Licensed Pulse Rifle pre-order

[Jeyl]

Any word from Hollywood Collectibles yet? Has anyone contacted them asking for a comment on this situation?

 

[cpltony]

I e-mailed them this morning informing them about the drooping and attached a photo for reference.

With some guns having the droop and some not.....I just had to get their take on it.

 

[Yorkie Fett]

I'm in the UK so should be expecting mine in the next couple of weeks.
Are we saying that some PRs have virtually no droop whilst others have droop ranging from slight to seriously bad?
I would have thought if this was an intentionable built in 'defect', then they would all be at the same angle.
Looks like it might be a case of 'the luck of the draw'. Hope mine's a good one!

 

[Art Andrews]

I gotcha.

I did get to hold one of these at Star Wars Celebration and it is a REALLY REALLY nice piece. I can't wait to tear ours to pieces! :lol

 

[LDR]

Matt, any pics of the removed shrouds? Can you give details on taking it apart.

Im thinking that if mine is straight i could swap with someone in the uk who has a droopy one, because i intend to remove the shrouds hopefully.

Does that sound dodgy? wanting to swap a straight one for a droopy one? lol.

 

[cpltony]

From the looks of it....a set of allen keys and you should be good to go for the most part.

Am I going to try to remove mine that way to prove that theory? 'fraid not

 

[rkpetersen]

Some of the people that have received them have the droop and some of them have clearly said that they do not have the droop.

Really? I'd like to see convincing pictures of one, just one, that doesn't have it. The way things are shaking out, it seems like they may all have the defect.

I can honestly say that all the displeasure of the droop is disheartening. I would expect no less though, it's human nature to complain loudly about what's wrong and ignore what's right.

Matt, I respect your skill and integrity immensely, but that's just not reasonable. This is a significant visual defect that catches the eye as soon as you look it. No matter what else is 'right' about the piece, this can only be seen as disappointing. Particularly if repair or replacement isn't an option.

It was apparently the factories attempt to mimic the slope of the thompson barrel and it seems that to some this is an unacceptable explanation.

To almost everyone, it seems. Barrel droop is a pretty well-known issue with PR replicas, right? So why didn't HCG make certain that it didn't happen with theirs? HCG had plenty of time and plenty of expertise working on it to get it right.

Honetly all complaints aside I'm rather disheartened at the lack of compliments. I'm quite prepared to pull the "Metal shrouds for under $1000" card if need be but I fear I'll only be shouted down.

No shouting, but please remember that not all of us are buying this prop to tear it apart. It's supposed to be something you can handle and display with pride right out of the box.

 

[cpltony]

Here are a few pics I snapped of the whole thing.

 

[falcon dude]

Nice!
Now can someone finally man up and take this thing apart so we can see how its gonna fit onto a real metal PR....

 

[ONEYE]

Nice!
Now can someone finally man up and take this thing apart so we can see how its gonna fit onto a real metal PR....

Oh, I can take it apart, just send me one.

 

[Doombringer]

I'll try to get a good pic of mine. Right now I only have my cellphone to take pictures and it isn't so great.

I can say that using the display plaque as a gauge for droop or no droop, mine is pretty damn close to the prototype photos on HCG's site. The Thompson barrel and SPAS assembly line up really nice and straight with the lines on the display plaque. I don't have a laser level to otherwise compare with.

Also, be careful saying "it seems like they all have droop" - not every owner of a HCG pulse rifle would visit here (or any forum), even if they do have a problem. They could take it up with HCG directly. Some folks just don't do the online chat/forum thing. Plus, as with many online product reviews, most satisfied customers do not take the time to say "all is well!"

Edit: spelling of Thompson.

 

[Omega5]

Hello everyone. I'm a first time poster here, but I've been following this thread ever since I ordered my Brown Bess Pulse Rifle from HGC over a year ago. I have yet to receive mine, which is due to arrive sometime next week. Like everyone else, I've been anxiously awaiting for this replica ever since the photos of the prototype were posted on the HCG website.

Unfortunately, what I've been seeing from everyone's PR compared to the prototype is greatly disappointing. This isn't a minor or trivial quibble which I think I could live with. A couple of members have complained about a loose grenade launcher. I could live with that, or a loose trigger or what have you because 99.9% of the time this replica will be displayed instead of handled. Therefore if my PR has this notorious droop, as I suspect it does, I think I'll pack it up and RMA it for a refund. That is unless HCG or some prop wizard (hello Matsuo) can tell me how to rectify this problem without ****ing it up.

900 dollars, or more like 1000 including shipping and handling in my case, is indeed a reasonable price for a PR with a metal shroud. But I still expect a final product that resembles the prototype shown. I understand Matsuo's grief at people focusing on the negative here, but he shouldn't, because it was his beautiful work which made me decide to pre-order. I hold no ill will towards Matsuo, but the incompetent fool at the factory who got all the little details right, except the main one. I also have to agree with an earlier post which blames HCG for sending these out AFTER all the concerns voiced following tommin's first photos of the production model.

Perhaps there was too much pressure to get this made and sold for under 1000 dollars, and this is the result of manufacturing it in China. I for one would have paid 1500 to have it made in the US. At least there would be better quality control if HCG could oversee it personally.

I certainly hope HCG can come up with a solution, because after the 5th Element gun fiasco and now this, HCG will be finished when it comes to replica guns. They'll have to stick with dioramas, statues or whatever, because there is no way anyone would buy a gun from them again. Which is a shame, because there aren't many decent prop houses out there.

