QMx’s new Official Mal Stunt Pistol replica will be on sale in a couple of weeks, but I can let you have a peek at one now if you want. Let’s look!
First off, you gotta love the label on the box. Designed by Ben “Whitefall” Mund, all stamped and shipped proper from Moses Bros. Fire Arms. I opened mine from the bottom so I wouldn’t tear it, it’s too beautiful.
Inside was a bunch of packing, a wad of bubble wrap, and some rolled documents that turned out to be a certificate of authenticity and a license to carry a personal sidearm. The certificate, from Moses Bros., shows the pistol as being registered to Malcolm Reynolds and provides the specifications of the piece (measurements, firing system(s), ordnances, etc) as well as a quality control checklist and a description of the replica.
The license has a spot for a licensee signature; could be you, or if you met that Nathan guy that’d be a damn fine place for an autograph, hey?
(By the way, the first 1,500 pistols sold will also include a rolled 14? x 17? poster with the Barlow’s Guide to Small Arms entry on the Moses Brothers Self-Defense Engine Frontier Model B., also by Ben.)
And then we unroll the bubble wrap and bring out… the pistol.
That is a work of art.
It is not, let’s state right at the beginning, what the original plan called for. QMx started off their company with plans for a detailed prop replica Mal pistol made of resin with metal screws, a wood grip, and a display box/stand. Problems with manufacturers delayed things and in the meantime, they found that their planned version was right in between what most folks wanted. At $250 it was a little steep for the average convention goer who wanted it for their Mal costume, and the true collectors wanted a more detailed all-metal version with a firing action. So to run guns to the greatest amount of Browncoats, QMx changed plans midstream and elected to produce two versions: the stunt one made of resin but without the metal and wood additions so it could sell for $100 less, and a metal-and-wood one that will be more expensive.
So is this version worth $150? I gotta say hell yeah. The first thing you notice is the heft. It’s made of the same kind of professional grade resin, more durable than the usual consumer stuff. It’s not as heavy as a real gun would be, but it’s heavier than the resin replicas you’ll see on sale at conventions. It’s not all one piece, either. The resin for the pistol itself was infused with bronze powder so it would weather properly and have a cool, metallic feel to it. The metal parts such as the trigger and frame had steel powder mixed in and were then weathered with a black dye wash. The result is something that looks assembled, not carved, and fits nicely in the hand.
(Propped up on my kitchen counter) The weathering looks good. It’s worn in the right places, with some carefully applied scratches here and there to make it look as though it’s been through the War with you. The wood grips have realistic wood grain and appropriately placed imperfections, and it’s even naturally chipped around the base.
By the way, the wood grips are held on by actual screws – if you were the do-it-yourself sort it looks like you could remove them and add your own wooden grips, although I’m sure QMx wouldn’t recommend it. But who’s going to tell you what to do? You’ve got a gun!
(The darker images were taken without my camera flash, to give you a different look at the coloring)
It’s not as nice as the originally proposed version would have been. But it’s cast from the actual stunt pistol used by Nathan Fillion in the movie so it’s more accurate than any other resin replica. It’s been hand-assembled and professionally finished for you, a big deal for me since I’m not at all handy — I’ve had a resin kit for a Serenity communicator for three years that I haven’t done anything with. And it’s much more affordable, meaning you can buy one for your cosplaying and not need cardiac infusers if you drop it. For the record, I’ve dropped mine twice already with no ill effects.
If you’ve already put money down or prepaid entirely for the previous $249.95 version, fret not. You can elect to put that money towards this one, the upcoming metal one, or get a full refund. If you’ve already prepaid and decide to get the stunt pistol you’ll get the original shipping cost, even though postage has gone up since then. More details here.
The metal Mal pistol will be coming out next, although QMx — having learned from the first time — will not be announcing it until they have stock in hand and a firm ship date. It will be more expensive, and insanely more detailed, but if you want the most accurate Mal pistol replica possible you might want to keep an eye out.
While you’re waiting, check this out. Details on the pistol, the manufacture, and how it ended up in the hands of one Malcolm Reynolds.
The stunt pistol goes on sale October 20, but you can find lots more pics and information at QMx.
