FOUND PART ? Gauntlet missile

Hi all,

I have been real busy as of late. I think I have a very good lead that might help us find a part that has never been officially ''found''.

My source had a discussion with Jeremy Bulloch a few years ago and while talking to him he has found out that the missile part was constantly breaking and was fragile. It seems that part was actually not custom machined but really, like many other costumes or decors in Star Wars, a model kit part. While I cannot say exactly from which model kit it came from, I have a good reason to believe that it came from a Helicopter Model Kit. In fact, I can even venture farther and say that it was a missile pod from a russian MI-24 HIND helicopter. I have not calculated the scale but it might also be from a RC helicopter...

Here are a few pics for comparison :


The real deal russian MI-24 HIND helicopter :



From a RC helicopter :



I believe that it would be possible to find the real part with some help from the community. I also understand that the part might have been altered so that might be a small bump in the road.

I believe a 1/36 model Hind Helicopter Missle pod is the exact size I would check Tamiya or Model Masters.

The MI-24 HIND first flew in 1969 so that is a possibility.

Excellent! This makes much sense since LFL has a history back then of making props from found items like model kits instead of taking the expense to have parts machined. Hopefully a group effort will come about to locate the exact authentic parts.

It had 4 prototypes that were shown in 1961, its first flights were in 1966, I am sure this was what he used as his insperation.

http://www.daveswebshop.com/rmx04093.shtml

For this model you might want to see if you can find the Mi-24 A, because if you look the model Mi-24 D has a tip at the end of the rocket pod, this allowed air to cool the pods down when they fired numerous rounds, you are going to want to see if you can find a Mi-24 A model kit which had a rounded missle pod.

I think you guys are really on to something!!

By brother-in-law runs a hobby shop. He mostly deals with trains, but if we can find a better lead of the exact model he might be able to track one down.

awesome!!!! cool info!!

wow, that seems like a REALLY solid lead. i can't wait to see what you geniuses come up with next!!!

I have been keeping a close eye on this thread. I am excited to see if you guys can find something. Good luck!

I am with you in regard to the overall look of the piece matching up the Hind rocket bay... however, in a recent development, the original machinist and drawings were found, which fairly conclusively shows the rocket was custom machined, as described in Mark Harris' update sheets. I have seen the drawings with my own eyes so this isn't just random heresay. If not for that, I would be in total agreement that you guys were on to something.

That pic there looks dead on to the rocket. However, Art brings up a good point.

It could be possible that due to the "model" piece breaking, that they decided to go ahead and machine one to match it. That M1-24 looks aweful close.

This new info from Simon Fett's source seems mutually exclusive to Art's info; meaning that they can't both be true. Correct me if I'm wrong, but the Mark Harris update sheets were from Pre-production right? So the idea that it started out as a model kitbash piece but was later changed to a machined part doesn't seem to make sense if you follow the timeline of the creation of the costume. I'm not saying it couldn't have happened that way, stranger things have happened, but it doesn't seem to add up. I would have to say that something like one of these model pieces was at least the inspiration for the machined piece, but I am not sure that it was ever actually used as part of the costume. Before Art added his bit of info I sure would have thought this was on the right track, and it still might be...Who knows for sure...

Originally Posted by never_ending_fett

I would have to say that something like one of these model pieces was at least the inspiration for the machined piece, but I am not sure that it was ever actually used as part of the costume. Before Art added his bit of info I sure would have thought this was on the right track, and it still might be...Who knows for sure...

I think this is right on track. The Hind was a fairly new/impressive/devastating machine at the time, so I would not be surprised that the rocket pod may have inspired the look of Boba's wrist rocket. I will try to bring more info on this as I can, but at the moment I am somewhat limited due to the current owner. I can only tell you that they did machine it and they did make custom drawings, clearly showing the rocket we all know and love. I am not trying to be crytic... I just don't want you guys going on a wild goose chase and spending great amounts of time on something that does appear to have been custom machined.

