Illusive Originals Han in Carbonite help needed

[Larry Young]

This year's our tenth anniversary, which means for ten years Han has been leaning against the wall wherever we've lived, since he's my wife's wedding present to me. Wotta gal, huh?

Anyway, ten years of leaning at about 10-15 degrees has put a bit of a splay at the bottom of ol' Han. Has anyone ever figured out a good design for a frame to hold the guy up without having the fiberglass splinter and bend? I think I can fix the warp, but I don't want to make a flat table out of him. I like Captain Solo where he is.

heh heh

I suppose I could have somebody weld me something (I have no large-scale welding skills), but it seems to me there should be something somebody's figured out for these things to display them vertically.

Anyway, the missus was real happy with the Charlie Brown tree jariksolo4 posted up about that I got her, so when she was telling me this morning we had to deal with Han she said, "Ask those guys on the RPF; they know everything, it sounds like."

Anybody got any leads? "Illusive Originals" + "Han Solo in Carbonite" + "display" didn't get me anywhere on google.

 

[clonesix]

If you can't weld, or have someone weld for you, you could bolt a frame together. Aluminum would be better than steel for weight and for drilling through.

 

[Larry Young]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(clonesix @ Dec 4 2006, 03:29 PM) [snapback]1371392[/snapback]</div>

If you can't weld, or have someone weld for you, you could bolt a frame together. Aluminum would be better than steel for weight and for drilling through.
[/b]

Looks like I'm just going to have to design and measure something up and go to Lowe's or Home Depot this weekend.

Aluminum is a great idea; I probably would have done steel tubing. Thanks.

 

[LZeitgeist]

I've had one for years, propped (closely) against the wall, and I don't think you'd have to go to such extremes as welding or metalwork... mine isn't bowing or warping, so I'm not sure what variances there might have been between manufacturing lots.

Mine can pretty much stand by itself if not propped against a wall, but I've always displayed it against the wall with the bottom edge of the back of it against the baseboard moldingand the top edge of the back against the wall itself, so it's definitely not leaning back at the 10-15 degrees that you're describing... is that an approximation, or is there a reason for the more extreme angle?

I've had the back off of mine a few times (to add lights to the panels, etc.) and if the fiberglass is still semi-flexible and wiling to be shaped back into proper position, I'd just cut a few sections of wood 2x4 to fit inside the bottom of it to reshape the fiberglass and strenthen/stiffen/reform it, remove the lower 'control panels' and use decking screws (positioned to be hidden by the panels when reinstalled) to mount the wood inside the shell.

The back of mine has wooden 2x2's running down the edges of the sides to hold the back on - the fiberglass/bondo/whatever was already cracked around the back edges from being moved around anyway, so I didn't feel that I was 'defiling' it or anything. Not sure what condition yours is in as far as 'cracking around the edges' or 'ease of removal of the back' goes.

Hopefully this will help bring peace to your galax.. um, I mean, marriage again.

 

[Larry Young]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(LZeitgeist @ Dec 4 2006, 04:16 PM) [snapback]1371432[/snapback]</div>

Mine can pretty much stand by itself if not propped against a wall, but I've always displayed it against the wall with the bottom edge of the back of it against the baseboard moldingand the top edge of the back against the wall itself, so it's definitely not leaning back at the 10-15 degrees that you're describing... is that an approximation, or is there a reason for the more extreme angle?
[/b]

We live in San Francisco, and ol' Han's pitched over twice in relatively mild earthquakes when we had him at less of an angle. He's got a bit of a chip on his nose and on one of the extended fingers but thankfully nothing broken. Adds to the verisimilitude, I think.

So we leaned him back a little more than usual so he wouldn't pitch forward in another tremor (I guess it is a little more like 10 than 15), and over the years the weight has caused the bottom to warp in.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(LZeitgeist @ Dec 4 2006, 04:16 PM) [snapback]1371432[/snapback]</div>

Hopefully this will help bring peace to your galax.. um, I mean, marriage again.
[/b]

Just that you all are helping out with suggestions is going to buy me at least six more weeks to figure out something.

 

[Funky]

Well, have you thought about just mounting him to the wall?

