National Treasure- Ocular Device/ ALL PARTS FOUND!!!

[Darth Brass]

I'd say Juno should give 'em a call. If that doesn't work out, maybe we can find a picture of the glasses pre-mod (maybe even draw a pre-mod picture) that way we're not waving around that we're looking to copy a prop.

Just my $.02.

Also, thank you to postmortem01 for joining the forum and sharing what you know!

 

[SgtFang]

Oh- for the folks going with the Townsend glasses, I "think" I have a solution for tightening up the earpieces- I couldn't find spacers or washers small enough ANYWHERE locally, so take a BIC lighter, carefully take the head off, and extract the flint spring. Clip off a couple rings from the spring chainmail style, and try to fit them in the hinge. I haven't been able to get mine in yet, I'm going to have to go to Harbor Freight and pick up one of those little stands w/ the alligator clips to hold everything and a set of very tiny tweezers, but I think this'll work. Once the spring rings are in place, they "should" act like lock washers.

-Sarge

 

[juno]

They were very nice, but really not interested in shipping to the great state of Ohio. They did say that they had that style (I actually referred to them as Jeffersonian -- http://www.monticello.org/podcasts/zoom/eyeglasses1.html and allowed them to say Benjamin Franklin). They did ask what they were for, and I said they were for a display.

They recommended Ed Welch's (sp) site, but he sells true antiques and they are quite expensive.

 

[Darth Brass]

They say anything about price?

 

[Gigatron]

Well, for $30 and some time, I'm going to attempt to rework the townsend round glasses. There's no need to disassemble a bic lighter or anything as the earpieces will still be original.

I'm just going to pop out the lenses and attempt to flatten out the top and bottom of the frames. This should give me a more squared-off frame as seen in the screen caps. After that, I'll just shape some plexi to act as lenses. Since these aren't prescription shelf sitters, it won't make a lick of difference.



And just little off topic, but who in the world are we stealing money from by making replica props? I don't recall disney offering replicas of these glasses, so we're not stealing from them. As far as I know, no third party has the license to make replica glasses, so we're not stealing from them. We're working from screen caps, so nothing's been obtained illegally.

I don't get it. If the the studios were smart, they would offer replicas of the more interesting props and could make a fortune - and save me hours of time looking for a dopey pair of glasses on the internet.

-Fred

 

[SgtFang]

And just little off topic, but who in the world are we stealing money from by making replica props? I don't recall disney offering replicas of these glasses, so we're not stealing from them. As far as I know, no third party has the license to make replica glasses, so we're not stealing from them. We're working from screen caps, so nothing's been obtained illegally.

I don't get it. If the the studios were smart, they would offer replicas of the more interesting props and could make a fortune - and save me hours of time looking for a dopey pair of glasses on the internet.

-Fred

As near as I can figure, it's just the Studio mindset- Kind of like the dog that doesn't want his food until the cat starts eating it. :lol The way they look at it, Prop X is their intellectual property (and it is), and they "might" do something with it... someday... when they get around to it.

I do agree, Disney probably could have made a lot if they'd went to MR or someplace with these and other NT props. With MR already holding a license for PotC, (also Disney and same production team) I'm really surprised they didn't. :confused

Who knows? Maybe MR will licence stuff from the sequel, and slip some of the original stuff in the side door.

-Sarge

 

[postmortem01]

SgtFang hit it right on the head. It's their property and is legally at their disposal. It's not our right to do what we would like with it unless it is for ourselves and not for sale. Once you sell you have broken the law. However, we (propmakers) cannot reproduce something for sale that is the intellectual property of someone else....legally.

 

[postmortem01]

Don't get me wrong. I think you guys do a fantastic job of replicating the props from sometimes poor quality photos and/or blurry film frames. It takes a ton of work to copy something like that when you have no idea what parts or processes were actually used.

We usually have little to no time to make props for shows. We do, however, make much more than the rpfers give us credit. Many times, it may look like we used existing parts to make the props when in fact we actually made them from scratch.

