First design stage – sketches

I get to work late that night, rough sketching out the ideas for what becomes the X-wing and Tie fighter (later to become an Interceptor) on the back of a piece of cardboard packaging that I’d received a vinyl album in through the post. Oddly enough, most of the final forms are in there – re-instating Raleigh badges, using cogs for engines, the bike frames, tubing, lasers etc, but its still tatty. You can vaguely make out the words ‘Skywalker’ and ‘Vader’ in my six-year olds’ handwriting.

I call my mate Richard the next day – a BMX collector and walking encyclopaedia on anything with wheels on. I ask him which are the most available BMX frames to buy to make a sculpture. He hits the nail on the head.

‘Grifters, Vin. You’ve got to use Grifters. They should be affordable and they came out around the same time as the original film’

The pre-cursor to the modern BMX. Nice one – I owe you.