Adam Savage's ZF-1 (Fifth Element)
- Thread starter CaptainEO
- Start date
We don't have any finished ZFs yet and will never sell complete ones unless they are our own. We may do one more run of parts but do the live fire version. It is different than this one that was based on the flame thrower gun. I would have to redraw all the front parts except for the blue nozzle and it's mounting bar. Have to finish this one first though.
Feraud
Sr Member
Very cool video. Thanks for posting it.
It's the research, research, building, new discoveries, and re-building that is part of the enjoyment!!
Glen I was reading a thread from a few months ago
Others may know more then me but there was a killer finished one
that was unreal. I could be wrong but think it was around 10k I figured it was the same sellers . Why I asked why he didn't go for the finished model.
Might have been a one off custom . The gun was 100 pct spot on exact
crazy sick. It had moving parts etc . It really was an amazing job . Maybe Adam had seen it also have no idea. Does that ring any bells??
marsattack
Sr Member
I saw that one , and it was not 100 percent exact.
In fact there was a few things inaccurate. It was the one pictured at someone's get together party right?
It was very nice .
Just to clarify though,
Adam is building one Of ours as pictured in the video.
I can't say for sure but the one in those pics you refer to could have been one of Adam's old ones or belongs to one of Adams friend.
I have an early pic of Adams first one and that looks like it's the one.
In fact there was a few things inaccurate. It was the one pictured at someone's get together party right?
It was very nice .
Just to clarify though,
Adam is building one Of ours as pictured in the video.
I can't say for sure but the one in those pics you refer to could have been one of Adam's old ones or belongs to one of Adams friend.
I have an early pic of Adams first one and that looks like it's the one.
Nope it was not Adams friend or party thing. Someone on here had it commissioned might have been RK he has a huge replica collection . From what I remember it had a firing missile , Thing was off the chain mind blowing killer .
Remember its was very late when I was reading it and i am NOT a expert on the gun by any means . But my honest opinion it would be very hard to make
a replica nicer then this was .
marsattack
Sr Member
Planet, that's superkrates zf.
RK had that commissioned,
Yes it's very nice, again that is not what Adam has.
Ours is all machined alloy parts and we are still doing it.
Kurts one , I think it's mostly resin with some exceptions.
Yes it's been very hard to build an acurate piece. We scale it and draw it.
We carefully take each piece and examine the hell out if it .
each screw , each thread and ech part is engineered to fit perfectly.
Maybe you missed our thread.
RK had that commissioned,
Yes it's very nice, again that is not what Adam has.
Ours is all machined alloy parts and we are still doing it.
Kurts one , I think it's mostly resin with some exceptions.
Yes it's been very hard to build an acurate piece. We scale it and draw it.
We carefully take each piece and examine the hell out if it .
each screw , each thread and ech part is engineered to fit perfectly.
Maybe you missed our thread.
Thats what I said i thought he had it commissioned guess my memory is pretty good lol.
I understand yours is an all steel version and I am sure its great to.
I assume they made a stunt version maybe thats what its more towards.
Or just a kick a** Piece they did that if you ask me.
i am sure I did miss the thread . I had never seen anyone make a replica of it before so resin or not that thing is the bomb . I think from what your saying you had the original and took it apart and measured it one piece at a time
machined each piece cool congrats man . I can't say how accurate RK is to yours but the thing blew my hair way back man lol .
I will have to look for your story on here . Sound like a very cool endeavor
Unforgiven
Active Member
Big Mythbusters fan - had no idea Adam Savage was a member here (I'm new myself). I am humbled by the amount of individual and collective talent on this site! 
Will
Will
marsattack
Sr Member
no probs Planet, it is a great "plug" for us and all in the run.
I have to milk it for all its worth!!lol
I post here what Adam will end up, and not sure how you missed the thread, as its still going.
Also I cannot sound modest when I say, but I am sure Adam will vouch for this, there is not another like this other than the real one.
again quality of parts
mars
I have to milk it for all its worth!!lol
I post here what Adam will end up, and not sure how you missed the thread, as its still going.
Also I cannot sound modest when I say, but I am sure Adam will vouch for this, there is not another like this other than the real one.
again quality of parts
mars
Actually planet No, every drawing i did was based on pictures Art Andrews took at comiccon last year, pictures LDR took at prop store and screenshots. I have never held or seen the real ZF. Adam was a bit mistaken when he said we had access to measure the original. We did not. We had photos and an RS switch to scale off of.
