Stargate SG-1 Zat questions.

[jason1976]

I'm kind of new to the hole stargate thing, and I have a few Zat questions.

1. Did the actually prop zat's on the show really open, and close, or was the opening, and closing effects done with CGI? (or something like that.) I'm I know they didn't actually do the arcing electricity thing, but did they pop up, and down\?


2. Are there any replica Zats out there that open and close? (If not does anyone have any ideas of how to mod one of those "static" kit's to open, and close? )

Thanks
Jason

 

[phase pistol]

Welcome to the awesome world of SG-1! :cool

There were indeed "hero" Zat gun props that opened and closed. There were also dummy versions in the permanently open and closed positions. The Zat itself went through some design changes as the show progressed.

There have been a couple attempts at working Zat replicas but I have not seen an accurate one yet. Hopefully someone can chime in!

I have not ever seen a casting of one of the "dummy" props in the open position. I have a replica but there are differences (it seems to be a casting of the closed prop, resculpted into the "open" position).

When the prop first appeared in the show's second season, it lacked the frill on top and had a more "phallic" appearance

Early working prop

Early working prop in closed position

Mechanism of working Zat prop

I'm guessing many of these "open" Zats are actually dummy props sculpted into the open position

Casting of closed dummy zat prop

Open dummy Zat

K

 

[BrundelFly]

I read on the auction page that the "HERO" Zat..is operated just like the original STAFF guns....with AIR.

 

[Honus]

I've always wanted to make one of these. I even went so far as to figure out a servo drive mechanism and the necessary circuitry. I have to finish my animatronic Horus helmet first though!

Jerome

 

[Jamanticus]

I've always wanted to make one of these. I even went so far as to figure out a servo drive mechanism and the necessary circuitry. I have to finish my animatronic Horus helmet first though!

Jerome

Keep it nice and simple! :lol

The original hero props were connected to air compressors and had little air sleeve things in the joints, so when they were pressurized, the gun would 'open' and it would close when the pressure was released. The only real trick was to keep the hose hidden from view of the camera.

 

[jason1976]

Keep it nice and simple! :lol

The original hero props were connected to air compressors and had little air sleeve things in the joints, so when they were pressurized, the gun would 'open' and it would close when the pressure was released. The only real trick was to keep the hose hidden from view of the camera.

So, if I'm reading this correctly, the origin of the compressed air, was not in the Zat itself? Like maybe a tube that run out the base of the Zat, and say, up the sleeve of the actor, through the costume, and to an air compressor? interesting.

I also like the idea of servos for a replica version. I hadn't thought of that, I was think of some kind of spring, but servos a much better idea. (way over my skill level right now, but a very cool idea.)

I hear the paint job changed a lot over the season as well. I've seen some replicas with kind of a greenish, colored body, and the tail piece kind of a blue color. I've also seen some that are much darker, almost black, with either a purplish tail section, or with the tail painted almost the same color as the body. i Haven't watch the whole show, so I don't know what's accurate, and what's not, but but from what I've seen, in random episodes, they do seem to very.

 

[Linnear]

Keep it nice and simple! :lol

The original hero props were connected to air compressors and had little air sleeve things in the joints, so when they were pressurized, the gun would 'open' and it would close when the pressure was released. The only real trick was to keep the hose hidden from view of the camera.

Quite correct.

So, if I'm reading this correctly, the origin of the compressed air, was not in the Zat itself? Like maybe a tube that run out the base of the Zat, and say, up the sleeve of the actor, through the costume, and to an air compressor? interesting.

Yes, exactly.

The first working Zat guns used compressed air. Then the model shop made some with a servo mechanism. I only know where one of these is.

Yes, a working, servo-operated replica is in the works.

We have the Hero air operated versions and they will be for sale in the two live auctions we will be doing.

We also have open and closed resin, rubber and foam versions.

Happy to help any way I can.

Alec

 

[Alric]

I have been thinking about how to make it open as well and came up with the below idea. No idea if it is practical or how to actually build it though.

View attachment 20903

(Very rough sketch but then I am supossed to working )

The idea is to have two small linked pistons with a small compresed air tank activated by the two buttons on the gun. The biggest issue I see is how small it can be made and the rights type of valve needed .

