Restoring the "Zombie Tauntaun" - completed! See 11-18 post!

TomSpinaDesigns · 10-08-2011, 12:16 PM

Hey all,

This week, we started a new series on our Facebook page. We'll be showing a behind the scenes look at our work restoring an original Tauntaun face prop used in the Empire Strikes Back.

I first heard of this piece over 10 years ago, when it was on display at a Planet Hollywood. (We'll be posting some vintage pics of it too). It was already in rough condition, and I wished I could do something for it. At the time I had no idea that some day that very piece would be in our studio, being carefully brought back to life.

We dubbed this the Zombie Tauntaun, based on its appearance on arrival. Mike Thomas, my right hand man at the studio, has been working on this for a few weeks now, and we've got some great photo updates to come.

I hope you enjoy the pics to come... see you on Facebook!
Tom

Want to see what happens? Click the Zombie Tauntaun and Follow us on Facebook!

apollo · 10-08-2011, 01:32 PM

Wow! You have your work cut out for you on this one!

PHArchivist · 10-10-2011, 08:53 AM

I'll be watching this thread with great interest!

superDrool · 10-10-2011, 09:03 AM

holy crap. That does look like a lot of work. Restoration has its greatest rewards when complete though.

RoCKo · 10-10-2011, 09:56 AM

Please post pictures here too for those of us who don´t have a facebook account!
Great project!

TomSpinaDesigns · 10-10-2011, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PHArchivist

I'll be watching this thread with great interest!

I thought you might be... Rob's the one who sent me the pics of this prop in Planet Hollywood all those years ago!

I posted Rob's pics in today's update. Even back then, the tauny needed some TLC!

Tom

TomSpinaDesigns · 10-10-2011, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RoCKo

Please post pictures here too for those of us who don´t have a facebook account!
Great project!

Hey RoCKo... this is the business facebook page, which is visible to anyone, no account required... have a look and enjoy!

Tom Spina Designs | Facebook

Thanks!

Tom

RoCKo · 10-11-2011, 02:11 PM

Thanks Tom for posting the link but unfortunatly i still can´t see the page.

I have no idea why but it might be not visible for european people???

StarKill3r · 10-12-2011, 07:40 AM

Subscribed and like the page on FB. Looking forward to seeing progress on a great piece.

Jedidentist · 10-12-2011, 12:50 PM

Oohh...great theme for Halloween! Good luck!

TomSpinaDesigns · 10-13-2011, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RoCKo

Thanks Tom for posting the link but unfortunatly i still can´t see the page.

I have no idea why but it might be not visible for european people???

Very odd! I double checked our settings and we should be visible to all. Maybe it's a country thing?

Rest assured, we'll be posting a nice update on our site for this as well... and I'll happily post some of the progress and BTS pics here on the RPF too when the time comes.

best,
Tom

Nairod · 10-13-2011, 02:44 PM

Good luck with this project.

No doubt that this prop will have a new glory!!!

klamathpro · 10-14-2011, 12:18 AM

And I thought they smelled bad....

......

.....

..... on the outside.

RoCKo · 10-14-2011, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TomSpinaDesigns

Very odd! I double checked our settings and we should be visible to all. Maybe it's a country thing?

I found it´s due to my cookie settings, i tried your link in a different browser and it works just fine!
Thanks Tom, my fault!

TomSpinaDesigns · 10-17-2011, 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by klamathpro

..... on the outside.

LOL... yeah, a LOT of that joke around the studio with this one in here!

Quote:

Originally Posted by RoCKo

I found it´s due to my cookie settings, i tried your link in a different browser and it works just fine!
Thanks Tom, my fault!

Excellent! Glad to hear it. I hope you enjoy the pics

Tom

handler · 10-17-2011, 03:05 PM

Hey Tom, it's looking great! Thanks for the updates, I can't wait to see it completed!

Madrid Boba · 10-17-2011, 03:28 PM

Tom...simply amazing !!!!

Thanks for sharing

Alfredo

TomSpinaDesigns · 10-24-2011, 04:44 PM

Thanks guys... keep watching. The Tauntaun is getting closer to done. Lots of other fun projects being posted soon too, of course

Tom

blewis17 · 10-27-2011, 08:57 PM

Tom

great work!

Klwl · 10-27-2011, 09:11 PM

I still want one for my wall

TomSpinaDesigns · 11-18-2011, 11:34 AM

Restoration complete

We're all happy to see this back in better form and the client is thrilled. Please see our site for the full update!

Star Wars Tauntaun from the Empire Strikes Back - Restored!

And check out the Youtube vid for more pics: Star Wars Tauntaun Original Prop Restoration - YouTube

I hope everyone enjoyed the Facebook series. Please keep your eyes on our Facebook page for more behind-the-scenes shots of our upcoming projects!

Thanks again!
Tom

HDPE · 11-18-2011, 11:40 AM

Well done

apollo · 11-18-2011, 12:51 PM

Another Brillant save or in this case built from almost the ground back up!

Onlyalad19 · 11-20-2011, 01:03 AM

Wow, you brought it back from the dead! Well done, it looks fantastic.

DaddyfromNaboo · 11-20-2011, 03:57 AM

Really awesome! Still, the poor fellow looks really tired. That´s what decomposition can do to you, I guess...

