It's pretty amazing how you matched everything up! Still. The emitter plate doesn't fit. I think this photo gives some credibility to the idea that they redressed the TPM hero a bit for AOTC with a different emitter plate
New model for OWK three holes saber... (New pics on pg 13. 11-17-2024)
- Thread starter Anakin Starkiller
- Start date
So far as I know, the scene has never been released, and we only have the script and still photos.
I think it was in the novelization too. I remember reading it there. It was very interesting... Qui Gon Jinn gives Obi Wan the same lecture that Obi Wan gives Anakin about not losing the lightsaber.
Where can I find the still photos ?
This is the one I recall seeing most often. There may be a few others out there that are similar.
There are also photos (and video, in the "The Beginning" DVD documentary) of Ewan rising up out of the water prior to this moment, a la APOCALYPSE NOW.
Something else just occurred to me—
The chromed resin AOTC sabers appear to be missing that extra step (the washer) on the emitter face. Or, at least, the MR, KR and other replicas based on the AOTC design are missing it.
Could it be that the resin copies used in AOTC were not merely reused from the TPM molds, but rather newly cast from a new mold of the metal hero? And perhaps the hero prop was molded at a stage before the washer/emitter cap was replaced?
The chromed resin AOTC sabers appear to be missing that extra step (the washer) on the emitter face. Or, at least, the MR, KR and other replicas based on the AOTC design are missing it.
Could it be that the resin copies used in AOTC were not merely reused from the TPM molds, but rather newly cast from a new mold of the metal hero? And perhaps the hero prop was molded at a stage before the washer/emitter cap was replaced?
A large number of the Episode 1 stunt sabers had that extra step sanded off.
Oh, okay. I haven’t done the sort of extensive research on the stunts that you fellows have!
The emitter end is where the resin was poured into the mold.
Insane im just learning about this now… crazy
Okay, so here’s my tentative timeline:
*1996-97: The metal TPM hero is constructed. The wonky emitter plate is the result of either an accident or innate to the prop’s construction.
The prop is molded and cast to create the painted resin dummies and stunts, and all feature the wonky emitter plate, but no pommel cube holes (for ease of molding/casting).
*2000-2001: The metal TPM hero is cleaned up for use in AOTC, since, in-universe, Obi-Wan either retrieved his saber from the pit, or constructed a near-identical duplicate to replace it (although the early post-TPM lore had him simply using Qui-Gon’s saber). The brushed/raw-ish aluminum parts are polished to a high shine, in order to match the look of the new AOTC sabers (Anakin, Mace, Dooku). A new emitter plate (possibly aluminum) is machined to replace or cover the steel TPM fender washer (which has likely rusted, akin to other surviving TPM props).
Resin TPM castings (or new castings made from the old molds) are now chromed instead of painted, and again serve as dummies and stunts. Ewan favors these lightweight castings, and the metal hero mainly appears on Ewan’s belt in publicity/reference photos.
*2003-2004: By this time, the metal TPM hero has gone missing/into private hands. To give Lucas options in preproduction for ROTS, the prop team either modifies a second metal hero (possibly created for AOTC), or, more likely, machines an all-new prop, using the resin TPM/AOTC castings as reference. The primary design difference, of course, is the famous salt-shaker emitter cap.
As before, resin dummies (with varying levels of detail, for the stunt performers’/actor’s comfort) are made based on this design. The resin stunts are used in early duel practice sessions, and the metal salt-shaker hero is worn on Ewan’s belt for costume/set photography test shots.
Eventually, Lucas decides that Obi-Wan will simply wield the Alec Guinness-style saber from the very start of the film, and the salt-shaker is relegated to non-canon obscurity, appearing on tour and in publicity photos/StarWars.com articles (often mistakenly labeled as the TPM and/or AOTC version).
*1996-97: The metal TPM hero is constructed. The wonky emitter plate is the result of either an accident or innate to the prop’s construction.
The prop is molded and cast to create the painted resin dummies and stunts, and all feature the wonky emitter plate, but no pommel cube holes (for ease of molding/casting).
*2000-2001: The metal TPM hero is cleaned up for use in AOTC, since, in-universe, Obi-Wan either retrieved his saber from the pit, or constructed a near-identical duplicate to replace it (although the early post-TPM lore had him simply using Qui-Gon’s saber). The brushed/raw-ish aluminum parts are polished to a high shine, in order to match the look of the new AOTC sabers (Anakin, Mace, Dooku). A new emitter plate (possibly aluminum) is machined to replace or cover the steel TPM fender washer (which has likely rusted, akin to other surviving TPM props).
Resin TPM castings (or new castings made from the old molds) are now chromed instead of painted, and again serve as dummies and stunts. Ewan favors these lightweight castings, and the metal hero mainly appears on Ewan’s belt in publicity/reference photos.
*2003-2004: By this time, the metal TPM hero has gone missing/into private hands. To give Lucas options in preproduction for ROTS, the prop team either modifies a second metal hero (possibly created for AOTC), or, more likely, machines an all-new prop, using the resin TPM/AOTC castings as reference. The primary design difference, of course, is the famous salt-shaker emitter cap.
As before, resin dummies (with varying levels of detail, for the stunt performers’/actor’s comfort) are made based on this design. The resin stunts are used in early duel practice sessions, and the metal salt-shaker hero is worn on Ewan’s belt for costume/set photography test shots.
Eventually, Lucas decides that Obi-Wan will simply wield the Alec Guinness-style saber from the very start of the film, and the salt-shaker is relegated to non-canon obscurity, appearing on tour and in publicity photos/StarWars.com articles (often mistakenly labeled as the TPM and/or AOTC version).
Last edited:
Interestingly, the AOTC Visual Dictionary contains two—maybe three—versions of the saber. The main character photo features Ewan wearing the metal hero. The action pose photo features a bladed stunt. And the photo of the saber itself features a rough-looking, chromed resin dummy (or possibly a bladed stunt with the blade cropped out). The dummy has paint flaking off of the red button, and what appears to be silver paint in the grip grooves to simulate the chrome (since the entire grip section—chromed like the rest of the prop—would initally have been painted black.
Meanwhile, I find myself wondering about the Master Replicas version. As noted by Starkiller, upthread, the resin castings omitted the upper step/washer of the emitter, since that was where the pour spout was in the mold. The MR replica also features this missing step, but where did the brass emitter dimple come from? Was that a detail on the chromed dummies, or something MR invented?
Meanwhile, I find myself wondering about the Master Replicas version. As noted by Starkiller, upthread, the resin castings omitted the upper step/washer of the emitter, since that was where the pour spout was in the mold. The MR replica also features this missing step, but where did the brass emitter dimple come from? Was that a detail on the chromed dummies, or something MR invented?
On the chromed resin stunt that MR referenced for their AOTC saber run, that dimple is just a flaw in the chrome plating.
sakanade
Well-Known Member
The color of the red button on the chromed resin seems just like the one on the MR AOTC.
The bright chrome finish behind the paint really makes the red POP.
Looking at the references I have of the AOTC “hero” saber, it seems very likely there was only one chromed resin Kenobi saber made. They all have consistent damage/flaws. Granted there really isn’t a ton of reference for that saber. Also, I haven’t watched AOTC in a while but I can’t ever remember seeing a shiny chrome hilt actually in the movie.
It only makes sense. An anodized aluminum part vs. chromed resin panted with a red color to simulate the found part.
protonpack
Active Member
Looking to the webisodes they put out, could this be the repurposed TPM? I can almost see the threaded rod/washer detail on the emitter, but I can't tell if it's just wishful thinking:
Similar threads