If you need me, I’ll be practicing my quick draws. Bwah!
So what,… you get yours early, post a review, and make me want it more? I see your game. I’m not saying I won’t play along and buy one myself when it gets released in a few weeks. It looks really cool.
If I had a job and a payroll office with a sense-of-humor that also happened to be Browncoats it would be fun to go in and say “I do the job, and then I get paid”, though I’m certain that all of those things would never happen and you’d probably be arrested for toting a gun around and pointing at someone else, but still… it’s funny in theory.
That is a fine looking piece of work. I wasn’t originally going to buy this item but it looks too nice to pass up, and the new price makes it easier. One question, what is at the end of the barrel? Is it solid resin all the way to the tip or is there a hole?
Thanks for the review Chris!
jim
When I first read about the gun, I hadn’t made up my mind to get it or not. Now, after seeing more photos and the review, I have to get one. Also, helps to have Ben’s great looking paperwork/labels. QMx sure knows how to please the fans!
There’s a hole in the end of the barrel that’s about 3/4″ deep, then it’s solid.
And I’ve decided to kidnap Ben and just have him create Serenity artwork for me full time. I’ll feed him and allow family visits every month or so.
Thank Chris. And yes, it looks like Ben has come through again. The illustrations look great. I wish the internal packing would have been something other than bubble wrap. It seems like a foam block with a cutout, similar to Icons Lost in Space Laser, would offer better protection, especially for storage after the item is removed from the box. That probably would add to the cost though. Guess I will have to make one for myself.
jim
Wow…this took over a year to develop? A resin gun with a shitty paint job.
Thanks for nothin QMX!
I think it’s a nice looking replica but the paint and weathering stinks. The colors used and/or types of paint used make it look like plastic and the resin grips are horrible! I sure hope someone will start making replacement grips… they are removable, right?
The paint job is brutal, they couldn’t have made it look more cheap. QMx is really dropping the ball. I don’t know how anyone can be pleased with them so far, half assed expanded universe paper props (which are a rip off given their high prices) made by that Ben guy. I mean his work doesn’t even fit in the Serenity universe, he has no attention to detail, and he constantly over works (weathers) everything he does.
Ben, is that you?
Have to disagree with you, Jimbo. Ben’s stuff has impressed Browncoats since the days he was making them on his own for fun. You may not like the style, but since he has access to the actual graphics from the movie and input from Geoff Mandel, graphic designer for “Serenity,” I don’t think you can get much more accurate. If there’s better being made, I’d love to see it.
I saw Ben’s ship papers another fan had bought before he did the official ones. They impressed the heck out of me. I think attention to detail was one of the strong points. And they were very cool. They impressed me enough to go looking for them to buy, but that was just about the time he started work for QMx and I couldn’t find them. I was very happy to see them being released officially. I’ve been waiting for the pocketbook to fatten up a little before buying them, but I am going to buy them.
I’ve seen weathered metal before, and there’s nothing about the gun that looks off. And since I’m not a costumer or prop replica collector (only Serenity stuff so far for me) I can’t judge what is or isn’t cheap. I just know it looks nice and am seriously considering buying the gun when I wasn’t before.
QMx and Ben
We know you monitor this site and take the comments seriously. I wouldn’t however take the negative statements above to heart. There are always those out there that you will not please. The quality and accuracy of your products speak for themselves. Like others have stated including myself, I was not going to buy the Mal Pistol (saving up for the Serenity replica) until I saw the pics from Chris’ review and on QMx’s site. It’s easier to use profanity and slam a product instead of making meaningful, constructive criticisms.
Keep up the good work and keep those Serenity products coming.
jim
@Stan: I’m not sure where you’re coming from. Ben is all about attention to detail and making sure his stuff fits into the ‘Verse. As for the gun itself, I’ve seen it in person, and it looks fantastic to me. And since I can’t afford to plunk down the kind of cash it would have taken to buy the one that they initially planned to make, I’m glad they went the way they did with it.
Well, first off, thanks for the kind words!
