darienvader
Well-Known Member
It's now ready for paint! Woohoo!!!
Darth Vader ANH chest box
- Thread starter darienvader
- Start date
firebladejedi
Well-Known Member
It's now ready for paint! Woohoo!!!
I look forward to seeing this painted up, can you post pics with and without the greeblies on please, thanks :thumbsup
I just got back on the RPF and saw this thread. Wish I had seen it sooner. I have some info here for you, hope it helps.
This is from an Ebay auction for the original ANH chest box.
Here is the text
138. Darth Vader chest appliance from Star Wars. (TCF, 1977) As established in the first film, this chest control panel monitors Darth Vader's cyborg implants, which keep him alive in a controlled environment within his sealed mask and body armor. This prop, constructed for the first film and appearing only in the first film, consists of a fiberglass backing plate painted black, with four resin mounting points on the back for attachment to the Vader costume. The front has red and green resin buttons on the right side, and three silver slots on the left side, which are actually coin-slots from a British vending machine. The static rocker switches just beneath are constructed of gray-painted wood, with one switch on the extreme left side painted white. Bracketing the buttons and switches are two black rods painted silver (which are said to have been conscripted from the tips of the X-Wing Figher miniatures). This piece was worn by David Prowse in costume as Darth Vader in the first Star Wars film; the higher budget of the second film, Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (TCF, 1980), allowed this portion of the Vader costume to be completely re-designed and improved. A fantastic relic from the original film, and from perhaps the greatest cinematic villain of the last 25 years! Measures 6 1/2 in. x 6 3/4 in.
And here is the pic..
thomas
This is from an Ebay auction for the original ANH chest box.
Here is the text
138. Darth Vader chest appliance from Star Wars. (TCF, 1977) As established in the first film, this chest control panel monitors Darth Vader's cyborg implants, which keep him alive in a controlled environment within his sealed mask and body armor. This prop, constructed for the first film and appearing only in the first film, consists of a fiberglass backing plate painted black, with four resin mounting points on the back for attachment to the Vader costume. The front has red and green resin buttons on the right side, and three silver slots on the left side, which are actually coin-slots from a British vending machine. The static rocker switches just beneath are constructed of gray-painted wood, with one switch on the extreme left side painted white. Bracketing the buttons and switches are two black rods painted silver (which are said to have been conscripted from the tips of the X-Wing Figher miniatures). This piece was worn by David Prowse in costume as Darth Vader in the first Star Wars film; the higher budget of the second film, Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (TCF, 1980), allowed this portion of the Vader costume to be completely re-designed and improved. A fantastic relic from the original film, and from perhaps the greatest cinematic villain of the last 25 years! Measures 6 1/2 in. x 6 3/4 in.
And here is the pic..
thomas
Ghost Host
Sr Member
It's not THE original chestbox... but a painted up copy of it...
Darth Niob
Sr Member
Red and green painted resin buttons? black rods that were silver painted? Is this the fact? Cant believe that. :confused
Nick, I believe this is a cast off original..Not the actual real deal but It's just that it's been painted and not fantasically either as GH said..The shape of the box amongst other things is the same as my cast off original :thumbsup.
darienvader
Well-Known Member
I just picked up some primer and spray paint for wood last night. Once it gets a little warmer outside, I'll apply the paint and take some additional photos with and without the parts assembled.
Thanks to you all, and especially to Cantina_Dude for your valuable input!
Thanks to you all, and especially to Cantina_Dude for your valuable input!
Darth Niob
Sr Member
Hi Paul,
its just that i never heard that the buttons and the rods on the original box were painted.
Nick
vaderdarth
Master Member
original rockers were in fact wood. Original red/green buttons were vintage lamp lenses from a military aircraft, the rods were aluminum. This is definitely a copy in the pic.
Dave
Dave
darienvader
Well-Known Member
More progress! I have the first two coats of primer on . . . now to do a few minor patches, sand, prime, sand, and apply the black coats! It's coming right along now!!!
bubba fett
Well-Known Member
Wow, this is awesome. Great job!!! :thumbsup
How did you do the countersinks so nice and square?
How did you do the countersinks so nice and square?
darienvader
Well-Known Member
Thanks all . . . the countersinks aren't all that square, but the coin slots from RussRep do fit in there rather snug. First coat of black is on:
darienvader
Well-Known Member
After wet sanding the base black with a 1500 grit paper, I applied the next coat. It came out really well:
And some close-ups of the coin slots:
And now to work on those rocker switches . . . although, I may just cast this one so they're all exactly the same. The other rocker switches I made all have a lot of bondo work to be done to them still. . . . *sigh*
Overall, I'm really proud of this piece (can 'ya tell?!?).
And some close-ups of the coin slots:
And now to work on those rocker switches . . . although, I may just cast this one so they're all exactly the same. The other rocker switches I made all have a lot of bondo work to be done to them still. . . . *sigh*
Overall, I'm really proud of this piece (can 'ya tell?!?).
Last edited:
