“There and Back Again; A Mystery Chunk Tale”

[Liam Lafferty]

We can try to be organized-- but there are tons of lurkers and low posters and other forums altogether just as interested in this that have no interest in being a part of the community as much as getting vintage legit parts for themselves.

As a lurker/low poster I just wanna say being on the rpf and gathering knowledge and seeing the great folks in this community is just as much a part of these props as the movies are. I mean the hours spent on the v2 alone I'm sure exceeds the time spent to build all the props in star wars.

 

[James Kenobi 1138]

Unfortunately how you ‘wish things were” is completely unrealistic to how things are. What you want is in the “spirit of discovery” people immediately announce their finds so that information is available to everyone in real-time.

For me it is about the spirit of discovery, unrealistic or not. I've been posting in this thread (Tie Pilot Chest Box gear found part search) and also doing searches on my own trying to help find this part.

I don't have, or will ever have, a Tie Fighter pilot costume and I have no financial stake in Tie Fighter pilot costumes. But I really want to find this part, help find this part, or learn what this part is from the person who does discover it. I'm not passionate about Tie Fighter pilot costumes, but RBJ is very passionate about it, and I want the part discovered for him- not for me. I'm happy to use my time and resources to help in any small way I can if it helps to discover what this part actually is, even though I don't need one and will never buy one.

In my older age I guess I'm nostalgic for the RPF of yesterday when props are just hobbies not businesses and we were all in it for the fun and discovery. I guess I'm antiquated and obsolete in that way.

And you’re also being hypocritical when you say that you dislike the ‘secrecy’ and that there shouldn’t be room for secrecy in the prop community when you yourself directly benefited from such ‘cloak and dagger’ in obtaining one of the most desired pieces in our community in the Derwent Balance Pipe at far below market value I might add.

I do see that situation differently, because when that engine was purchased off-board the discovery of the part had already been made and was public. Anyone could have found that engine and out-bid us, and we were not keeping the discovery of the part from others in the prop community, but I understand how it can look hypocritical and I'm sorry if I appear hypocritical to others.

I'll admit I should not have said anything about how the boot studs were sold or should have been sold (in my opinion), that was a mistake by me. I'm happy to apologize to any and all involved for what I said, my intention was not to make anyone feel bad about their decisions or make anyone feel like what they did was wrong. I'm sorry if I made anyone feel that way.

I do really dislike when someone knows what a part really is, and watches us in the prop community twist in the wind with our speculation, searches, and inaccurate replicas while they post publicly that they know what it is but won't say for whatever the reason. I've seen that on the RPF on-and-off over the years and it always frustrates me.

The situation was handled as best as it could have been by those involved and, again, I apologize if I hurt anyone's feelings as it was not my intention. I wish nothing had been said at all until the part was fully revealed, but we can't change the past we can only move forward. I was never upset with people involved, only the situation, and while I don't feel any ill-will toward anyone I'm sure I've burned some bridges but I'm hopeful they can be rebuilt stronger in the future. I am sorry, for my part, and thankful for the hard work and dedication for those who brought this part to the community.

 

[Mouse Vader]

As a past master of misinterpretation (aka autism) I think the above is a prime example. Written forum posts ( 'social' media in general) are notoriously prone to it. In this instance my take on gjw 's comment is that BRR's (&\co) actions appear the same as an old boys network. ie. the same visible result but entirely different mechanism & ethos. I'm guilty of it in this case too - check my earlier posts. But I paid attention (eventually) to what BRR was saying & doing & can only apologise for what I posted early on. I applaud what they tried to do here & yes it turns out it was doomed from the start. Doesn't mean that they shouldn't have tried.

James Kenobi 1138 (and anyone else for that matter) In relation to what I've just put - picking apart some/anyone's post, so I have painfully learned myself, is in general not the way to go. Posts not being a real time 2 way face to face discussion is hugely open to misunderstanding that then escalates into stuff being written & read in an emotional mind set. Leading to more & often harsher misunderstanding & then hasty words. I get the gist of what you've been saying, I know the feeling & I've trodden on other peoples feelings via the same route. It's been reciprocated with interest. What was done was done. There is no set protocol for this sort of thing on the RPF. Let's all learn from it.

For everyone, overall, the important thing is BRR did tells us & has not stinted on that info. THANK YOU BRRogers !

 

[Zombie Killer]

but the impatience and incredible pressure forced our hand.

OH NO WHAT WILL THEY SAY ABOUT ME. Are you serious ? My god, its a prop part. THIS is what keeps you from sleeping? Years back when i found the Catalyzer and posted pics of it with the ID plate blacked out half the board went nuts. "how dare you not tell us after you spent 100's of hours searching 100's of thousand of aircraft parts" " how dare you say its a $50k part" "you are a lier" People got real nasty. You know what i did? I laughed, and laughed .....and laughed and waited for one of the pissed off people to go search and find it. Funny. They found it in 1 day. Yup, they got off their lazy arses and did the leg work. Now i just dont tell anyone anything. I wait for others to find it and then i say " Ding ding ding good job" like the VOM mic element on Hans belt. That was ID'd 5 years ago just before i quit with SW props, hell i gave one to Kurtyboy and he didnt even use it! lol (i love you brother). I may try to steer others if i see them going down the wrong path so they dont waste money......but hey i have wasted ALOT of money on alot of parts that end up being wrong.......which is another cost people who search end up having to swallow that is not considered when the right part is found and resold. Should the person who did the leg work not recoup some of that money? Or do you call them out for "price gouging" because they dont sell for pennies over what they paid for the actual part? Dont like it? Go find it yourself. Much easier said then done. There are alot of highly sought after parts that are ID but not shared. Why? Just read this thread. Let this be a lesson to those who have not been in this community long. Its like this with prop parts, its like this in Studio scale and it 1000 times worse with the Vader Mafia. The Star Wars prop community is one like i have never seen (well the gun community is pretty bad too) their passion is boarder line unhealthy. People fight and argue for stuff that does NOTHING to improve their lives. They think it does until one day they wake up and say "Holy **** i wasted all my money for the last 20 years on crap instead of my retirement" You dont call it crap now but someday 90% of you will. You'll realise what you've done with your money and you'll sell a few props, and then you'll feel the weight lift and sell more and before you know it it will be mostly gone and the life that is in front of you will be the most important thing and not **** that sits on a shelf. Ya if you have unlimited cash this wont apply to you but for the other 90% of us poor folk it does.........sorry this rant is bigger then i planned but i typed it and im posting it.....cause im old and dont care.

 

[thd9791]

Hey, so shouldn't we be posting links to the sales threads on here, for people who aren't part of the in-group?

 

[Halliwax]

OH NO WHAT WILL THEY SAY ABOUT ME. Are you serious ? My god, its a prop part. THIS is what keeps you from sleeping? Years back when i found the Catalyzer and posted pics of it with the ID plate blacked out half the board went nuts. "how dare you not tell us after you spent 100's of hours searching 100's of thousand of aircraft parts" " how dare you say its a $50k part" "you are a lier" People got real nasty. You know what i did? I laughed, and laughed .....and laughed and waited for one of the pissed off people to go search and find it. Funny. They found it in 1 day. Yup, they got off their lazy arses and did the leg work. Now i just dont tell anyone anything. I wait for others to find it and then i say " Ding ding ding good job" like the VOM mic element on Hans belt. That was ID'd 5 years ago just before i quit with SW props, hell i gave one to Kurtyboy and he didnt even use it! lol (i love you brother). I may try to steer others if i see them going down the wrong path so they dont waste money......but hey i have wasted ALOT of money on alot of parts that end up being wrong.......which is another cost people who search end up having to swallow that is not considered when the right part is found and resold. Should the person who did the leg work not recoup some of that money? Or do you call them out for "price gouging" because they dont sell for pennies over what they paid for the actual part? Dont like it? Go find it yourself. Much easier said then done. There are alot of highly sought after parts that are ID but not shared. Why? Just read this thread. Let this be a lesson to those who have not been in this community long. Its like this with prop parts, its like this in Studio scale and it 1000 times worse with the Vader Mafia. The Star Wars prop community is one like i have never seen (well the gun community is pretty bad too) their passion is boarder line unhealthy. People fight and argue for stuff that does NOTHING to improve their lives. They think it does until one day they wake up and say "Holy **** i wasted all my money for the last 20 years on crap instead of my retirement" You dont call it crap now but someday 90% of you will. You'll realise what you've done with your money and you'll sell a few props, and then you'll feel the weight lift and sell more and before you know it it will be mostly gone and the life that is in front of you will be the most important thing and not **** that sits on a shelf. Ya if you have unlimited cash this wont apply to you but for the other 90% of us poor folk it does.........sorry this rant is bigger then i planned but i typed it and im posting it.....cause im old and dont care.

No joke... many nights I have gone sleepless looking for this stupid thing lol

The day Bryan found it we were talking and I told him I didn’t want to know! Don’t tell me the name I want to find it myself

11 straight hours of the worst anxiety I’ve ever felt lol

Found the chunk at 1am, so excited I went to bed at 3:45am

But yes I have had my nights having a hard time falling asleep because of props.. I have even dreamed about discoveries

 

[Mouse Vader]

I'm in the tell & be damned camp. If I spend money on a hobby to find stuff out that's up to me. If can get some back selling surplus stuff that's good but it's a bonus. If I spend hours & hours researching for a hobby (& I have & not just SW) then that's my time to 'waste'. If I were to expect to be paid 'expenses' for this then that makes it a business IMAO & not for me. If I can save others time & money by sharing what I've learned then I do. Letting the scalpers & co interfere with that can lead to just as much time & money being wasted by those who continue to search in vain for a something that's already been found.

