Solo ANH Hero Scope Mount. New Pics near the end

[Prop Runner]

Good catch on the T-bracket vertical section widths, Drew - first I've noticed. I wonder if anyone's ever made assymetrical T-brackets for their replicas?

Not sure what you mean by your "not machined" comment, though - what's the alternative: investment cast? Quite possibly, but you'd still need secondary surface grinding and probably milling operations on the mating surfaces, as is common practice with cast iron parts.

- Gabe

 

[Durasteel Corporation]

Not sure what you mean by your "not machined" comment, though - what's the alternative: investment cast? Quite possibly, but you'd still need secondary surface grinding and probably milling operations on the mating surfaces, as is common practice with cast iron parts

hand cut? hand filed?


also whats the take on this slot?

 

[Prop Runner]

Originally posted by Durasteel Corporation@Oct 3 2005, 06:35 AM
Also, whats up with the huge gap/space to the left of the roundel?  That doesnt seem consistent with the Solo version....???

Shadow.

 

[Durasteel Corporation]

Shadow

No way Gabe... .....look closer. The roundel is significantly off to the right side.

That ovular slot BEGINS under the roundel -figuratively speaking--and the slot EXTENDS to the near edge of the left side.

Also the roundel isnt sticking up high enough to cast such a long shadow.


Its definately a slot.

 

[Durasteel Corporation]

I think is possible that roundel might be a sliding/ locking mechanism

 

[Got Maul]

looks like a shadow to me too.


Also, about your comment on the mauser being a sniper rifle....I got this back from one of my correspondance :

"If I had to guess, it is a one off mount made just for that gun in the movie. To put a scope on that pistol and use it is portrayed in the movie is really unpractical, as the pistol itself isn't accurate beyond about 50 yards. I don't think it was a production unit... at least not in large quantities"

 

[Gigatron]

As for the gap/shadow of the roundel, I have two theories.

First, it's a taller knob than we're used to seeing, perhaps 1/2" in height. Would make sense if it's acting as a thumb screw. Much easier to a grip than if it were only as thick as a washer.

Second theory, the roundel was a part of the dovetail (knob had a threaded rod on it, dovetail had a corresponding hole). A groove in the mount would then allow you to slide the scope back forth to adjust for eye relief, without messing up your sighting.

I could have sworn I've seen cradle mounts. I don't remember if there were rings or not, but check out the ZFK3 mounts. Similar in some respects to the mount we're looking for. Not close enough to be it, but maybe an inspiration, as I'm still not sure this thing wasn't a custom job.

-Fred

 

[amish]

I am going to follow Gabe's suggestion and start looking at not weapon uses. Maybe even a Sextant... Lots of stuff to look at, almost too much :-]

 

[Durasteel Corporation]

First, it's a taller knob than we're used to seeing, perhaps 1/2" in height. Would make sense if it's acting as a thumb screw. Much easier to a grip than if it were only as thick as a washer.

To cast such a long shadow the lighting would have to be virtually behind both men and it does not appear to be based on shadow and lighting elsewhere. And/or the roundel would have to be very high to cast that shadow...even we would expect a shaft....now heres the thing....given that we can clearly see the edge of the roundel than the shaft would naturally have to be narrower than the diameter of the roundel....so if the roundel was truly higher than bracket we would expect to see some glimpse of the shaft and the shadow that is supposedly there is inconsistent with the physical reality of the roundel.

Second theory, the roundel was a part of the dovetail (knob had a threaded rod on it, dovetail had a corresponding hole). A groove in the mount would then allow you to slide the scope back forth to adjust for eye relief, without messing up your sighting.

This seems more plausible.


Middle Picture:

I migrated the roundel over to the true middle (below) as compared to its current placement.



Far Right Picture:
I migrated the roundel over to the true middle.

 

[gavidoc]

Still not convinced that is a dovetail.

 

[Durasteel Corporation]

I dont know much about the dovetail....just obverving the {} cut out shape and the roundel.....

 

[Corellianexports]

I just wanted to add that I have seen a cradle, exactly like the Hero cradle at a gun show. However, this cradle or scope mount was manufactured around 1890 or 1880. It had a "flowery" pattern all over it, which is one reason why I didn't stop to analyze it more closely. I thought it was too old to be what we were looking for.

This means that the cradle is out there some where. It's just a matter of looking for it.

Also, the cradle I saw, did NOT have a "T" or "O" mount attached to it. It was an entirely separate component.

 

[Durasteel Corporation]

was it off-center like the one were discussing?

"flowery

could have been an after thought, some stuff was purchased then taken to somenoe to decorate or personalize.

 

[lonepigeon]

In the interest of this research progressing further, I have ordered the big 8x10 version of the Sitting Target still.
I can't believe no one has done so yet. So many doubts and theories about the dovetail and what I believe is a shadow but no one wants to spend $10 to find out for sure?
I wanted the pic anyway for my collection (I also bought a Naked Runner video and press kit in the past just for the Mauser pics and info).
I will post a high res scan for all when it arrives.

 

[Got Maul]

Vince, did the mount include the infamous cradle ?

Also, if what you're saying is true, it all still jives with PreWar history of this thing.

 

[Durasteel Corporation]

In the interest of this research progressing further, I have ordered the big 8x10 version of the Sitting Target still.
I can't believe no one has done so yet. So many doubts and theories about the dovetail and what I believe is a shadow but no one wants to spend $10 to find out for sure?
I wanted the pic anyway for my collection (I also bought a Naked Runner video and press kit in the past just for the Mauser pics and info).
I will post a high res scan for all when it arrives.

Excallent move Chris.

 

[lonepigeon]

I got the Sitting Target pic.
It arrived last week, but I had no time to post it.
This is a high res scan so here's a link to it (otherwise you'd be side scrolling to much in the thread).

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/lonepigeon/sittingtarget.jpg

Some notes:
- Dove tail is very clear
- It's a shadow (not a slot) under the knob
- There's a seam line halfway between the dovel tail and the face of the vertical mount (biggest discovery from this pic)

It's a high contrast photo so there's not a lot of detail that comes out of the shadows.
Still I think it's cool just as a piece of prop history.

 

[Prop Runner]

Thanks a bunch for the link, Chris.

I love being right about a detail.

Do you think there's any point in getting the UK DVD bootleg of the film that's been offered on eBay (I e-mailed you about it - no response :unsure ), or does this still pretty much provide all the info we need? I personally haven't seen it, and can't comment about whether or not the scope and/or bracket are attached to or removed from the Mauser at any point in the film.

The seam you see (and I acknowledge) raises the question of how the vertical bracket is attached to the female dovetail block. If I had to guess, I'd say that the knob passes through a hole in the bracket and threads into the dovetail block. That would mean the bracket and the block would have to be keyed somehow. The male dovetail would then have to be screwed onto the Mauser.

Any thoughts?

- Gabe

 

[lonepigeon]

I forgot about that bootleg DVD. Too many e-mails going back and forth about Derwent engine parts

It could turn up some info. I've never seen the movie. I bought Naked Runner and lucked out because it had some great closeups. The movie could finally solve the mystery of where exactly the vertical bracket attaches to the scope cradle.
I'd say rent it first, but I doubt if you could find it at Blockbuster.

The bootleg is Region 2 so I can't play it or capture stills from my computer.

 

[vaderdarth]

excellent help on that photo Chris... It does look like a shadow............since the dove tail is present........it makes sense for the locking screw(knob) to be stationary....likely dead center and the whole scope adjusts forwards and backwards and is tightened in place with this screw... That's how the dovetail would likely work in most cases...

Dave