There were no stunt versions of the ZF. This is not something you mold and cast in resin.
Kurts offering is great but a different cat. Like Mars said, his is mainly resin ours is cnc'd aluminum like the original. They are both great ventures but we both had different end games. We wanted the balls out, no compromise all aluminum copy of the original using the same switches and parts. Thats not to say Kurt has worked any less or hard on his. He did a great job too and i do appreciate it when he refers to ours as the Uber-accurate. If you want a nice ZF copy for a decent price Kurts is a deal and you can buy it all at once. Ours takes more time as we have to make parts a few at a time so we don't go broke. We probably have over $20k in receipts from this thing.
There were no stunt versions of the ZF. This is not something you mold and cast in resin.
Kurts offering is great but a different cat. Like Mars said, his is mainly resin ours is cnc'd aluminum like the original. They are both great ventures but we both had different end games. We wanted the balls out, no compromise all aluminum copy of the original using the same switches and parts. Thats not to say Kurt has worked any less or hard on his. He did a great job too and i do appreciate it when he refers to ours as the Uber-accurate. If you want a nice ZF copy for a decent price Kurts is a deal and you can buy it all at once. Ours takes more time as we have to make parts a few at a time so we don't go broke. We probably have over $20k in receipts from this thing.
I should add, the frame was already designed by Mars and LDR when i came on board. I did some tweeking to the numbers but that part was mostly done when i joined and Mars did a great job figuring it out and LDR did a great job gettin it in the computer. Also all Arts reference came in after that too.
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no probs Planet, it is a great "plug" for us and all in the run.
I have to milk it for all its worth!!lol
I post here what Adam will end up, and not sure how you missed the thread, as its still going.
Also I cannot sound modest when I say, but I am sure Adam will vouch for this, there is not another like this other than the real one.
again quality of parts
mars
I can see why its unreal!
My hair just blew back again LOL
Any idea what the weight will be on the thing?
Adam is going to need a sling or a set of dumbbells so he can start
pumping up his arms to be able to carry it lol
Really super prop man congrats ! 20k already wow it has to be one the most expensive prop replica guns done.
ADam really wants ultra accuracy when he goes for a prop .
I will be watching the video was great . Thanks for clarifying who made what
both are mind blowing pieces for any collector .
You made the ultimate Hero
Mars any idea what it cost the production to make this ?? It must have been insane .
marsattack
Sr Member
Zombie mentioned over 20 k ,
I think I can easily vouch for 28 k
Plus an insane 3.8k approx in postage costs.
This is all up for all 13 made not one!
It was not until Matt Munson mentioned the logistics of this , that I actually did a quick number count.
I can't imagine the hours and money Adam put in his first one.
I cam tell you the the hours of drawing , picking up parts , redoing parts , working with machinists , we had 4 altogether , and most important comtrolling other people's money has been and currently is exhausting!
To answer the big question , what does this cost?
When we finish not sure but at one point I asked around as someone wanted in and there was no spots.
They offered around 3.5k and no one wanted to sell their spot.
Now with the video plug , like I said on my thread , the guys investments has quadrupled. Lol
Unless I had another I would never sell it.
I think I can easily vouch for 28 k
Plus an insane 3.8k approx in postage costs.
This is all up for all 13 made not one!
It was not until Matt Munson mentioned the logistics of this , that I actually did a quick number count.
I can't imagine the hours and money Adam put in his first one.
I cam tell you the the hours of drawing , picking up parts , redoing parts , working with machinists , we had 4 altogether , and most important comtrolling other people's money has been and currently is exhausting!
To answer the big question , what does this cost?
When we finish not sure but at one point I asked around as someone wanted in and there was no spots.
They offered around 3.5k and no one wanted to sell their spot.
Now with the video plug , like I said on my thread , the guys investments has quadrupled. Lol
Unless I had another I would never sell it.
Oh so its not a one off for Adam your making 15
of them , that correct? But you have to construct it yourself yes as he is doing . Sorry just got confused lol
I would love to know how much these costs the production must have been six figures even back then .
marsattack
Sr Member
Lucky 13 not 15 but they will be all different as some have airlifts , some not, some will have less moving parts and so on but from the same run.
Would have not the faintest idea what a prop department would allow for a prop, I guess 100k?
More??
Mars
Would have not the faintest idea what a prop department would allow for a prop, I guess 100k?
More??
Mars
