Cool Stuff: DIY Floating ‘Star Wars’ Training Remote
Luke Skywalker fought one. So did a bunch of Jedi Younglings. And thoughMaster Replicasdid create a really nice prop replica, now, for only a fraction of the cost, you can build your very ownStar Wars Jedi Training Remote. The best part is, unlike the Master Replicas one, yours can actually float. Check out the do-it-yourself video, as well some history on the device, seen inStar Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clonesas well asStar Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, after the jump.
Here’s the video. Turn your speakers down.
As you can tell, the main thing you need, besides a lot of time and patience, is an IFO 3000 Floating Globe. There are several websites that sell them, but many are sold out. However, with a simple Google search we were able tofind this one siteso chances are there are more. It’s kind of pricey, though: 65 British pounds, which equates to about $100. Still, that’s cheaper than an after market Master Replicas one that won’t even actually float (a quick check of eBay saw one selling for about $400).
Here are some facts you may or may not have known about the training remote, thanks to theStar Wars Database.
And while all of that is hilariously detailed, here’s something that is actually kind of cool, from the same page.
The concept of the training remote came from Imperial seeker drones that George Lucas originally intended to have patroling Mos Eisley in the firstStar Warsfilm. They appear in at least one well known Ralph McQuarrie production illustration of Luke Skywalker encountering belligerent aliens at the Mos Eisley Cantina. When shooting floating remotes proved impractical, Lucas adapted the idea to Luke’s training device aboard theMillennium Falcon. In the Special Edition release ofA New Hope, Lucas was finally able to get his Imperial seekers in the forms of floating Imperial sentry drones accompanying the stormtrooper patrols searching for the droids. Training remotes have not too distant mechanical cousins in the forms of Darth Maul’s Sith probe droids.
That sounds like something I wouldn’t mind having in my possession, especially if it floated like in the video.
Does anyone have the desire to try this out? Or, if you really wanted one, would you just buy a replica?
