agent5
Sr Member
Yes, one of many, many mistakes in this film that make it special.
Staff of Ra Head Piece
- Thread starter hotfuzz
- Start date
VonMagnum
Sr Member
I ordered another different Staff of Ra Headpiece (#10).... 
(will post photos when I get it)
I'd still like to find the one hofuzz has. I haven't seen that one anywhere else (not even photos) except his post here and it just looks "jewelry good" somehow in the photos (yeah yeah I've got accurate already). Considering how good it looks for $20, it was a hell of a deal, IMO.
(will post photos when I get it)I'd still like to find the one hofuzz has. I haven't seen that one anywhere else (not even photos) except his post here and it just looks "jewelry good" somehow in the photos (yeah yeah I've got accurate already). Considering how good it looks for $20, it was a hell of a deal, IMO.
VonMagnum
Sr Member
Yeah, that's supposed to be like 20-30 miles outside Cairo (Tanis reported location) and I'm not aware of cliffs anywhere NEAR Cairo (you also see LOTS of vegetation in that area which implies it's near the Nile river where you're even less likely to see anything remotely resembling a cliff).
It could also be that the actor said the line wrong and no one caught it.
Took a 1930s style reference shot.
I'm sure it's been discussed somewhere one the RPF but I just noticed for the first time that at the base of the feathers at the "armpits" of the bird on the headpiece are the cherubs from the ark facing away from each other. I've looked at this thing my whole life and this is the first time I've ever seen them.
VonMagnum
Sr Member
Yeah, I read that awhile back myself. I always wondered why the armpits looked "weird" on the bird (Imam version only). I just never looked at them that way plus the detail is kind of poor on some versions. I just ordered a hand drawn version that is the cleanest artwork I've EVER seen on one of these medallions (blatantly easy to tell and far more feather detail). Of course, it's also not screen 'accurate' as such being MORE detailed than the real thing, but I had to have one...
Dang, it's bugging the heck out of me that I can't find more information on that HotFuzz version. I don't know why, but I really like it. I've been keeping the searches running, but no luck so far (and so far Hot Fuzz hasn't replied; heck I'd offer to buy his for fair price even if he'd like a more accurate one).
agent5
Sr Member
I bought four of the BamBox headpieces right after they came out. I ended up giving away two to friends who desparetely needed upgrades. What I find interesting about the piece is that the body feathers are more like scales. It it does lack in some of the details from piece to piece but it has the slot in the bottom, has some real weight to it and is very shiny. I gave one a few watercolor washes and it really brought the life out of it.
I really, really like my Relicmaker Raven Bar HP but really wish we'll get one someday with the correct tail feather section. There's a pic in this thread from the archives which shows the bottom section base as being flat with the tail feathers placed/sculpted on top of the flat surface. The RM HP looks like the tail feathers were sculpted out of one piece, if that makes sense. There were a couple other very, very minor inconsistencies in comparison to the original but this is just me being super anal. Its still one of my favorite piece in my collection.
I really, really like my Relicmaker Raven Bar HP but really wish we'll get one someday with the correct tail feather section. There's a pic in this thread from the archives which shows the bottom section base as being flat with the tail feathers placed/sculpted on top of the flat surface. The RM HP looks like the tail feathers were sculpted out of one piece, if that makes sense. There were a couple other very, very minor inconsistencies in comparison to the original but this is just me being super anal. Its still one of my favorite piece in my collection.
VonMagnum
Sr Member
I'm not really sure what you mean exactly about the tail feathers being flat. This page (IndyGear.com: Headpiece) shows a piece (image linked below) owned by the original creator, Ron Punter, even on its side. I suppose he could be holding someone else's recreation of it for an interview or something (not enough information given to be certain on that page; it seems to have a red crystal instead of amber which does raise some questions in my mind about whether that one was used in any fashion). The one he's holding doesn't look "flat" at all to me at the tail feather section, but is raised as part of the access to the staff insertion. Or are you referring to something else about it? I'm no expert, but I have a hard time telling my RM piece from the original in side-by-sides other than the original appears to be shinier/polished (not aged). The shots from the movie (one snapshot included below the Ron Punter links) don't look "flat" either to me relative to the surrounding designs to my eyes.