 

[Clutch]

Now someone find the gdmf AT-AT Pilot boots. I've been looking for those things for at least 13 years. Lol!

 

[Edraven99]

Hey, so shouldn't we be posting links to the sales threads on here, for people who aren't part of the in-group?

Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering. Patience you must have, my young padawan.

 

[kurtyboy]

"... suffering leads to finding the part!"

 

[teecrooz]

Sold most of mine from my first pair of boots to rpf members who had contacted me at cost. The next pair that should arrive this week will be in the junkyard once I remove the studs.

Markets been set offsite. How do you feel about it now?

 

[Sieg]

Sold most of mine from my first pair of boots to rpf members who had contacted me at cost. The next pair that should arrive this week will be in the junkyard once I remove the studs.

Markets been set offsite. How do you feel about it now?

I'm actually pretty mad and disappointed. You'd think there would be more respect for the community. Hopefully I can nab one when you put em up on the junkyard.

 

[khal1993]

Sold most of mine from my first pair of boots to rpf members who had contacted me at cost. The next pair that should arrive this week will be in the junkyard once I remove the studs.

Markets been set offsite. How do you feel about it now?

View attachment 1342959View attachment 1342960View attachment 1342961View attachment 1342962

How has the market been set offsite? I am a member here and Roy of WannaWanga also sold the studs that he had on his online storefront before me? It's far easier for me to list these on my store than it is to accept orders via PM. Payment and shipping can be handled much easier.

I was coming here to share the link to other RPF members and looks like you beat me to it...

 

[teecrooz]

How has the market been set offsite? I am a member here and Roy of WannaWanga also sold the studs that he had on his online storefront before me? It's far easier for me to list these on my store than it is to accept orders via PM. Payment and shipping can be handled much easier.

I was coming here to share the link to other RPF members and looks like you beat me to it...

You’re welcome! Happy to help direct people to the product while mine are still en route.

Everything I said was factual. You graded and priced and posted them on your site and not the rpf. Isn’t that setting the market offsite? You chose to read it as a negative. Also, I’d be happy to adjust my pricing if that’s what people want. That’s why I asked people their opinion. It’s a lot of work removing these, packing and shipping.

 

[Dann]

Well, hopefully we can get some good replicas, soon. Here's some updated model shots!

 

[khal1993]

You’re welcome! Happy to help direct people to the product while mine are still en route.

Everything I said was factual. You graded and priced and posted them on your site and not the rpf. Isn’t that setting the market offsite? You chose to read it as a negative. It isn’t price bashing because I didn’t say anything about the price, good, bad, or indifferent. Also, that rule only applies to rpf listed sales. Also, I’d be happy to adjust my pricing if that’s what people want. That’s why I asked people their opinion.

I haven't questioned how factual your comment was? I'm just slightly confused by what you've said. I know you're not price bashing either. I never mentioned or accused you of that.

This is why I brought up Roy in the first place. You know Roy well. I don't see any comment from you earlier in this thread saying Roy set the market offsite, sharing screenshots of his listing, when he added them to his store previously? Or when Scott sold his on the Facebook groups? Only for me

Using your same logic, wouldn't you agree that Roy or Scott set the market offsite before I did?

I'd also appreciate if you didn't tell me how I chose to read a comment. I read it completley neutral. It wasn't a negative comment. It wasn't a positive one either.

 

[DarthWilder]

Well, hopefully we can get some good replicas, soon. Here's some updated model shots!

That's great, Dan! Although I'd still prefer the original wonky fastening method.

 

[James Kenobi 1138]

The funny/sad part of all this is that real Obi grenades sell for $1500-$2000 and real Obi boosters sell for $3000-$6000 but people are selling real boot studs for $3-$20 each yet that’s what’s tearing us apart at the seams.

 

[teecrooz]

No tearing here. I’ve certainly sold things for profit, so I get it. Hell, I have a full set of mint display Obi-wan parts that one day I might sell for the right price. The shear number of hours I’ve spent researching, locating, fostering relationships, locating, buying, etc makes those prices high for me. Also, I don’t really want to sell it.

In this case I even sent Roy a mint stud and I think I was told he is working with Khal on that project. These will get replicated and by several people. Real pieces typically command a higher price than the replicas of ones. I actually think Khal’s pricing is pretty on par with what I anticipated.

 

[Dann]

Even printing some!

This is the previous model, so the space between the pyramids is too large, but you get the idea!