Too bad the Apache wasnt out then. At least its a better Helo.

If this was indeed the inspiration for the Boba rocket, then perhaps the whole thing was never intended to be a rocket, but a mini rocket bay just like the real deal. Of course that has nothing to do with the discussion at hand, but forever there has been the debate of calling it a laser or rocket or missle or something else. Maybe in the SW universe it was supposed to fire mini rockets or projectiles.

Can someone tell me why the Vader and Fett communities have a love-affair with keeping information sacred and scarce?

I understand "honor amongst theives" and so forth, but nobody purchased or bought anything from LFL or has signed some clandestine contract with a black-ops prop group for information regarding the prop world.

Just because a prop or a drawing or a set photo is rare, doesnt mean it cant be shared? This happens on the RPF, the Vader forums and most other forums. Someone wants to hold on to information - for what reason?

Is Lucas going to send out Gino and the boys to cut off your hand if you show a picture of David Prowse having the Vader helmet put on his head? Or of some "worm" indentation on a tube of the Vader face-mask that is off 1mm and you have pics to prove it? Now this?

It always leaves a sour taste in my mouth when a hobby and something for fun gets turned into "I know something you dont know" instead of show and tell.

Art, please, this is in no way a personal attack, I am not naming you. I am questioning the community at large why we do this type of behavior?

Ive always been curious as to why that is also.

Originally Posted by ART ANDREWS

I am with you in regard to the overall look of the piece matching up the Hind rocket bay... however, in a recent development, the original machinist and drawings were found, which fairly conclusively shows the rocket was custom machined, as described in Mark Harris' update sheets. I have seen the drawings with my own eyes so this isn't just random heresay. If not for that, I would be in total agreement that you guys were on to something.

If the original machinist plans and drawings were found, why would we even doubt which material was used? Even you seemed to doubt that it was custom machined in copper when fettpride and spideyfett got their new missile out.

wait... wait... I think I am on to something.... In the initial post, Simon Fett said Jeremy stated that the rocket kept breaking... and we know that is true, because we SEE a broken rocket in the stunt scenes! The body is there but the head is gone! So, while I stand by the info I posted above in regard to the piece being machined, I didn't want to be dismissive of Simon's work or Jeremy's word... so I went back and looked and check out what I found thanks to a super clear image the Got Maul took at CIV.

Check the photo below and then read on...

So... is anyone else seeing the RED PLASTIC that is seen on the Fett stunt cod, the Fett stunt helmets and Leia's bikini?!? I would argue that at least THIS rocket tip is not metal at all (I do think the back part and the aluminum tip are metal). Maybe only one or a few masters were made and they were too heavy so they went to a plastic casting. Either way, I am pretty convinced this one is the same red plastic we see elsewhere.

Originally Posted by CGClone

Can someone tell me why the Vader and Fett communities have a love-affair with keeping information sacred and scarce?

I understand "honor amongst theives" and so forth, but nobody purchased or bought anything from LFL or has signed some clandestine contract with a black-ops prop group for information regarding the prop world.

Just because a prop or a drawing or a set photo is rare, doesnt mean it cant be shared? This happens on the RPF, the Vader forums and most other forums. Someone wants to hold on to information - for what reason?

Is Lucas going to send out Gino and the boys to cut off your hand if you show a picture of David Prowse having the Vader helmet put on his head? Or of some "worm" indentation on a tube of the Vader face-mask that is off 1mm and you have pics to prove it? Now this?

It always leaves a sour taste in my mouth when a hobby and something for fun gets turned into "I know something you dont know" instead of show and tell.

Art, please, this is in no way a personal attack, I am not naming you. I am questioning the community at large why we do this type of behavior?

I cant speak for all instances, but in this one, Art did say it was due to the current owner. If someone does in fact own the drawings, then it really is ultimately up to them. It may not seem right, but its that persons prerogative.

Im sure if Art is ever allowed to share them they would be on the board as soon as he could get them here.

