ANH Blaster curiosity...

[TK5492[TK]]

First I would like to start off by saying the pictures I am using are from Jesse, TK 4702.

Thanks go out to Jesse for posting these.

 

Now,

 

I have always been curious about this, and although it seems very obvious, I cannot find anywhere that it is addressed.

 

I have noticed that the Hero blasters used by Han and Luke do not include Hengstler counters. I have always wondered why theirs were different, but always assumed that it was just because they were just that: Heroes.

 

However, in certain shots it is very clear that in A New Hope, many of the Stunt troopers also carried blasters that do not include the Henstler. From the CRL per the 501st website the Hengstler should be present for 501st requirements. Particulary, it MUST be present for EIB or Centurion requirements:

• A real or replica ammo counter - based off of a Hengstler counter - shall be present.
  

 

I know that as a aircraft maintainer, the Air Force uses the term "shall" in technical manuals to indicate that something is mandatory.

 

I am just curious as to why it is mandatory to have the counter when it was varied so much throughout the movie.

I'm sure this has a good explanation, and the powers that are wayyyy above me have made the best decision they see fit. I just wonder why this is the way it is???? Personally, I like the clean look the blaster has without it.

 

Please see these pictures for the references I was talking about:

 

Thanks folks!

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[Hads]

While I have no first hand knowledge of the CRL decision making process, I would think that being EIB & Centurion would mean that the extra mile is needed to achieve them and in the process create a uniform look?

 

Im working on an E-11 at the moment and I prefer it without a hengstler, but it is one of the distinguishing features that takes it another step away from a cannibalised real world weapon to a space faring laser blaster of death

[Arnie_DK[TK]]

I seem to remember something being mentioned once, that the reason for the missing hengstler on some e-11's was because they had broken off. They were simply glued to the side of the gun, and not with a bracket, as we do today, so they were quite fragile.

 

So I guess the reason they are required, is because they were intended to be there from the start. Kind of the same reason we are not allowed to troop in armour thats fixed with white duct tape

 

We try to get the intentional look and not the field repair look, done in the movie.

 

Hope this helps some

[RogueTrooper[TK]]

There are 7 variants in ANH of the E11. With this in mind, we needed to have a consistency/unformed look to the ANH E11 for the EI and now Centurion. This is why this greebles are a part of the ANH requirements.

 

If...if... we do go to a prop replication level/award, then we may have all the variants.

[Griffin-X[TK]]

I have one with, and one without a counter so I can go either way.

[Striker]

I have one with counter and have built recently built one without as a Solo E-11. They are both great but I can see that they have it as a must just to be more detailed. Another similar disscussion was about the holester, there is one that is different than the others