Let's look at the real part for the first time shall we?
Drumroll please............
My contact notes the following the pics:
1. The first thing you will notice is that the ring of holes that appears inset or cavitated in the photos of the original prop (and all replicas) is not apparent. On closer inspection, it becomes clear that this is because of a separate ring that is set into the familar cavity. You can see the faint join line between the two in the "front" jpg, and this is also visible on the inside of the tube section, at the right depth compared to the Obi-Wan prop. You can also detect a slight colour difference between the outer flange and the piece that sits inside it (which is drilled with holes matching those that must be beneath). It's stuck in there pretty good, as they say, but it is a separate piece that could be removed. Potentially difficult I'd say.
2. On a related note, check out the attached diagram of the interconnector assembly, within which this is one of the opposing interconnector components. It is sectioned, and hints strongly at the inset (and unwanted for your purposes) ring I refer to above.
3. The iron oxide corrosion is deposited from the combustion chamber it had been mounted into, not the metal that the interconnector is made from. The tube section is dirty and stained, but should clean up nicely. Any other marks are superficial. It's just a hunch, but I have a feeling Obi-Wan's scorch marks, visible in photos I've seen on the web, are the result of the engine it was part of having some serious problems and "blowing" this ring. Not, as you will already know, as the result of being part of a gas torch or other tool.
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I note the following:
The ring of holes has a lip...
It seems obvious once I looked at the prop pics again.
Now the ring of holes shown in the prop pic likely comes out to reveal another ring of holes in the darker metal (visible in underside view). I believe this second ring of holes has the same lip.
This lip is what's been deceiving us into believing there's a bevel.
Look at the slight pitting and wear in the middle section, just like the real prop. Like my contact said the rust is actually deposited from the pieces that were surrounding it. The interconnector itself is fine.
I'm so giddy about this thing.
I likely don't have a source for multiple original parts yet, but there are some leads to follow up on. I marked the images so I can use them when following my leads. I don't need a ton of people circulating these pics to Derwent owners across the world quite yet.
I'm just amazed that the emitter and correct handwheel have been found this year, not to mention the MG81 nozzle. This is best year for discoveries since the grenade....