I feel for all you guys, and next week, I may be feeling bad for myself.

 

[Delmustator]

Well I've waited years to finally get a really nice PR. This one is really NICE!

I just want to fix the barrel droop. I don't want to return it for a refund. Just tell me what I have to do to fix it without blowing the warranty. Or at least tell me how to disassemble it without breaking anything. I can fix the issue myself.

I sent them an email on Friday and have not gotten a response yet. I'm sure now that Matt has reviewed this thread, he will be in contact with them also to provide suggestions for a reasonable fix.

If all that is needed are some shims? Send'em to me and I'll take care of it.

 

[MML]

I ordered mine a while back (BB version) on the 6 month payment plan, so it won't be here until christmas or so. Reading all the posts about the droop scares me... I hope the problems are rectified by then.
All in all, it comes to $1000 exactly; it's big bucks at the end of the day. I really don't want to have a droopy one arrive.

 

[DJNAMIX]

I have the gun on video on youtube and I hear there is a problem with it. Please hit me up on youtube and let me know heres my link YouTube - DJNAMIX's Channel

 

[DJNAMIX]

YouTube - ALIENS HERO PULSE RIFLE HCG EXCLUSIVE

 

[Cpl Potter]

i now see the droop , and it sucks , for a guy like me ( totally anal) this wont work, it will drive me nuts , i just started the 6 pay , and i have a bid on my other one , now i have to decide . do i gamble on getting a non slopped one , or do i dump the auction and keep the one ive got .

 

[DarthDarren]

Hi - first post...

I also joined after lurking for a few months and ordering my BB PR based on Matt's stellar reputation and the prototype pics. Still waiting my Bess, and keeping my fingers crossed there's no barrel droop on mine (and I DO have a laser level). I don't have the tools or facilities to fix a colinear-misalignment problem, nor do I expect Matt or HGC to offer fixes for free. After waiting a decade to own my own "Hero" PR, I would also hate to return this Holy Grail for a refund, but I doubt HGC is equipped to effect any repairs here in the US, unless tey contract the recall out to Matt.

Anyone else have thoughts about rectifying this problem?

D

 

[Matsuo]

Only fix I'm thinking of right now involves carefully applied heat and a long steel bar... more later.

BY the way the shrouds once removed weigh 4 lbs 9 0z... so add that to your 16 lb hero rifle weight....

M

 

[Smally]

Hello everyone. I'm a first time poster here, but I've been following this thread ever since I ordered my Brown Bess Pulse Rifle from HGC over a year ago. I have yet to receive mine, which is due to arrive sometime next week. Like everyone else, I've been anxiously awaiting for this replica ever since the photos of the prototype were posted on the HCG website.

Unfortunately, what I've been seeing from everyone's PR compared to the prototype is greatly disappointing. This isn't a minor or trivial quibble which I think I could live with. A couple of members have complained about a loose grenade launcher. I could live with that, or a loose trigger or what have you because 99.9% of the time this replica will be displayed instead of handled. Therefore if my PR has this notorious droop, as I suspect it does, I think I'll pack it up and RMA it for a refund. That is unless HCG or some prop wizard (hello Matsuo) can tell me how to rectify this problem without ****ing it up.

900 dollars, or more like 1000 including shipping and handling in my case, is indeed a reasonable price for a PR with a metal shroud. But I still expect a final product that resembles the prototype shown. I understand Matsuo's grief at people focusing on the negative here, but he shouldn't, because it was his beautiful work which made me decide to pre-order. I hold no ill will towards Matsuo, but the incompetent fool at the factory who got all the little details right, except the main one. I also have to agree with an earlier post which blames HCG for sending these out AFTER all the concerns voiced following tommin's first photos of the production model.

Perhaps there was too much pressure to get this made and sold for under 1000 dollars, and this is the result of manufacturing it in China. I for one would have paid 1500 to have it made in the US. At least there would be better quality control if HCG could oversee it personally.

I certainly hope HCG can come up with a solution, because after the 5th Element gun fiasco and now this, HCG will be finished when it comes to replica guns. They'll have to stick with dioramas, statues or whatever, because there is no way anyone would buy a gun from them again. Which is a shame, because there aren't many decent prop houses out there.

I feel for all you guys, and next week, I may be feeling bad for myself.

Hey all,

I'm also a new poster here despite lurking for the last 4 months.
I totally agree with Omega5 on this one.

I have also had this PR on order since the day HCG sent out the news letters with ordering info and have also been frustrated by the amount of time this piece has taken to get here.

Now, I'm by far a rich man so I like many others I had to check the funds before placing my order for this expensive prop (lets face it, £700 is not cheap for anything that my wife would class as a toy :angry)
and now to hear that the PR's have got this droopage issue - well i'm very disapointed. HCG were boasting about this being the most accurate PR out there and that they had access to a real one, they then teased us with the pics of the prototype which looked amazing, now that they have started to be dispatched to their new homes all I'm really hearing is negative thoughts.

I have just watched DJnamix's youtube vid (great vid by the way dude) and he seems to have been lucky with his - however, instead of being excited about mine be delivered I find myself feeling anxious in hoping to recieve a product in the condition that we are all expecting :unsure

I hate to sound negative but I was just hoping and expecting a PR that was as if it was straight off the movie.

I don't know what I will do if mine is a FAULTY one cry

Cheers,
Smally.