Master Replicas 2006 plans for your wallet

[bsu legato]

http://www.starwars.com/community/event/co...12/indexp8.html

Long story short, it looks like there will be a Studio Scale edition of the 32" Falcon, a Studio Scale Y-Wing, what looks like Boba Fett's ROTJ rifle, and a new line of costume replicas. Oy, my bank account aches already.

No Comic-Con is complete without legions of Jedi and Sith-attired fans waving their Master Replicas lightsabers in the air to show their allegiance to all things Star Wars.

This year, Master Replicas Vice President of Product Design Stephen Dymszo in a special panel shared some exciting news about prop replicas in both the design and production stages, as well as a rare inside look at the behind-the-scenes process of what goes into making a prop idea into a collectible reality.

Some of the new products both this year and 2006 Dymszo was eager to discuss included the Obi-Wan Elite lightsaber replica (on sale this November), as well as the Darth Maul Force FX lightsaber, which will initially be sold as a one-bladed unit with separate adapter. When two units are purchased they can be assembled to duplicate Maul's double-bladed saber in the Force FX form, which will then give it an impressive 8-foot span.

Also with the company's recently-approved license to create Star Wars vehicles, they've begun production on the studio-scale AT-AT prop (due to ship in August/Sept.), and announced that the beloved Millennium Falcon would soon be made as a Signature Edition Studio Replica signed by Han Solo himself -- Harrison Ford, as well as hints at a Y-wing.

Even though many of the Master Replicas products are currently being discussed, Dymszo reminded the audience that from approval to creation to the actual selling of the product can take from anywhere to a year or a year-and-a-half. Nonetheless, Dymszo's passion for the upcoming products was apparent during the presentation.

"We've also expanded into costumes and helmets which is very exciting," Dymszo smiles. This year the company produced the Shock Trooper helmet and Clone Trooper helmet, and he announced that they would be selling an exclusive Star Corps Clone Trooper Helmet with mustard yellow stripes, only through StarWarsShop.com.

The helmets themselves have become such a hot commodity with collectors, which many fans may find of interest since there were no physical props made of the clone trooper helmets for Episode III. In fact, Master Replicas created the helmets not from an actual specimen, but from digital measurements and information gather from Industrial Light & Magic.

The costume most fans were eyeing at their booth, however, was none other than Anakin Skywalker's Jedi outfit complete with his signature robe. Dymszo confessed that he believes the costume line they have in store will be the thing that truly takes off and becomes the most successful new products of the company's future products.

When asked if Master Replicas would ever consider making actual stormtrooper or clone trooper armor, Dymszo said that it would be unlikely due to the nature of the costume's multi-piece structure and "one-size-fits-none" dilemma, which could easily become a returns nightmare.

Even though the reality of a Master Replicas trooper costume may be a distant one, owning your own droid sidekick could very well be around the corner.

No official announcement was made at the presentation, but Dymszo did suggest that if Lucasfilm were to ask them to create a full-sized working R2-D2 unit (sans the rockets) for retail, that Master Replicas would be more than happy to oblige.

While showing fans the process from concept to creation of a Master Replicas prop, Dymszo was quick to point out that even though they would love to make as many Star Wars props into collectibles, there are times -- as with many of the props from the Original Trilogy -- that certain props cannot be replicated due to the mere fact that they are missing and cannot be located in the Lucasfilm Archives (where the company visits on many occasions to look for possible product ideas).

"We're one of the few licensees allowed in the Archives," Dymszo says. "We try to tailor the product plan to items we have direct access too, otherwise we have to go back and reconstruct a prop. For example, a lot of customers want Chewbacca's bowcaster, but the original is gone. We have located the original crossbow that it was created from, and sometimes you have to track down crazy stuff just to reconstruct things."

They also recently tracked down Han Solo's holster from A New Hope two weeks ago in the Lucasfilm Archives.

During the questions and answers discussion, Dymszo mentioned that Master Replicas was looking into creating a "Joe Jedi" Lightsaber where customers could purchase multicolored blades to build their own customized lightsabers. The company may also soon be creating a PVC stunt saber that could "snap on your belt."

Dymszo says that Master Replicas often meets with retailers and fans to discuss what products are most --- and sometimes least --- desired, as well as reading various collecting message boards and websites to gauge which props seems to be the most successful among collectors.

"We also have some rather frank discussions going," Dymszo says. "We make regular adjustments in our product plan based on the feedback we get from the fans. That exchange of information is very important to us."

Also in the works is a West Coast fulfillment house, so that customers on both coasts of the U.S. can get their products in a more timely manner. They also hope to revamp the company website complete with an archive gallery of products, customer collection feature articles, a feature on how a product is made, and possible interviews with the Lucasfilm archive staff.

To look back at Master Replicas products shown at Comic-Con, or to simply keep up-to-date with the latest products on the design table, check out the Master Replicas Blog on their official site here.

And be sure to come to starwars.com for the latest Master Replicas news.

[dr_vandermeer]

Damn. That a lot of good stuff coming down the pipe.

[Warmaker]

They're going to put out a Studio Scale AT-AT?

I own one of those AT-ATs they put out this year. It's freaking big and very impressive. How big is this Studio Scale AT-AT going to be?

[Gaijin]

They're going to put out a Studio Scale AT-AT?

I own one of those AT-ATs they put out this year.  It's freaking big and very impressive.  How big is this Studio Scale AT-AT going to be?

312844[/snapback]

Isn't that just the signature studio scale one they are talking about? Yours is a studio scale already.

[Guest Bromgrev]

... and announced that the beloved Millennium Falcon would soon be made as a Signature Edition Studio Replica signed by Han Solo himself -- Harrison Ford, as well as hints at a Y-wing.

312742[/snapback]

Aaargh!! A Y-Wing! Where's my financial advisor, I need to adjust my portfolio to pay off when this comes out ...

Oh, yeah, and I could use another Falcon, too.