Holoprojectors

Although not immediately obvious on screen, the visible exterior parts of the Vickers Viscount reading lamps used for R2-D2’s holoprojectors were made from a combination of plastic and aluminum, all painted with a uniform gloss grey. Only two of the internal components inside the lamp were left as bare machined aluminum. The rear bezel with vent holes was stamped aluminum and remained unpainted, while the front-facing aluminum parts and the plastic steering grasp were finished in gloss grey.

Original Props:
The holoprojectors seen on R2-D2 in A New Hope were repurposed from airplane reading lamps. These units featured stamped aluminum bodies with an anti-corrosion finish, glass lenses, machined aluminum internal components, and Bakelite steering grasps.

Material Note:
Bakelite—an early plastic—was chosen for the steering grasp because it remained cool to the touch, allowing passengers to safely adjust the lamp even after extended use. However, Bakelite is also hard and brittle, especially with age, which likely explains why many of the holoprojector shrouds seen in ANH are cracked or chipped.

Finish:
All visible components were originally painted in a uniform glossy grey by the manufacturer. For A New Hope, the production team customized some of the lamps, repainting bezels and steering grasps in combinations of blue, black, or grey to add visual interest. By the time of The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, the props were simplified: the production team used the lamps as-is, retaining the factory-applied gloss grey finish without additional modification.

Replica Trend:
Many modern replicas use bare machined aluminum for a sleek, high-end appearance. While visually appealing, this approach is not screen-accurate to the original trilogy, where the holoprojectors featured painted finishes and included plastic components.