WETA: District 9 Guns

[jun]

will these be alright with customs?

 

[philippes]

I honestly don't see any "fun" in what I consider ruining a $500 prop. Your welcome to mess with anything you own. Its just my opinion that if I want this prop to hold its value you don't change it or "mess" with it. I for one wouldn't want to purchase someones Arc Gun thats been altered from the original Weta prop collectible. Again its only my opinion and anyone can do what they want with their Arc Gun.....mine I'm leaving alone.

If someone wants to alter their prop, it simply makes the other original and untouched units more valuable by diminishing their quantities. That's why I say, "Have at it!"

By the way, I believe these have already about doubled in value. So, one wouldn't be altering a $500 collectible, but a $1000 one.

Regardless, anyone can do anything thing they want with what they own as long as they don't hurt someone else. That's the libertarian prop creed.

Phil

 

[franz bolo]

Thanks Tim, I went for the look of the scene where after Wikus and Chirs entered the MNU building to the room where they kept the canister(not before, Wikus was holding another AG prop before the entry, that one was painted like the one at Weta Cave).

I used the Tamiya orange(X-6) mixed with a tiny of black(XF-1).

Thanks for the colors! I thought it was the same paint job but just looked and you are correct.

One thing I noticed yesterday was that when Wikus was made to test the AMR-B21 (Arc Generator) they were actually showing a close-up of the AMR-B13. You can see the black canister from the AMR-B13.

Also when they show the control room, the B21 is on the top screen but the B13 is on the bottom. :eek

FB

 

[franz bolo]

I honestly don't see any "fun" in what I consider ruining a $500 prop.

This assumes you buy the prop as an investment or plan to resell it. Personally, I could care less for edition size etc. I bought this item because I love the design and have mucho respect for the concept artist and I will never be selling it.

From this point of view, you are not ruining anything because you will never ever sell it! :lol

FB

 

[TymerDC]

This assumes you buy the prop as an investment or plan to resell it. Personally, I could care less for edition size etc. I bought this item because I love the design and have mucho respect for the concept artist and I will never be selling it. From this point of view, you are not ruining anything because you will never ever sell it! :lol FB

I have no plans on selling mine either nor does anyone else who says the same...but life is unpredictable and if I ever decided I had to sell.....like I see guys forced to do for one reason or another.....I'd like mine to retain its "resale value" regardless of what my plans are. Also do you plan on living forever too? If your heirs don't keep it then it eventually gets sold whatever your plans were. Collectibles retain their resale value better when LEFT ALONE and kept in their original state. This is another reason why I keep all boxes and paperwork that comes with any collectible. I'm not telling anyone they can't do what they want with their Arc Gun......this is just my opinion and suggestion they leave it alone and enjoy it.

 

[TymerDC]

If someone wants to alter their prop, it simply makes the other original and untouched units more valuable by diminishing their quantities. That's why I say, "Have at it!" By the way, I believe these have already about doubled in value. So, one wouldn't be altering a $500 collectible, but a $1000 one. Regardless, anyone can do anything thing they want with what they own as long as they don't hurt someone else. That's the libertarian prop creed. Phil

I agree...these guys altering their props will just make the originals more rare. Thanks guys !!

 

[Art Andrews]

Collectibles retain their resale value better when LEFT ALONE and kept in their original state. This is another reason why I keep all boxes and paperwork that comes with any collectible. I'm not telling anyone they can't do what they want with their Arc Gun......this is just my opinion and suggestion they leave it alone and enjoy it.

Somehow you still seem to missing the point. Some of us aren't buying these as "collectibles." We are buying them as an amazing base starting point for the prop we want to own. Personally, I don't care whether mine ever sells for what I bought it for. I am getting my monies worth out of it seeing it up on the wall all dingy and dirty, the way I wanted it to be and the way I perceive it to be in the movie. Whether anyone else (a potential future buyer) would value that or not doesn't matter to me. I didn't buy the gun for that potential future buyer. I bought it for me, so I could play with it and modify it as I saw fit.

As has been pointed out already, while the base casting is nearly the holy grail of anything you could ever ask for in a replica, the paint job left a bit to be desired and was nothing special. Now, if my Arc Generator had been hand painted by one of the artists at Weta, it might be different, because there would be value in it that one of their artists painted my gun, whether it was accurate or not. But the fact that these were mass painted in China means the paint job is of little or no value to me, so I have no qualms with "defacing" it to make the prop I want.

