I'll give you a very specific response to this paragraph. There was only one "hero" of the Qui Gon Jinn lightsaber made. All subsequent "stunts" and secondaries were cast from that hero. This prop was also widely publicized and photographed in numerous publications. However there was a huge and very obvious inconsistency with the pommel. I went onto the rebelscum forum, posted a very detailed pictorial on the differences and asked MR several times to comment on this and received no response. You can view the thread here:
http://threads.rebelscum.com/showfl...=&olderval=1&oldertype=&bodyprev=#Post2242296
The same thing can be said for the Luke ROTJ hero prop. There were some differences in the control box and a couple of other dimensions. I was also talking with an individual who was apart of the U.S. First 500. And when I say, apart of, I mean he was in on meetings and machining the prototypes. He was told specifically to change certain items and details because LFL did NOT want them to be accurate.
MR has yet to comment on these issues directly.
Why does MR have to comment on these issues? They make a product...if you like it...buy it. If not...pass on it. I don't really think they have to explain their rationale to us. (Since I haven't worked there in 18 months...I am now "us"... )
Hey cool! MR SUX!!!
Just kidding. Anyway...
Qui Gonn: When I was at the archive, I saw (as in with my own two eyes)several different sabers. The metal version did NOT match the resin ones. They were close, but apparently not cast from the hero. Lots of little details and dimensions didn't match. I don't know why they were different and neither did the archivist. I just measured and photographed all of them. The project was postponed by several years and they ressurected it after I left, so I don't know what data they ultimately used. That is all I know on that.
Luke: I was the PM on the US phase of this project and the parts were produced for the first 500 units at a machine shop 7 miles from my house. The replicas were polished and assembled by me, my wife, a few of her friends, Mike Goobic, Gian Muraro, some highschool kids, homeless people we grabbed off the street, etc...
I drew the original blueprints for the Luke saber from dimensions I took off the metal prop and a resin casting that I had obtained. The prototype was approved by Lucasfilm after some minor tweaks. The Chinese version was created from Solidworks files that were copied from my drawings and notes. I never asked anyone to alter it or make it inaccurate in any way. I have NO memory of Lucas asking us to make it less accurate either.
Now...there WERE issues because the pommel was really non-symmetrical and the grip rings were all different widths. The original prop was quite rough. I remember the control box top looked like (IIRC) two pieces of model train track rail with the gap stuffed full of epoxy. Most people would NOT want it to look exactly like the original. I DO remember that Lucas licensing was quite intent on making sure that it was as nice as possible, and therefore, we jointly-agreed to make the saber "idealized". Maybe that is what your friend is remembering?
Please understand, I don't really want to start answering a bunch of questions about MR. It isn't my place to do so.
I see that Barry is pretty active here and does a great job of answering technical questions. You might want to ask him. I just figured I would set a few other things straight.
Rock on!