 

[Larry Young]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Funky Jedi @ Dec 4 2006, 04:59 PM) [snapback]1371458[/snapback]</div>

Well, have you thought about just mounting him to the wall?
[/b]

Where he has to go isn't going to seismically support the 60 or so pounds. So Han has to go in a frame of some kind that's set into the studs.

 

[agent5]

This year's our tenth anniversary, which means for ten years Han has been leaning against the wall wherever we've lived, since he's my wife's wedding present to me. Wotta gal, huh?[/b]

Too ironic. An Illusive HIC was also my wedding present to me from my wife. :thumbsup Wotta gal? Hell yeah.

 

[LZeitgeist]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Larry Young @ Dec 4 2006, 07:43 PM) [snapback]1371448[/snapback]</div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(LZeitgeist @ Dec 4 2006, 04:16 PM) [snapback]1371432[/snapback]

Mine can pretty much stand by itself if not propped against a wall, but I've always displayed it against the wall with the bottom edge of the back of it against the baseboard moldingand the top edge of the back against the wall itself, so it's definitely not leaning back at the 10-15 degrees that you're describing... is that an approximation, or is there a reason for the more extreme angle?
[/b]

We live in San Francisco, and ol' Han's pitched over twice in relatively mild earthquakes when we had him at less of an angle. He's got a bit of a chip on his nose and on one of the extended fingers but thankfully nothing broken. Adds to the verisimilitude, I think.

So we leaned him back a little more than usual so he wouldn't pitch forward in another tremor (I guess it is a little more like 10 than 15), and over the years the weight has caused the bottom to warp in.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(LZeitgeist @ Dec 4 2006, 04:16 PM) [snapback]1371432[/snapback]</div>

Hopefully this will help bring peace to your galax.. um, I mean, marriage again.
[/b]

Just that you all are helping out with suggestions is going to buy me at least six more weeks to figure out something.
[/b][/quote]

Ohhhhhhh, that makes MUCH more sense, then. Yeah, (knock on wood), we don't have too many earthquakes in central North Carolina...

Can you get the back off to frame him up inside a bit?

 

[cleric100]

Im wondering if you can use the bracket hardware to mount LCD widescreen tv's and computer screens to the wall,and use it on the back of the solo unit?

I have no idea what the solo back look likes,but if you have some flat solid areas,or wood beams,it sounds feasible.I just installed two 19 inch monitor brackets onto the walls for our computer monitors and got the wall mount brackets on sale at Radio Shack for 20 bucks each.These are fixed mounts so once you mount the bracket to the wall,and put the other bracket on the back of the monitor,you hang it up like a picture and it slides inside the wall bracket.Its not the more expensive swing out or tilting one.

Seems pretty sturdy...I wonder if this can be done on the solo unit.Put 2 of these brackets on the back and hang it onto the wall bracket.Should never come off unless you lift it off to remove.

Just an idea...some of these brackets you find can hold a nice deal of weight,depending on application.

 

[Prowler]

I filled the back of mine with hard foam. Then filled the remaining smaller areas with "great Stuff" expanding foam. It holds the shape perfectly.
-Jo

 

[Dexvader]

I have had mine hanging on the wall for 4 years here in TN. buy using sturdy eyehooks. It secures to the wall over L-hooks. There is some warping but Im wondering if its from the mold . The Han was purchased new by me and hung at may parents house in the Bay Area for years.
I have never let the block rest on the floor as it has always been suspended about 3 inch. above the floor.

I like the idea of foam filling but am afraid to mess the block up.

 

[Vaderman]

Check out the "Jar Jar in carbonite" hanging at Lucasfilm, right in the main lobby at the Presidio.
That might work.

What about putting him back at the very steep angle with a chain bolted to the wall behind, so he can't fall but won't sag? (after you reinforce him to cure the current sagging...)
Also, have you tried laying him flat on his back outside where the sun can warm him up and let him level out? (I don't know if the sasgging is in the fiberglass part or just the frame...) Only works if you have a large enough space to lay him out in (not usually in SF.)
Maybe a pic or two would help us help you? If you need to send him to So. Cal for a "tune up" I'd be happy to set him right for you, though a bucket of silicone might fall on top of it in the porcess...