Second, Stan, I don’t know if you’ve seen any of my projects first hand, but if you have, I always appreciate honest criticism and suggestions for improvement. You can e-mail me directly at whitefall@snet.net.
Best,
Ben
Jim in St. Louis are you honestly saying that QMx should ignore negative comments and take all the praise to heart? Give me a break. They should be looking at the negative comments and trying to address the issues that cause them.
DanRegal, you must not have seen much in the way of weathered metal because the gun looks like it’s been painted brass with a rattle can and then misted with some black from another rattle can. Check out the photos on QMx, you can see the “splatter”. Again, the paint job makes it look like crap, and the resin wood grips need work too. It might be ok for non prop collectors but there’s a reason so few of the people that collect prop or prop replicas are unimpressed with the pics so far. I’ve been in the prop replica hobby since well before Master Replicas and the like came to be, and this pistol replica looks like something an average fan would have painted, not a professional replica company.
Ben, I have seen many of your projects. I am a lurker on many prop forums and saw all of your work on Propcircle as well as the stuff you’re doing for QMx now. When I say you lack attention to detail I don’t mean that you fill a page with a bunch of needless details or faux ageing, I mean you don’t pay attention to the details of what you are trying to replicate, or to the universe in which it should fit. You can take that as an attack if you like but I am giving a criticism. I am sure most people here will simply kiss your ass and say that I am wrong though. Just because you have impressed browncoats from day one doesn’t mean everything fits in. I’ve seen a ton of stuff by others that impressed people and some of it was pure crap. To me it seems like it was more a case of quantity that made you the “god” of Serenity paper props.
Stan,
Thanks for the note – I do try to pay close attention to all the detail in what I produce, but it never hurts to pay even closer attention.
Best,
Ben
Stan, thank you for that amazing assessment of Whitefall’s work.
As a lurker on many prop forums, I’m sure you have produced a simply astounding array of highly detailed projects accurate to the fictional world they represent.
Ben is the “god” of Serenity props because his work captures the spirit of the ‘verse, is a reasonable expansion on available information, is artistically rendered and produced on quality materials.
Twenty years from now, Whitefall prop projects will still be the pride-and-joy centerpieces of many collections, and a bunch of unsupported, bitter criticisms by some internet lurker named Stan will be forgotten.
Ben’s attention to detail impresses me greatly, and I’ve yet to see anything of his that I would level crititcism at. As far as it fitting in with the ‘verse – how can anyone say it doesn’t? The Serenity ‘verse is too huge and too broad not to encompass just about every style out there, from manga to the old West. If you see the ‘verse through one shade of glasses, surely another will see it differently. There is room in the ‘verse for everything from the Fruity Oaty Bar jingle to people burning witches.
Get canon wrong, and I’ll be the first to be critical. But Ben has never (that I know of) done that. He’s effectively adding to it, and in my mind he does and excellent job.
If it’s all the same to everyone, I’d rather keep this at the level of criticism and opinion.
I would like to point out another opinion, however, from Geoff Mandel, graphic designer for the movie “Serenity,” from my interview with him: “There’s some really nice stuff out there, particularly the eBay stuff by Whitefall. He has the look down cold.”
Interview is here: http://www.bashinginminds.com/2006/02/10/interview-with-geoffrey-mandel-graphic-designer-for-serenity/
Just sayin’.
Well I’d like to talk about the detail of the papers, but though QMX took my money for them back in August, they still show being in the warehouse so I can’t. I am not one to be a whiner, and I’ve had good experience in the past with QMX, but in the case of the posters and the ship papers, they are close to losing a loyal customer because I don’t like having my money and the product that it paid for both in someone else’s pocket ie warehouse.
Stan, regardless of what your opinions are or how true or not they might be, you haven’t really backed up what you’re saying with anything but vague quips about how something doesn’t fit in the universe or how there isn’t enough attention to detail to be had. Your whole point can basically be summed up by saying “Trust me, it’s bad. Just take my word for it.”
Qmx has shown themselves more than willing and eager to accept criticism, so it’s not exactly like what you have to say isn’t going to be heard. Ben even asked you for your opinions, but you haven’t backed them up here. Do so and, even if there’s a few people who will argue against you simply out of blind loyalty, you’re going to come across much better than you currently are. You have the potential to be taken seriously; why give that up simply so that you can be insulting?
