| Han Hoth Painted Hardcopy | |
| Hardcopies from each of the three original
trilogy films are highly coveted by preproduction collector. ESB hardcopes show up quite
infrequently on the market, making this meticulously hand painted Han Hoth hardcopy a true
pleasure to view.
Hardcopies, by nature of their construction, are able to be disassembled as illustrated in the above photo. Each seperate piece is initially crafted using a silicone mold derived from the original sculpting. The limbs on this example, as with several additional ESB hardcopies I've seen, attach to the torso via white plastic pins. Small metal dowels, however, are the most frequently employed attachment mechanisms.
Carbalon, a brown urethane commonly used during the SW and ESB era, was employed to create this hardcopy. The carbalon material shows nicely in the inner leg portion where the leg attaches to the torso.
When one looks at the final photo closely, one should notice a slight size difference between the hardcopy (left) and the production figure (right). Injection molded plastic is subject to increased shrinkage, which explains the slightly smaller size of the production figure. Special thanks go out to Bill Wills for his generous contribution of yet another spectacular prototype submission to the Archive. Collectors may view Cantina Collectibles, the website of Bill Wills and Tracey Hamilton, here. |
 | |
| Description by: | Michael G. Mensinger |
| Photo: | Bill Wills |
| From the collection of: | Bill Wills |
| Country: | United States |
| Film: | Empire Strikes Back |
| Licensee: | Kenner |
| Year: | 1980 |
| Category: | Prototypes / Action Figure Related |
