Lucasfilm Archives Star Wars Icons First Announcement / Teaser Concept Advertisement (1996)

Conceptualized 24 years ago by Icons Jim Latta & rendered by Daren Dochterman, these are early concept designs for the first announcement of Icons licensed line of Star Wars prop replicas. Icons was the first collectibles company to be granted a license by Lucasfilm LTD. to produce 1:1 scale Star Wars prop and miniature replicas (1995-2000), after LFL had received over 1,000 proposals.

Interestingly, Icons preferred the open wood door ad concept (above) with the illuminated eyes of C3-PO and a Jawa peaking out, and Darth Vader's lightsaber glowing in the darkness, but Lucasfilm felt the wood door concept appeared "too unsecure and could lead to break-ins by fans", so a bank-vault style door was created by Dochterman as requested by Lucasfilm. The Icons wood door version of this advert has never before been shown until posted here on this blog.

Stormtrooper's guarding the vault door (above) were added to feature more of a Star Wars theme to the advert but eventually Lucasfilm chose the simple bank-vault door design. Variations on this theme were rendered by Daren, before the final design appeared in a 1996 issue of the Official Star Wars Fan Club publication - "The Star Wars Insider".

Icons Glossy Collector Postcards (set of "4" - 1998)

The beautifully designed and printed, glossy Icons collectors postcard set (of "4") which were published and mailed-out to customers 22 years ago in 1998. Designed and rendered by freelance graphic designer Noel Martin. Designed to promote the Icons Predator, Terminator and Star Wars replica lines.

Icons Jim Latta recalls - "The Icons Collector Postcards were intended by me to be almost like jumbo trading cards. Noel Martin was an incredible talent. When I was introduced to him in 1998,  he was working full-time at the Southern California Gas Company as serviceman. I was blown-away by his gifts as a graphic designer and at the time, our in-house graphic designer was overwhelmed with all of the work that was needed. So we retained Noel to work on a few campaigns and he designed and rendered these postcards after a little discussion on what I had envisioned for them graphic-wise. He hit it out of the park in my opinion".

Interestingly there was a "5th" Collectible postcard designed by Noel for an Icons Star Trek full-size Captain's Chair replica. But it was never printed.

Icons Star Trek Ads

This is an ad for the Icons Star Trek Klingon Commemorative Collection....Finally, Icons grants all Star Trek fans their greatest wish !! A full line of 1:1 scale authentic props and miniatures based on the Star Trek television series and the motion pictures Each accurately reproduced from originals used on set and prototyped and supervised during manufacturing by actual Star Trek prop and miniature makers ! Icons Fabrication and Design Group craftsmen have worked on five Star Trek feature films as well as Star Trek's The Next Generation, Voyager and Deep Space : Nine.

This ad shows the Classic D7 Klingon Battle Cruiser, limited to only 950 units, precisely mold-casted from an actual filmed miniature used during the making of classic Star Trek (1966-1969) and currently archived at The Smithsonian Institute in Washington D.C. and the Klingon Disrupter Prop Weapons Set, limited to only 1966 units, molded off original props used during filming, all are incredibly detailed and custom finished.

The following is an ad for the "Star Trek Captain's Chair". This awesome 1:1 scale entertainment furnishing replica was supposed to be one of the finest limited edition collectibles of all time. Icons Fab & Design constructed helm set piece replicas for the Star Trek : Deep Space 9 cross-over episode "Trials and Tribble-ations". Including the Captains chair. 

Icons new woodshop staffed by skilled furniture craftsmen have created this amazing reproduction of the Captains chair seen in all three seasons of Classic Star Trek. 

I think only two were made. One finished prototype and one unfinished, sold on eBay in 2006. 
The final retail price was supposed to be about $3,500 and the edition limited to only 500 pieces !!

Icons Han Solo Blaster

The Han Solo blaster WAS in fact licensed. The Star Wars Insider magazine (LFL fan-club) was willing to sell it as an exclusive to try and help Icons. The piece was already tooled and ready for production. But it was not permitted to be manufactured or shipped. Icons had invested a ton of money into the tooling and it was ready to be produced. A total of 78 Han blasters were produced.