If collectors are happy to leave these pieces untouched, good for them, but I love knowing that no one else has an Arc Generator that looks quite like mine and that mine is more representative to what is seen on screen than the base product. Whether it will ever fetch $500 or $1000 if I try to sell it just isn't that big of an issue for me.

 

[F-N-S]

Somehow you still seem to missing the point. Some of us aren't buying these as "collectibles." We are buying them as an amazing base starting point for the prop we want to own. Personally, I don't care whether mine ever sells for what I bought it for. I am getting my monies worth out of it seeing it up on the wall all dingy and dirty, the way I wanted it to be and the way I perceive it to be in the movie. Whether anyone else (a potential future buyer) would value that or not doesn't matter to me. I didn't buy the gun for that potential future buyer. I bought it for me, so I could play with it and modify it as I saw fit.

As has been pointed out already, while the base casting is nearly the holy grail of anything you could ever ask for in a replica, the paint job left a bit to be desired and was nothing special. Now, if my Arc Generator had been hand painted by one of the artists at Weta, it might be different, because there would be value in it that one of their artists painted my gun, whether it was accurate or not. But the fact that these were mass painted in China means the paint job is of little or no value to me, so I have no qualms with "defacing" it to make the prop I want.

If collectors are happy to leave these pieces untouched, good for them, but I love knowing that no one else has an Arc Generator that looks quite like mine and that mine is more representative to what is seen on screen than the base product. Whether it will ever fetch $500 or $1000 if I try to sell it just isn't that big of an issue for me.

QFT!

Almost every licensed item I bought I changed somehow to make it more appealing to me. Resell value is not a factor.

If I don't like what I get I modify it :lol

 

[philippes]

This is certainly an interesting discussion. From the dispassionate perspective of the future, not altering the prop makes the most economic sense.

If I were going to modify mine, I probably wouldn't touch the original. I'd mold it and create a copy to my own specifications.

In my case it doesn't really matter, since I took the path so well described by S. R. Hadden in Contact: Why 'buy' one when you can have two at twice the price?

Phil

 

[thx217]

Thanks for the colors! I thought it was the same paint job but just looked and you are correct.

One thing I noticed yesterday was that when Wikus was made to test the AMR-B21 (Arc Generator) they were actually showing a close-up of the AMR-B13. You can see the black canister from the AMR-B13.

Also when they show the control room, the B21 is on the top screen but the B13 is on the bottom. :eek

FB

Yup, I've noticed that a while ago, pretty interesting editing.

The best thing is, the detailing of the one I'm aiming for matches our replicas, so all I need to do is to mod the paint, no parts mod.

Here are few more shot I caped from my 1080p source.

Another WIP shot.

 

[thx217]

Somehow you still seem to missing the point. Some of us aren't buying these as "collectibles." We are buying them as an amazing base starting point for the prop we want to own. Personally, I don't care whether mine ever sells for what I bought it for. I am getting my monies worth out of it seeing it up on the wall all dingy and dirty, the way I wanted it to be and the way I perceive it to be in the movie. Whether anyone else (a potential future buyer) would value that or not doesn't matter to me. I didn't buy the gun for that potential future buyer. I bought it for me, so I could play with it and modify it as I saw fit.

As has been pointed out already, while the base casting is nearly the holy grail of anything you could ever ask for in a replica, the paint job left a bit to be desired and was nothing special. Now, if my Arc Generator had been hand painted by one of the artists at Weta, it might be different, because there would be value in it that one of their artists painted my gun, whether it was accurate or not. But the fact that these were mass painted in China means the paint job is of little or no value to me, so I have no qualms with "defacing" it to make the prop I want.

If collectors are happy to leave these pieces untouched, good for them, but I love knowing that no one else has an Arc Generator that looks quite like mine and that mine is more representative to what is seen on screen than the base product. Whether it will ever fetch $500 or $1000 if I try to sell it just isn't that big of an issue for me.

Amen. I rest my case your honor. Great post, Art.:thumbsup

 

[Art Andrews]

This is certainly an interesting discussion. From the dispassionate perspective of the future, not altering the prop makes the most economic sense.

There is certainly no argument there. If your primary interest in the piece is economic, leave it alone. The thing is, that isn't the primary interest for many of us.

If I were going to modify mine, I probably wouldn't touch the original. I'd mold it and create a copy to my own specifications.

I am sure it could be the beginning of a great debate, but it is doubtless that many would consider that recasting.

