T1 and T2 Endoskeleton Research Thread

[QuartZ]

I was able to use a program to align these two photos and account for lens distortion, perspective, etc. to a good degree. What it shows are at least 5 full body endoskeletons made for T2. There may have been more. I lovingly named them after the original Guns N Roses members to try and make it easier to talk about them with more specificity. I'm posting this now for a few reasons.

1. It may help us as we dive deeper into discussing T2 Endoskeletons to refer back to these guys by name.
2. As a start to our CPU port discussion, I think it's clear that the photo indicates that at IZZY and SLASH likely have indented front CPU port covers, AXL and STEVEN are at angles where it isn't clear, and DUFF has a highlight that may be blowing out the exposure.
3. I've read several books/interviews with SWS people saying they made 4 endos for T2. Well here's proof there were more. You can't trust their memories

AXL - I believe this is the endoskeleton seen at the beginning of T2 that has the special stand/lower body armature/leg for crushing the child skull. I have no idea where this endoskeleton is today.
IZZY - I cannot concretely place IZZY on screen anywhere in T2. I also cannot say where this endoskeleton ended up after the film.
SLASH - This is the endoskeleton that was in the Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas and was auctioned of by Profiles in History a while back. However, I believe they made an error by thinking they screen matched it to the fallen endo that the resistance soldier shoots on the ground. I do not believe this one can be found on screen at all in T2.
DUFF - This is actually the endoskeleton seen being shot on the ground by the resistance soldier. You can match the bullet holes and scorch marks on the chest to the scene. This seems to be the endoskeleton that The Licensing Group either owned or had access to that replicas were based on. It's now in a private collection.
STEVEN - There is a shot in T2 panning the background where there is what looks like a complete endoskeleton laying on its back on top of rubble as resistance soldier run by shooting. I am not certain at all, but it might be this endoskeleton. Not sure what happened to this one either.

-Dana

 

[Too Much Garlic]

Yeah. I just looked closer at that photo just before seeing your post and saw the indented front covers on the two middle ones. Man... guess I just learned something new.

 

[QuartZ]

So these are production style:
View attachment 1693664

View attachment 1693665View attachment 1693666

And these are post T2:3D?
View attachment 1693667View attachment 1693668View attachment 1693670

• I think the first 3 are likely T2 (not T1).
• And the bottom left endoskeleton I believe to be from T3 (even though it was sold at auction as 100% T2)
• Bottom center with the hole in it's forehead is either Stan Winston's talking endoskull desktop camera prototype or from the same era.
• And your bottom right photo is post T2:3D in my opinion. I think I photographed that one when I visited Stan and his board room. It has a strange bent metal bar running down the right arm to support the gun. I believe he had this made for his personal display and it probably contains parts from T2:3D, T3, or parts they made in the shop to put it together.

-Dana

 

[Too Much Garlic]

This one looks indented too.

 

[QuartZ]

Here's a closeup shot of SLASH when he was still on display in Las Vegas. Indented port pretty easy to see here:

-Dana

 

[Too Much Garlic]

The one with the hole in the forehead was sold by Propstore recently with restored parts. Sold as a T2.

Lot #378 - TERMINATOR 2: JUDGMENT DAY (1991) - Full-size T-800 Endoskeleton

A T-800 Terminator Endoskeleton from James Cameron's sci-fi action sequel Terminator 2: Judgment Day. Renowned for its groundbreaking visual effects, Terminator 2 combined both practical and newly pioneered digital effects to set the new standard for action blockbusters, garnering numerous...

ukm.propstoreauction.com

 

[Too Much Garlic]

So I will have to re-evaluate my foam skull from calling it T1 to calling it production style instead?

View attachment 1693675

 

[QuartZ]

The one with the hole in the forehead was sold by Propstore recently with restored parts. Sold as a T2.

Lot #378 - TERMINATOR 2: JUDGMENT DAY (1991) - Full-size T-800 Endoskeleton

A T-800 Terminator Endoskeleton from James Cameron's sci-fi action sequel Terminator 2: Judgment Day. Renowned for its groundbreaking visual effects, Terminator 2 combined both practical and newly pioneered digital effects to set the new standard for action blockbusters, garnering numerous...

ukm.propstoreauction.com

I honestly haven't looked that one over too much. The auction did state that the head was a reproduction and not original to the film. Although a quick glance at the weathering paint technique and some copper showing through has me betting it's parts from T2:3D. Ugh, it's sad that people are paying more thinking stuff is T2 when it probably is not.

-Dana

 

[Too Much Garlic]

This is how it used to look.

 

[QuartZ]

So I will have to re-evaluate my foam skull from calling it T1 to calling it production style instead?

