R2 experts chime in

[Basherthrasher]

I know that this isn't my auction,but I have a question of authenticity. This guy is claiming that his R2 unit was made by Shepperton studios. I don't think this guy knows what he's talking about,and there is no COA,or other paperwork to prove this,even if Shepperton did make this. It seems awfully suspicious to me. There's no real definition of materials,or weight,or even measurements. Is Don Bies here anymore to authenticate,or disprove this? Is this a replica hoax?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Star-Wars-full-...emQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item2eaaa56bf5

 

[chefhawk]

The original R2-D2 chassis was specially created by English firms Petric Engineering and C&L Developments.

Shepperton only made the Trooper helmets armor and other helmets that were vac formed.


Hope that helps

 

[Fett_Ish]

Hey Basher,
I have a feeling some other R2 builders will chime in,but here is my take (I am 30 percent done with my R2). He looks all fiberglass to me,including the dome. I have a two part aluminum dome,and there is no substitute.That is not to say that I haven't seen nice fiberglass and plastic domes, I have,but those folks did a lot of work to make them look good. As for accuracy I would go with the poster above,I have neverheard of a Sheperton R2. The price right now at $2200.00 is pretty good depending on condition and materials which I can't really see in the pics. Not crazy about fiberglass as details can be soft and they get "cracky" over time (again I have seen great fiberglass stuff,but it is mucho money for the good stuff,and a lengthy wait).If you are looking for something with maybe just a bit of cosmetic work this could be it. I have been working on my R2 for over a year and spent thousands (probably close to 3) and I still have a few more pieces to get and no electronics yet!:cry But his dome is 98% done and I love him:love.
Main point a good R2 is a lot of money. If one was to take the 5 grand needed for a Sideshow and source the parts and build it themselves it would be 100 times better! So be very leary of these R2 "deals" on the 'bay. Hope this helps you.

 

[Xyborg]

I agree with Fett_Ish, it appears to be all fiberglass and a bit crude.

It's interesting that the center louvers and vents appear to be missing some elements - this may help to identify who (or what company, or what molds) made it.

The seller claims that the Sideshow R2 sells for $9,000, but it's presently $5,450 on their site.

For an item like this, the lack of detail photographs is troubling to me.

It looks like it sold yesterday for $2,500.

 

[womo68]

They did not create the original. This is their interpretation of r2. To claim that they are the original guys that worked on it is very misleading.

 

[MattMunson]

RUN FOR THE HILLS!

That auction is wrong in a million ways. Just about every red flag you could possibly ever imagine for an R2 is on there.

If what you are looking for is something that sorta looks like R2 that you want to sit in your office, or family room, MAYBE this is the piece for you. But if you had plans to clean it up, make it R/C, or do anything interesting with it, your money is way better spent elsewhere.

My vote would be to avoid this.

 

[Lear60man]

For a quick and dirty static R2 for 2500 bucks OK. Anything else pass.

 

[JoslinFX]

Norank was the prodomant makers of everything physical to do with all the orignal star wars films

 

[JoslinFX]

The original R2-D2 chassis was specially created by English firms Petric Engineering and C&L Developments.

Shepperton only made the Trooper helmets armor and other helmets that were vac formed.


Hope that helps

All R2D2s from all of the first three original films episode IV V and VI, were produced and """"built""" by Norank Engineering... In elstree Borhamwood, next to the Estree Studios. - no where near shepperton?

To my knowledge none of chassi's or heads was fibre glass, all the chassi's and heads were manufactured in Metal.

Norank Engineering is the company that built all the full size film stages for all Star Wars film, indy films, and James Bond films. They also built all full size vehicles as well as droids and robots, all props weapons and they build all the lightsabers as well. Including the machinal luke saber for ROTJ wich was never shown.

The the reason i know this, is because i used to do a lot of prop restoration work for the 'late' Nick Harrison, who was the son of the man who owned Norank Engineering, who was personally involved in the star wars films.

And i have seen his dads personal port folio of Norank Engineering for every droid, weapon, full size ship, vehicle, and prop and every single full size sets of which no pictures are in the public domain, take my word for it.

And i know for a fact, that Norank Engineering never ever copied anything or sold it on after finishing on a production.


So this ebay seller what ever there name is, has either been riped off by a conartist, or shes fraudently advertising.



If it was a Norank Engineering orignal, it would have offical manufacture documents and certificates. """"""And it would be registered"""""


But Norank enginnering only made the R2 units for the original films, so this does not discount the what ever the company was, that made the R2 units for the episode I II and III

Jonathan

 

[Fett_Ish]

I believe that fairly recently,the last yer or so, someone was auctioning drawings made by the maker of the droids. If I remember there were 4 or 5 books filled with design drawings of the droids and perhaps weapons,I'm not sure.I remember they had early Star Wars promo art on the fronts. I must have seen it through the R2 group. Perhaps it was fake but it seemed very legit. Perhaps someone else from the group will remember. If indeed, that is where I saw these. I am not disputing where R2 came from, Joslins late friend may be the very creator of them. My R2 is complaining at me right now that he is tired of sitting on the floor and wants his body built so off to work

 

[womo68]

Norank was the prodomant makers of everything physical to do with all the orignal star wars films

So was Tony Dyson an employee of Norank? He was tasked to build the R2 units for the OT.

 

[redirk2]

So was Tony Dyson an employee of Norank? He was tasked to build the R2 units for the OT.

Wayne,
I believe Dyson was only involved in making the fibergalss R2's for Empire, cast of of the original Norak aluminum units. I dont think any were made for Jedi, just rehab version fro the first two movies. I could be wrong though.

On a side note, how have you been buddy?

 

[Basherthrasher]

Thank you all for your input. Actually,the bodies of the original Star Wars R2 units were all made by a company called WORLD OF TOYS. This can be easily proved by looking at the end credits of the movie. The rest of the body parts(legs)were made by the ILM team. I don't know who made the domed heads. The internals,I have no idea who made them as of this time,but this can be verified by Artoo 77 (if he ever chimes in here).

As far as the auction is concerned,I was being rehtorical. Shepperton only made stormtrooper armour - nothing else. I know that the ILM team didn't make the internal guts for them,but I don't know who did,so this will be a mystery to most unless Joslin is correct,but as it's usually the way around here:

There needs to be some corroboration,or proof,or no one here will believe what you say as the gosphel truth,even if it is! I don't know if it is,or if it isn't,but do you have a way of proving this claim?