My Jack Sparrow Compass kit builds

[DrMcoy]

Love the movie series, the characters and, of course, Jack's iconic compass that points to whatever your heart desires most. I bought the Master Replicas compass when it was first released but wanted one to play around with. I upgraded several toys and have built several kits over the years but sold them off when I found a kit I felt was more accurate. I will list the three kits I've built here, all purchased from MrPinskiProps on etsy.

While not 100% accurate, Pinski's kits are closer in size and details than the other kits I had owned and were relatively easier to finish. My only critique of Pinksi's kits is he doesn't include the latch, the hinge, the back ring holder or the leather that goes inside the upper lid – while these few items are not all that expensive, it always annoys me when a kit does not come complete.

I'll comment on some of the kit details in separate posts below, but to start off, here are some reference photos found on the internet, including a rare shot of the compass prop from the first movie before it was heavily weathered for filming. I am by no means an expert on this prop insomuch as I have scrutinized as much reference as I could find online.

 

[DrMcoy]

Here is the first kit I built. Pinski's first kits had channels for the white inlay molded into the body that I filled with Plastruct, which looks great but very time consuming. He also suggested filling with epoxy putty which might have gone faster. Again, I had to buy the latch, hinge and leather and print out the compass rose myself, I believe, as well as build the back ring connector. The first kit's upper lid is also a bit taller than his more recent kits, which also do not have channels for inlay – you simply paint it on, which I actually prefer. I show the kit next to the MR replica for comparison...the MR is a tad smaller.

 

[DrMcoy]

Here's Pinski's second kit...lid is shorter, the trident has more tapered tines/prongs, and the rose is cast in resin. I know it would be more accurate to have the three trident prongs recessed into the compass rose hole but I could not figure out an easy way to do this, so I mounted them on top of the lower body the same way Pinksi makes his build-ups.

 

[DrMcoy]

Pinski's most recent kit with trident and rose styled after compass seen in first movie. He did not change the hinge from his second kit, which has an inset for a much smaller hinge (accurate to that version, but first movie hinge ran the length of the compass), so I had to dremel out the back so I could inset the wider hinge. Time-consuming and painstaking work, but a detail I wanted to get right. This is my favorite version of the prop. I also show this kit alongside MR compass for comparison. Again, while not 100% accurate, it is the best kit I've seen of this prop.

 

[DrMcoy]

Here's a pic of the same kit, but this build is by Pinski.

 

[DrMcoy]

I really like Pinski's kits. His etsy shop is temporarily closed while he takes a week or two off, but worth checking out if you like this prop. He also sells build-ups, but if you have modest skills and don't mind searching out the few extra parts you need to build it, I think his kits are fairly accurate and make a nice display piece or cosplay prop.

 

[paplooo]

MR compass its the exact same size as the original prop. this kit its too big.