The very fact that they’re doing two guns now instead of one shows that they care what their potential customers have to say. So again, why be irrationally negative when the things you say could actually have the potential to be taken seriously and could actually make a difference?
Honestly now.
Chris
Your right. Sorry this bickering has gotten out of hand. I’m sure that is not what you intended this site to be. But, since Stan addressed me personally, I just want to do a quick response and then shut up about it for good.
Stan
Yes, I am serious. QMx should and does listen to comments and suggestions but that is not what you did. You jumped into the conversation and said QMx offers half #%$@ products, the designer has no talent and anyone that actually likes these products are idiots. That doesn’t help anyone. I’m sure your a decent guy and seem passionate about what you like and don’t like. A little discretion in how you get your point across is all we are saying here. I for one am glad to be able to get some really great Serenity products and not break the bank. I think that is one of QMx’s goals.
OK, enough out of me.
jim
CJDaab – Wanted to respond to you on this – we’ve been a little overwhelmed (in a good way) on the demand for Ben’s work, so I know not all orders have been fulfilled as fast as we’d like. But I want to make sure you’re taken care of. So, please e-mail me at gorea@quantummechanix.com and we’ll get you sorted out ASAP.
Thanks!
I did elabourate on what I felt Ben’s his problem. To summarize, he doesn’t pay close enough attention to canon replica details (position of elements and such), his non-canon works seem to ignore the canon items that exist which should be used as a point of reference, and he over works things he shouldn’t not everything needs to have texture, stains or other digital weathering. At Chris’ request I’ll not discuss my opinion on Ben’s work further except to say that QMx is surviving on paper props which are half assed and over priced in my opinion (and I know how much it costs to print items).
Pennausamike, just because I choose to lurk on forums doesn’t mean I have not contributed to the prop replica hobby. I have contributed to many projects of note from behind the scenes and have done more research and found many details to props that no one had ever noticed. Of course you won’t believe me because I choose to not put my name on everything I have had a hand in.
As for the Mal pistol. It looks cheap. I have stated already that it looks like it was painted with a rattle can, and pretty much looks like most of the fan painted resin ones out there, and the metal Sidkit replicas. If you can’t see the problem in this then you never will. QMx is selling licensed replicas they should be better than what the average fan makes.
Also their plans to have sidkit produce the metal hero guns only means they are using an inacurate base to start from and will be too expensive for most people to even concider.
People paid for something that QMx promised would be made, and now they are trying to look good by not offering the quality for the price they repeatedly promised. Now try to appease us with something for those who want something cheaper, and those that want something extremely costly, but not something for those that wanted what they promised.
If they read THESE comments then they should read the many comments and complaints about how unhappy people are with this new offering on other forums. If they even painted them nicely, so they didn’t look rattle can painted, then I wouldn’t complain, but now there’s nothing for those that want accurate quality without paying 3 times as much for something that’s overkill.
Stan, do you by any chance have a financial interest in this? Do you make replica pistols or other props that compete with Ben’s and QMX’s?
I have to respond to the claim that QMX paper props are half assed and overpriced. I own the Alliance currency pack (two of them, actually), the blueprints, and the Blue Sun posters. I have sold the blueprints and posters in my shop. I have to say that there is nothing half-assed about a single one of them. They have all been meticulously detailed, with high-quality printing on quality paper. The Alliance money is an EXACT replica of that used in the movie. I own two of the actual bills used in the movie, and I own the money pack. They are the same thing. They are from the same digital file even, supplied by Geoff Mandell. The box is beautiful.
Overpriced? Have you priced an official license to produce Serenity merchandise? Then look at labor to design the products, manufacturing costs, full-color printing costs, advertising, credit card fees, packaging materials, packaging and order-processing labor, the discounting to wholesale when they sell to retailers – suddenly they seem pretty reasonable. The blueprints were autographed by Geoff Mandell and Tim Earls, and sold in a limited edition, limiting the profits that could ever be made on them. Last I checked, autographs at a convention ran $20.00 or more per person, adding greatly to the value of the set. The blueprints sold out almost instantly, and I’ve not heard a single complaint about them from customers. I don’t plan to let anyone get their paws on my set, that’s for sure! The Blue Sun posters were a novelty item, not a replica. Buy them if you like them, skip if you don’t. Based on the large numbers of people who lined up to purchase them, I’d say a lot of people liked them! I certainly do, and they are worth the $30.00 price tag to me.