Actually... now that I am looking at the back of the rocket, in the heavily scratched up areas... I am seriously beginning to question if ANY of it is metal.... Keep in mind this is just ONE rocket... it doesn't by any means prove they are all like this...

I think I'm seeing the red you are talking about, but I don't think it's the same thing as the stunt cod, bucket, and gold bikini. It doesn't look consistant, more like it's a trick of the camera...not sure what kind of camera took the photo but sometimes if the sensor or processor in the camera doesn't "know what to do with" the information it sees it kinda "makes something up" I think that's what we are seeing. I could be way off there but for now that's my theory.

I do thoroughly believe that there were many rockets used, no doubt there. I am sure combination of metal and plastic was used simply due to the nature of the production and the variations that Fett took.

Interesting theory there Art, I do see what you are referring to in the plastic.

Originally Posted by CGClone

Art, please, this is in no way a personal attack, I am not naming you. I am questioning the community at large why we do this type of behavior?

I totally understand where you are coming from. I don't want to go into great detail about it, but the stuff is being sold and is why I am not saying more. And no, it isn't being sold by me. While some of your comments are dead on, it isn't the case in this instance. It is more of a business thing for the person who owns it. I am only sharing what I know (which I literally found out about this last week, so it isn't something I have been sitting on) in an effort to help this search. While we see a lot of "I know but can't tell you" in the prop community, I think you will have to admit, that there is very little of it here at TDH.

Originally Posted by never_ending_fett

I think I'm seeing the red you are talking about, but I don't think it's the same thing as the stunt cod, bucket, and gold bikini. It doesn't look consistant, more like it's a trick of the camera...not sure what kind of camera took the photo but sometimes if the sensor or processor in the camera doesn't "know what to do with" the information it sees it kinda "makes something up" I think that's what we are seeing. I could be way off there but for now that's my theory.

CCD's dont just arbitrarily make stuff up. They are incredibly similar to film in that when exposed to light, its processes the information. Lighting is really what photography is all about - Art would know this as well. I am not defending the red or denying it, but I am doubting its a random act of the camera itself.

Originally Posted by Simon Fett

If the original machinist plans and drawings were found, why would we even doubt which material was used? Even you seemed to doubt that it was custom machined in copper when fettpride and spideyfett got their new missile out.

This info JUST became available to me. When we were debating Spidey's rocket, I didn't know about the drawings.

Originally Posted by ART ANDREWS

I totally understand where you are coming from. I don't want to go into great detail about it, but the stuff is being sold and is why I am not saying more. And no, it isn't being sold by me. While some of your comments are dead on, it isn't the case in this instance. It is more of a business thing for the person who owns it. I am only sharing what I know (which I literally found out about this last week, so it isn't something I have been sitting on) in an effort to help this search. While we see a lot of "I know but can't tell you" in the prop community, I think you will have to admit, that there is very little of it here at TDH.

Very cool and I am glad you didn't take it personal. I appreciate the explanation and I understand it. You just did what the majority of prop hounds don't do. You took the time to address it instead of saying "just trust me, even though I can't tell you". You gave an explanation of your stance. Any mind of reason would give you the respect for that and let it be.

While for the most part, the TDH does not suffer from the vanity of nondisclosure, I am glad this thread on the rocket has remained civil and people are being open, not asking for blind faith followed by a white wash.

depending on the resolution and settings etc. if there isn't enough information the processor in the camera will sometimes fudge things, it can also happen in the compression process taking the raw info and converting it to JPG.

Originally Posted by Count Dookie

What, the copper part? Nah, we stared at this picture a few weeks ago. The base copper still looks like plating to me. If it was plastic I'd expect the base copper color to have as much peeling as the clear coat, or at least some obvious gouges and scratches down to the base material (more red color).

EDIT: I'm still not convinced. That aluminum reflective property with scratches is too authentic looking to me. I still say that's machined.

