Back when they made the first one, there was no CGI, just model work, full sized scenes and props, and a fantastic miniature camera that was developed by Lucas' Industrial Light & Magic.
That always fascinated me, and I read a fair bit on the subject because of it. That camera is what made the very first scene (of the Imperial ship before the scroll) even possible. It wasn't at all clear it would work, but not only it did but it set the visual "feel" for the rest of the film.
The Millennial Falcon model was made from a great pile of plastic model kits and plasticard bits, including a 1/48 Monogram B-29 kit or several, the cockpit area of which gave rise to the cockpit of the Falcon. The idea of the turrets controlled remotely from blisters is also a B-29 hallmark.
Well spotted!
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