Forbidden Planet Pistols

[racprops]

As I understand it the original Forbidden Planet Ray guns or Simple Blasters were a Vacuum Formed body that the prop makers on the studio lot finished out adding glue on fins, a machined tip and rear cap.

As these were handmade they were not all the same. Some had large fins and other small fins.

One had a very large rear fin, I think it’s builder thought it was a rear sight.

The rear cap also was different from model to model. As was the tip which in 1950s there was no CNC machines these were turned out on manual Lathes by hand.

So like the Classic Star Trek Phaser there were many versions made and filmed.

One of these original models tuned up at a auction and I have received a few emails asking about these differences between my model and it, hopefully this will answer these questions.

So here is a few pictures of these various models starting with my old model I made many years ago.

Some stills from the film and a shot of the Prop from the auction and last a side by side composite of it and my model.

Rich

 

[00MrNotWrong00]

I knew some thing was funny about this gun. I just recently was watching parts of the film on youtube and noticed a few differences in the guns I've seen here and the ones in the film.

Thank you so much for clearing this up for me.

 

[WombatOfFury]

Thank you for that informative bit of history.

 

[Mola Rob]

That's one of the fun things about old props is trying to spot the little or sometimes big differences from prop to prop. Good stuff Rich.

 

[racprops]

And heres one that looks just about the same as my version, with the low fins, and a uncut tip making like a hair dryer...

Rich

 

[Krel]

If you have the test photo of Leslie Nielsen in the unused tropical shorts uniform (for a never filmed scene where he goes swimming with Altaira), there is a different blaster in the holster. Possibly a proof piece?

David.

 

[racprops]

The only one I have seen has no weapon..

Can you post it?

I bet, remember Kirk and Spock with the flashlights??

Rich

 

[zorg]

thanks for posting those pics. very helpful :thumbsup

 

[AJK001]

Rich,

Are you planning on doing a new run of these? I would be in for one.

Tony

 

[Krel]

The only one I have seen has no weapon..

Can you post it?

I bet, remember Kirk and Spock with the flashlights??

Rich

I'm sorry, I don't have the photo, I saw it in a magazine, I believe it was one of the Cinefantastique issues, which I can not find right now.

You only saw the back of the blaster as it was in the holster. It wasn't black, and it had no fins. I remember, that what you could see of the handle, it was black.

I used to know a guy back in the 70s, and 80s that owned a blaster he said was made for the movie, but never used. It had no lighting unit, just the wires comming up from the trigger. It wasn't vacuum formed, but cast out of a material I couldn't identify. It was some kind of plastic almost like rubber, but it wasn't rubber. It had, behind a panel on the left side, a large knife switch in the handle with a piece of plastic for a trigger. Another friend took down the part number and brought it to his Dad who was an electronics fan. His Dad took it to an electronics parts place and asked about it. The man was amazed, and wanted to know where he found that number. They hadn't made that switch since 1960. If it was a fake, then the maker was very through.

David.

 

[phase pistol]

I'd like to point out that the pic Coyle posted of the Profiles prop compared to one of his replicas, was done by me. Note the other differences in the tip, and the size and placement of the fins along the side, as well as the endcap.

 

[Jediwannabe]

I also have been looking to pick one of these up for years. Would love to add one to my collection. Puzzle Zoo in Santa Monica has one but they're asking close to $1,000 for it.

 

[racprops]

Sorry meant to add photo credits, forgot..

This was in responce to a couple of questions about my model and this movie prop.

I think these were a lot like the Classic Phasers, crapazoid vacuum formed models, back ground, stunt, close up and hero versions are now known.

I do not say these came in as many models it was only a 2 hour movie, but they did come in a few models with differnt detailing.

I get a kick out of the hair drying model, pick up the wrong unit and she would really hae a bad hair day.

Rich

I'd like to point out that the pic Coyle posted of the Profiles prop compared to one of his replicas, was done by me. Note the other differences in the tip, and the size and placement of the fins along the side, as well as the endcap.

 

[racprops]

I have long been aware of these minor differences, but as mine is like at lease one body in a studio still and I had a master and molds made, made no changes.

Now that the master is damaged and the molds worn out I will be retooling and I think include some of these changes.

But it will take some time, we are very busy at this time, so this project will be on spare time.

I can see about 5 persons that have said they would like one, so please email me at racprops@cox.net and I will put you into a to contact folder.

Rich

 

[Nicksdad]

I saw that original at comic con and was wondering why it was fiberglass when I had heard for years that it was vac formed. They were very convinced that it was authentic considering who it came from.

 

[bigcow]

The last time I saw one of these pistols was in 2004 at Lunarmodelsonline.com.
Contact Information..
Lunar Models
295 Old County Rd. Unit 6
San Carlos, CA 94070 USA
Phone (650) 508-8981
Fax (650) 508-8965

I hope this help all of you.

bigcow:unsure

 

[sawduster]

Lunar Models went out of business last year.

I do have one of their blaster kits if anyone is interested.

 

[CaptCBoard]

Hey, Rich-- A question--

When you make the clear emitter parts, do you cast them or do you turn them? I had a set turned for a build I was doing, but no one makes true 1/2 inch plexi these days and my discs were too thin to stack up to the correct accumulated length.

Scott

 

[ursus43]

Scott and/or Rich - check here for your 1/2 acrylic rod
http://http://www.delviesplastics.c...Store_Code=DPI&Category_Code=Cast_Acrylic_Rod

 

[racprops]

Got out my copy of Cinefantastique and found it.

It reallly looks like the early version of the blaster with no fins...

Rich

If you have the test photo of Leslie Nielsen in the unused tropical shorts uniform (for a never filmed scene where he goes swimming with Altaira), there is a different blaster in the holster. Possibly a proof piece?

David.