A hero 3.5 years in the making...

[Staar]

[Riskbreaker]

I'm going to have professional photos taken and will share them here when they are done.

The green LEDs do light up. The builder put the LEDs on a dual circuit as he said there's no way a watch battery (even a 12-volt one) could power all the lights and make them bright. So there are 2 12-volt batteries in the clip and all the lights light nicely.

I also learned some interesting details about the original gun's architect that I will post in a separate thread when I have some time.

[racprops]

Well I run all my LEDs off one 3 volt battery.

You simply wire then all to the battery. Most LEDs are 3 volts, and I order older dimmer LEDs to match the dim ones seen within the film.

SEE:




Rich

PS and that is in my new closed model clip:


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I never have enough time to do all I want to do!

[Robotprops]

Outstanding!

[eltee]

What a beautiful and amazing job! Congratulations. I, too, have been working on a shooting version of the blaster (see thread) so I know some of the engineering and machining issues you dealt with. Just properly threading the barrel and accommodating correct leade (sic) and shouldering was a challenge.

The fact that you went to the expense and risk of using a real Steyr upper is admirable. I think Adam Savage mentioned that the risk of ruining a valuable Steyr receiver while machining it to blaster specs was a little nerve wracking.

May I please ask if you are doing anything special to address gap flash and side pressure when firing? For mine, I intend to have one set of side panels for show, and another set for shooting. The "Shooting" set would be vented and not tightly attached to the gun to allow them to blow off instead of blowing up. I'll shoot mine first from a Ransom Rest device.

Anyway, your blaster is incredibly beautiful and I admire the craftsmanship that went into it. I think side by side photos of our two guns may be cool, since yours has the blue finish on the Steyr, whereas mine has no bluing and a polished, bare metal look. Nice job.

[clutch]

Looks fantastic!

[andy]

I split the off topic stuff into a new topic. Please reply there to it.

Thank you,
Andy

[joberg]

Thanks Andy

[Riskbreaker]

http://www.therpf.com/f9/new-blade-runner-hero-blaster-build-155221/#post2379852

Some new, professional photos posted over at the RPF.

[joberg]

Still drooling about it Riskbreaker Great pics for sure!!...and TFS with us once again

[Staar]

Somehow I missed these..

What absolutely magnificent photographs of what can only be described as a truly inspirational build.

Warmest congratulations once again.

Highest regards

MARK[/img]
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[Riskbreaker]

If I may revisit something...



The above image is the blaster "as first delivered" to the set in 1981.



This picture is my blaster. Note that the length of the bolt-side sideplate appears to be the same in these pictures.

In my research, I've found that the Blade Runner gun went through many modifications during its life. Things were redrilled, holes were covered up, parts were switched out, things were unfinished. It's entirely possible given the complexity of this piece and the inherent problems creating a "firing" replica (blank or live fire) that when this piece was first used, the sideplates were damaged or launched off the piece. This would explain the apparent discrepancy from the first photo above and the final, screen-used piece photographed at World-Con and sold at auction in April of 2009.

Just a theory, but when you compare the two photos above, the pieces appear nearly identical.

[andy]

Or it was just loose in your first photos and now that it is tight together it fits together much more accurately. It does look better, and you can see the Steyr magazine housing fits flush up against the barrel now creating a parallel line with the Steyr receiver as well. Fine job, I think it is looking magnificent.

By the way the Worldcon rendition of the gun is also missing the two screws in front that would hold that plate in plate tight (the Weaver knob replaces one of them but might not be long enough to fully secure the plate). I think it matches but if it doesn't it might be because of that.

Andy

[Noeland]

As far as I'm concerned your blaster sets the standard. It's finer than the hero gun made for the film. It doesn't matter if it's an exact millimeter for millimeter match. Your blaster is the single finest ever made IMHO. And I have seen, fired, filmed, and photographed hero build blasters before.


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I don't have enough blasters!

[Riskbreaker]

Well thank you, that's quite the compliment.

I know my favorite gunsmith has his eyes on this thread and will appreciate that sentiment deeply.

[joberg]

It's certainly worth every penny in terms of quality and finishing for sure!
In the past, only the elite could afford a gunsmith and a unique weapon made solely for them and this is a fine example when the piece becomes Art

[svander]

This has to be Adam Savage's gun.

[joberg]

Could you expand on that Svander?

[svander]

What's to explain? Adam Savage of Mythbuster's fame is a very well known propmaker in the movie world. He had been working on making a scratch built Blade Runner blaster for years. It's well documented.

My guess is that this is his. Unless there's another movie propmaker somewhere that decided to scratch-build his own blaster by hand. How likely is that?

[Noeland]

If I'm not mistaken, Adam's blaster has a different serial number on it and the proofing marks are under the number, not next to it.

Yeah, this is Adam's "final iteration"


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I don't have enough blasters!