Obi ANH Pommel Cap--any new info.?

[Serafino]

I'm just wondering if anyone has perhaps turned up new information about the handwheel cap on the Obi ANH lightsaber.

Once upon a time we used to look at the 'Obituary' photo and argue about whether it showed an 'H' or a 'C' cap:

But now that we have this picture:

there is far less certainty that in the first picture we are looking at any sort of cap at all.

I know of no other photo or screen grab which shows the cap area of the pommel/handwheel.

Is there anything new on this?

 

[lonepigeon]

I'm not convinced there isn't a cap in the second pic.

 

[damon5973]

I think I see a hint of an "H" on it ....

 

[Serafino]

Oh. I didn't realize there were any doubters on the second pic.

In the 2nd pic you see the recessed 'rim' which exists under the cap, exactly where it should be, and you see the hole within that where the top part is recessed about 3/8" or 1/2". What you should see if there were a cap there, is reflections of the robe and clip behind the saber.

I've got a guest staying with me again at the moment so unfortunately I don't have time to take the pictures to prove the point just now. But if we're still stuck on that next weekend (August 25) I'll see what I can do.

Meanwhile, does anyone know of any additional evidence on this question at this point?

 

[Shinobi]

I just want to know where I can find one of these. It seems like I've been searching forever

 

[Howard]

Without a doubt there's not a cap in that second pic.
You can clearly see the inside edge of the top section, the bright curved area on the edge where the coloured ring sits - which would not reflect light this way if the cap was attached.
Also, you can see just slightly into the 'base' area of the top section which has the square peg hole.

Howard.

 

[Killdozer]

But couldn't all that be a reflection on a convex surface? It would, in theory, bend away from the middle in the same way.

I owe you an email, H. :$

KD

 

[franz bolo]

There is no cap on the second pic.

The light source is coming from the left.

The back lip of the sink knob is catching the highlight. If there were a cap, the front/top of the cap would get the highlight.

Also, you can see the interior details that follow the curved interior surface.

FB

 

[Serafino]

KD--a reflection of what though? Reflections come from somewhere and follow certain rules, and most of what would be reflected in a cap in that picture is visible in the picture, above the saber. As you see on other areas of the pommel, the only other thing you'd see reflected would be sky.

Shinobi--keep the faith, and keep networking.

 

[lonepigeon]

In in the "obit" pic the cap reflection is very much the same.
Highlight on the top edge and another highlight opposite it on the cap.
Like KD said it's a convex surface it should reflect that way.

I think what many are interpreting as interior ridges are actually the top and bottom edges of Obi-Wan's belt reflecting in the top.

 

[Howard]

Here's a quick and dirty comp pic - sorry for the colour.
Top is a replica without the cap, followed by the same replica with the cap.

If the cap was present in the location picture it would have a highlight on its raised edge at the 8 O'Clock (roughly.) position.

Howard.

 

[lonepigeon]

<div class='quotetop'>(Howard @ Aug 18 2006, 07:17 PM) [snapback]1303122[/snapback]</div>

If the cap was present in the location picture it would have a highlight on its raised edge at the 8 O'Clock (roughly.) position.
[/b]

In your pics at 8 o'clock is a reflection of something in the room, not a highlight.
I think what we're trying to figure out is the highlight at the 2 o'clock position in the location pic.
I'm just not entirely convinced since the belt clip seems to be reflected pretty clearly in the pic.
Also look at the highlight and note the dark gap where the cap seamline is. The highlight hits the outer edge and then gets higher as it goes towards the center of the pommel. If there was no cap it should drop down first.

 

[Serafino]

Thank you Howard. That should do it I think.

Chris, I'm certain the belt would not create that shape, its reflection would be below an area showing reflections of the light robe and the clip reflecting sky color, and it would flow out to and distortedly over the edges of the cap.

<div class='quotetop'>(lonepigeon @ Aug 18 2006, 12:49 PM) [snapback]1303140[/snapback]</div>

In your pics at 8 o'clock is a reflection of something in the room, not a highlight.
[/b]

Highlights are reflections of 'somethings'. In the prop picture the highlight is a reflection of something in the sky--the sun. Howard is right that there should be a similar highlight/reflection on the edge of the cap, if the cap were there.