I am not making definitive statements, just saying what I believe to be true. I agree that the aluminum seems very convincing, but the scratches and dings along the back show something that, to me, don't look like what I would expect to see from scratched or dinged aluminum. Also, I feel confident the base of the "copper" piece is the read plastic we have come to know and love. I just see it in too many places. I have gone back and looked at the MoM photos and where it is scratched and scraped... nothing but copper, leading me to believe that one was actual metal.

Originally Posted by never_ending_fett

depending on the resolution and settings etc. if there isn't enough information the processor in the camera will sometimes fudge things, it can also happen in the compression process taking the raw info and converting it to JPG.

ohhh - Gotmaul is gonna take that personal. You're saying that he doesn't know how to use his high end camera.

Just kidding. Yes camera's settings always play a huge roll on picture quality.

And as far as keeping things or information to yourself. The best thing to do, if you have informationa, and you can't talk about or show images...

DONT TALK ABOUT IT!

Looking analytically here, the holes do not match up on any of these model kits. The Fett missile (or whatever we want to call it) has 3 rows of holes that are in line with each other, and no quite as narrow. All these ones seem to offset a bit, and are longer/narrower. This is just brainstorming really, because if this part was intended to be used and finally just inspired a custom piece it wouldn't really matter. Just some thoughts to consider while researching.

Originally Posted by SEEKER

ohhh - Gotmaul is gonna take that personal. You're saying that he doesn't know how to use his high end camera.

Just kidding. Yes camera's settings always play a huge roll on picture quality.

And as far as keeping things or information to yourself. The best thing to do, if you have informationa, and you can't talk about or show images...

DONT TALK ABOUT IT!

AMEN! thank you brother.

Count Dookie,

To what do you attribute the red base color that appears to be UNDER the copper color in the circled areas? I am saying the red plastic because I don't know what else it would be, but I am totally open to other theories!

Here is a similar effect happening on Leia's bikini.

Interesting Art. Is that a resin they used back then?

I don't know. I wish I knew what the actual material was... all I know is that it is some type of semi flexible (and obviously moldable) plastic. So far we know the rotJ stunt cod, the stunt helmet and the leia bikini were made from it. Now I believe the rocket tip on the AoSW/C4 rocket was also made from it. That is all I have on it.

Knowing that touring suits for displays are often interchanged, the rocket pic from C4 could be an ESB production rocket? Or is that a Captain Obvious statement?

I am not sure I completely follow you. From what I have seen, we never see the red plastic before RotJ, so IF that is red plastic, then I would think it would be RotJ era, probably made specifically for the stunt scenes.

As far as ESB "production" for the most part, all of the Fett costumes were made at roughly the same time, and have just been reused and refitted. My thought would be that the rocket from MoM (which to me appears to be all metal) is more likely a candidate for the ESB rocket than the C4/AoSW rocket. That is just my thoughts though, not fact.

Originally Posted by ART ANDREWS

Count Dookie,

To what do you attribute the red base color that appears to be UNDER the copper color in the circled areas? I am saying the red plastic because I don't know what else it would be, but I am totally open to other theories!

Good thread so far... lots of cool info being shared.

and Art after speaking with my machinest, Both of them, I got the opinion from them that what you are seeing (the discoloration) is simply the Lacquer chipping off...which would make sense as a finishing technique and would explain the non-corrosion IF indeed it is copper.

And I have to agree with Dookie, Machined.

I'm not of the opinion that the missile is at all plastic, nor do I subscribe to the theory that the front is copper. It may be that the original design was made with a plastic part or two (or the entire thing) and it did indeed keep breaking; it's probably a worthwhile exercise to see if anyone can find anything definitive. Regardless, since Art has seen the machinist drawing, I would speculate that the missile is entirely metal (aluminum)now.

I don't know if it's already been discussed, but is it possible the red we are seeing is just a primer that was used before the actual paint was applied?? In my dealings with paints, primers tend to 'stay' on material much longer than the paints that are applied over them. I'm not sure how involved the wardrobe and special effects personnel would be with proper painting techniques (production processes tend to be sloppy), but I haven't seen any resin or vac formed production pieces made with red material. Usually it's cheap milky-offwhite resin and white/black for the vac formed pieces...again to reduce costs.