Only "3" APs were made at Icons in 1998-99. "1" went to LFL, "1" went to Steve Sansweet, "1" to Icons co-founder Mike Rogers.

An additional "75" Han APs were made at a new shop in 2000, owned by one of Icons co-founders / investors after the company closed its doors in March 2000, with original Icons parts, so that he could recoup financially.

"200" AP samples were supposed to be sent to LFL for Christmas 1998 but only a few were finished, with display case and numbered plaque (no packaging nor paperwork yet !!).

Note : I have heard that the goal of the aluminum grill in the background of the display case was to look like a piece of the Millenium Falcon.

Icons Han Solo Blaster Ad :

This ad shows the very rare Icons Han Solo blaster replica (which only a handful were made) and the Planet Of The Apes Gorilla Infantry Rifle (nothing was made but Icons acquired the license and had direct access to numerous originals. No drawings. The rifle was scheduled to be molded and was at Icons. The rifle pictured on "The Vault" was of a screen-used one).

The following are never before seen images of some of the original reference studies referred by Icons Fabrication & Design Group, which were referred to by during the research / machining phase of the Icons 1:1 scale Han Solo Blaster prop replica. The first ever produced under license by Lucasfilm Ltd.

These are blow-ups of photo-images of a screen-used blaster. The original images provided by Lucasfilm to Icons. At the time, the Han Solo blaster used on screen's whereabouts were unknown.

The notations were hand-written by Icons prototype fabrication artisans Mike Moore, Steve Horch or Brian Bero.

That one is a progress report, for Icons Han Solo blaster customers, explaining why the production of that replica was delayed !!

 

Icons Aliens M41-A "Hero" Pulse Rifle Prototype

One of the most highly anticipated Icons Authentic Replicas : the M-41 A Pulse Rifle replica seen in 20th Century Fox's Aliens, James Cameron's heart pounding sequel to Alien.

Icons team was fortunate to be provided with extensive research material from 20th Century Fox Archivist Alan Adler and his staff, including never before seen, highly detailed photographs. They were also provided with an original Pulse Rifle used in Aliens and Alien 3 by Icons resident archivist James Latta. It was one of only two known copies in the U.S. The other belonging to James Cameron.

The big challenge they faced in replicating the Pulse Rifle was translating the metal components of the piece to resin which are then plated in metal. Yes, the Icons replica was not manufactured in solid metal components (like the Icons Star Wars lightsabers) due to very, very prohibitive costs. The goal of that very limited edition was to keep the working Hero model's cost down so that it's still affordable.

So the non-metal pieces were metal plated, in thick gun metal black (copper with a special coating). Bolt and barrel are all metal components. This "Hero" version also features simulated bolt action, retractable stock, an illuminated digital counter which "fire down" from 95 to 00 with each pull of the trigger. You then reset the counter by pulling out and reloading the ammo-clip.

Another challenge was to reproduce the carry/shell housing and tooling it for injection casting. On their reference original, the shell housing was slightly distorted. It was thick in certain places (remember that Aliens budget was in the area of only 17 million dollars. A low budget film by today's standards. So propmakers were probably rushed). In removing the housing on the reference original, they discovered the original detail on its interior and were then able to reverse engineer the carry/shell housing. Examining the interior was also invaluable for Icons Fab & Design Group because they were able to color match the original military green paint job on the exterior of the carry/shell housing (the reference original had been painted black for Alien 3). 

Mike Moore adds : "The green color for the Hero Pulse Rifle was from a military surplus store. It was a real U.S. military camp paint, that we purchased in spray cans. It was a government spec color paint".

This Icons Aliens "Hero" Pulse Rifle prototype took 6 months in active predevelopment and another 6 months of hard tooling for production. They wanted it to be the best that could possibly be made. It's extremely accurate and in many ways, superior in detail to the original.

