ROGUE ONE - rebel comlinks idea-thread

[Muddler]

While browsing through the costume-pix, my eyes fell upon those black cylinders dangling from Jyn's and Bodhi's dresses.



They look like a new type of droid caller. (of course, they might be something completely different, but that's what the overall style reminded me of the most...)



Anyway, these items do not look like the usual kobold-flash-handles. (neither the Han/Luke version, nor the Jawa-callers).
And it's not clear, if they just look identical, or if they are ment to be just one - handed from one character to the other throughout the story.
If these things are indeed droid-callers, then there might be some connection to K-2...
Much room for speculation!

Nevertheless, I'd like to build one for a costume. So anyone got an idea, what they are made from???

Of course, also any guesses welcome what these devices might be, it they are NOT droid callers!

 

[lonepigeon]

Re: ROGUE ONE - alternative droid callers ???

I've been looking at these. The tops look like microphones so they could be comlinks, but the body is more droid caller.

The size and shape remind me of small camera flashguns like the Bolsey/Praco or the Argus C-3
http://www.everystockphoto.com/photo.php?imageId=24376278

I haven't had any luck yet identifying any found parts on them.

 

[cyclocrosschris]

Re: ROGUE ONE - alternative droid callers ???

Wow, funny how things are... I have an Argus from yrs ago , was going to use as a budget caller, or cut it up for a blaster.... LESSON...DO NOT THROW OUT OR DESTROY vintage things, history may repeat itself... happened with my vintage Czech med pouch, I used it for a budget luke pouch, then PRESTO. It became a screen accurate Pacific Rim prop.... you never know.....

 

[Muddler]

Re: ROGUE ONE - alternative droid callers ???

Yeah, flash-gun would explain the two vertically mounted contacts on the hilt. Already been browsing through hundrets of pictures. No match so far...
Does anybody know about a website that lists old photography-equipment? I'm sure there must be lots of brands that don't exist anymore, so it's quite hard to do a direct search.
('vintage flash-gun' doesn't show much useful. Mostly graflex and kobold stuff...)

 

[Yutani Exec]

Re: ROGUE ONE - alternative droid callers ???

Hi,

it was very difficult to get clear shots of the Rebel's kit at SWCE due to the lighting and glass. I am hoping that SDCC may provide better shots, as no glass. Attached is the best that i could get of Jyn's 'droid caller'



The rest of my Rebel team shots are at:

http://s1146.photobucket.com/user/Ian_Reach/library/SWCE - RO - Rebels - Edit?sort=3&page=1

Hope these may be useful.

Yutani Exec

 

[Muddler]

Re: ROGUE ONE - alternative droid callers ???

Hi!

Thought it was time to share my progress on the Rogue One droid-callers / communicators. I've been doing a lot of research, but still wasn't able to find anything even close. Vintage photo-gear, flashlights, even medical equipment!
Here's a photo of a so called "electro-larynx" or electronic speech aid for people who had their larynx surgically removed.



Of course, this one doesn't look too similar, but the basic size and layout at least left me wondering...
I don't know, what these things might have looked like in the 60s. Anyway I doubt that the production team was cold-hearted enough to use equipment that is supposed to be used by impaired people...

Since time is running, I decided to try a scratch-build and started with some simple parts from the construction store:




These are a faucet-extension (1/2 inch, about 8 centimeters long), an adapter piece 1/2 inch to 12mm and a big knurled nut.


A first loose assembly shows what I've been aiming for.





I drilled two holes into the tube-part and sprayed the thing with black liquid rubber (basically because that's the only stuff which is gonna stick to the chrome-surface without having to sand it...)
I then put in 3mm LEDs. One of them I actually wired, so that theoretically it could be lit if time allows)

.


I experimented with some rubber-sealings on the upper part until it looked at least remotely close and sprayed the whole thing with chrome-silver. Put together it already looks a bit more familiar:



To add a bit more detail I used some ring-contacts, which I cut down and bended. I know, it's still not completely accurate (and still some painting to be done), but I already like the overall look so far.



There's still some details I'm unsure about:
- Would you say that there are 3 or 4 of those ring-like greeblies on the top? By the distance on the different photos I estimated them to be just three. But I'll gladly listen to your comments!

- This photo shows some kind of circular button or similar on one of the sides. I'm not sure what to make of it, because the resolution is too bad.



Regarding the position: I mounted my pocket-clip on the far side of the LEDs and would think that the button shown above should be on the right side between the clip and the LEDs.
Or how do you percieve it?

Comments welcome!!

 

[Muddler]

Re: ROGUE ONE - alternative droid callers ???

