A Tale of Two Syd Mead Blade Runner Blasters

[@BryanBabich]

I don't think I have ever seen Adam look so disappointed and underwhelmed. Sums up the entire legacy of Chronicle Collectibles. The Shawn Morgan cast is artfully created, such a beautiful piece.

[@aserta]

Adam went from happiest kid on Christmas morning to "My disappointment is immeasurable, and my day is ruined" whilst trying to be nice faster than you can snap your fingers. :))

[@brolohalflemming7042]

Hopefully it'll be temporary. Guessing there'll be some internal debate between collector Adam and maker Adam around the ethics of modifying a collectible. Which might not be THAT limited. And there's a whole array of LEDs that could create power meters, or more interesting effects.

[@HonkeyKong54]

@@brolohalflemming7042 chronicle is out of business I think

[@michael_sterling]

@@HonkeyKong54 We can only hope. I canceled my preorder on this after about a year and a half.

[@genreonlinenet]

@@michael_sterling They went out indeed. I cancelled mine too years ago, but you can still buy it and I still want it so I bought it today and not on the secondary market either so if you change your mind, BBTS still has it and I will review it on my channel too after I get it.

[@TomTubesYou]

The thing that jumps out at me more than the LEDs is the seeming lack of a locking point for the swiveling barrel. It doesn't appear that it clicks into place in any way, which strikes me as an oversight. You want that to feel locked into place when it's extended.

[@petermot645]

I love the battery compartment, lovely build. RIP Sid.

[@warped_rider]

I'm confused why there was a folding barrel at all? Does it shoot around corners or...?

[@SophiaAphrodite]

@@warped_rider yeah it looks like it was meant to have a screen to view to see around the corner as well.

[@Shreddyism]

I enjoy how genuine Adam is :) Unassuming and genuinely clever/talented/good natured/fun

[@HERETIC529]

I’d love to see Adam make his own version, like he did his hellboy gun.

[@jokerinexile]

I was thinking the same thing

[@mromutt]

Looks like the perfect project to use those skills he has been honing over the pandemic. Especially now that he has something to work from exactly, could even put his own electronics in there (with sound effects! XD )

[@Styrac]

I think this is begging for Adam to mod it with a sound board and full lighting :) Also maybe make the hinge bit lock if possible, looks a little floppy (at the very least I'd think some magnets at the part where it hinges would keep it straight)

[@joshnieboer3947]

Please Adam keep doing this for at least 10 years so my son can grow up with you and science too 🤜🤛

[@ReverendTed]

The barrel having a swivel but not locking is an obvious issue, but the metallic look of your original adds an incredible amount of verisimilitude that the gray plastic lacks. The "official" replica looks like a toy. I could be wrong, but I imagine the lack of heft is also obvious in the hand.

[@stephen300o6]

Looks more realistic too.

[@ericcommarato7727]

I worked for an architect named Sambo Mockbee back in the late 1980's Syd Mead was a consultant on one of our projects, that was pretty cool.

[@wesleycolvin7158]

You look at these things SO intently.

[@nickfox9643]

"What kind of holster would you put this in?" Sounds like an interesting one day build 🤔🤔

[@howHumam]

It's always fun to watch a maker like Adam, who wanders between pinnacles of prop and set making, break down collectibles based on collaborations on fiction. The concept art Syd Mead made is apparent in both blasters. The mass produced version has proportions closer to a semi automatic pistol, and had more gimmicky selling points that a fan would find appealing yet wouldn't be sated by. It's a lot of puzzling out to get build time down, which is a major expense if it takes an hour to finish 1 of 10,000 for example. I like the larger 1 because it has more of a Navy revolver's proportions which I bet is more accurate to Mead's drawings. It would be cool to see a hand built, fully lit hero version but that would a lot of work. This was a good ride along the Alps in a delightful train of thought.

[@joshfick4107]

I think this is a prime opportunity for Adam to scratch build one with all the functionality he would want !

[@redreaper-vx4kt]

Stonks

[@davidsharp9166]

It does scream for a Savage Industries inspired version

[@bigstylecreations]

Very interesting to see the designs of weapons/firearms like this. All realistic functionality and ergonomics out the window; just pure imagination. I like Scott's more grounded approach better but still appreciate the comic book ray-gun type ideas.

[@JohnBare747]

I met Syd Mead on a Cruse Ship where he was giving a presentation of his work it was amazing.

[@JordonBeal]

Whaaaaaat!?

[@ZacTBH]

I love that Adam Savage loves blade runner as much as I do.

[@DH-bw2rx]

You definitely need to crack that sucker open and redo the electronics. A progressive array to light up the semi circle on the side for sure. That’s right up your alley and would make a great video!