Icons X-Wing Pilots

The development of the Star Wars 1:1 scale X-Wing Filming Miniature Replica was an extraordinary task for Icons. Lucasfilm would not permit the molding of an original X-Wing preserved in the archives located at Skywalker Ranch (although photographs, paint reference and measuring etc. was permitted), so Icons had to track down an alternative source for X-Wing masters, which came from a crew member working for Richard Edlund's legendary Boss Films in Marina Del Ray, California. A fellow staffer at Boss had worked for Apogee Productions and ILM and had kept a clean set of masters from the first Star Wars film. These were loaned to Icons to create the masters for the replica.

As most Star Wars enthusiasts know, the X-Wing Miniature was originally fabricated utilizing various off-the-shelf model kits parts and custom styrene components. The X-Wing pilot was cast from a Dragster model kit. Icons wanted to use the exact same pilot utilized in the original X-Wing filming miniatures and a debate raged over this issue. Splitting factions between the founding partners. Lucasfilm was concerned with utilizing a model kit companies product component so it was deemed necessary to create a custom pilot. Which was sculpted from a Kenner Luke Skywalker action figure. To my knowledge, this is the first time this information has been revealed to the public/collectors.

See photo above, from left to right :

1) Dragster Model Kit Pilot Painted casting (same model as the original LFL one with similar paint scheme).
2) Custom Sculpted & Casted Paint Reference Master.
3) Custom Sculpted & Casted Paint Reference Master.

Once again to my knowledge, either number 2 or 3 were chosen as paint reference for production of the Icons X-Wing.

Icons detail painters were then challenged with creating their own individual paint schemes for these castings. And "1" was chosen.

Through Icons last years, famed detail painter Mireya Romo (Bowen) who went on to become a lead painter at Gentle Giant Studios after leaving Icons, would custom cast and produce small whimsical displays of X-Wing pilots with her future husband Rob Bowen (also of Gentle Giant) for Icons co-founder Jim Latta. Often to cheer him up during Icons final years (see photo below).

Icons Indiana Jones & The Last Crusade The Holy Grail Cup "Master"

"Choose wisely..."

"The Cup of a Carpenter..."

Yes....it's true. 25 years ago, in 1995, as Icons prepared in ultra-secrecy to pursue the first ever license issued by Lucasfilm Ltd. to produce 1:1 scale prop replicas from Star Wars, the company also prepped to secure the Indiana Jones license. It seemed a natural property to base Film replicas of historic icons on.

During Icons first historic trip to Skywalker Ranch in 1996 to conduct extensive product development in the famous Lucasfilm Archives warehouse, detailed photographs and video were taken not only of the props and miniatures utilized in the production of Star Wars, but also from the Indiana Jones Trilogy.

A decade ago, Icons maintained a worldwide network of sources for original prop, miniature and wardrobe reference material, which was rivaled only by the Planet Hollywood Restaurant Corporation, of which ironically, Icons consulted with and conducted restoration services for.

Icons utilized this network to track down the original mold and master for "The Holy Grail" used during the production of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade in the United Kingdom.

The Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade "Holy Grail" prop replica cup is a gorgeous, 1st generation casting, taken directly from a screen-used original, which was custom painted to appear as if a very ancient cup (with simulated oxidization) and hand applied gold-metal leaf, all fabricated under the direct supervision of Film and Television professional craftspeople. This "master" still has a permanent Icons tag on the bottom of the cup. Note : this is not a typical fan-produced copy. Nor your average 4th generation bootleg version ! This is a rare, un-seen, licensed manufacturers "master".

Also included here, are 4 advertising layouts (test compositions, only a few sets ever printed). The much heralded "You don't have to go through this..." marketing campaign, conceptualized and designed by James Latta and Daren Dochterman. The ads concept basically shows Indiana Jones in precarious situations in Raiders of the Lost Ark. And states "You don't have to go through this....or this....to get this". "The Treasures of Indiana Jones, now...they can be your treasures too". An early rendition of an Icons logo can be seen at the bottom of the Idol head portion of the advertising concept.