Michael

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10-08-2011, 12:16 PM	#1
TomSpinaDesigns formerly Wampa Join Date: Jul 1999 Location: New York Posts: 10,773	Restoring the "Zombie Tauntaun" - completed! See 11-18 post! Hey all, This week, we started a new series on our Facebook page. We'll be showing a behind the scenes look at our work restoring an original Tauntaun face prop used in the Empire Strikes Back. I first heard of this piece over 10 years ago, when it was on display at a Planet Hollywood. (We'll be posting some vintage pics of it too). It was already in rough condition, and I wished I could do something for it. At the time I had no idea that some day that very piece would be in our studio, being carefully brought back to life. We dubbed this the Zombie Tauntaun, based on its appearance on arrival. Mike Thomas, my right hand man at the studio, has been working on this for a few weeks now, and we've got some great photo updates to come. I hope you enjoy the pics to come... see you on Facebook! Tom Want to see what happens? Click the Zombie Tauntaun and Follow us on Facebook! Last edited by TomSpinaDesigns; 11-18-2011 at 11:34 AM.

10-08-2011, 01:32 PM	#2
apollo Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 14,750	Re: Restoring the "Zombie Tauntaun" - watch the progress! Wow! You have your work cut out for you on this one!

10-10-2011, 08:53 AM	#3
PHArchivist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Southern California Posts: 16,902	Re: Restoring the "Zombie Tauntaun" - watch the progress! I'll be watching this thread with great interest!

10-10-2011, 09:03 AM	#4
superDrool Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Connecticut Posts: 1,191	Re: Restoring the "Zombie Tauntaun" - watch the progress! holy crap. That does look like a lot of work. Restoration has its greatest rewards when complete though.

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10-10-2011, 09:56 AM	#5
RoCKo PRE...wait for it...MIUM Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Germany Posts: 1,257	Re: Restoring the "Zombie Tauntaun" - watch the progress! Please post pictures here too for those of us who don´t have a facebook account! Great project!

10-11-2011, 02:11 PM	#8
RoCKo PRE...wait for it...MIUM Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Germany Posts: 1,257	Re: Restoring the "Zombie Tauntaun" - watch the progress! Thanks Tom for posting the link but unfortunatly i still can´t see the page. I have no idea why but it might be not visible for european people???

10-12-2011, 07:40 AM	#9
StarKill3r Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 47	Re: Restoring the "Zombie Tauntaun" - watch the progress! Subscribed and like the page on FB. Looking forward to seeing progress on a great piece.

10-12-2011, 12:50 PM	#10
Jedidentist Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Sudbury, MA Posts: 1,642	Re: Restoring the "Zombie Tauntaun" - watch the progress! Oohh...great theme for Halloween! Good luck!

10-13-2011, 02:44 PM	#12
Nairod Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 93	Re: Restoring the "Zombie Tauntaun" - watch the progress! Good luck with this project. No doubt that this prop will have a new glory!!!

10-14-2011, 12:18 AM	#13
klamathpro Banned Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 35	Re: Restoring the "Zombie Tauntaun" - watch the progress! And I thought they smelled bad.... ...... ..... ..... on the outside.

10-17-2011, 03:05 PM	#16
handler Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 282	Re: Restoring the "Zombie Tauntaun" - watch the progress! Hey Tom, it's looking great! Thanks for the updates, I can't wait to see it completed!

10-17-2011, 03:28 PM	#17
Madrid Boba Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Madrid, Spain, Europe Posts: 267	Re: Restoring the "Zombie Tauntaun" - watch the progress! Tom...simply amazing !!!! Thanks for sharing Alfredo

10-24-2011, 04:44 PM	#18
TomSpinaDesigns formerly Wampa Join Date: Jul 1999 Location: New York Posts: 10,773	Re: Restoring the "Zombie Tauntaun" - watch the progress! Thanks guys... keep watching. The Tauntaun is getting closer to done. Lots of other fun projects being posted soon too, of course Tom

10-27-2011, 08:57 PM	#19
blewis17 Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 959	Re: Restoring the "Zombie Tauntaun" - watch the progress! Tom great work!

10-27-2011, 09:11 PM	#20
Klwl Join Date: May 2010 Location: Ottawa, Canada Posts: 282	I still want one for my wall

11-18-2011, 11:34 AM	#21
TomSpinaDesigns formerly Wampa Join Date: Jul 1999 Location: New York Posts: 10,773	Re: Restoring the "Zombie Tauntaun" - watch the progress! Restoration complete We're all happy to see this back in better form and the client is thrilled. Please see our site for the full update! Star Wars Tauntaun from the Empire Strikes Back - Restored! And check out the Youtube vid for more pics: Star Wars Tauntaun Original Prop Restoration - YouTube I hope everyone enjoyed the Facebook series. Please keep your eyes on our Facebook page for more behind-the-scenes shots of our upcoming projects! Thanks again! Tom

11-18-2011, 11:40 AM	#22
HDPE Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: The Cloud City. Posts: 634	Re: Restoring the "Zombie Tauntaun" - completed! See 11-18 post! Well done

11-18-2011, 12:51 PM	#23
apollo Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 14,750	Re: Restoring the "Zombie Tauntaun" - completed! See 11-18 post! Another Brillant save or in this case built from almost the ground back up!

11-20-2011, 01:03 AM	#24
Onlyalad19 Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 95	Re: Restoring the "Zombie Tauntaun" - completed! See 11-18 post! Wow, you brought it back from the dead! Well done, it looks fantastic.

11-20-2011, 03:57 AM	#25
DaddyfromNaboo RPF Staff - Formerly ManfromNaboo Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Germany Posts: 9,050	Re: Restoring the "Zombie Tauntaun" - completed! See 11-18 post! Really awesome! Still, the poor fellow looks really tired. That´s what decomposition can do to you, I guess... Michael

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