Originally Posted by ART ANDREWS

Count Dookie,

To what do you attribute the red base color that appears to be UNDER the copper color in the circled areas? I am saying the red plastic because I don't know what else it would be, but I am totally open to other theories!

Sorry, it still looks like tarnished copper to me. Given the relatively similar color temperature and flash on the two pics you provided, I'd really expect those peeling areas to look much darker. The resin on the Leia bikini looks light to me maybe because most of the surfaces are facing the flash and the object is thin. Quick sketch attached:

Originally Posted by ART ANDREWS

I am not sure I completely follow you. From what I have seen, we never see the red plastic before RotJ, so IF that is red plastic, then I would think it would be RotJ era, probably made specifically for the stunt scenes.

As far as ESB "production" for the most part, all of the Fett costumes were made at roughly the same time, and have just been reused and refitted. My thought would be that the rocket from MoM (which to me appears to be all metal) is more likely a candidate for the ESB rocket than the C4/AoSW rocket. That is just my thoughts though, not fact.

I made an error in my post. I was wondernig if the missle with the possible red plastic/etc was screen used or a tour model only.

Originally Posted by bobasfett

I'm not of the opinion that the missile is at all plastic, nor do I subscribe to the theory that the front is copper. It may be that the original design was made with a plastic part or two (or the entire thing) and it did indeed keep breaking; it's probably a worthwhile exercise to see if anyone can find anything definitive. Regardless, since Art has seen the machinist drawing, I would speculate that the missile is entirely metal (aluminum)now.

I don't know if it's already been discussed, but is it possible the red we are seeing is just a primer that was used before the actual paint was applied?? In my dealings with paints, primers tend to 'stay' on material much longer than the paints that are applied over them. I'm not sure how involved the wardrobe and special effects personnel would be with proper painting techniques (production processes tend to be sloppy), but I haven't seen any resin or vac formed production pieces made with red material. Usually it's cheap milky-offwhite resin and white/black for the vac formed pieces...again to reduce costs.

Some really good thoughts and coming from someone with your experience, greatly appreciated. I am going to try to do some comparisons of the MoM rocket to the AoSW/CIV rocket a little later because in my opinion, they are totally different. Different material, different paint, different weathering.

You also may have a good point about a primer... Maybe it is primer. I certainly can't be sure.

However, in regard to there being no production used pieces made of the red material... there are. I don't know how else to say it. I will be glad to post pics if needed. The stunt helmets are red. There is even someone in the SU community who owns an unfinished one, and it is red too. The leia bikini is red. And thanks to recent photos, we see that the cod from Boba's stunt scene is also red. So while I would agree that usually, red wouldn't be used... for whatever reason, in RotJ, they seemed to have a lot of it to throw around.

As far as the photo distortion in color. Its true that the CCD is the "retina" of the camera, like the film in a traditional camera. However that's not where the "guessing" or distortion happens. The distortion happens in the conversion to digital format. Like as N-E-Fett said, if the file goes to JPEG, you will get "guessing" as that is the very nature of JPEG compression. it averages all the surrounding pixel colors, and drops out the ones within a certain tolerance. That how it gets the file size reduction-by throwing out information. However, if your photos are shot in RAW mode, your file will include ALL the information the CCD sees. the conversion process to TIFF is a lossless format. I know this is a bit off topic, but relavent to the discussion at large.

Originally Posted by Count Dookie

Sorry, it still looks like tarnished copper to me. Given the relatively similar color temperature and flash on the two pics you provided, I'd really expect those peeling areas to look much darker. The resin on the Leia bikini looks light to me maybe because most of the surfaces are facing the flash and the object is thin. Quick sketch attached:

Not sure I quite follow you on the Leia Bikini, but I will concede that it is possible you are right on the rocket. I still think it is possibly the red plastic, but you are wearing me down.