"Icons - Timeless Collectibles" Terminator 2 Endoskull, T-1000 Stabbing Finger and T-800 Brain Chip Prototype

Background on Icons / Timeless Collectibles :

Though Icons successfully shipped over 40,000 studio licensed, authorized and authenticated prop and miniature replicas over the coarse of its 5 years in business (1995-2000), following the sudden departure of the company’s original Senior Vice President of Manufacturing in the winter of 1997 and Icons original CEO / President in the Spring of 1998, the company was left with thousands of unfulfilled backordered products and millions of dollars in debt. Nevertheless, Icons remaining staff managed to fulfill thousands of backordered products and was able to successfully keep the company afloat for an additional 1 1/2 years. Though it was extremely difficult.

With the Dot.Com stock bubble bursting in 2000, and corrupt investment bankers, who only used the company as a mean to attempt to « pump and dump » stock, Icons collapsed into bankruptcy. With little options left, Icons last remaining co-founder was approached to consult on the development of a new Studio licensed, authorized and authenticated prop replica company, Timeless Collectibles.

The Timeless co-founders agreed to fulfill the small number (which was actually much, much less than rumored) of Icons remaining back-ordered products to its customers, provided the necessary Studio licenses could be procured. Timeless achieved much of this in just 60 days. Terminator 2 : Judgment Day being the first acquired. Timeless actually was sincere in their promises to Icons and many of key Icons executives and staff ended up joining the Timeless Collectibles team.

This small up-start company quickly established it’s name brand and placed the same high-standards of quality on their products that were utilized at Icons Authentic Replicas. But, unfortunately, Timeless Collectibles was unable to acquire the next level of funding necessary, in order to facilitate the company’s necessary capital requirements. In just 12 short months, Timeless, like Icons, was also gone….

Larry Taylor (on the right), who worked from the beginning till the end at Icons said that about the Endoskull :

« Boy that piece brings back memories. That was like one of my favorites too… that and the Endoskeleton arm.

Yes, I did have a good portion of time spent assembling these pieces, making sure they were QC for chrome plating, and my part was mostly the entire assembly including the electronics and making the teeth out of dental resin, epoxying them into place, screwing the jaw into position, and then applying epoxy to the pistons to connect to the jaw and the cheekbone.

It was quite a process, but nothing difficult…..and yes, Timeless did basically take over the exact piece that was the R&D by Icons. They might have cleaned it up a little bit and refined it somewhat….but yeah….. nonetheless a very, very cool piece. »

Al Z. who worked on both the Icons and Timeless skulls, did go back in and retool a lot of the detail on the Timeless skull. Mostly the detail line and replacing all of the Allen key screws on top to get them to cast better !!!

Icons Original Holiday Greeting Card

 

This is an original, glossy, Icons Holiday greetings photo-postcard from 1997. It depicts one of the key, original employees of Icons - Al Z., the head of Icons famed Molding & Casting Department, posing with a full size Icons Terminator 2 : Judgment Day Endoskeleton Cyborg / Robot, a full-size prototype Lost in Space B-9 Robot and a full-size Gort Robot, all of which Icons had the studio authorized licenses for. A first for any entertainment collectibles company.

In the background are huge Icons logo boxes. Custom made for either the T2 replica arm, or the Independence Day Alien Attacker miniature.

These were mailed out to Icons customers when the company's growth continued to expand at a rapid rate and Icons had become an internationally respected & branded company, which dominated the licensed 1:1 scale studio replica industry.

The Endoskeleton was molded off of "The Licensing Group's" original Endoskeleton used in the film. They represented the Terminator 2 property as a licensing agency and had an Endoskeleton displayed in their lobby after Carolco Pictures, the studio which produced and distributed T2 went into bankruptcy.

The B-9 Robot was one built by hobbyist and professional engineer and fabricator Michael Davis, who constructed it using parts originally cast from Greg Jein and Mike Moore, prior to Mike Moore co-founding Icons and Mike Davis consulting with Icons on the B-9 project. Some of the B-9 parts were also supplied by Mike Davis from Fred Barton.

The Gort was fabricated using design templates taken off of collector Bill Malone's original Gort (which Fred Barton obtained without Bill Malone's conscent to produce a replica Gort) and sold by Fred Barton (who had no licenses at the time).

This Holiday greeting card is legendary as being the impetus for the "Robot Wars" that followed between Icons and Barton.

