DL-44 ESB Blaster Discussion - Greeblies POST 208

[Lichtbringer]

I was looking at all of my pictures and I noticed that in the picture of the original Thorens Parts the disk looks really thick -

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p298/BobaDebt/Star Wars/ESBBB/ThorensTD124_zps3ed1505a.jpg


Now I am starting to think that the replacement disk was not exactly like the original.

It's a bearing cap so if they made the replacement part from thin stamped metal all they would have to do is provided shorter bolts to make it work


Originally we thought the thin disk was installed with the depression touching the blaster and the rim was elevated up off of the bracket but now I am thinking it could have been a thick original disk installed just like the original disk it the above picture.

That´s not how Hifi-fans think and tuning works.

Replacement parts for expensive equipment are usually NOT thinner - show me one Hifi-freak that´s willing to downgrade his expensive equipment with cheaper parts.
Standard is people think a original part needs improvement, so the thin pressed stamped metal would be the original part, and any thicker and more beefier parts are upgrades/replacements.

 

[SydStryfe]

In response to BD's email concerning the new information we're discovering for this part - the [non-]Thoren's disc, I understand that the part we've already manufactured is a done deal, but I would be fine with also exploring the cost of a new part to accurately reflect what's going on with the thicker disc. I don't remember the cost of the original disc in the project run, but it seemed reasonable and if we're in the same ballpark on a new thicker disc, I'm OK with that. I would rather try to get my build as accurate as possible and if I have a few extra parts in the process, then I'm OK with that.

It does seem to me that the thicker disc in the Thoren's pic that BD posted looks like it could be correct as well. Perhaps they flipped it on the prop so smooth side out? I'm not sure what the reverse side looks like.

 

[Taco-Bot]

The Thorens machine was actually a commercial turntable that was phased out when radio stations moved over to tape cards instead of stocking large amounts of phonograph records. At least that's how broadcasters did things in the U.S. I know of a couple people who have Thorens machines, but they are not audiophile grade, and might not have required precision engineered replacement parts that high end consumers would have required. I might be totally wrong.

 

[Mara Jade's Father]

I honestly do not care. I'll support the group as to whether want to do.

 

[thd9791]

Anyone want to talk about the big black thing glued to this plate we're talking about? :lol look at those publicity photos posted on page #28. That's the reason there's dried glue on the plate...

- - - Updated - - -

Big THANKS!!! to mortifactor for all the time and effort he's done in bringing this to our attention.


What I see in these publicity photos is a large, black cylinder on the side of the scope mount.
That this part is missing from the blaster today points to a weak glue used to hold it on.

I also see that the spacer between the scope mount and the pistol is large, which leads me to conclude that the blaster on display in Japan is unaltered.
Except for the grip, which may have been damaged when the black cylinder on the scope was knocked off.
Maybe replaced w/ a grip from one of the ROTJ holster stuffers?

Could the not-Thornes disk have been from another turntable that had similar dimensions, or did they manufacture a disk of similar dimensions so the screws they used didn't have to be cut down? Just a thought, since they had a piece of aluminum cylinder chucked up in the lathe.

View attachment 659314View attachment 659315

looks like it went over the screws

 

[OdiWan72]

Anyone want to talk about the big black thing glued to this plate we're talking about? :lol look at those publicity photos posted on page #28. That's the reason there's dried glue on the plate...

- - - Updated - - -


looks like it went over the screws

??? I clearly see two of the screws, so the cylindrical greeblie is not covering these.

 

[mortifactor]

I was looking at all of my pictures and I noticed that in the picture of the original Thorens Parts the disk looks really thick -

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p298/BobaDebt/Star Wars/ESBBB/ThorensTD124_zps3ed1505a.jpg


Now I am starting to think that the replacement disk was not exactly like the original.

It's a bearing cap so if they made the replacement part from thin stamped metal all they would have to do is provided shorter bolts to make it work


Originally we thought the thin disk was installed with the depression touching the blaster and the rim was elevated up off of the bracket but now I am thinking it could have been a thick original disk installed just like the original disk it the above picture.

This part looks a lot closer, but there was no indent and the disc on the gun sat perfectly flush. It couldn't have been this part.
I'm not sure why it *has* to be from a thorens. It isn't like it is all they had to play with. It's a good starting point to look at though due to the matching diameters.

Cool snow pic with the cylinder on the disc! explains the circular paint peel and glue residue. Perhaps the grey putty really is just flattened glue and isn't filling any hole.

Also Boba Debt, please read all of my posts about it carefully. I know they are long and have no pics, but I do my best to describe what I saw from notes taken at the time. Let's knock the Hoth DL-44 out of the park. I've seen it 3 times, under focused scrutiny.

 

[thd9791]

??? I clearly see two of the screws, so the cylindrical greeblie is not covering these.

It's so blurry I thought it was snow. If that lower right bump is a screw, then the cylinder sits in between all 3, possibly making a glue mark that we all thought was a recess.

 

[Solos blaster]

Anyone want to talk about the big black thing glued to this plate we're talking about? :lol look at those publicity photos posted on page #28. That's the reason there's dried glue on the plate...

I was looking at it on my phone, and to me,it looks like a tuner knob off of a radio, or similar. I swear, you can see smooth and "lined" areas on the top/flat surface.


Man, this part must have fallen off after being reholstered because looking at it, this piece oils be right at the edge of the leather and probably just popped off from the leather pushing against it.