View attachment 1693675

If I had to bet, I'd say your 1-piece endoskull foam casting is from a T2 mold.

-Dana

 

[Too Much Garlic]

Maybe you should check out my collected Terminator endoskeleton parts auction pictures. I believe I linked it in the first post. It has the auction dates in the titles so you can find the auction catalogues on the Propstore site to check the descriptions.

Some of the chopped up parts may be where some of the screen used endoskeletons ended up? Disassembled and used for other things?

 

[Too Much Garlic]

I have this information gathering thread on the foam skull where I added all the info I've been able to find showing SWS similar castings.

Information Gathering: SWS One-Piece Endoskull

Anyone know anything about this kind of endoskull? I have a soft foam endoskull that was likely molded and cast from one of those casts - likely 2nd or 3rd gen - but would very much like to know more about it. Found this picture recently showing a similar one with added flesh sculpt on top...

www.therpf.com

 

[QuartZ]

Maybe you should check out my collected Terminator endosleleton parts auction pictures. I believe I linked it in the first post. It has the auction dates in the titles so you can find the auction catalogues on the Propstore site to check the descriptions.

Some of the chopped up parts may be where some of the screen used endoskeletons ended up? Disassembled and used for other things?

I've looked at lots of small parts and bits. The problem is that the most identifiable parts of those 5 endoskeletons is really the paint weathering and battle damage. There are holes, paint streaks, or splotches that have distinct shapes on some of their chest plates, thighs, shoulders, lower spines, etc. that can be made out in several picture and then linked back to that one I showed of all of them. Once you're looking at individual parts like a piston or finger here or there... it's really hard to say if it was part of one of these original 5. We just don't have images with enough resolution or coverage to see distinct marks on pieces that small.

Mysteriously

• The Nakako or Tomenosuke endoskeleton is not clearly one of these 5 from what I can tell.
• The endoskeleton on display at Lightstorm Entertainment also does not match one of these 5.

-Dana

 

[Too Much Garlic]

Interesting. So very interesting. Now I'm really hyped at the worst possible time because I really need to go to bed.

So... if I wanted to recreate a perfect T2 skull it would basically be the T1 front cover and the uneven angled lines back to the rear cover that is a separate part but similar to the ones on the post T2-3D ones?

For T1... has anyone identified the found part for the rear cover or was it a sculpted/fabricated part?

 

[Too Much Garlic]

Could the Tomenosuke Shoten shop be partly original T1?

 

[dr_slurpee]

So I’m just going to ask in case I’m not the only one thinking it:

Any chance that an owner of a skull tracing back to the original films would be up for having it scanned? I’d volunteer myself to print in resin as needed.

I too would love if a scan happened.

 

[QuartZ]

Interesting. So very interesting. Now I'm really hyped at the worst possible time because I really need to go to bed.

So... if I wanted to recreate a perfect T2 skull it would basically be the T1 front cover and the uneven angled lines back to the rear cover that is a separate part but similar to the ones on the post T2-3D ones?

For T1... has anyone identified the found part for the rear cover or was it a sculpted/fabricated part?

You should go to bed. I'm glad you're hyped. Me too. I love this stuff. But I'll be here to continue helping.

As for an ideal T2 skull, I think what you're saying is right. The front CPU port will look like the Timeless skull. The rear port cover will be the T2 style (M1, Icons, Timeless, LFS/XFX, "JR" all have a version of this). As to those lines you're worried about. Let's discuss those more in a bit. They should be somewhat parallel (not perfect on the originals because it was hand made). So that one Timeless casting you posted where the lines leaned a lot looked like a bad casting/mold. My Timeless isn't nearly that wonky!

There are also various differences in those lines and if they connect or not as you mentioned, then the rotation of the rear port cover varies (I suspect it was still a separate piece in T2 and not molded into the upper skull yet). And some of the screws in this area differ too. But I'll see if I can scrounge up some images to get to the T2 truth if that's you target.

-Dana

 

[QuartZ]

Could the Tomenosuke Shoten shop be partly original T1?

It's rumored that it has T2 and some T1 parts. I think I recall the knees looked like T1 without the extra knee cap. The feet looked like the toes may have had some T1 parts. But I'd have to go look at it again to be sure.

-Dana

 

[Too Much Garlic]

Oh... yeah... the lines in the Timeless piece I used in the example were bad. Though... we can use my soft foam skull as a guide when we make ours.

 

[QuartZ]

So I’m just going to ask in case I’m not the only one thinking it:

Any chance that an owner of a skull tracing back to the original films would be up for having it scanned? I’d volunteer myself to print in resin as needed.

Oh, was this meant for me?

-Dana