The way a CCD is configured, and I've been out of the camera retail biz for about 3 years so I'm sure technology has changed but anyways, a CCD is a giant grid of pixels and each pixel can only see 1 color, and there is empty space between pixels so there is some interpretation going on even in a raw file.


Spidey brings up a good point about the discoloration being the clear coat chipping off. The question is chipping off of what, metal? plastic?

There's discussion about what the red plastic is going on in at least 1 other thread, it's in the thread in the announcements section about behind the scenes pictures. It's definately used in several pieces, mostly stunt pieces or items that needed to be hard but still flexable such as the metal bikini. I think someone even had a good suggestion as to what the material is...

Originally Posted by Spideyfett

I guess my next Question would be, to all the don't think the tip is copper..... "Then what is it??"

Keep in mind, I am only saying this about the AoSW/C4 rocket... and I am slowly being dissuaded. The MoM rocket seems to be straight up metal to me. Maybe this one is too and I am just not seeing it.

If you look at the black tip area in front of the copper part, there appears to be some small red areas visible too.

Originally Posted by never_ending_fett

The way a CCD is configured, and I've been out of the camera retail biz for about 3 years so I'm sure technology has changed but anyways, a CCD is a giant grid of pixels and each pixel can only see 1 color, and there is empty space between pixels so there is some interpretation going on even in a raw file.


Spidey brings up a good point about the discoloration being the clear coat chipping off. The question is chipping off of what, metal? plastic?

There's discussion about what the red plastic is going on in at least 1 other thread, it's in the thread in the announcements section about behind the scenes pictures. It's definately used in several pieces, mostly stunt pieces or items that needed to be hard but still flexable such as the metal bikini. I think someone even had a good suggestion as to what the material is...

Good point... I build models of tanks and aicraft and I can tell you from experience plastic since it has alot of micro scopic holes tends to retain paint as dose Resin, thus paint will normally scratch off then chip off. Metal on the other hand is smooth and retains less holes, and in the binding process of paint it can cause chips thus exposing the metal below. The question is what was this perticular part made of if this is found it might help fill the gaps to this question..

Originally Posted by ART ANDREWS

Here is a similar effect happening on Leia's bikini.

After staring at the pic of the Bikini where the paint came off, I honestly do not think this is the same color we are looking at of those guantlet spots. I am to believe that paint does not stick great to the red plastic compound, because there are alot of pics where you can see the paint just disappeared. I would say that atleast the back of the AOSW rocket is machined, from the pic in post #26.

If this is indeed a custom machined piece, I have a hard time believing that they machined it, then molded it, made a plastic copy and kept using plastic ones even though they would break frequently. It would make more sense to me if they had found a model piece, they would have used that and made machined copys due to the plastic ones breaking. Or they costume machined a rocket and made plastics copys, along with machined ones and switched back and forth. People were crazy back in the 70's

My only thought on that would lie in one of two directions... machine a master and then cast it because it is cheaper... or IF there are plastic ones, they were made for the stunt scenes where the metal rockets might hurt the actors... the fact of the matter is, I am REALLY reaching into speculation here and don't have much proof. Maybe, as has been said, the reddish color isn't the same as the leia bikini and maybe it isn't plastic at all. Sure looks that way to me, but I have been wrong before and may be wrong here.

Originally Posted by ART ANDREWS

wait... wait... I think I am on to something.... In the initial post, Simon Fett said Jeremy stated that the rocket kept breaking... and we know that is true, because we SEE a broken rocket in the stunt scenes! The body is there but the head is gone! So, while I stand by the info I posted above in regard to the piece being machined, I didn't want to be dismissive of Simon's work or Jeremy's word... so I went back and looked and check out what I found thanks to a super clear image the Got Maul took at CIV.

Check the photo below and then read on...

So... is anyone else seeing the RED PLASTIC that is seen on the Fett stunt cod, the Fett stunt helmets and Leia's bikini?!? I would argue that at least THIS rocket tip is not metal at all (I do think the back part and the aluminum tip are metal). Maybe only one or a few masters were made and they were too heavy so they went to a plastic casting. Either way, I am pretty convinced this one is the same red plastic we see elsewhere.

