Are you sure those are the original cones? They look like the replica ones from a run here a few years back. Also, from my own experience, I've never been able to remove a cone from the body without possibly breaking them. Curious....
I wish they were from an RPF run and not original cones that appear to have clouded over time :lol
The cones are original as far as I know both from completely separate sources with years between buying them. The scopes were not bought from prop collecting sources they were from gun / sporting sources so there is little or no chance they are replica cones from a RPF run. I thought the cones were glass but they appear to be a strong hard plastic.
When you say curious I presume curious to my method of removing them.
Getting the cone out it is all about having the bottle to go for it
The first time I took one out I was very careful as I had no idea what was inside or how it was secured. After taking one out you realise it isn't as hard as you would think so second one was out in minutes
Basically inside the scope are ribs / hoops that are effectively teeth / grippers. You can see them in this pic. It looks like a thread but it isn't.
The base of the cone has a bulbous part on it that when pushed in snaps in place behind each rib. So you aren't just fighting one you are fighting any gripper it has been pushed into and past.
There is a small machined rectangle on each cone which I presume is for starting to remove the cone either with a specific tool it looks like a coin slot you would put a coin in and turn. On both my cones these are worn as if they have been removed in the past or previous owners have also tried to take them off. It is hard to photograph this slot but you should see it in this photo it looks like a chip but in hand it is definitely a machined rectangle. You can also see a wear ring on the base of the cone were it has been pushed into the ribs and pulled out and gripped in place.
Firstly I gripped the cone in a vice just catching the flat edge before it starts to taper (the flat part that touches onto the body of the scope). I had rubber vice guards and cloths on the cone. I pushed the protruding scope body to the side so the cone crept up one rib on one side. Take this really easy. When gripping in the vice you don't have to over do it just until you see the plastic start to flex and no more.
I then put the scope into the vice with the cone protruding (with cloths and guards again). I put a screwdriver with a cloth on the tip to prevent marking into the gap on the side sitting up so it couldn't snap back down over the rib. I then pushed the other side over the opposite direction from before and it moved the other side up a rib. From the point of getting over the first rib it wasn't hard moving the cone up by rocking it back and forth one rib at a time. It isn't going to go back down on to the grips unless pushed in again.
I have to say had I not had two scopes in hand and bought them years ago I probably would not have tried to do this.
Either way it was pointless taking off the cones for me. Cleaning the inside of the cone and outside has made no difference to them being cloudy :lol
Who made the replicas and what were they made from? I still would like a clear one for my own blaster.
Cheers Chris