ANH Vader chest box..think i've found the 'source item'

[Qui-Gonzalez]

Well, there are surface irregularities (waves) on the face of the box. You can see them in the movie.

No disrespect intended here, GH, but what side of the fence are you on? In one breath, you came storming in all Anti-GINO and now you seem tp support his claim that it was NOT a Newell post. I mean it just seems argumentative for argument's sake because it was GINO who said it.

Now that you have pointed out the on-screen surface irregularities, people will say "Oh, I guess it was NOT a Newell after all. Ah well, the search continues."

I respect every single artisan on this board, who acts like they care a bit. You and GINO are artisans who care about the hobby AND the people you deal with. This just seems like a dogpile on the guy for being the first to say "Nope, not a Newell".

I am glad someone pointed to some evidence backing up his initial claim that it was not a found part.

 

[Darth Kahnt]

This thread is very close to being locked.

 

[Too Much Garlic]

If the piece was vac-formed on top of a dewel box... or even if it was molded and sloppily cast... surely that could account for the surface texture irregularities?

I don't see how GH's post confirmed or disproved anything regarding the possibility that it could have been a dewel post or made from one or not, just that there were "waves" in the surface of the screen used chest box.

But maybe that's just me.

 

[Qui-Gonzalez]

If the piece was vac-formed on top of a dewel box... or even if it was molded and sloppily cast... surely that could account for the surface texture irregularities?

I don't see how GH's post confirmed or disproved anything regarding the possibility that it could have been a dewel post or made from one or not, just that there were "waves" in the surface of the screen used chest box.

But maybe that's just me.

I guess the obvious question that could clear up the whole thing is "Is the original box(s) made of fiberglass or ABS?" Even so, aren't the Newell posts squared up and not made to be rectangular?

 

[GINO]

It was fiberglass.

 

[defstartrooper]

So for the 11 or so pages we still have no evidence either way what the box was molded off?
Could be a post cap could not be.
Could be a found item could not be.
Could be a custom sculpted piece could not be

 

[Too Much Garlic]

So for the 11 or so pages we still have no evidence either way what the box was molded off?
Could be a post cap could not be.
Could be a found item could not be.
Could be a custom sculpted piece could not be

That pretty much sums up what we've learned... yup. lol

 

[Qui-Gonzalez]

So for the 11 or so pages we still have no evidence either way what the box was molded off?
Could be a found item could not be.
Could be a custom sculpted piece could not be

I think even GH has eliminated the post cap idea, unless wood is carved with surface irregularities. So, I think it is pretty safe to have removed that from your quote.

 

[Too Much Garlic]

I think even GH has eliminated the post cap idea, unless wood is carved with surface irregularities. So, I think it is pretty safe to have removed that from your quote.

I think that's to assume too much.

It's been reported that the prop guys threw their stuff around to give it that "used universe" look... and if it was painted sloppily... could give several irregularities...

Though, since I haven't seen a casting of one of the real ones... I have no clue of how the surface texture is, so should better shut up then... :unsure

 

[Qui-Gonzalez]

I think that's to assume too much.

It's been reported that the prop guys threw their stuff around to give it that "used universe" look... and if it was painted sloppily... could give several irregularities...

Though, since I haven't seen a casting of one of the real ones... I have no clue of how the surface texture is, so should better shut up then... :unsure

Aside form the box being made out of fiberglass and having some waves on the surface(Which you can't get by throwing stuff around as far as I know) which point to a mold mother other than wood, this whole thread is assumption.

 

[ob1al]

So, the box was either:

a) Sculpted in clay, molded, then cast is fiberglass or;

b) A 'found part' item, molded, then cast in fiberglass.

Either way, as long as someone has a box with the correct dimensions and correct bevel on the edge, cast in fiberglass, it won't make much difference which route they take. The end result will be the same.

IF it was originally molded from a real world item, the question remains how available is that exact 'found part' to make a mold from? If it was something that was readily available and the knowledge of whatever the hell it is is 'out there', surely someone would have molded the piece and offered accurate chest box blanks before now? This could have been done without revealing the original source of the mold.

To my knowledge, nobody has ever offered this (ANH chestbox blank cast from a found part) so to me, this says:

a) it isn't an available part or was a one-off piece anyway (ie a custom newel post or whatever) or;

b) The original chestbox was sculpted.

Without further proof or eveidence either way, I am inclined to believe that the chest box in ANH was sculpted, just like the armour and helmet, then molded and cast in fiberglass.

Unless there is a strong argument to the contrary.

 

[darthvaderv]

Without further proof or eveidence either way, I am inclined to believe that the chest box in ANH was sculpted, just like the armour and helmet, then molded and cast in fiberglass.

Unless there is a strong argument to the contrary.

IMO that makes the most sense and thats my take on it. The only odd thing is why that 6 7/8 measurement, slightly odd, but then again mostly nothing was perfect or symmetrical with Vader.

 

[ob1al]

Maybe the original spec was for a 7" square box. By the time it had been sculpted, a bevel added to the sides and smoothed off, then moulded and cast it skimmed a little of the 7".

Just pure theory on my part, but maybe - maybe - it could've happened that way.

 

[Qui-Gonzalez]

IMO that makes the most sense and thats my take on it. The only odd thing is why that 6 7/8 measurement, slightly odd, but then again mostly nothing was perfect or symmetrical with Vader.

I don't know doodly squat about sculpting, but doesn't clay shrink when it hardens/dries/whatever? That could explain the odd measurements.

 

[firebladejedi]

It it at all possible that the chestbox was vacu formed plastic and not fibre glass? The shins were plastic were they not, so could the box be too? After all look at the difference in the tk lids and armour. We all know what happens if you leave one a couple of mins too long or not long enough and overheat it. Maybe this could explain the slight warpage.

Also do we know if the box was solid or hollow? Its fairly obvious the later movie versions were to add lights but was this box?

 

[GINO]

Sigh.
You want answers? You want the truth? I already know, some of you can't handle the truth. Here goes anyway.

The box was sculpted in clay, and cast in fiberglass.
I am 100% for sure about this.
No need for more "what ifs". There's your definitive answer.
I have evidence, but like I stated before, I'm not at liberty to go into it (I know how much some of you love that :rolleyes).
People who know and trust in the body of work that I've shown over the years, please take comfort in knowing that this is factual.
Those who don't, check into it yourself and you'll see that what I'm saying is true.
When the day comes that you have your eureka moment or moment of clarity based on what I've revealed, I already know who won't send me an apologetic pm for being a jerk to me over this debate. It hasn't happened on other issues before that I've proven to be right, so I don't expect it will happen now. You know who you are. Pride sucks. The sooner you let go of it, the sooner these heated debates will cease to exist.

 

[darthvaderv]

.[/quote]

I don't know doodly squat about sculpting, but doesn't clay shrink when it hardens/dries/whatever? That could explain the odd measurements.

Yeah I said a similar thing a page back as I thought that could be a possibility.

 

[darthvaderv]

Sigh.
You want answers? You want the truth? I already know, some of you can't handle the truth. Here goes anyway.

The box was sculpted in clay, and cast in fiberglass.
I am 100% for sure about this.

That's good enough for me based on what you see on screen.

 

[ob1al]

Thanks for that Gino.

In my opinion, another mystery solved. :thumbsup

 

[Qui-Gonzalez]

Yeah I said a similar thing a page back as I thought that could be a possibility.

Hey, I was cowed and missed your post on it, so