<div class='quotetop'>(lonepigeon @ Aug 18 2006, 12:49 PM) [snapback]1303140[/snapback]</div>

I'm just not entirely convinced since the belt clip seems to be reflected pretty clearly in the pic.
[/b]

It's clearly absent. The reflection of the belt clip would be directly below the clip itself, and would be distinctly visible albeit distorted, since the cap is comparatively flat over much of its surface.

<div class='quotetop'>(lonepigeon @ Aug 18 2006, 12:49 PM) [snapback]1303140[/snapback]</div>

Also look at the highlight and note the dark gap where the cap seamline is. The highlight hits the outer edge and then gets higher as it goes towards the center of the pommel. If there was no cap it should drop down first.
[/b]

If you're talking about the 2:00 highlight, if there was a cap it would not be there at all. That highlight is a direct sun reflection and cannot be explained by the clip since they are not aligned. There would have to be a mirror directly behind the handwheel at that point, reflecting the sun, in order to create anything like that highlight on a cap if there were one. The surface of the cap is not rounded enough to distort the apparent locations of reflected objects far enough to explain that highlight.

 

[lonepigeon]

As Howard's second pic shows the cap reflects mostly dark with the "sun" at such a low angle.
I think if the lighting were adjusted to match the photo - so that the left pommel cube appears black as well the result would look very much like the location photo.
We can just agree to disagree. Maybe I'll investigate on my own if I have time.
Regardless, I doubt anyone is going to leave off the endcap of their replica because of this photo.

Edit - I thought Howard was refering to the highlight on the cap at 8 o'clock, not the edge. My mistake.
PS - I know that's a direct sun highlight at 2 o'clock. The belt clip reflection is more towards center besides the clip is hardly lit enough to throw a highlight like that.

 

[JunkSabers1138]

What cap are we talking about? The "cap" in that pic Howard posted looks way different from the AS handwheel caps I've seen. Different model?

EDIT: Oops. My mistake. The shadow made it look curved inward and thus I thought it looked different. Sorry.

 

[RedTwoX]

I have to agree with the "No cap" analysis of the photo. I believe the interior edges at too close together for there to be a cap in place.

 

[Serafino]

<div class='quotetop'>(lonepigeon @ Aug 18 2006, 01:12 PM) [snapback]1303154[/snapback]</div>

Regardless, I doubt anyone is going to leave off the endcap of their replica because of this photo.
[/b]

On THAT we can certainly agree. This thread wasn't about saying "there is no cap therefore that's how replicas should be", rather it was an attempt to find more information on the possible original state of the saber, presumeably with some sort of cap in place. FWIW I'm still up in the air about the 'Obituary' picture.

Anyway I have to make a decision about whether to make a replacement-style cap for the phenomenal 4-part handwheel replica I just got, and I was hoping for new info. I am balanced between using the type the AS (as well as the replica) comes with, or the replacement style, which happens to look very cool.

<div class='quotetop'>(lonepigeon @ Aug 18 2006, 01:12 PM) [snapback]1303154[/snapback]</div>

PS - I know that's a direct sun highlight at 2 o'clock. The belt clip reflection is more towards center besides the clip is hardly lit enough to throw a highlight like that.
[/b]

I can't imagine a way that such a direct sun highlight could occur when that side of the cap is not capable of reflecting the sun, since the sun is on the other side; and the cap completely blocks the inside edge of the top piece where it could catch the sun, as it does the reflection of light when the cap is missing in Howard's photo.

 

[ATL Kenobi]

FWIW, I have to agree with Serafino and Howard, that, in that picture, the cap is not there. Doesn't mean I'm leaving mine off either . I do like the fact that the picture clearly shows two washers though.

ATL Kenobi

 

[damon5973]

I dont know....I went back and forth looking at pic trying to get a difffernt view lie an optical illusion. I think the cap is definately there....

I will keep looking, but I think it IS on .....

 

[Snoballz]

I'm definately in the "cap is off in that picture" camp. Now, I'm only wondering if I should do a flat black paint job on my saber?.?.? I'm all for it, but I'm worried about how I'd remove the paint form the windvane if I didn't like the look.