The Hobbit: Black Arrow replica

[Wreckhur]

Next question: What is the fletching???

View attachment 322177

Are you asking what is fletching or what material is used for the fletching on this particular arrow?

Fletching is something used to stabilize an arrow during flight. On the back end of the arrow you can see what appears to be a bunch of white bristles standing on end. Traditionally feathers were used, however as technology has improved they have moved into plastics and other ridiculous compounds. What can you use?
Goose feathers have a good look, but are not much fun to work with, however they will give it a very natural appearance. I use bristles from big scrub brushes, like you would use in a bathtub or for heavy duty push brooms, though they look good and give a comparable look for todays arrows, I don't think they will give you the look you want as they are extremely stiff. Not sure at this point, I will try to dig up some info for you though.

 

[iceman49bg]

Haha i've been an archer since i was 10 years old. both recurve and compound, so i understand the finer points of arrows/fletching. but hey for anyone reading this thread, theres a nice breakdown.

Yea i was looking at goose feathers, ostrich feathers, polyester feathers. nothing is going to hold its form as well as the picture above. and THATS when i thought about using bristles from a shop broom (great minds). It's going to be a tough compromise because strictly speaking, the above shot looks like individual pieces of something about 3/8 wide and thin instead of lots of individual bristles... Authenticity might take back seat to replication and i might go with some kinda of flexible veneer or [EDIT] leather! might work perfect.

 

[Wreckhur]

Lol, well then that's all covered.

But hey I did have two thoughts on this last night, There is a flat type of dental floss that might work and there is flat waxed nylon used in fly fishing. I'm not sure that either would stand up as well as needed, however with the application of a little white glue they should become rigid enough. I also found a site that has pretty large fletchings for sale, though I don't know how thick the material is and you would have to do some pruning work to them. Finally, Flu-Flu feathers might work as is, they are pretty thick, though they are kind of expensive. I saved the links for the fishing nylon and flu-flu if you want/need them.

 

[Psicorp7]

The fletching looks like waxed leather. It is very consistant in the shot and looks like a combination of stiff and flexible. So it depends on how accurate you want to make your arrow. The leahter would be quite easy and quick to produce and it would look very "Middle Earth". Good Luck!

 

[iceman49bg]

The fletching looks like waxed leather. It is very consistant in the shot and looks like a combination of stiff and flexible. So it depends on how accurate you want to make your arrow. The leahter would be quite easy and quick to produce and it would look very "Middle Earth". Good Luck!

awesome! exactly what i was thinking.

 

[Brokkr Forge]

I too have been looking for some close-up shots of the black arrows. Your pics are the best I've seen thus far. I am a blacksmith and a LOTR and Hobbit fan and hope to forge some arrows later this month. I am unsure if the shafts are iron or if the tips are attached to wooden shafts. I suspect that the whole thing is iron, with feather flights. What do you think? Thanks. (I have forged a prosthetic arm the same as Azog's, which turned out pretty well, I think.)

 

[iceman49bg]

I too have been looking for some close-up shots of the black arrows. Your pics are the best I've seen thus far. I am a blacksmith and a LOTR and Hobbit fan and hope to forge some arrows later this month. I am unsure if the shafts are iron or if the tips are attached to wooden shafts. I suspect that the whole thing is iron, with feather flights. What do you think? Thanks. (I have forged a prosthetic arm the same as Azog's, which turned out pretty well, I think.)

awesome. Yea an actual blacksmith should have an easier time with this. I was looking into making a little propane forge and everything.

I'm pretty sure the whole shaft is supposed to be iron, there is no seam where it would go from wooden to iron, and the pic i have posted of the back end i copy and pasted the fletching from the bottom arrow to the top (With different lighting) so thats why it looks like there is a seam on that one.

as for the flights or fletching i was planning on wax hardening some leather for them. feathers will be much too fragile and wispy looking compared to all i can gather from the screenshots.

 

[Gericke]

Hi,

I finally got the latest artbook of the Hobbit and there is a picture of the black arrow in it.


The text is in german, so here´s the rough translation for it:

The text says that the prop is more than 2m (79 inches) long. The shaft should´ve been wood, but it was not stiff enough. So they used an aluminium rod as the shaft. The feathers are also artificial, because they could not find feathers this size, it´s not exactly described what they´re made of.
It is written that the Arrowhead of the hero prop was cast out of "urethan" i guess thats some sort of a resin.

