Obi-Wan Kenobi Episode 1 Resin Stunt Lightsaber Research

[teecrooz]

Time for a new run! Is there a way to correct this for those of us without access to a lathe?

I’m not really set up to do the alteration myself either. Maybe a single part replacement run down the road would be an option.

 

[teecrooz]

Alright, I’m excited to see the most recent resin cast

Another pour in progress, I need one to fully test the new paints. Hopefully this will be the last one without the use of a pressure pot.

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[Dewy]

Something arrived today…

Compressor will hopefully be here tomorrow.

 

[Dewy]

Frustrating news today:

1. No air compressor today, it looks like it will be sometime between tomorrow and next Wednesday.
2. I think I may have a bad batch of resin. I recently ran out of the original batch I ordered and got a second batch of the exact same material. Both of the castings I’ve made from this new batch are weeping. I am measuring them out using a digital scale and get the 1:1 ratio down to the gram. Unfortunately, I didn’t notice one of them was weeping until after I prepped it yesterday when the primer just wouldn’t dry. Today the primer is tacky and there is visible seepage.

 

[Dewy]

No air compressor today. I’ve heard horror stories about Estes Home Delivery, but this is my first experience with them. It has been sitting stagnant at the delivery facility for 2 days, when I call they simply said “maybe next week”.

 

[Excelsior]

No air compressor today. I’ve heard horror stories about Estes Home Delivery, but this is my first experience with them. It has been sitting stagnant at the delivery facility for 2 days, when I call they simply said “maybe next week”.

"Maybe next week."

 

[Dewy]

I did finally get a helpful customer service rep. I’m told I will be receiving a call later today to schedule the delivery window for Monday. We’ll see if that actually happens.

 

[DRambo87]

I’ve definitely been considering it. I have a local machining job shop that would probably be perfect to take on a small run. That is further down the road though. First I want to nail the all resin hilts.

Do we think the emitter bezel is aluminum like the hero? It looks like it could be steel to me:


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Definitely steel! You can see rust

 

[thd9791]

There is tan high impact MPK resin and I’ve never had weepage, it’s like water with a tiny bit of thickener in it.

 

[DRambo87]

That is news to me regarding the pommel cubes. Of course they would be a found part... Have any of these been sourced that have the correct profile? Maybe the prop maker modified them, and that's why there are those machining marks. Either way, the fact that those marks are a perfect match, and the overall dimensions of the prop appear consistent with the hero, not to mention the location of the prop, makes an extremely good case that this is the hero, or at least what is left of it.

BTW, as you know, there are two different Qui-Gon heroes... You can tell the difference when looking at the "hooks" on the aluminum shroud by the red button. It's possible that these two heroes are kept apart--one with the salt shaker exhibits, and the other is at the ranch with the Obi hero and other TPM props. Disney owns Lucasfilm, but the ranch is directly owned by George Lucas.

Regarding why this saber would only be displayed here... who knows. Maybe Lucas just wants it to stay at the ranch? The TPM Obi hero saber has never been seen on an exhibit anywhere else. Why is there so much secrecy around this particular prop in general? Secret reference pics and such? If the original hero were to be put on display, those reference pics wouldn't be such a big deal anymore, except as documentation of the state of the prop right around the time of filming.

You may not be convinced (yet), but unless you have information that absolutely proves this isn't the hero, then I will take the evidence I am seeing regarding the unique features to be proof that it is the original. What really gets me is the weathering and machine marks. I don't see any paint flaking and revealing resin underneath on the salt shaker. This ranch prop, however, has that and the patterns are consistent with the TPM hero.

AND curious as to where the chromed AOTC hero went.. hmm

 

[DRambo87]

Okay this I’m even more skeptical of. I have never seen a second hero QGJ.

There were definitely two variations of the QG hilt.. as Excelsior has mentioned. Saberz replicated the non smoothed fangs/hooks version. The shape of the top half of that shroud is different too. However, the one Liam wore was no doubt what you and AS are replicating which is my fave!

