Hellhounds Props, E-11 ANH and ESB Variants, a sort of review and Photo Comparison.

[Toothdoc]

Hello Troopers!

I wanted to post a series of photos of the latest (April 2021) E-11 blasters from Daniel at Hellhounds Props and post some comments about my journey with these.

 

I’m a beginner in all this costuming and still working on my first armor. I first decided on an ESB troop variant build. I started with just my AM 4.5 helmet, but quickly got hooked so I’m all in!

 

I had seen some great examples of E-11 blasters throughout the forum pages here on FISD. Easily, the photo reviews of the prop weapons that Daniel at Hellhounds Props makes really interested me. So, I contacted Daniel of Hellhounds Props via FaceBook and inquired about him commission building me a nice ESB variant E-11. We agreed upon the price and all and I patiently began to wait. I remained in contact with Daniel, which he made return contact with me reasonably well. I have to honestly say, it took a several weeks longer for Daniel to get close to finishing and let me know he was ready to ship me my blaster. However, he then told me he had mistakenly made ANH E-11 and would need yet more time to remedy the situation. I asked him to send me the ANH variant and we agreed on another go for the ESB type I had originally asked him to make at a discount. He agreed. A few weeks later, I took delivery of my ANH blaster. I took yet several more weeks to get in my ESB blaster. Finally, I had the pair!

 

The new ESB variant came with some of his newest details and improvements. The ANH type was missing these details, a mild disappointment, but not a deal breaker as these upgrades are correctable by just acquiring them and installing. Something I haven’t yet been able to pin Daniel down on and get the new parts. Also, both of my blasters were missing the selector switches and D-rings. I reached out to Daniel about them and he agreed to send me the D-rings for me to install myself. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get a comment about selector switches from him.

 

I decided to take actions myself and went through my STL files to hopefully locate a decent selector switch I could print out on my trusty Prusa Mk3S+ 3D printer. I did find one and was able to produce (print) a nice part that after a little of my own paint and weathering looked like it would do nicely. I drilled out a small hole with a standard bit and cordless drill and glued the part into the area near the trigger assembly right where it was supposed to go. It had a little rough spot that looked like a post processing marker and my new selector switch part fit right it. It was glued with some JB Weld Plastic Epoxy, a 15 minute set type glue that cleaned up well and is very strong. I think my efforts came out well, have a look at the photos and see for yourself.

 

A few days later, the D-rings that Daniel agreed to send me came in and I was surprised to see they were actually metal. The scope rail is also metal and allows for a sturdy and accurate scope mount. I was able to drill out the rear plug with a 5/32 bit where the D-rings go. Just a few twists and turns and the D-rings were installed and looked like they had been there all along.

 

Overall, I honestly have mixed feeling about my commissioning purchase with Daniel at Hellhounds Props. There is NO DOUBT the product that Daniel produces is very beautiful and simply a work of art! The fact that these are rubber blaster props and are quite stunning is amazing to me. The colors, weathering and level of detail from his casting work is superb! I sent Daniel a lengthy message and told him about my high level of satisfaction with his product. My disappointment with all of this lies simply in a lack of communication and sense of urgency with my build. I also shared my thought with him on these issues as well and received an honest and heartfelt apology. I understand we all have issues come up, things that lead our attention and focus astray as well as commitments to family and other things. I just want to be fair and honest with my report as I think I should be.

 

I have contacted Daniel about possibly making a DLT-19. He did communicate that it was a project in the works and he would eventually be producing one. Would I do a commission build with Daniel again in the future? Yes, I would indeed. He makes a fantastic prop blaster. But, I would insist that we communicate better and that he had plenty of time for the building process. Or perhaps, maybe just allow him to contact me when he had one ready to go.

 

 

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[Toothdoc]

These are the ANH variant:




















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[Toothdoc]

 

Here is a nice shot of the ESB variant E-11 below.  It is most easily recognizable by the missing power cylinders and Hengstler counter.  This version also has all of the newest upgraded bells and whistles from Hellhounds Props.

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Edited April 10, 2021 by Toothdoc

[Toothdoc]

This is a Darman's Props (ETSY) 8oz leather holster.  Its actually for the ESB variant, but since I had the ANH version first, I conditioned the leather and set it to hold the ANH version in hopes that it would fit just as nice.  It did!  Its a VERY nice holster and the two props are right on the same scale and fit each other perfectly.  Highly recommended holster for either of these E-11 Blasters.  Of course, Darman's makes ANH type.

 

 

The photo below shows the enhanced front end that eliminates the casting seam line and cleans up the business end.  Nice upgrade!

 

Another small detail and upgrade is the piece on the bolt on the photo below.  I believe it is there to cause the bolt mechanism to rotate closed.

 

These are two pieces here that are upgrades.  One is the magazine release that is immediately above where you can se MAG on the magazine below.  The other (I don't know what it is) is the part with the hex set screw and has an 8 stamped on it.  I'm sure someone knows what it is.

  

 

My 3D printed selector switch I printed, weathered, drilled and glued into place below.

 

All of the stamped markings have superb detail and are quite realistic!

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Edited April 10, 2021 by Toothdoc

[gmrhodes13[Staff]]

A very in depth and honest review, well done.

 

I find it is a common problem with so many prop suppliers in regard to poor communication which is a shame especially when their products are so good. My response to those with poor communication is, "I would rather receive bad news in a communication rather than no communication at all, at least I know you will still be fulfilling the order, although now somewhat delayed"

[Toothdoc]

These are real and actual magazines from two other weapons I own. I decided to show these as an example of just how accurate the patina is compared to the prop E-11 blaster. VERY CLOSE to used and worn metal. The colors and characteristics of weathering is excellent. (Being a dentist, one of the hardest things I do is taking a dissimilar material and making it look like something else, i.e. composite resin or porcelain and making it look like tooth enamel. This is rubber, that looks like parkerized metal. Superb!)






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[Toothdoc]

This shows the missing D-rings. About 15minutes worth of work and the metal
D-ring is installed and looks like it’s supposed to be there.



Both D-rings installed! Yayy!




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[Toothdoc]

12 minutes ago, gmrhodes13 said:

A very in depth and honest review, well done.

 

I find it is a common problem with so many prop suppliers in regard to poor communication which is a shame especially when their products are so good. My response to those with poor communication is, "I would rather receive bad news in a communication rather than no communication at all, at least I know you will still be fulfilling the order, although now somewhat delayed"

Thank you, Glen.  And he and I discussed just this point at some length.  Ultimately, say what you'll do, then do what you say.  If it goes astray from that, let your customer know right away.  I think most reasonable people would be willing to play by those rules.