VonMagnum
Sr Member
Got any labels/info to go with which one is which there? I think the middle row is: RM "Imam", RM "Raven Bar" RM German. The bottom row appears to be Acme Artifact and another (parent) version (Acme Magico and MK are the two I know about; I have an MK one). The top row I'm less sure about (Sarednab's medallion looks like the left one in the thread on here, but I can't be sure). I have at least four of the seven shown (All three RMs plus Acme Artifact version) plus five other ones (Indy Magnoli Polished Brass, MK Solid Brass, "AwesomeGiftShop" Resin version, "Reel Art" German version and Bam Box Polished with Red stone) and I have another Resin one on the way (McGuffin #1 v2.0)
I've got a reproduction of the necklace on the left. I haven't located the earrings as a reproduction yet. I'm actually surprised there isn't one given it was King Tut's falcon earrings (maybe they can't make "exact" replications of the real thing in Egypt or something? The Falcon of Horus necklace/pendant's all have the bird's head turned whereas the exhibit has it looking straight ahead, for example. Although, that could be a different one, I suppose.)
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The Lucasfilm one looks to have some nasty bubbles in the menorah. Gotta be a resin casting.
VonMagnum
Sr Member
I'm kind of surprised there aren't more detailed comparisons around here (or anywhere) of the various Headpiece recreations ever made for reference/history. Many prop sites just show photos from users they posted and give few or no details of where they got them, although you start to recognize various versions (or at least the molds) on site after awhile.
There seems to be a few basic molds that supposedly trace back to the original somehow. I'm not sure how the Acme/MK/RedFour versions relate exactly to an original (early production mold?) as the bird's neck width is less than the ones used on-screen and the braid differs greatly from the staff/resin versions I've seen, but various conversations and postings I've read suggest they are still at least partly traceable back to a real mold (wish there were more details on this; perhaps someone here knows and can fill it in a bit for us).
Based on another thread comments from ten years ago (Production Made Staff of Ra Headpiece. Got it in hand PICS PAGE 7), it would seem the Acme Magico variation sold for ~$300 back then. The RedFour sold for $250-400 depending on whether it was the solid bronze version and the Indy Magnoli sold for $250-325 depending on whether it was solid bronze. The Acme Artifact version sold for ~$100 (currently at $129 a decade later).
This is the best labeled comparison of some early recreations I could find online. I wish it were higher resolution, though to compare/contrast the details. Some of these had multiple casting materials (e.g. Indy Magnoli had a polished solid brass, antique brass coated zinc alloy and a gold plated zinc alloy version according to his site). I think these all have molded attached braids (certainly the Magnoli and Acme/RedFour versions do; I can't say for sure about the Relic Raider, but its braid looks like the Magnoli braid to my eyes). Magnoli's tail feathers are not from the "round sphere mold" as was postulated earlier in the thread. He told me something to the effect the solid bronze casting simply had trouble with the details there for some reason whereas it appears the gold and bronze "plated" versions came out more detailed).
The only one I know literally nothing about is the Relic Raider version, which looks to be pretty detailed in the picture.
I guess I really did get a steal of a deal on the Indy Magnoli polished solid bronze medallion at $48 (with staff attachment included).
I got the Acme Artifact one for $60 with a Landron stand (60-35= $35) so a pretty good deal there as well.
I got a "Reel Art" Belloq version for $15 once I remove the cost of the included Landron stand it came with.
I got the Bam Box version for $25 (normally goes for $50) from a guy on eBay looking to get rid of his (in new condition).
I got a resin version based on the mold that has the rounded bottom re-drawn tail feathers (but otherwise good detail everywhere else) for $25.
I bought the three RM versions (Raven Bar, Imam and Belloq version) at the current going rates.
I've got yet another version (McGuffin 2.0 gold painted resin with separate copper attached braid that's hand-drawn with more feather detail than any version I've ever seen including the original so I'll be excited to see it in person as it looked really good in the photos).
