Re: eFX ANNOUNCES LEGEND DARTH MAUL HERO LIGHTSABER!!
The PCR sabers although very nice for their price point, are not at all at the same level of accuracy of what a legend version would be.
I'm almost certain that no PCR saber made to date was actually cast directly off a screen-used or production made piece.
There's a huge difference between referencing or scanning/outputting an original, and actually taking molds off of it.
If you were to compare the MR CE, the EFX Legend Maul, and a screen-used Maul saber, you would see that the MR CE is very different from the original in many ways while the EFX is nearly identical.
The MR CE caters to the idealized/representational style, while the EFX Legend caters to the film prop accurate style.
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That is a very disappointing post. EFX, and its predecessor Master Replicas marketed those types of pieces on their "accuracy" due to the laser scanning techniques of the originals found in the Lucas Archives.
Now we find out that for those products the laser scanning really didn't capture the true accuracy of the piece, and EFX really didn't try to make the most accurate saber hilts due to products price point. Very disappointing.
I guess your statement really does sum up all the claims of both EFX, and Master Replicas when it comes to accuracy:
"no licensed replica will ever be 100%"
That is not a slam, your statement is very true. Not trying to be a fly in the ointment, but I really am tired of companies always flaking on the details of something claiming that they are limited by manufacture, yet they sure charge a premium price tag for something that is admittedly not even truly accurate from the start.
I think EFX would be better served by putting their money into developing a better system of addressing paying customers concerns/ inquiries rather than products that have to split hairs regarding their marketing claims before the product is even manufactured or sold.
I have on many occasions held a screen used Darth Maul saber owned by John Azarian, who purchased the piece through a Lucas Film sponsored charity auction. As Gino pointed out the difference are noticeable, yes. That being said I have yet to see an accurate replicas of this saber, and from the description given thus far, I still won't.
I respect what EFX is doing, but I think it’s nothing new.