E-11 blaster.com
Tk-2392 501st.
Paint on ANH version e-11's
In A NEW HOPE there were 3 kinds of E-11 used. The Bapty armory deactivated version. Resin cast background versions, and REAL Firing versions of the modified Sterling L2A3. The paintwork seen on screen is both smooth and rough.
ANH Firing Version.
Photos provided by London prop store.
Photo provided by Blaster Factory.
A detailed look at the paintwork on E-11 blasters.
History for the sterling L2A3 is very interesting and has gone though an evolution of different makes, and design eras. There is not just one version painted only one way and made all the same.
The Patchet sterling is used in the film. It was recast in resin for backgrounds. It was modified for export to tunisia, which only used modified cut up weapons with aluminum castings replacing the grip and bolt and trigger assemblies. The blank firing weapons are different in paint finish than other props seen in star wars. Some were even demilled with a wooden front inner barrell. The sandtrooper version as well as the versions used on the falcon and in the control room with the droids had wooden dowel inner barrels. The prop department re-painted several e-11's with crinkle paint, but not all. I have screen used photos of e-11 that have factory finish still intact on them.
Below I will show in photos and history the proper paint finish for several versions of the e-11, from ANH to ESB and ROTJ I can show all the details of the paintwork used on screen used blasters.
I will also have a section of replica blaster details for ANH, ESB and ROTJ blasters.
There is no controversy about being complete in your research.
Under Construction.
Factory Paint used in the film.
This video shows a completely smooth e-11 blaster from the film. No crinkle paint.
Under Construction.
Paint added by the prop department.
Original sterling paint.
Under Construction.
The photo above provided by crucible custom props. Clearly showing a modified trigger guard and a repaint from the original factory finish, proving that both smooth and crinkle re-painted versions were used.
The photos below are provided by the Original Prop Blog.
Leia is holding a Tunisian cut up sterling in this photo which was then repainted by the prop department. I will be doing a detailed look at the paintwork used here. This is not a 'Hero' blaster.
Paint used by Bapty props for the sandtrooper e-11.
Notice the paint finish in the original book. This blaster was repainted by the prop department and only shows a textured finish.
The sandtrooper version of the E-11 is different from the blank firing blasters. They have different paint and details in construction.
The photos below are provided by the Original Prop Blog.
ROTJ Factory paint.
Under Construction.
Replica paint.
Under Construction.
Smooth sterlings used in bond films.
Under Construction.