperials are in pursuit of the fleeing Rebels, C3PO tears a label from the door. Not seen in the trailer were the pursuing Snow troopers who enter the pen and are killed by the captured Wampas. Failing to shoot the full body wampa scenes, the film makers shot only little glimpses of the creature. For instance the arm that knocks Luke off his tauntaun is just that, only an arm and the 12 frame close up of the roaring wampa is just a puppet shot against the sky. Above, Howie Weed in full Wampa Costume and an original Concept Drawing which looks very different to what we know, (Click To Enlarge) When ESB Special Edition was made the wampa was finally shown in all its gory, no immensely tall actor or a suits incorporating stilts would be needed. Instead ILM artist Howie Weed designed and wore the new the wampa suit and a special set was scaled in such a way to make Howie look much larger than he really was. Above, Two various Kenner Wampa toys, Vintage Hoth Wampa 1981 (one of my favorites) and Wampa Cave Micro Collection play set. (Click To Enlarge) Above, POTF Wampa and Luke Skywalker.. SWTNZ Missing Scene Review, The ESB Wampa Attack Sequence Revealed When "Empire Strikes Back" was originally edited back in 1980 a very special set of scenes were left out of the final cut, these scenes depict an attack on the rebel base from hungry Wampa's, these creatures are dominant predators that reside on the planet Hoth and are a threat not only to Taun-tauns but to people also. Below is a step by step account of these missing scenes and their descriptions, we start inside the icy corridors of the rebel base where something strange has happened to some unfortunate Taun-tauns.. #1 : Medic Droid 2-1B examines the body of a dead Taun-taun. #2 : A trooper explains to Han Solo and the Sergeant that these Taun-tauns were found with their necks mysteriously broken. #3 : R2D2 is chased down a corridor by an advancing Wampa. #4 : He leads the creature to a team of troopers waiting at the corridors end, the troopers then let fire upon the raging Wampa. #5 : Two of the troopers are brutally attacked by the Wampa. #6 : Luke Skywalker fires at the Wampa with a powerful laser canon. #7 : The surprised Wampa is struck down by the deadly blast. #8 : R2D2 and C3PO discover more Wampa's behind a sealed door who are attracted to R2's high pitched whistles and beeps. #9 : The Rebels have began their escape from the base while imperial troops draw closer. #10 : As Han Solo and Princess Leia make their way to the Millenium Falcon C3PO remembers the Wampa's behind the door. #11 : He tears the danger sign away from the door and continues on his way. #12 : Imperial Snow-Troopers finally discover the mysteriously sealed door. #13 : They open the door and rush inside expecting to find Rebels within. #14 : The Snow-Troopers are attacked by the unsuspecting angry Wampa's. #15 : Vader arrives and asks if there was any rebels inside, one of the troopers answers him by saying, "I don't think so, sir". 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