Sounds right to me...but what about them breaking then???

Originally Posted by never_ending_fett

If this was indeed the inspiration for the Boba rocket, then perhaps the whole thing was never intended to be a rocket, but a mini rocket bay just like the real deal. Of course that has nothing to do with the discussion at hand, but forever there has been the debate of calling it a laser or rocket or missle or something else. Maybe in the SW universe it was supposed to fire mini rockets or projectiles.

I like this theory as well. Would make the hose connected to the back of the "rocket" in certain costume versions, make a little more sense

That's a good point PG! Lets everyone look at all the SuperTrooper pics, and see if there's any insight there. Most of the pics are B/W though, right? I know there are some color ones around too.

Originally Posted by pghfett

Perhaps it should not so much be a search for a helicopter part but more of a "rock pod" search.
Here are some pic I found.

this image has potential, Although not accurate it can certainly set the stage for the concept of the rocket.

Fett or no Fett... you just have to love rocket pods! Those things are AWESOME!

Originally Posted by pghfett

Art perhaps the "red rubber" we are looking for is a urethane or latex based rubber. These rubbers can be successfully painted with specialized paints but are not completely resistant to chipping. Perhaps the red tint was used to let the painters know not to go crazy with an uber accurate paint job as it signified it was a "stunt" piece perhaps.

I think that is entirely possible and plausible. We would really need to talk to someone who was involved to get some more info. Let me do a bit of digging.

Originally Posted by pghfett

Perhaps it should not so much be a search for a helicopter part but more of a "rock pod" search.
Here are some pic I found.

this image has potential, Although not accurate it can certainly set the stage for the concept of the rocket.


.

Man I was looking at rocket pods all night! Never researched aircraft weaponry before, but it was quite interesting. I was thinking the same thing as never_ending_fett , that maybe the orginal idea was for Boba's weapon to be a rocket pod that shoots out lots of little rockets. Kind of goes with the little darts on the other gauntlet and knees. Also sort of falls in line with the little Kamino saber dart that Jango uses.

Does anyone know how many holes are on the screen used "pod?" The terminology I saw sometimes had the number of rockets in the part name, so the UB-32 holds 32 rockets. I know there are more holes than that on the gauntlet rocket pod (I'm gonna start saying that ), but haven't seen a straight-on view where you can see all of the holes.

Anyway, interesting reading! :thumbup

The nose extension looks like it blocks the first row of tubes/micro-rocket, so unless it fires out first with the other three rows as a follow on strike.
Just a observation after looking at the gauntlet rocket.

I like pghfett's theory as well. Urethane material for stunt items does make sense and we know that the production used a flexible rubberish material for some threepio parts in ESB and ROTJ, although it was a tan color. Still, I wouldn't discount this theory at all.

Thanks for the kind words Art. I would take your statements about the red material as gospel as I honestly have no special knowledge with regards to Fett; as much as I have seen, I'm always learning. I find the topic very interesting though and I can see why there would be speculation that other parts, including the missile, may have also been made of this red material.

Spideyfett, I didn't mean to offend by my comments. I have just always subscribed to the belief that productions tend to keep things simple. That said, I was just stating my opinion, so you may of course be right. The original white Fett has very little 'not white', but one of the items 'not white' is the missile. Although the pics I have are black and white, the missile tip looks like it could be a copperish color without any weathering. Interesting.....

I would be curious to know what the drawing information had i.e. if it was a drawing that a machinist used, it would typically indicate material(s) and if it were made in parts. Again, speculation that the drawing would have this as there tends to be looser documentation in older productions. Art, is this something you could share??

I love this sort of disscussion.
to add to the above it appears in the pic below of the special edition suit that there is a hose attached to the rocket. There is no way that the hose could successfully be attached to a plastic part without it ripping off. We all know how stiff those hose attachments are. This missile would have to be machined, at least part of it to stand the stresses involved in just normal movement.