[@rhodriwilliams1014]

Every collector has been here at some point. We strive to get hold of that piece that we think will make our collection that little more complete, only to find that it's just a shoddy collection of cheap plastic and blinking lights, yet we still try and justify to ourselves that we havent been sold a dud. I have more than a few like that in my collection lol.

[@philippesauvie639]

Are used to be an architectural illustrator/visualizer and I was definitely aware of Syd Mead! That must’ve been really cool to spend time with the man and his visuals!

[@aserta]

Yeah, that bought one is... well, to put it nicely, it's ok. The SM piece is a master piece. Just looking at it, and how it moves when handled by Adam, i can tell it's so far above that mass produced one it's not even in the same Galaxy. I also think that vacuum metalization was the right choice for it. Chrome is nice, but too nice. I've had several pieces done with VM and it's such a nice outcome when the right substrate is under and the right shade is used.

[@doublezero7850]

I feel like an easy mod would be to secure the front hinge a bit better with an embedded magnet. It looked like it opens with little to no effort, and I think one might want a more secure hold.

[@Bad_Wolf_Media]

There are several moments in this video that you can just feel the disappointment roll off of Adam in waves, before he even says anything. I can very easily see him deciding to rip this thing apart and rebuilding the electronics, if not starting a new one from scratch.

[@sagevoyage]

I like the old school sci-fi feel of the design but the final one looks like it could be a real gun which makes it more appealing to me. Great video Adam!

[@andyfirthbespoke]

The words 'anticlimactic' and 'underwhelming' come to mind. I must say the one your friend made you is far superior.

[@tetsubo57]

I consider the original Blade Runner pistol to be the pinnacle of sci-fi firearms.

[@tankolad]

I'd love to hear more about these blasters, and anything else in the blade runner universe that Adam would like to talk about

[@genreonlinenet]

After years of having it on preorder and then cancelling it because I tired of waiting and years of wanting to get it, but not having the cash, I just ordered mine today and if you add to the fact that the first time this appeared on tested was at the Chronicle Collectibles booth in I think 2015 or so, I have waited a while. You can still buy this and while I don’t have a collection like our host does, I do have the NECA EU import that is numbered and an official replica from the Bladerunner 2049 set. Tomenusuke through Hollywood Collectibles is still the gold standard, but I don’t have a grand for that and I am glad I did not over pay for the water gun. So I am going to post my own review next week when I get it and hopefully someone out there will watch it. But BBTS still has it if you want to avoid the secondary market.

[@Aleph-Noll]

watching Adam gets buyers remorse in real time was interesting haha

[@ifixphns]

Def an expectation vs. reality moment. The photos for the product on BBTS indicates a MUCH more dramatic display when the trigger is pulled. Expensive toy, that is.

[@tekvax01]

Rest in Peace Mister Mead, you and your genius, will be missed...

[@multeyemeteor]

I'm looking forward to video, where Adam makes a better replica of the Syd Mead blaster that actually does have a visual charging gauge and shoots proper beams of light. :D

[@kna3577]

Thank you for posting this informative video on your channel. There can be a channel dedicated to showing all the products and projects that Syd has created before his passing.

[@ericosnes9371]

Great video! I prepaid for one of these a couple years back and was so looking forward to getting it. Can’t remember who exactly; it was one of the prop/collectible companies. They folded. Never delivered and no refund. Maybe I dodged a bullet?! Nah. It would’ve been a cool addition to my collection regardless. Dang.

[@bjquinlan74]

Same!

[@Jaybers100]

I think my underwhelmed face was quite similar to Adam's for this one. Fully agree on the blinky light part, makes it look too much like a toy rather than a solid, display worthy replica. Like it's NICE, but that's about as far as it goes 🤷‍♂️ can't all be winners

[@duke1252]

I feel like this'll be a oneday build where Adam will make a holster for it, or add brighter LED's to the Chronicle Collectibles version

[@matthewcoleman8267]

Makes the Hasbro Pulse Ghost Buster replica props seem like great value for money!

[@olsonspeed]

Another opportunity for some DIY upgrades, sound effects and sequential lighting. Purchased objects are just a starting point.

[@petermerz2704]

Love your enthusiasm Adam. Adding some better effects wouldn’t be expensive. Micro arduino’s are less than $10! You can program it to give much better visual effects! Thanks for sharing Adam. Happy days and model on! 😎

[@Wanton110]

There would be a lot of things I would do to modify that if I owned it, but a simple not really a modification would be to the base so it lights up when stood on the base

[@aserta]

Never seen Adam express "My disappointment is immeasurable, and my day is ruined" so perfectly before. :))

[@ajmvfx9643]

I'm currently doing an assignment on Syd Meads's design language, which I'll use to inform some designs and finally animate a short sequence in UE5. It was either Syd, Ralph Mcquarrie or Jack Kirby.

[@shanejayell]

That odd, odd feeling when you get something you REALLY wanted, but you end up just a little disappointed.

[@Robbie_T290]

I’d love to see You and Norm upgrade that sweet new concept blaster to have more functionality.

[@allanfisher8742]

I found this very interesting TBH. Love Adam and watch all his videos BTW. It seemed to me that the let down came only when the lights didn't meet his expectations, however the other version he owns does not have any lights or the hinge for that matter. The small lights were a bonus that he did not seem to know about when he started unboxing but they became the whole story. If there had been no lights what would his reaction have been? Just a question, love the show.

[@shubinternet]

I would love to see a CNC milled version from aluminum, with all the gauges and lights engineered and incorporated. It would probably cost $1k or more to do, but would be totally worth it.

[@TheHamPimp]

WAYYY more than $1k. That blaster has a ton of compound detail, and each one of those is a machining step from a dude with 20yrs of metalwork experience and very pricey equipment. You're probably talking $20k, and that's going to be cheap.

[@shubinternet]

@@TheHamPimp -- I was only thinking about the parts on that cost. If you're making one for yourself, then you can charge $0.00 for the labor. But yeah, if you're making one for someone else, then you're basically doing all the same things required to make a real prototype weapon, and so you could probably buy a nice car for the price, or maybe a nice house.

[@felixpellerin7741]

Common we all know what needs to happen, you get another one and you make it into the blaster you would have wanted!

[@LanceBuckley]

I have one too, and if it wasn't for the fact that I'm addicted to collecting affordable Blade Runner ANYTHING, this would have gone back. Due to its low quality, relatively high cost, unfortunate marketing and manufacturing history, this is one for the die-hard Blade Runner and Syd Mead fans only.

[@lifesizecollector]

Think Adam face was like when Clark Griswold found out his Christmas bonus was the jelly of the month club 😅.

[@nathansossai]

I would love to see adam take that one apart and completely revamp the electronics.

[@StantonLuke]

Yes!!! I love the blade runner episodes!!

[@jeff1176]

Time for Adam to fix this new replica

[@cmdrcriton]

The scope is an early colt x3 or x6 power scope for the m16a1 that would mount on the rifle " carry handle "....they still make them

[@TheRealAlpha2]

It feels like the barrel should lock that seems like an odd oversight, I also agree that the lights should be brighter if it doesn't have animated lights and sound it should at least be a bit more striking when it's on display. Then again if it's been around for a while I can imagine the technology of the time probably didn't allow for all those things at one time, seems the least that could be done to improve it is to install a brighter light.

[@TheHamPimp]

You could probably get it to lock pretty solidly with a rare earth magnet without too much trouble.

[@azskyking6542]

Whenever I have a new piece of tech, after 30 seconds of not understanding, I involuntarily start making chimp noises. And my whole life has been understanding tech. Try it Adam...it actually helps.

[@x1984x]

~11:20 Adam went all Tazmanian Devil for a second. 🤣

[@ibanezleftyclub]

Syd was the GOAT.

[@Mattomune]

I love Blade Runner Blaster content

[@PaulMiles1]

Anybody else smell a Syd Mead 2.0 build coming?

[@BeauJaxon]

I was one of the earliest preorders years ago. Chronicle folded and I never got mine. Stold my money as far as I'm concerned.

[@theultimatesteelshooter8610]

Time for ‘upgrades’ !!!!

[@johnpatrickmcp]

I believe the original concept that the Syd Mead blaster was supposed to fold up instead of going directly into a holster.

[@aaronl_trains_and_planes]

You could tweak it and make it your own. It has a lot of potential.

[@ryan699]

You got those AAA’s really fast

[@scottbayer92]

Adam , want to see you badass that thing up !

[@Aeidotronics]

If I'm not mistaken, Mead's idea was that it was a "black hole gun"...whatever that means. Aluminum one is way better.

[@mikecalkins5567]

Next episode Adam gives it the proper lights

[@sundaynightdrunk]

I want to see the reference they used for these, because the two are clearly different designs in key ways. The folding barrel, the "screen" thing that looks like a display, etc.

[@cpl.barbarusc4814]

This Syd Mead design looks like it could fit better for Minority Report because the silver, the folding cannon and the odd handle looks like something that "Precrime" would use in their operatives, simlar to the "Sonic Shotgun" and the standard issue "Sonic pistol".

[@Jacksonmontyart]

Syd mead graduated from my college. College for creative studies in Detroit !

[@ljg6979]

Might be really cool to machine a copy out of aluminum. The shapes are basic. I can see a couple of different approaches.

[@penelopegreene]

Hey Adam! If all else fails, read the instructions!!! XD

[@Naf623]

Now to make a bigger cabinet to give that a space too XD

[@TheSpotlessMind93]

I was so excited to get the Chronicle blaster..and then I sold it after owning it for a week. It was such a let down. So many cut corners on it. You guys did a video with Chronicle years ago with their prototype/master for it. The final product is so much worse than what was promised.

[@ReverendTed]

I'd totally forgotten about that video! Here's the link, if anyone else is curious: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nZCwh6xrjJWapNU

[@phantomikon]

That last replica kinda makes me think of a really long axe head.

[@kna3577]

it would be simply awesome if you can do a history video on the blade runner 2049 blaster.

[@gl15col]

Install a laser pointer in the replica, so it shines out the barrel. That would be pretty sweet, and shouldn't be very difficult since the place where it swings sideways could be drilled to install it.

[@bluesmithee1603]

I can see a improvment video coming.

[@tonybbc1]

Wonderful replica. Unfortunately for me I would have expected the sound of an electronic blasting sound as you find in kiddies blasters. So if I had one of these, I would then when showing my friends this weapon, I would blast them to pieces and the sound would seem real. Much more exciting. But hey.

[@huntsmanlazeralis4539]

Next one day build Adam upgrades his new blade runner gun to have better lights?

[@ashleydstone8623]

surprise its a unboxing video

[@corruptpixel8441]

I wonder if Adam knows that Syd Mead also worked on a Gundam series considering he was getting into that franchise model kits

[@grife3000]

4:04 the trigger discipline on two big nonworking hunks of metal/plastic.

[@qwiggles4154]

Exactly! with replicas of not even real guns. I love it.

[@BartVenneker]

Nice ! Love your work

[@thefigmaster3519]

Hey Adam, are you going to continue with your build on the Sapper Morton suit from 2049?

[@HalidonDioramas]

So that' what underwhelmed look like 😂

[@j.robertsergertson4513]

The blaater you're friend made is way better than the light up one!

[@text-1214]

Congratulations you have been selected amount our shortlisted winner 🎁 contact the number above.......✔️

[@stefanodepalo5204]

One day build! Adding lights and fuctionality.

[@engineeredlifeform]

That slot at the front looks like it should tear space and time apart,.... but it kinda lights up instead.

[@theworldsmostplagiarizedma2436]

Very cool. I am curious as to what kind of holster would be ideal for something like that. I imagine you'd holster it when it's folded?

[@christophermatty8232]

14:12 When Adam channels Jeff Goldblum for 5 seconds.

[@Aviertje]

Adam has ruined me into the association of prop replicas being tryhard or at least visually impressive. On video, this one just comes across as a kids toy. To me, these are two wildly different standards to meet with different levels of fidelity and functionality.

[@HonkeyKong54]

This thing was worth like 250 dollars when first sold. You aren't going to get a blade runner hero replica for even close to that. The fully metal one's that ive seen company's do runs on are like 1900 dollars.

[@jokerinexile]

maybe a mod video in the future; change the LED's out so it works the way you want it.

[@CaptainBerz]

You are super underwhelmed. LMAO. We all have those moments when we get something with an expectation super high and then see it and say "oh". LMAO.

[@bertraminc9412]

Carter Arms Bulldog .44. And Steyr Mannlicher SL .222 receiver.

[@mape9014]

You might be able to replace those leds with a bit more modern ones and get more light out of it. But this assumes that it is possible to open and get access to those leds.

[@nickcabrera3982]

I also don’t understand the “barrel” folding. Why doesn’t it lock into place? Or? Adam is a great sport for trying explaining the props shortcomings.

[@DoGuov]

The one you made is far superior to the one you bought. It looks like a toy honestly compared to the one you made.

[@Charok1]

It does look like a cheap plastic toy, haha

[@mf--]

Hope he didnt pay too much.

[@dsh5564]

Hey Adam have you ever seen the Battlestar Galactica blaster from the 1978 series one of my favorites I’ve had one for a long time I like it a lot

[@lucasrios2089]

I understood the sentiment of the noise at 11:16 too well

[@MagnaRyuuDesigns]

Next Video: Adam Customizes his newest Syd Mead Blaster

[@RocksterOO1]

That look on Adam's face when he's checking out the "functionality" is the exact same look I get on my face when I click on a brand new Adam Savage’s Tested video, only to discover it's one that Adam isn't actually in! No disrespect to Norm & the others. I just mean, well... I really only come to watch Adam share the contents of his head. That's all. 🙂