 

[DRambo87]

I did finally get a helpful customer service rep. I’m told I will be receiving a call later today to schedule the delivery window for Monday. We’ll see if that actually happens.

Well, definitely looking forward to getting a few of these resin copies.. the progress is amazing, Drew.

 

[Dewy]

There were definitely two variations of the QG hilt.. as Excelsior has mentioned. Saberz replicated the non smoothed fangs/hooks version. The shape of the top half of that shroud is different too. However, the one Liam wore was no doubt what you and AS are replicating which is my fave!

I’m confident there was only one QGJ hero saber prop. It was modified/polished/cleaned up after the mold for the resin stunt props was made.

 

[Excelsior]

I’m confident there was only one QGJ hero saber prop. It was modified/polished/cleaned up after the mold for the resin stunt props was made.

I assumed there were two metal heroes because of the differences between the extant one's shroud tabs and those seen on the resin castings, but there is no evidence of a second hilt with a metal shroud. So your theory seems the simplest explanation... the hero was made and cast, then it was taken apart and modded, then reassembled.

 

[Excelsior]

AND curious as to where the chromed AOTC hero went.. hmm

That is in the archives. MR referenced it for their replica back in 2002, along with the other sabers they did.

 

[Excelsior]

Definitely steel! You can see rust

The part looks like aluminum to me. It appears to be a white metal, not gray like steel.

If it were steel, then the propmaker would have had to make a steel replica of the found aluminum part just for this saber only. Very unlikely. Steel takes a lot longer to machine than aluminum. Plus this part looks identical in its dimensions to all the other aluminum bezel parts on these TPM props. It would be impressive on the part of the propmaker to make that perfect of a replica just for this one resin saber. And if they ran out of the original found parts and had to make a replica, it wouldn't make sense to do it in steel. The propmaker would choose aluminum because it's a lot easier to cut, not to mention the same material as the part he'd be replicating.

There is some weathering and oxidation visible, but nothing that stands out specifically as rust on the outer bezel. We do, however, see the reddish rust on the fender washer and threaded rod--both of which are confirmed to have been steel:

 

[DRambo87]

The part looks like aluminum to me. It appears to be a white metal, not gray like steel.

If it were steel, then the propmaker would have had to make a steel replica of the found aluminum part just for this saber only. Very unlikely. Steel takes a lot longer to machine than aluminum. Plus this part looks identical in its dimensions to all the other aluminum bezel parts on these TPM props. It would be impressive on the part of the propmaker to make that perfect of a replica just for this one resin saber. And if they ran out of the original found parts and had to make a replica, it wouldn't make sense to do it in steel. The propmaker would choose aluminum because it's a lot easier to cut, not to mention the same material as the part he'd be replicating.

There is some weathering and oxidation visible, but nothing that stands out specifically as rust on the outer bezel. We do, however, see the reddish rust on the fender washer and threaded rod--both of which are confirmed to have been steel:

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You would definitely know better than I

 

[Excelsior]

You would definitely know better than I

Oh trust me, I can see why folks would think it looks like steel! But yes, aluminum can get pretty dark too, especially if it isn't anodized, and that's what seems to be the case with these bezel parts. Take a look at the aluminum alternator housing under the hood of an older car for a good example:

Replicating the look for the stunt hilt would actually be pretty easy to do with some Aluminum Black.

 

[Dewy]

Living in Los Angeles, I am fortunate to have all kinds of special effects shops within driving distance. I made the pilgrimage this morning to a place that is essentially a Smooth-On showroom. Surely this stuff will solve my issues. I’m still waiting for my air compressor, but I wanted to get at least one more decent casting so I can test out the custom paints that I ordered.



It seems I am cursed. These are brand new. Each part was vigorously shaken/mixed within its own containers then thoroughly mixed when combined. Humidity is 40-50% here, which doesn’t seem high enough to cause such problems.

 

[Dewy]

On the bright side, I did find some decent options for painting the red button and brass knob.

The resin sabers in these pictures are all Tamiya silver and Tamiya or Duplicolor black.