So I would think looking at a Fett prior to this work up would be a good idea perhaps.
As much as I've come to love rocket pods I've found no rocket pods to date that match exactly like Fetts.

man, stuff look so close. i just don't know.

I had a similar experience in seeing something as a found part in college, one of the files/graters that was shaped like the left gauntlet

Originally Posted by bobasfett

Spideyfett, I didn't mean to offend by my comments. I have just always subscribed to the belief that productions tend to keep things simple. That said, I was just stating my opinion, so you may of course be right. The original white Fett has very little 'not white', but one of the items 'not white' is the missile. Although the pics I have are black and white, the missile tip looks like it could be a copperish color without any weathering. Interesting.....

..no offense taken, your over all point makes perfect sense.

The red under color (which I'm not really seeing there) could be either a primer, or a base red for metallic paint. Gold leaf is applied over a red base to accent the color. When I do a bronze faux finish, I start with a dark brown base. I have no idea what the original was, but the copper cone could just be paint.

-Ryan

Something else came to mind as well. Gus Lopez has what looks to be a missile casting in his collection...I tried to find the pic, but unfortunately I was not able to locate it (I have to get my files in order!). I'm curious if anyone here knows the background on this piece; whether it was production made or just a one off. I'm going on memory here, but I believe it had a grey primer color to it.

Originally Posted by bobasfett

Something else came to mind as well. Gus Lopez has what looks to be a missile casting in his collection...I tried to find the pic, but unfortunately I was not able to locate it (I have to get my files in order!). I'm curious if anyone here knows the background on this piece; whether it was production made or just a one off. I'm going on memory here, but I believe it had a grey primer color to it.

Are you sure that is a Boba missle and not a Jango that Gus has? I seem to remember some Jango rockets floating around...

Looking at those pics of the real rocket, it's either machined aluminum, or the best faux aluminum finish ever seen.
It just looks too much like metal to be anything other than. . . well, metal.
I'm also not seeing any red under the copper on the cone portion. I see some areas where the weathering/topcoat has chipped or worn away, but to me it looks like cleaner copper.

That's a very good point too. It seems to me that as much wear and tear that the rocket would have encountered up till now, if it was made of plastic, no matter how it was painted I would think we would see some bare plastic on at least a portion of it, especially after the SE publicity photos having the hose ductaped to it. Do we know if the one seen in those shots has been seen on tour since then?

I found it!!!

Yep...found the pic and notes and you guys are correct...Jango. I guess we can call off the search anyway.

Originally Posted by Foxbatkllr

I found it!!!

That is an incredible find. Congrats on your investigation.

Well, Foxbatkllr has settled it once and for all!
Boba Fett was a Transformer.

I know this is an old post, but has anyone looked at the Airfix/MPC 1/24 scale Harrier? That kit was used to build the AT-AT and other items, stands to reason the rocket pod from that kit might have been used to build Boba's gauntlet rocket as well.

The shapes are just too far off to be a model part, plus we have seen CAD drawings where they are designing the rocket to be machined.

BTW, I want to retouch on those who were thinking they were not seeing the red in my previous photo. Here are some new photos. I don't think you can deny the red... now the question is, is that just paint on top, or is that the base color of the piece. Given the wear on the back edge, I feel like it means the base part is red.

I don't see a red color, but an orange base without all the weathering and without a gloss varnish all over it? PM sent anyway.

Wow im gonna need to make mine more correct copper color orange under it is what Im seeing here

Sorry, I can't see color very well. I am being told what I am calling "red" is actually "orange."

Man, I know I'm getting old but I just don't see it, Art.

Originally Posted by webchief

Man, I know I'm getting old but I just don't see it, Art.

He means the orange colour that's seen like chips under the weathering.

Yeh Art the air force assures me Im not color blind and I agree orange under the copper color with more **** over that depending on the gauntlet some have more junk than others