Colin Cantwell, who has died aged 90 after suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, brought his skills as a concept artist and model designer to the Star Wars film universe by creating spaceships, stations and vehicles that have passed into sci-fi legend.
The X-wing Starfighter, used by the Rebel Alliance in its conflict with the Galactic Empire throughout the original trilogy, and regarded as the “ship of heroes”, became a particular favourite with fans. Its split wings in attack mode form the letter after which it is named, an idea that came to Cantwell in a British pub when he saw darts being thrown and took on board the back-end design.