I have no idea what the MK version went for (a solid bronze slightly modified version variation of the Acme Magico mold according to Indy Magnoli), but I got this one on eBay for $200 with both staff attachments and a 72-inch wooden staff (I'll be digging in the wrong place!) and it was custom drilled by the owner's wife uncle's who worked as Elstree (to use what looks like a Magnoli attachment according to Indy himself) so I think this was certainly a reasonable deal.
There seems to be a few basic molds that supposedly trace back to the original somehow. I'm not sure how the Acme/MK/RedFour versions relate exactly to an original (early production mold?) as the bird's neck width is less than the ones used on-screen and the braid differs greatly from the staff/resin versions I've seen, but various conversations and postings I've read suggest they are still at least partly traceable back to a real mold (wish there were more details on this; perhaps someone here knows and can fill it in a bit for us).
Based on another thread comments from ten years ago (Production Made Staff of Ra Headpiece. Got it in hand PICS PAGE 7), it would seem the Acme Magico variation sold for ~$300 back then. The RedFour sold for $250-400 depending on whether it was the solid bronze version and the Indy Magnoli sold for $250-325 depending on whether it was solid bronze. The Acme Artifact version sold for ~$100 (currently at $129 a decade later).
This is the best labeled comparison of some early recreations I could find online. I wish it were higher resolution, though to compare/contrast the details. Some of these had multiple casting materials (e.g. Indy Magnoli had a polished solid brass, antique brass coated zinc alloy and a gold plated zinc alloy version according to his site). I think these all have molded attached braids (certainly the Magnoli and Acme/RedFour versions do; I can't say for sure about the Relic Raider, but its braid looks like the Magnoli braid to my eyes). Magnoli's tail feathers are not from the "round sphere mold" as was postulated earlier in the thread. He told me something to the effect the solid bronze casting simply had trouble with the details there for some reason whereas it appears the gold and bronze "plated" versions came out more detailed).
The only one I know literally nothing about is the Relic Raider version, which looks to be pretty detailed in the picture.
I guess I really did get a steal of a deal on the Indy Magnoli polished solid bronze medallion at $48 (with staff attachment included).
I got the Acme Artifact one for $60 with a Landron stand (60-35= $35) so a pretty good deal there as well.
I got a "Reel Art" Belloq version for $15 once I remove the cost of the included Landron stand it came with.
I got the Bam Box version for $25 (normally goes for $50) from a guy on eBay looking to get rid of his (in new condition).
I got a resin version based on the mold that has the rounded bottom re-drawn tail feathers (but otherwise good detail everywhere else) for $25.
I bought the three RM versions (Raven Bar, Imam and Belloq version) at the current going rates.
I've got yet another version (McGuffin 2.0 gold painted resin with separate copper attached braid that's hand-drawn with more feather detail than any version I've ever seen including the original so I'll be excited to see it in person as it looked really good in the photos).
I have no idea what the MK version went for (a solid bronze slightly modified version variation of the Acme Magico mold according to Indy Magnoli), but I got this one on eBay for $200 with both staff attachments and a 72-inch wooden staff (I'll be digging in the wrong place!) and it was custom drilled by the owner's wife uncle's who worked as Elstree (to use what looks like a Magnoli attachment according to Indy himself) so I think this was certainly a reasonable deal.
VonMagnum
Sr Member
These aren't Staff of Ra Medallions, but they look pretty good in the same collection/room (Mayan/Aztec Calendar based). Top photo also shows the new bookshelf location for my fertility idol and three of the Staff of Ra Medallions (Left = Michael Key, Center = Acme Artifact, Right = Indy Magnoli) as I've rearranged the Ark/Poster display (seeing as how many I have now). The new Mayan necklace is to the left of the idol for now, followed by a closeup, followed by the front/back of the new 3" medallions (I bought two, one for each speaker facing each other showing each side). The necklace somehow reminds me a little bit of the "Omni" prop from the old TV Show Voyagers (inside of it) the way it has concentric rings for the calendar. I'd like to get an Omni recreation some day for that matter.
VonMagnum
Sr Member
Anyone know anything about this supposed "kit" version? The photo on the site looks familiar, but who knows if it's even an accurate photo.
My #10 replica is finally shipping (should be here this week...will post photos when I get it).
My #10 replica is finally shipping (should be here this week...will post photos when I get it).
