Post by James Deval on May 11, 2016 6:56:28 GMT
A few people have asked about the Silver Arrow prop. So I thought it would be best to start another thread rather than carry on OT on the Castle thread.
There were originally only two silver arrow props made for RoS, the most used version being made of wood and sprayed with automotive paint. The symbols were said to have been originally letraset applied by hand. This version is in bad condition, and a lot of damage occurred on set during the filming of the first season due to its delicate nature. For the second season, it was repainted in automotive paint and the symbols re-applied via hand using permanent marker. A second lighter wooden arrow was made in the same way, but had a hole drillde through the centre for a wire necessary for the levitation and 'flight' scenes. The third arrow was said to be created for the Clannad album cover, but has never been verified.
The hero version currently resides in New Zealand, and has succumbed to severe damage. This original wooden prop has had the head and flights broken off so many times, and then badly glued back on, that it looks like a four year old has been let loose with glue and tissue on it. I doubt it can be refurbed.
Sadly, I have no idea where the original box is.
I've always liked this prop, and the possible history behind it. I know Kip hated it. But I thought it was very different from what we thought the 'silver arrow' should be and how it was always represented in other films/TV/book versions of the legend. It was just representative of an arrow and more of a magical relic like a sceptre. It fascinated me as a kid, much like Albion did.
This lead to me trying to find the originals, which I did to some extent. But the condition means they might as well have been destroyed. So I set out to make an exact replica.
I've now made three. The first one via a lost wax casting method cast in brass, and the final two via fabrication from brass rods and plates. Al finished off with antique silver plating.
As I've mentioned. These are a nightmare to make. A real headache. For the last one, an Asprey's jeweller helped out as it was such a chore to get right. This final one we made is as accurate to the original source material as it is possible to get. Last year, I managed to re-acquire the original stencil drawings and replicate them as humanly possible on this final version. Although much of the paperwork was water damaged and worn with age, so some of the symbols had to be guessed at on some sides.
I'll post more pics later.
The final version...
There were originally only two silver arrow props made for RoS, the most used version being made of wood and sprayed with automotive paint. The symbols were said to have been originally letraset applied by hand. This version is in bad condition, and a lot of damage occurred on set during the filming of the first season due to its delicate nature. For the second season, it was repainted in automotive paint and the symbols re-applied via hand using permanent marker. A second lighter wooden arrow was made in the same way, but had a hole drillde through the centre for a wire necessary for the levitation and 'flight' scenes. The third arrow was said to be created for the Clannad album cover, but has never been verified.
The hero version currently resides in New Zealand, and has succumbed to severe damage. This original wooden prop has had the head and flights broken off so many times, and then badly glued back on, that it looks like a four year old has been let loose with glue and tissue on it. I doubt it can be refurbed.
Sadly, I have no idea where the original box is.
I've always liked this prop, and the possible history behind it. I know Kip hated it. But I thought it was very different from what we thought the 'silver arrow' should be and how it was always represented in other films/TV/book versions of the legend. It was just representative of an arrow and more of a magical relic like a sceptre. It fascinated me as a kid, much like Albion did.
This lead to me trying to find the originals, which I did to some extent. But the condition means they might as well have been destroyed. So I set out to make an exact replica.
I've now made three. The first one via a lost wax casting method cast in brass, and the final two via fabrication from brass rods and plates. Al finished off with antique silver plating.
As I've mentioned. These are a nightmare to make. A real headache. For the last one, an Asprey's jeweller helped out as it was such a chore to get right. This final one we made is as accurate to the original source material as it is possible to get. Last year, I managed to re-acquire the original stencil drawings and replicate them as humanly possible on this final version. Although much of the paperwork was water damaged and worn with age, so some of the symbols had to be guessed at on some sides.
I'll post more pics later.
The final version...
