Greetings,
So, where do I start? First, I would like to thank a friend of mine, Silverskyes402, for helping me obtain this beautiful piece of film history..... thanks bud.
After receiving this wonderful prop and after having some time to analyze it, I wanted to start a thread and share it with all of you. So, after careful examination, I began to realize how this prop was designed and built. I want to make clear that even though I am a professional prop fabricator for the film industry, I am in no way shape or form a leading authority on this prop. I did make several calls to fellow industry professionals trying to track down the original builders. Sadly, some of these gentleman have passed on or not in the business anymore and out of touch. Everything I discuss here is based on my experience in the industry and my examination of this prop. Also, my experience is based on industry standards as they are today. I will try to recreate the events, through my opinions, on how this prop was built. With that in mind, let's begin.
OK, so I examine this prop and the first thing that comes to mind is that it is vacuum formed. I have heard of other original heros being fiberglass as well. I noticed that it's made out of a white thin plastic. I can't be certain that exact type of plastic as the characteristics of it has more than likely changed over the years. I also don't want to try and flex the plastic and determine what it may be for fear of cracking it. The thickness varies obviously because of the stretching of the plastic during vacuum forming. At it's thickest, I measured .050 in various spots.
The emitter looks like it maybe machined and polished acrylic. I noticed tooling marks from being turned on a lathe as well as stress cracks indicative to machining acrylic. There is a red button momentary switch located on the grip which would activate lights etc. In the bottom of the handle is a square intentional cut out (not cracked) area where I can visibly see what appears to be a 9 volt battery connector. Another note.... I believe electrical tape or gaffers tape may have been the means the original prop guys used to hold the shell halves together. I say this because of the visible white plastic that had never seen any paint around the seam. I would assume the prop was originally taped together and then painted. The body of the prop is painted in what appears to be maybe black/dark grey with a hint of blue. The pictures don't show it, but there is a very minor bluish tint. Because it's an even finish, I would say it was sprayed on. There appears to be no primer of any kind that I can notice. There is also a section on either side of the prop painted with either a purple or bluish paint to cover up something that once was there. This was done with a brush and not sprayed on.
That concludes my initial examination. I will follow up with the autopsy soon but for now.... here's some pics of what I have described thus far.
Enjoy!
Kenney
So, where do I start? First, I would like to thank a friend of mine, Silverskyes402, for helping me obtain this beautiful piece of film history..... thanks bud.
After receiving this wonderful prop and after having some time to analyze it, I wanted to start a thread and share it with all of you. So, after careful examination, I began to realize how this prop was designed and built. I want to make clear that even though I am a professional prop fabricator for the film industry, I am in no way shape or form a leading authority on this prop. I did make several calls to fellow industry professionals trying to track down the original builders. Sadly, some of these gentleman have passed on or not in the business anymore and out of touch. Everything I discuss here is based on my experience in the industry and my examination of this prop. Also, my experience is based on industry standards as they are today. I will try to recreate the events, through my opinions, on how this prop was built. With that in mind, let's begin.
OK, so I examine this prop and the first thing that comes to mind is that it is vacuum formed. I have heard of other original heros being fiberglass as well. I noticed that it's made out of a white thin plastic. I can't be certain that exact type of plastic as the characteristics of it has more than likely changed over the years. I also don't want to try and flex the plastic and determine what it may be for fear of cracking it. The thickness varies obviously because of the stretching of the plastic during vacuum forming. At it's thickest, I measured .050 in various spots.
The emitter looks like it maybe machined and polished acrylic. I noticed tooling marks from being turned on a lathe as well as stress cracks indicative to machining acrylic. There is a red button momentary switch located on the grip which would activate lights etc. In the bottom of the handle is a square intentional cut out (not cracked) area where I can visibly see what appears to be a 9 volt battery connector. Another note.... I believe electrical tape or gaffers tape may have been the means the original prop guys used to hold the shell halves together. I say this because of the visible white plastic that had never seen any paint around the seam. I would assume the prop was originally taped together and then painted. The body of the prop is painted in what appears to be maybe black/dark grey with a hint of blue. The pictures don't show it, but there is a very minor bluish tint. Because it's an even finish, I would say it was sprayed on. There appears to be no primer of any kind that I can notice. There is also a section on either side of the prop painted with either a purple or bluish paint to cover up something that once was there. This was done with a brush and not sprayed on.
That concludes my initial examination. I will follow up with the autopsy soon but for now.... here's some pics of what I have described thus far.
Enjoy!
Kenney