 

[3oin]

Would it be difficult to add a knurled cylinder to the kit ? One that shares the diameter of the "Thorens disc" and the proportions of the cylinder in the image ?

For example, I don't know about the dimensions of this but the Proportions seem good ?



http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Meta...ght-15-HIFI-Audio-Accessories/1693822967.html

Or source our own ?

 

[Jedifather]

Hah! I knew it. The first thing I thought to myself when the pic of the right side of the blaster was posted, was that it must have had a cap covering the 3 screws and that was glue residue in the center.

Big THANKS!!! to mortifactor for all the time and effort he's done in bringing this to our attention.


What I see in these publicity photos is a large, black cylinder on the side of the scope mount.
That this part is missing from the blaster today points to a weak glue used to hold it on.

I also see that the spacer between the scope mount and the pistol is large, which leads me to conclude that the blaster on display in Japan is unaltered.
Except for the grip, which may have been damaged when the black cylinder on the scope was knocked off.
Maybe replaced w/ a grip from one of the ROTJ holster stuffers?

Could the not-Thornes disk have been from another turntable that had similar dimensions, or did they manufacture a disk of similar dimensions so the screws they used didn't have to be cut down? Just a thought, since they had a piece of aluminum cylinder chucked up in the lathe.

View attachment 659314View attachment 659315

 

[Aison]

Well I am in for additional parts, the more options the better. What about the other flat disk in the pic of the thorens disks, I wonder if it is the same diameter as the mystery disc area on the ANH Dl44. I have heard theories before that it was from a turntable. The ANH DL44 area looks more machined due to a lip, but I wonder if something was glued also to the side and broke off leaving a glue lip and the spot was painted silver? Seeing that something was glued to the side originally to the Hoth blaster may suggest something was glued to the side of the ANH DL44, I messed around holding a dummy cylinder used for the grill to the side and it looked cool, made me wonder.

 

[Pedro]

This research is so cool to watch! Wish I had something to contribute. After the ANH DL-44 you'd think they might learn to quit gluing stuff to the sides, it's just gonna fall off! The prop guys keep wanting to add an power knob and the fates keep telling them it's too dorky.

 

[Mara Jade's Father]

I just wanted to put a thought out there. It's not one that I particularly believe but simply a possibility. I alway feel that if it is any way possible, it should be explored.

What if...

The missing knob was originally connected to the three holed disk as a found item. Meaning that the prop builders did not add it to the disk because it was already attached when they found the part.

 

[mgoob]

I just wanted to put a thought out there. It's not one that I particularly believe but simply a possibility. I alway feel that if it is any way possible, it should be explored.

What if...

The missing knob was originally connected to the three holed disk as a found item. Meaning that the prop builders did not add it to the disk because it was already attached when they found the part.

If such were the case wouldn't it have been attached to the disk more securely than by using glue?
Just saying, tho it's nice to see that someone is thinking

I personally think they glued something onto the side to cover up the screws.

 

[thd9791]

It does feel like this was an attempt to duplicate the black knobs on the hero blasters.

i suppose it's plausible the knob was either already attached to the plate or they came seperately. If they were already together it would make more sense using the whole part. I would be surprised if filming broke it a part.

 

[Solos blaster]

I think, like the grips on the ESB Luke saber, the cold during the filming probably negated the adhesion of the glue.

That, in addition to that knob sticking out pretty far probably also may have been knocked off by the holster itself. Unless, the cut of the leather was different, or the disk/knob was up higher on the scope bracket, when I holster my ESB Han blaster from the last BD run in my MP productions ESB holster, it would be directly affected by it.

 

[Elfenstahl]

That, in addition to that knob sticking out pretty far probably also may have been knocked off by the holster itself. Unless, the cut of the leather was different, or the disk/knob was up higher on the scope bracket, when I holster my ESB Han blaster from the last BD run in my MP productions ESB holster, it would be directly affected by it.

the knob wouldn't have been affected by the the holster due to the much bigger spacer. The whole scope mount would have stuck out of the holster.

By the way: Anyone else noticed that the in- and upside of the mount wasn't painted?
http://www.therpf.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=659315 (picture originally posted by mgood)
It really took me some time to find the outlines of the scope mount in this picture mgoob posted, because it appears in nearly the same color as Han's gloves. I don't believe in a light reflection on black paint.

 

[Solos blaster]

the knob wouldn't have been affected by the the holster due to the much bigger spacer. The whole scope mount would have stuck out of the holster.

By the way: Anyone else noticed that the in- and upside of the mount wasn't painted?
http://www.therpf.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=659315 (picture originally posted by mgood)
It really took me some time to find the outlines of the scope mount in this picture mgoob posted, because it appears in nearly the same color as Han's gloves. I don't believe in a light reflection on black paint.

Could be. I think there was a picture a few pages back of Han in the hangar maybe...where it looked like the entire mount was sticking out of the holster. If that is the case, it would need to be a very thick spacer indeed, as that leather is nearly 1/4 inch thick to get the entire mount outside of it... and it would still be extremely difficult to snap the strap over the handle.

I don't know, I still think even with a thick spacer, the cut out for the scope and mount in the holster itself would have to be bigger.

 

[thd9791]

The back of the Bespin blaster mounts were raw unpainted metal too. I noticed that on one of the Luke chest up promo photos