Hope this helps somebody to continue building.


Greetings, Gericke

 

[iceman49bg]

Hi,

I finally got the latest artbook of the Hobbit and there is a picture of the black arrow in it.
View attachment 350498

The text is in german, so here´s the rough translation for it:

The text says that the prop is more than 2m (79 inches) long. The shaft should´ve been wood, but it was not stiff enough. So they used an aluminium rod as the shaft. The feathers are also artificial, because they could not find feathers this size, it´s not exactly described what they´re made of.
It is written that the Arrowhead of the hero prop was cast out of "urethan" i guess thats some sort of a resin.

Hope this helps somebody to continue building.


Greetings, Gericke

Gerickel,

Thanks for the schematic! All of my Hobby time since my last post has been dedicated to my new car. but once the race season is over i will be right back on this and have something asap.

 

[darthwhitey]

Watching Hobbit #2 and found myself wanting a black arrow. Haha

Any progress?

 

[Onkelpsycho]

If you don't want to do it yourself, United Cutlery will do it...

http://www.unitedcutlery.com/ProductDetail.aspx?itemno=UC3105&cat=HB

 

[iceman49bg]

Watching Hobbit #2 and found myself wanting a black arrow. Haha

Any progress?

haha yea i got the steel and started making the heads, but then bought a new car... and have been spending all my free time wrenching on that. i will revisit these after the new year. after i watch the movie i'll get psyched again i'm sure.

 

[iceman49bg]

If you don't want to do it yourself, United Cutlery will do it...

http://www.unitedcutlery.com/ProductDetail.aspx?itemno=UC3105&cat=HB

WOW - $275??? - if i get good at making these im planning on selling them for like $100 haha.

 

[allosaur176]

WOW - $275??? - if i get good at making these im planning on selling them for like $100 haha.

That is just suggested retail, Budk, who owns UC is selling it for cheaper

http://www.budk.com/product/Black-Arrow-of-Bard-the-Bowman/178924.uts

Plus Weta Workshop is releasing one as well

 

[Contec]

Here is the page in english :

 

[J EM]

Seeing the last Hobbit part has made me want to start collecting stuff again. And I want one of these.

That is just suggested retail, Budk, who owns UC is selling it for cheaper

http://www.budk.com/product/Black-Arrow-of-Bard-the-Bowman/178924.uts

Plus Weta Workshop is releasing one as well

That seems to be the right price.

 

[Onkelpsycho]

WOW - $275??? - if i get good at making these im planning on selling them for like $100 haha.

If Weta and UC release an arrow, I think selling replicas is not the best idea...

That is just suggested retail, Budk, who owns UC is selling it for cheaper

http://www.budk.com/product/Black-Arrow-of-Bard-the-Bowman/178924.uts

Plus Weta Workshop is releasing one as well

Weta has not anounced their arrow yet, right? We talked already in the Shadow and Flame about it... I think I stay with UC, because I like the wall plaques more... Price is awesome on budk.com, sadly here this arrow will cost min. $100 more than everywhere else... I think 250-300€ for it... Sometimes it's very disappointing to live in Europe... :unsure

 

[allosaur176]

Yes, Weta announced this replica already, and they said it would be up for sale before the end of this year..They have a holiday event calendar going, every day they put a new sale, and the odds are great that it will be for sale or pre-order today...The Saurman staff went up for pre-order a couple of days ago, and the black arrow is the last to go up for sale..

 

[Onkelpsycho]

It id really hard to get WETA stuff here... You need a cedit card for the weta shop page and at local toy and comic shops WETA stuff appears with a delay, sometimes more thant 3 months...

I'Ve heard that the Saruman staff is not acurate as all there were some discussions about the size...

I really don't know, I like WETA, no question, but when it comes to swords or weapons, I always prefer UC. Finally, I have to say, it depends on the price... I also try to get the stuff as cheap as possible, but in Europe I have to spent a little fortune, I guess.

Maybe I can find a volunteer, who can order one more arrow for me, same for the gandalf stuff... I fear this thing won't make it to Europe before it is sold out...

 

[nicom1234]

As I had a bit of spare time over the holidays, I sat for a bit to make a 3D model of this with the thought of 3d printing the head part, smoothing it out, making a mold and cold casting it.

Anyway, I thought id share what I feel the dimensions are based on the one from budk and the reference images provided in this thread.
Unfortunately solidworks flex tool doesnt like to leave smooth shapes behind after its done its thing...