Prop Runner
Sr Member
As many of you know, I am in possession of an original MG81 booster/flash hider, used on the screen-used hero Han Solo blaster in Star Wars, Episode IV - "A New Hope."
In an effort to create the best and most accurate steel replica, I'm torn between two possible factory finishes: parkerizing and black oxide. Below are the best color images available of the hero part:
The hero, probably under greenish fluorescent light:
Since we can't trust the colors in these photos, we have to make a few assumptions. First, the original was not blued. You can see a dark blue hue in the Mauser in the top photo, but not in the suppressor. And in the greenish photo above, the suppressor is clearly a different color than the Mauser or scope, and perhaps also less reflective.
Here's an original M9 flash hider, identical to the one used on the Greedo Killer version of Han's blaster. It's parkerized. Looks here like a light shade of gray, but that's because of the flash. Below it is the found uber-rare MG81 booster/flash hider which is serving as the basis of my replica. Underneath the paint, which may be the original factory finish or could have been applied by a collector years after the end of WWII and since endlessly chipped and scratched, appears to be a gray-brown metallic surface, which may be the raw, slightly corroded steel or a parkerized surface, also discolored by minimal corrosion:
Here are other examples of parkerized weapons and accessories:
Aside from parkerizing, I've also considered black oxide, which would give the metal a uniform and clean black finish, like these parts:
I've seen different shades of parkerized finishes and different shades of black oxide, so a decision to go with one over the other has been difficult.
If you'd be interested in a replica, which finish would you prefer? Feel free to post images of a finish you feel most closely approaches the screen-used part, or better images of the hero.
To be clear, I'm not starting interest list now, just soliciting opinions, so let's discuss this here - no PMs either, please.
Thanks.
- Gabe
In an effort to create the best and most accurate steel replica, I'm torn between two possible factory finishes: parkerizing and black oxide. Below are the best color images available of the hero part:
The hero, probably under greenish fluorescent light:
Since we can't trust the colors in these photos, we have to make a few assumptions. First, the original was not blued. You can see a dark blue hue in the Mauser in the top photo, but not in the suppressor. And in the greenish photo above, the suppressor is clearly a different color than the Mauser or scope, and perhaps also less reflective.
Here's an original M9 flash hider, identical to the one used on the Greedo Killer version of Han's blaster. It's parkerized. Looks here like a light shade of gray, but that's because of the flash. Below it is the found uber-rare MG81 booster/flash hider which is serving as the basis of my replica. Underneath the paint, which may be the original factory finish or could have been applied by a collector years after the end of WWII and since endlessly chipped and scratched, appears to be a gray-brown metallic surface, which may be the raw, slightly corroded steel or a parkerized surface, also discolored by minimal corrosion:
Here are other examples of parkerized weapons and accessories:
Aside from parkerizing, I've also considered black oxide, which would give the metal a uniform and clean black finish, like these parts:
I've seen different shades of parkerized finishes and different shades of black oxide, so a decision to go with one over the other has been difficult.
If you'd be interested in a replica, which finish would you prefer? Feel free to post images of a finish you feel most closely approaches the screen-used part, or better images of the hero.
To be clear, I'm not starting interest list now, just soliciting opinions, so let's discuss this here - no PMs either, please.
Thanks.
- Gabe