 

[Art Andrews]

Darn it, thx217... That just looks too good. I am going to have to paint the bottom of mine. Are you going to paint the "teeth" under the barrel white as well?

 

[thx217]

Darn it, thx217... That just looks too good. I am going to have to paint the bottom of mine. Are you going to paint the "teeth" under the barrel white as well?

Thanks, Art. Yes, it's on the to-do list. :lol

 

[philippes]

There is certainly no argument there. If your primary interest in the piece is economic, leave it alone. The thing is, that isn't the primary interest for many of us.

I am sure it could be the beginning of a great debate, but it is doubtless that many would consider that recasting.

Recasting? Now that's a whole other can of worms.

Molding for personal use with no intention of redistribution is arguably "fair use." At least, that's the argument I'd use. "Your honor, I was simply backing up my prop."

Phil

 

[franz bolo]

Here are few more shot I caped from my 1080p source.

Damn! I had to use a camera to get my image!! Those are great!

FB

 

[TymerDC]

Somehow you still seem to missing the point. Some of us aren't buying these as "collectibles." We are buying them as an amazing base starting point for the prop we want to own. Personally, I don't care whether mine ever sells for what I bought it for. I am getting my monies worth out of it seeing it up on the wall all dingy and dirty, the way I wanted it to be and the way I perceive it to be in the movie. Whether anyone else (a potential future buyer) would value that or not doesn't matter to me. I didn't buy the gun for that potential future buyer. I bought it for me, so I could play with it and modify it as I saw fit.
As has been pointed out already, while the base casting is nearly the holy grail of anything you could ever ask for in a replica, the paint job left a bit to be desired and was nothing special. Now, if my Arc Generator had been hand painted by one of the artists at Weta, it might be different, because there would be value in it that one of their artists painted my gun, whether it was accurate or not. But the fact that these were mass painted in China means the paint job is of little or no value to me, so I have no qualms with "defacing" it to make the prop I want.
If collectors are happy to leave these pieces untouched, good for them, but I love knowing that no one else has an Arc Generator that looks quite like mine and that mine is more representative to what is seen on screen than the base product. Whether it will ever fetch $500 or $1000 if I try to sell it just isn't that big of an issue for me.

Art ,

I haven't missed any point and I don't buy any props as a "collectible"...I buy them because I like them and want them in my prop collection. I just don't pay $500 for something then alter its look and diminish its value. I perfectly understand why some guys are redoing theirs simply because they aren't happy with the paint job or look to the screen prop. So I honestly get all this. I myself just have a cardinal rule about antiques, collectibles and historical pieces I've obtained in the last several decades and that rule is to preserve them in its original state as much as possible. Now some may not see these props as anything currently historical but neither did anyone when they were making Phasers for Star Trek or Blasters for Forbidden Planet. My thinking is beyond "out of the box" and not just the "now".
Enjoy your Arc Gun Art...I hope it gives you immense pleasure and perhaps you can show it to me in person someday.....I'd love to see what you did.

 

[franz bolo]

I just don't pay $500 for something then alter its look and diminish its value.

You are assuming it will diminish the value. If thx217 put this on eBay, he will surely make back his money and a bit extra. I am sure about this!!!!

Unless you paint job or mods are amateurish, the item will not lose it's value.
Who's to say that the Chinese factory worker's paint job is better than yours?

That being said, my Arc Generator's paint job is superb and I doubt I'd add to it.

FB

 

[TymerDC]

You are assuming it will diminish the value. If thx217 put this on eBay, he will surely make back his money and a bit extra. I am sure about this!!!! Unless you paint job or mods are amateurish, the item will not lose it's value. Who's to say that the Chinese factory worker's paint job is better than yours?
That being said, my Arc Generator's paint job is superb and I doubt I'd add to it. FB

I'm assuming nothing. I'm talking from over 30 years experience dealing with Collectibles, Antiques and Historical Memorbilia. Theres a good example in a post on the RPF where some 'expert' took an old original screen used Sci-fi Rocket Ship Studio model..I think from an old Buck Rogers or Flash Gordon serial (not really sure). Completely stripped it of it original paint then repainted it to its original look. His paint job wasn't amateurish but would you buy this?.....I wouldn't... In my opinion he ruined it. All it really needed was some touching up or just lightly cleaned and left alone.
Frankly I could care less if anyone wants to alter their Arc Gun.....Arts looks pretty good in fact. I never said anything negative to that. I just wouldn't do this myself for my own personal reasons which I've tried to explain here.

 

[thx217]

Got the railings/teeth tweaked.