Movie Props

As I have always been a fan of the movies.  Recently I decided to start a replica prop collection.  My first replica props was acquired back when I was just 18 [RAMBO III knife].  So whilst my collection is small, it is growing and the purpose of this blog is to share some of the items I've collected so far.

STAR WARS

A NEW HOPE TK 1:1 Stormtrooper 'buckets'.  These were a work in progress at the time of the image capture but are all finished now.  As I am a member of the 501st [31138] I will eventually buy the entire armour kit. These are an 'AP' [Authenty Props] '2 piece' helmet apparently made from the original forms used in 1976.  One of the buckets belongs to my wife who has lovingly hand painted the 'frown' and 'decoder' and is part way through doing the ears.  

She is also a member of the 501st [TK41138] has already purchased her full armour.  Together over 4 months we built her a fully wearable Stormtrooper suit.    

  

 A mini ATST [All Terrain Scout Transort] from the film RETURN OF THE JEDI.  This is a Hasbro vintage release based on the original Kenner toy line, just way more detailed.  i also have the AT-AT from THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK.  

I have several miniature space craft from the 6 SW films as well as these action figures.  I wanted the original 12 and found these more detailed versions and decided not to get the vintage figures.  

    

BACK TO THE FUTURE Part II

BACK TO THE FUTURE II was a fun film that took product placement to a whole new level.  There are so many props based on real brands in that film's future sequence including NIKE, Pizza Hut, Pepsi and Matel.  

I wanted to get a MATTEL Hover Board to display these shoes on and found one on eBay for $99.00.
  
The NIKE AIR MAG was probably the shoe responsible for the whole Hi-Top craze in the late 80's/early 90's.  These are a replica of those shoes and have now been severely modified to be morescreen accurate.  

  

Dehydrated Pizza

The dehydrated Pizza was something I made because it was one prop in that film at stood out as a cool collectible item.

RAMBO

The top image is of all the knives released from the four films.  Above is the famed 'mission' knife with a Jade Budda.  There are several modifications needed to make this collection screen accurate.    

LORD OF THE RINGS

These are items that came with the DVD [statues of the Kings] and Blu-ray box sets [the ONE RING] of the films.  

I, ROBOT

This is my latest addition.  Sonny, the special prototype NS5 created to set things right.  He is quite detailed with a removable rear head cover and has a special disc storage section.  

PREDATOR

This was released with the 3D version of the classic 80's film PREDATOR.  It is not 100% accurate and is only 75% of the proper size, but it is pretty cool.  The Bio lifts off to reveal the creature underneath.    

More to come...

Mark

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Vacuum Forming Part 1

My re-worked Vac Form Rig is up and running and working as well as can be expected from a DIY unit.  Since my first attempt, I have added halogen lamps for heating, variable aperture plates for different jobs and a rising frame with enough travel to allow bucks as tall as 150mm to be used.

The New Vac Forming Rig

I am still using the same Platen and in the coming weeks, I will make a few different sized units to be interchanged with this rig.  

Custom Sized Plates

When I first got into Vac Forimg, I wasted allot of plastic Vac Forming small parts.  I was using the full 600mm  x 600mm sheets to make parts just 70mm on any one edge.  I then learned that I could make aperture plates for smaller jobs.  I now have several different size plates that I can interchange for the different size parts I am working on.   

The Heating Units 

When I first made this, I was using traditional heating elements and I could not get uniform heat across the plastic.  I've had an Easy Cooker in my kitchen since 1997.  Whilst the original units used coiled heaters [stove elements], the new versions use Halogen lights.  The air in these new units is super heated and once the preset temp is reached, the lights turn off, so the unit is quite power efficient as well.  After running some experiments, I decided that Halogens would be the best answer to my heating issues for this Vac Form as well.  

Material pending, these lights will heat the plastic to the point of it releasing vapor in as little as 2mn 30sec.  The thicker the plastic, the more time and different plastics require more time and heat than others.  I've successfully Vac Formed 3mm ABS and PVC on this unit.  One of the best points about using Halogen lights is that they don't burn the plastic like traditional heaters can.  You also have lots of light on the job! 

New Vac Chamber

Whilst a shop vacuum cleaner works to evacuate most of the air, there is no substitute for true vacuum and my Vac Chamber is set up to act as a surge tank.  This unit can pull 30 inches of mercury.  

I will also be rebuilding the platen and riser.  Images to come soon.    

Email: cavxonline@gmail.com 

Mark

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Zoe Bay

On Boxing Day, we had the chance to visit Zoe Bay on Hinchinbrook Island. The island is the largest national park in Australia and is accessed by either Lucinda or Cardwell.

What a wonderful place to visit.

Its a Sneaker Thing - Part III

NIKE recently released 1500 pairs of the shoe made famous in the 1989 movie BACK TO THE FUTURE Part II. The shoes sold on EBAY to raise money for Parkinsons Research.

Above, the concept design art for the shoe in the movie. In the film, the shoe would be like nothing we had seen before and featured 'power laces' as well as various illuminations. The letters MAG on the heel stood for 'Magnetic Anti Gravity' and were supposed to allow the wearer to be able to walk up a wall or even stick to the ceiling. Due to technological limitations of the time, a scene with Marty walking on the ceiling was never shot.

This is the actual product NIKE released for 2011. Whilst it does have the lighting, there are no 'power laces'. The laces are nothing more than elastic. The shoe was designed from scratch to look identical to the shoes in the film, yet even NIKE product personal recognize that its design has inspired many of the shoes NIKE released over the years since it first appeared on screen back in 1989. The 'clean toe' being one in particular. I would also have to say that it was this shoe that propelled the popularity of the Hi-Top in general.

Mark

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Our Wedding

On May 14, 2011 Samantha and I became Mr and Mrs Techer. YAY!

Mark

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Track Master

For my oldest boy's recent 6th birthday, Sammy and I got him a few Track Master play-sets to enhance his small [single loop and station] Track Master Thomas The Tank Engine train set.

The interlocking plastic track parts come in a variety of different styles allowing some neat track layouts to be configured. And with MR TOYS recent sale, his track was able to grow quite significantly.

I just wonder who is getting more enjoyment from it, him or me?

Mark

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Its a Sneaker Thing...Part II

During a trip to the cinema to see something in 3D [Tron Legacy], we saw this rather clever add for Foot Locker with the catch word "BUTTERSHOES" describing a girl as "fine" BUT HER SHOES. The add finishes with a clever catch phase "Its a sneaker thing".

It is a sneaker thing and even Sammy is not a "buttershoes". Her new "kicks" are pictured above. What I want to know is why don't they make guys shoes that cool.

Mark

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