Dave,
That casting has been floating around for sometime in one generation or another.
This version is from the pyro molds and all of the others I have seen have been remolded a few times.
Judging from the color or resin, that is a really old casting.
Also, I dont think I have ever seen it as complete, or in as good of shape.
Sadly, that particular resin, doesnt hold up well over time like the newer stuff, and some of the shrinkage that you can see, is probably more from the resin deterioration rather than from generational degradation.
That old smelly yellow resin is also prone to Bubbles, just as the real pyro castings were (same or similar type of resin no doubt).
When you sand it, where a mask, its nasty stuff.
Anyhow, several versions of that have been posted here, Im not surprised many of the newer members are so taken by it.
They probably dont remember the previous versions of it like us old farts.
The "Put together from exploding parts" story from the Dysktra shop probably has some roots in reality.
Here is what I know. Is it the source of your story? Maybe? No idea.
But take a listen.
It was actually, grant McCune's shop, they did the pyro shots. When Grant was moving his shop (1980ish), a box was found by John Eaves (Google him) was working at Grants shop at the time. John found a box of "Parts" stored high up on a shelf. John said he opened the box, and nearly soiled himself.
Understandably. I know I would have.
When JE asked about the parts, Grant said they had been been left over parts from the PYRO Xwings, to include the actual wing and engine master (Probably the butt plate is also THE master, as its the same resin as the wings.) an unused built gun, and a fuselage that had been damaged and not used, all from 1977.
(One more thing, I {and John even} thought the engine was a casting. When I demolded it, the turkey feather fell off.
My Heart stopped, the "heat sink" was a casting, flat that fell out.
The engine was actually real kits parts, packed with 30 year old clay)
Grant gave the parts to John with his blessing. John, who worked throughout the industry, and knew many of the actual ANH model builders, collected some of the parts that were missing that would complete the kit.
He got the parts, from left over production castings that the original model builders who had kept or recovered from the ones that were destroyed.
Eventually, John had a complete copy of an XWING, mostly from real production parts, some small details from real kits parts, like replacing the phantom turkey feathers that were damaged, canon "ring"s...etc.
Now, John had to repair the fuselage, as it was in pretty poor shape having been crushed on one side. The Canopy, originally part of the hull, he removed completely, and figured he would just find another.
The nose, he didnt like and opted for replacing it with a casting from one of of the other versions. He did keep the original nose though incase he wanted to change it back.
John had his castings for years. He had planned to mold em, and make a few kits for friends, but never got around to it. They sat in mold boxes, ready for RTV for years.
Eventually, they were loaned to a little Company called ICONS who sold was was essentially a PYRO RED 5.
When John got the parts back from ICONS, they were in poor shape. ICONS had not treated the parts well. Once again he restored them, got them ready for molding, and again as before they sat. He promised himself, they would not be loaned out again.
Years later, after being approached by another company called MASTER REPLICAS, John agreed to loan his parts out once more, but insisted they NOT be sent to CHINA.
So MR agreed to have HMS, who John new, mold the XWING PARTS and send a set of 1630 (Non shrinking resin) to Hong Kong.
The parts would not leave Los Angeles. Unfortunately, HMS was in the middle of moving the shop, and said it would be 8 months before they could touch the project.
Moe and I were already involved with the project, as we part mapped the Xwing and supplied a set of parts to MR. Many members here, unsung hero’s each, provided info or parts that Moe and I didn’t know, or knew but didn’t have. It was truly a team effort.
Anyways, Master Replicas asked me, if I could mold the part sooner than HMS. I told them two weeks, and two weeks later they had a several sets of castings. Some were used as paint masters, one set was sent to HK, were it was scanned, and altered to match the HERO RED 5 reference that MR had, and also adjustments were made to account for the generational and time Shrinkage.
In the transition between MR to EFX COLLECTIBLES, the XWING project was cancelled, reborn, and engineering prototype created, and then completely discarded.
The entire project was started over, referencing more of the hero XWINGS, and photos that had only recently surfaced.
The result was the EFX RED 5. Now some folks say its all wrong and the whole thing is WAY to big. Only the body was supposed to be adjusted, I think the language barrier, company changes, and usual challenge of producing something overseas, actual kits parts were made larger, when they should not have, the turkey feathers, Saturn engines….etc.
Well, truth be told, while the turkey feathers are the worst offenders, the Saturn Engines are just slightly bigger, same with phantom engine, the R2 Strip is exactly the same size as John’s casting. The cockpit looks a bit wide to me and probably is, but, I like the EFX XWING. If you had a HERO XWING from ILM in from of you, and you built an EXACT DUPLICATE, its still just an interpretation. TWO THINGS cant be the SAME thing.
The EFX XWING is unique and highly collectible in its own right as it should be regardless of the slight liberties taken with its design.
Back to your casting, That’s the story has I was told, but John Eaves himself. Im sure there are details John might add if he was telling you all this himself, and I hope he forgives me if I have added more or left out something, but Im going from memory.
Hope that provides you some insight. Enjoy your casting, its as special as any.
See pics here:
http://www.hobbymatrix.com/models/xwing/xwing.html
Frank Cerney