 

 

Al Z. playing with the B-9 Robot during the photo session  :-)



Icons Predator Environment Helmet

EL DIABLO CAZADOR DE HOMBRES...

The first edition of the Icons Predator arsenal line. This awesome collector's piece is sure to drop jaws when friends visit your display room. Cast directly off of a Predator helmet created for the film. Constructed of fiberglass and custom airbrushed to match the weathered/battle-hardened look of the screen-used helmet. Boasts mirrored view lens and illuminated tri-laser sight. Comes with the Predatoresque custom wall mount trophy rack (sculpted by David Mosher), which shows you got the best of the Predator....this time !!!

There was "1" very early Predator Helmet that I think Mike Moore painted which was very strange. Solid silver. Like chrome. With an airbrushed crack on the top. That looked like a lightning bolt. I think it was Vince Odoni that perfected the final weathered look in the end. The standard version.

 

Those are concept drawings rendered by Icons Graphic Designer and Illustrator Daren Dochterman, I believe, for a design concept for the Icons Predator Helmet replica and its display rack.

 

Once that concept rack was sculpted, Icons CEOs said "NO". It just didn't have that feeling. That Predator armor spaceship vibe. it was supposed to as if the Predator's may have actually used the wall rack to hang up their helmets on, on their spacecraft. It was supposed to be ever cooler with hoses etc...but Icons had already lost $$$ on that first version, so the line had to be drawn to stop and complete the project. So the 2nd one was a re-design. Daren or Tone designed it.

Those pictures are the base sculpt by David Mosher.

 

R.I.P. STEVE HORCH

I have learned that Steve Horch passed away some weeks ago. 

He was one of the very first Icons artisans and a Hell of a propmaker.....A kind Gentleman, one I would have been proud to meet someday. 

He will be missed. My thoughts to his family and friends.

Fred

Icons Loki Mask Prototype

 

This is an original The Mask "Loki Mask" 1:1 scale prototype prop replica, produced by Icons Authentic Replicas in 1997, for prototype submittal to Newline Cinema, molded directly off of a screen-used original created for use in film production.

This is the first 1:1 scale, licensed authentic replica of the Loki Mask seen in Jim Carrey's blockbuster film, The Mask, ever produced.

If you've ever seen The Mask Loki masks sold on eBay, the odds are they are 3rd, 4th and 5th generation copies of what you see here.

This is an authentic first generation replica cast from a mold taken directly from one of the Hero prop masks used by production in the making of The Mask. Notice the incredible quality and detail of this casting. Nothing is lost from the original. 

Look at the sunken Loki mask emblem at the middle crown area of it. What you must know is the original screen-used masks were created with a sunken "L", and after dailies were seen (shots from the previous days filming), Chuck Russell, the Director, decided he couldn't see the "L" clear enough. So propmakers made a separate coin with a raised "L" and this was added to the masks. These were cast separately and then glued over the sunken "L" on the already cast and painted masks.

This prototype was molded and casted from that original mask with sunken "L".

Also, compare the quality of this replica's paint job. This is the precise paint finish as is seen on the original. There is no excessive amount of shiny clear coat but a very nice and professional matte finish. The quality of this replica is so exact in comparison to the original Hero prop, New Line Cinema, the studio that produced and distributed The Mask, could not tell the difference between the screen-used version and one of these licensed recreations.

Though 5,000 of this edition were intended to be made, less than 50 were shipped worldwide. Icons was provided with an original Hero mask for molding for a very short time before the screen-used prop was displayed at a Planet Hollywood location.

This unique and recognizable Hollywood artifact version of the licensed Loki Mask prototype is displayed in a rare Mask “hanging display” lucite-mount Plexiglas case which allows it to be viewed from various angles. The replica can be hung on a wall or sit on display on a bookshelf, fireplace mantle, or entertainment center. The custom fabricated all-metal un-numbered plaque depicts the New Line Cinema logo, the official movie logo for The Mask and an official Icons logo.

This is a one of a kind early prototype which is different from the final version released as the licensed edition by Icons Authentic Replicas seen just under.

Those, like the later screen-used masks, have the coin with the raised "L" added to the nose piece.