 

[jason1976]

Wall, I too, think making one open, and close, is a challenge, the other challenge in my mind, is how to cover the joints. I can't really tell from the screen caps, but the pics in the Stargate book I have, of a zat (opened, nad closed), and some of the closed replicas I've sen in person at conventions, there seems to be some kind of flexible covering over the joints. (between the bottom section, and middle section, nad the middle, and top sections.) Any thoughts? (fell free to let me know if I'm wrong.

 

[Alric]

From the pictures i've seen I agree that it looks to be a flexible covering like a piece of compressed rubber. Not has the oportunity to see one in the flesh yet.

 

[phase pistol]

Working prop from Propworx.

 

[Caveneau]

What would be the biggest challenge in making a working hero Zat?

The mechanics?

Could a spring operated version be made?

 

[Honus]

Very cool. I figured I'd have to mold a little silicone rubber bellows or jacket to covet the hinged joints. I think the hard part is getting the hinges placed correctly and being able to cover all the joints/seams and still make it serviceable. I see what looks to be a small flush head allen screw on the bottom section of the actual prop- I'm guessing that since they are in the same location on both sides that they are holding the hinge pin.

I knew a lot of the original props were pneumatic (much like the original movie staff weapons- I'm pretty sure later season staff weapons were electronic/servo powered.) I really think a servo setup is the way to go given the space requirements- there should be enough room in there for a small servo, circuit board and LiPo battery. Modern mini/micro servos are pretty strong. You can even get miniature linear actuators that have a standard servo PWM interface- although sometimes they can be a bit slow.

The way I had it figured out was to have the LiPo battery and circuit board in the bottom section and the servo/drive mechanism in the middle section. There would be a small linkage that would open the head when the ZAT was fully extended. One microswitch would extend it and the other would close it- the mechanics weren't really all that complicated. It really boils down to leverages based on servo torque (so that it extended open in a realistic manner) and getting everything to fit in there. Unfortunately I don't have any dimensions of the actual prop to go on. A three view with the necessary dimensions would be great. Maybe someday I'll spring for a resin kit or something as a reference.

Jerome

 

[kwalsh0000]

Working zats in the works?:love This thread had me at that! I seen this on youtube before, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9p-nmTJ0_Bg if its any use to people. Whoever made it did a great job!

 

[phase pistol]

In addition to the Allen screws on either side of the lowest section, note the little round feature in the purple tail of that section, on the left side of the prop (as you're holding it).

Would that be an air-fill nipple? Or some kind of fastener...

k

 

[Bowelrock]

That's what the auction stated . The air tube would be run along side the actors arm and in the the bottom of the "Zat", Probably a quick detach pneumatic fitting of some kind in that little curved area.

 

[jason1976]

This is probably a dumb idea, but what about "memory wire"? I remember building a "memory wire butterfly" in one of my high school science classes. You put a current to it, and it moves to a predetermined position, remove the current and it goes back. (or something like that, I was a long, time ago that I played with it.) The wire itself is made of an alloy, that reacts to the current.

One piece of wire, would be too week, but if you used a bunch of them, in the joints, it still wouldn't take up much space, and it wouldn't be hard to run it through a standard resin kit, and still have room for a power source. (maybe.) It might e a long shot, but that plus some springs, might do something.

I know that servos, are probably the best way, but I don't have those kinds of stills, and I'm sure I wouldn't be able to afford one, if someone else did it for me.

 

[drusselmeyer]

A couple of Zats I painted years ago.

Must of what I was doing was guesswork from what I could gather from the show(no DVDs at the time) they came out ok but I could do them much better now.

 

[jason1976]

OO, those are very cool. I have one that i got years ago, and I picked up a Wilco one for my girlfriend a couple months ago. (she painted it.)

I would still love to see someone work out an opening, and closing one.

 

[nachtinis]

I tried a hand at an animated Zat myself and shelved the idea, i did make a mechanism wish springs and erector parts, but the body of the gun was too heavy, so i wound up just painting a static version, her eis the result of that: