Inside The Icon No. 1: Graflex Flashgun

Look into the world within in the first Exhibit of our Inside The Icon series, where we go deeper into what it takes to bring a lightsaber from the Star Wars universe to life!

Did you know that inside the iconic Graflex from the original trilogy can sit the most incredible engineering?

The Graflex flashgun uses a camera flash from the 1940s, so the internals must first be designed to fit perfectly into the hilt.

Every part of the internal chassis serves a function, imagining what a lightsaber would have needed. From the Kyber crystal to the spinning core, it all comes together beautifully.

The interior and exterior must work together perfectly, mechanically, so that power and auxiliary can be controlled.

This piece is unique because the internals are blackened and weathered to contrast with the polished exterior, replicating how the heat and energy of the lightsaber would have worn the chassis out.

Every detail brings to life the incredible design and engineering required. The craftsmanship needed at every stage to bring this piece together requires the most skilful of hands, befitting the iconic masterpiece.

What was first imagined needs to be designed, crafted and finally assembled, a process that takes months from creation to completion.

Multiple materials that best bring the engineering to life are used, from steel, aluminium and brass, to ensure the right balance between longevity and beauty.

All credits to the artists.