Metal Mal - A Friend's Mal Pistol Project - Model 47

Some of the best images I've seen in my life, honestly. The box really suits it.

I'll be saying it again; your friend has done an amazing job.
 
<div class='quotetop'>(philippes @ Nov 7 2006, 02:59 PM) [snapback]1352813[/snapback]</div>
And a few more:

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firefly_metal_mal_17.jpg


firefly_metal_mal_18.jpg


firefly_metal_mal_19.jpg


firefly_metal_mal_20.jpg
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Phil
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Seems to me there are two variations of the gun, the brassy/bronze one and the 'blued' variant (second one down.) Are they the same gun?
If they are seperate guns finished differently, a fastidious person might take this
into account whilst choosing a background to display against. :angel
 
Yup... cameras are odd that way.

Same gun. Otherwise I would think it would have been said in the post that the pictures showed two different guns.
 
The photos are all of the same gun. It's the lighting that's causing the illusion. In real life, the prop looks most like this photo:

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firefly_metal_mal_18.jpg
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The original prop was blackened bronze (no bluing), which began to wear down from the start. By the time the guns appeared in Serenity, they almost looked golden. Part of that was due to the fact that more of the black came off during the molding process at the shop that did the work for the film.

Phil
 
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It's the lighting that's causing the illusion[/b]
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That's cool, I dig the darker weathering.

How about the difference from the first round of photos as compared to the second? The trigger and trigger guard are very clean and silver in the earlier shots, I'm assuming more work was done to the gun after those were taken?

Any idea which method was used for weathering? Was it just paint, or other materials?

:D Thanks.
 
There is no real gun or real gun parts anywhere in the piece.

There are also no parts cast from real gun parts; all are from new models created in a CAD program off measurements taken from original source material.

There is no means to chamber a round anywhere, as there's no internal mechanism at all; simply a hinged and spring-tensioned trigger (plated brass) which is the only moving part apart from the thumb lever which is free to turn in the hole.

The ammo clip is hollow, but there's no mechanism to load rounds of any type in there.

The model has a cast dummy round in the top of the clip (not even a real deactivated round) which is an integral part of a solid plug which fills the ammo clip and is permanently bonded to the interior.

The model does not disassemble except for the removable clip. Even the grips are bonded permanently to the frame.

Phil
 
I still really really want one of these, id even even sell body parts to get one (anybody want a kidney?)

Dan
 
<div class='quotetop'>(Noeland @ Nov 9 2006, 08:29 AM) [snapback]1354038[/snapback]</div>
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It's the lighting that's causing the illusion[/b]
Click to expand...

That's cool, I dig the darker weathering.

How about the difference from the first round of photos as compared to the second? The trigger and trigger guard are very clean and silver in the earlier shots, I'm assuming more work was done to the gun after those were taken?

Any idea which method was used for weathering? Was it just paint, or other materials?

:D Thanks.
[/b][/quote]
The prop is finished exactly as the originals were. Some weathering on certain parts, but it's mostly as described in the excellent Firefly Companion.

Phil
 
<div class='quotetop'>(philippes @ Nov 9 2006, 12:45 PM) [snapback]1354213[/snapback]</div>
There is no real gun or real gun parts anywhere in the piece.

There are also no parts cast from real gun parts; all are from new models created in a CAD program off measurements taken from original source material.

There is no means to chamber a round anywhere, as there's no internal mechanism at all; simply a hinged and spring-tensioned trigger (plated brass) which is the only moving part apart from the thumb lever which is free to turn in the hole.

The ammo clip is hollow, but there's no mechanism to load rounds of any type in there.

The model has a cast dummy round in the top of the clip (not even a real deactivated round) which is an integral part of a solid plug which fills the ammo clip and is permanently bonded to the interior.

The model does not disassemble except for the removable clip. Even the grips are bonded permanently to the frame.

Phil
[/b]
Click to expand...

You mentioned that the parts were 'bonded' to the frame, how so and why?
Was the hero prop so 'bonded'? Looking at the Visual Companion, the left side rear shroud
appears to be screwed to the Taurus frame, and the left middle shroud is of course removable.
Does your friend's piece possess these traits? How was the barrel assembly treated? Sorry for the picky questions,
but this is one of my favorite props ever, and your friend's is such a fine example. I am just obsessed with gleaning every morsel of information possible, I know you understand. ;)
 
<div class='quotetop'>(satoriku @ Nov 9 2006, 07:21 PM) [snapback]1354473[/snapback]</div>
You mentioned that the parts were 'bonded' to the frame, how so and why?

Was the hero prop so 'bonded'? Looking at the Visual Companion, the left side rear shroud
appears to be screwed to the Taurus frame, and the left middle shroud is of course removable.

Does your friend's piece possess these traits? How was the barrel assembly treated? Sorry for the picky questions, but this is one of my favorite props ever, and your friend's is such a fine example. I am just obsessed with gleaning every morsel of information possible, I know you understand. ;)
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1. The Model 47 is a replica of Mal's pistol, not the prop of Mal's pistol. The only thing we ever see Mal remove is the pistol's ammo clip. This model has this feature too.

2. This model cannot fire, or be made to fire anything at all. My friend lives in a country where firearms are illegal so it had to be a non-gun for it to be legal even though he made it.

3. The parts are bonded to each other and the frame because it makes it feel more solid, and less "rattlely" and loose. This was a problem with the original. There was, for example, no mechanism to retain the original ammo clip and it would fall out regularly. A new system had to be invented for this model.

4. The shrouds aren't removable because there's no need for them to be. There's no revolver inside; simply a metal chassis, trigger pivot, and tensioner. So, there's no need to ever remove anything.

5. This is primarily a display model. Granted, it can be worn in the holster rig and drawn like the real thing, but it's intended for display. In the spirit of Firefly, my friend was careful with the display box design. He wanted it to look a bit rough and ready--not a varnished jewel box.

Phil
 
since i seems like this question has been skirted around, ill ask again....

does "your friend" plan to make these or have them made for sale?
 
David,

I suspect your question hasn't been answered because discussion of items for sale etc. is forbidden in this section of the RPF. Don't take it personally, I don't think you're being ignored or anything.

Harry
 
The more i see the More I like it.
Your friend is a true craftsman. One real beautiful peice of work.

Thank him for allowing you to share it with us.
 
Cor. Hope the one i'm doing for myself turns out as good as that... Did you use that Plumb Bown Barrel stuff as it says in the book?

SAS
 
<div class='quotetop'>(Sidewinder @ Nov 10 2006, 11:45 AM) [snapback]1354864[/snapback]</div>
Cor. Hope the one i'm doing for myself turns out as good as that... Did you use that Plumb Bown Barrel stuff as it says in the book?

SAS
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Yes. It was done exactly like the original.

Phil
 
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