Added a flashlight-clip and put in a faucet-filter-mesh in the top-part. Still not perfect, but at least size and shape seem close enough.



Here two comparison-pics to get a better feel for the dimensions:

 

[HEMADEW]

Re: ROGUE ONE - alternative droid callers ???

My first reaction was this was a telescope eye piece.

 

[Dann]

Re: ROGUE ONE - alternative droid callers ???

Well, it's good to know it's not based on the flash I had originally thought!

 

[division 6]

Re: ROGUE ONE - alternative droid callers ???

 

[Mara Jade's Father]

Re: ROGUE ONE - alternative droid callers ???

I had been looking at vintage walleye flashlights.

 

[Muddler]

Re: ROGUE ONE - alternative droid callers ???

I had been looking at vintage walleye flashlights.

http://www.flashlightmuseum.com/flashlights/EV00020.jpg

Wow! That definetely looks close!
It also explains why light came out from the top (which wouldn't have been a natural design-decision for a comlink in the first place).

 

[Mara Jade's Father]

That was just a sample of the flashlights I was looking at so I consider a flashlight a possibility but am open to the idea of a camera flashgun or anything else for that matter.

I'm also open to the possibility that the parts used are not inclusive to the same found item.

 

[Mara Jade's Father]

What i would like to know is what was the purpose of the rings around the top of the item. It looks like they are three or four of them that run around the top. it looks like what ever they were, they were bent down. Did they hold rods/post of a reflective hood or something else? Maybe those rings could point us in the right direction of the found item.

 

[Mara Jade's Father]

I'm also considering vintage ophthalmoscopes and otoscopes as well as vintage magnifiers.

However I believe it might be some sort of vintage swivel head flashlight similar to this:

 

[doctorDWwho]

I'm pretty new to identifying parts of props, but it seems like going through the components of the pieces of props that have already been id'd might also be a good place to start. Again, I'm new to this so I don't know if they'd do that, but they definitely did for the OT.

 

[Muddler]

I'm also considering vintage ophthalmoscopes and otoscopes as well as vintage magnifiers.

However I believe it might be some sort of vintage swivel head flashlight similar to this:

http://thumbs.picclick.com/00/s/MTY...ge-USA-LITE-Swivel-Head-Flashlight-USA-_1.jpg

I see why otoscopes appear to be an option. Most of them have removable top-parts that look similar to the tube-like top on the comlinks. I assorted some pics to compare:



Still, I don't think those were used for the props.

- regardless of the age of production, the handles of otoscopes seem to be longer and bigger in diameter than the comlinks
- the connection-piece on the top is in most cases much slimmer in diameter. And it's usually a massive part with electronic contacts. The lightsource is usually built into the removable "head". So for the translucent version we see in the movie, they'd have had to remove the complete upper part just to put in a LED. It's not impossible, but very unlikely.
That's why in my opinion the flashlights you found are in every respect a far better option to start from.
I think they used vintage flashlights and put some sort of microphone-grille over it. Something like this:




(I know this one is modern and completely different it style. Just to get the idea...)

So the whole part with the bend-down ringlike struts might be one found item.
I've already been browsing through countless pictures of old microphones. But no real match so far...

 

[Mara Jade's Father]

The thing about the swivel head flashlight is that they usually have a clip build on. If you notice, the bent down rings are arched to a larger ring going around the handle's diameter, That ring looks as if it is made to twist/swivel. The bend down ring could be from what the head with posts riveted to the swivel ring.

 

[lmshutt]

Has anyone seen a good view of the top of the comm link or how they operate it. I thought I saw it light up but do not remember if it was the top center, the grill just below the top or both,

Has anybody made guesses on size. If the straps are 3/4" the body could be 1 1/4" - 1 1/2" diameter and 4-4 1/2" tall.

The three circle tabs do not look like anything attaches to them. They are thin sheet metal with no dishing for strength, Fit close to the body thus no room for a rivet, and attach into the mid ring in loose slots. I suspect their purpose is to protect the grill from being crushed by pressure on the top ring.

The mid ring appears to have one or more setscrews. The position does not look consistent so either that ring rotates or there are multiple holes. There may also be a small knob or button 180 deg from the clip just below the mid ring. Could be a socket head screw in the mid grove with the head pressing on the mid ring.

The mesh grill looks like it's expanded rather than woven.

In the visual guide the main body looks textured, possibly a single direction diagonal knurl.

 

[division 6]

Saw the movie for the second time yesterday and they do light up when the person presses the button and speaks into it (visual cue that they are the one sending)

I may be mistaken but at least once there may have even been a red light on the side as well, could have just been a reflection on his (Bodhi) gear.
After I saw it once I didn't see it again.