The Chronicles of Riddick breather was a perfect example. I posted that we actually did not use an Advair as the base and everyone jumped all over me and didn't believe me. It was hilarious. The breather was actually machined from solid aluminum.

 

[Gigatron]

So, does anybody have any progress pics, or has everyone's project come to a grinding halt with the information of the new glasses?

-Fred

 

[juno]

No time = no progress (at least for me, I work full-time during the week).

 

[SgtFang]

Some props I want to be absolutely perfect, while others I'm happy with "close enough", so unless someone happens onto a crate of the authentic glasses fairly cheap, I'm probably going to just stick to replicating the eBay pairs. They still look really good, and every non-fan I've shown mine to has recognized them right away. Right now, I just need to get the colored lenses from blufive, tighten the earpieces, and paint the frames. :thumbsup

Just out of curiosity, who else "IS" making a pair?

-Sarge

 

[Darth Brass]

Sarge, I plan on doing it eventually, I just wanted to wait until all this panned out before buying stuff.

 

[TazVader]

Well I was the same. Although I am waiting on our suck postal system for my loupes from BBabich.

Then I'll wait to see what the glasses cost. Any word on that folks? Or did I miss something in this thread?

Regards
Christian

 

[Gigatron]

ok folks, I got my townsend glasses tonight and here's the result of about an hour of bending and shaping

Now, are they perfect? Nope, far from it, but I'm extremely pleased considering the only tools I had to work with are two pairs of pliers and some screen caps. They're very close in shape and technically speaking, they are the closest to the screen used pair to date (considering the only competition is the ebay set :lol). Over the weekend, I'll try and make some simple lenses with some plexi and I hope my harbor freight loupes show up soon so I can get started on that part.


And on another note, if anyone's interested in replicating the ebay pair and wants the gold frames used for the eypiece, let me know. I'll let mine go (brand spanking new, never even removed from the bubblewrap) for $30 shipped - a little less than what townsend sells them for.

-Fred

 

[TazVader]

Awesome manipulation of the old needlenose there mate. I can't wait to see the end results. Has anyone heard back from the original supplier yet?

Regards
TAZ

 

[crowe07]

Has anyone tried replicating the brick yet? I'm trying to figure that one out now.

 

[Gigatron]

Awesome manipulation of the old needlenose there mate. I can't wait to see the end results. Has anyone heard back from the original supplier yet?

Regards
TAZ

Thanks, Taz!

So before I go drilling holes for the loupe studs, where do you think the holes would be? In the center of that annoying little offset or off to one of the sides?

From the caps, it looks like it goes right through the little angled section, but I'd like some independent confirmation.

On another note, tonight I'm going to test dye the lenses from these glasses. Gotta get some food dye from the store, though. I'll post pics once I'm done with the testing.

-Fred

 

[Gigatron]

Just a small update.

Tinting is not going as well as planned. I think it has to do with the convex shape of the lens. I've tried tinting using tinted Future wax as well as clear acrylic paint (tamiya). Once I spray, it either runs to the center or out to the edges (depending on which way I lay it down to dry).

So, does anybody have any suggestions?

-Fred

 

[Pirateslife]

Just a small update.

Tinting is not going as well as planned. I think it has to do with the convex shape of the lens. I've tried tinting using tinted Future wax as well as clear acrylic paint (tamiya). Once I spray, it either runs to the center or out to the edges (depending on which way I lay it down to dry).

So, does anybody have any suggestions?

-Fred

I know it seems like it would be a big pain in the neck to do, but maybe removing the lense from the loupe via the small screws and trying that. Then if one side is sprayed/dipped at a time and left to dry, if it runs to the side it shouldn't be a problem. Two negatives to this plan is that it might not fit back in if it is thicker around the sides, and there is a risk of chipping the glass.

Any other ways?

 

[TazVader]

maybe you could make a dam at the edges with clay? Then fill it with colour then sand it back? With wet and dry? I dunno...probably a dumb idea LOL

What about some sort of heat shrink?

Regards
TAZ

PS I think it would look good drilled just ofside for the loupe shaft MO though.