And what pricing factor did I save a whole paragraph for? Supporting the franchise. One part of the built-in cost of these products is licensing. Firefly and Serenity fans have always understood the importance of purchasing licensed goods to show support (and dollars) to the studio. Here, we are lucky enough to be able to support the franchise by buying really well-made products from a company run by browncoats. We have been willing (and still are) to pay good money for official goods featuring the logo plastered on nonsensical stuff (one Serenity Zippo lighter, $30.00. Yes, I own it) simply because we like it and it votes with our dollars. With QMX, we actually get something relevant that happens to be a labor of love with those products. I’m guessing that wasn’t the case with the lighter. The best of both worlds is buying fan-made goods that happen to be officially licensed. That’s QMX.
I’m going to withhold my opinion on the Mal stunt pistol replica until I actually have it in hand. But I can say it already looks better than the fan-made resin casts I’ve seen for sale. Does it look, in the photos, cheaper than what QMX originally planned? Yes, it does. Huh, Actually, $100.00 cheaper. But it hardly looks painted with a rattle can to me! The details are crisper than anything I’ve seen in a fan resin cast, and compared to paying someone to assemble and paint a crude resin replica for me, the price is very reasonable.Oh, and more licensed dollars spent! I also appreciate that is was cast from the actual stunt pistol, so the details are 100% accurate.
Opinions are fine and welcome, even (especially) ones I disagree with. My request was that we keep it civil and avoid personal attacks, and was aimed at several posters here. And I’m very glad to see folks are doing so.
I would, however, suggest you take Ben up on his offer to e-mail him with specific suggestions (screenshots from the show/movie to prove your point would be helpful). I can attest that he takes useful criticism very well: I’ve seen most everything he’s done during the planning stages, and every paper product he has made for QMx has gone through weeks of the beta test team — which, again, includes Mandel and occasionally Tim Earls — picking at it with tweezers. The fact that he takes all that, absorbs it, and continues to be a nice guy amazes me.
I have to say that I’m also very impressed with the class with which Ben responded to criticism right here on this page. That’s grace under fire, folks.
I hate to see this thing happen here. The whole taking it too seriuosly, anger,we need a life issue? It shut down blogs at other sites. It’s ok to be passionate about this stuff. I too was let down that QMx changed the whole mission statement for Mals pistol in mid flight. I cancelled the order when the origonal one didn’t work out. I am not impressed with the paper props, but I think many are and it’s their thing…so good for that. This pistol just doesn’t do it for me. It is a great mold, but does look plastic and really doesn’t hit my idea of the correct price point. I was expecting QMx to do the kind of work we saw with Master Replicas. They too sold blueprints…but they had some big items that were authentic looking come out pretty fast. I have high hopes that QMx gets past the infancy stage and goes beyong dogtags, paper props, and resin guns. Until they do though we are going to keep the hype for anything new Serenity (ie film) on the back burner. One thing I hope doen’t happen to this community though is disrespect. We need to remember why the entire cast still loves us.
I bought one. Perfection! Can’t wait for the 20 inch Serenity!
Mike
Well its been over a year, no metal mal pistol seen yet. I own one of Every Mal pistol I have known To be produced, Including The Sid Kit (Sid seems to have dissapeared and website is gone) Phils Cast directly from the Firefly Used prop, The QMX pistol.
And I have to say…… I was initially impressed with the pistol QMX produced, but that wore off quickly. The Paint job seemed innaccurate so I took a Look at the serenity shootout scene at the Bank Job and Yep Bottem of the Magazine is supposed to be more Brassy looking. Back of the trigger wasnt even Painted. On the upside (Also Down Side) the Weathered color Flaked away rather easilly with normal handling, exposing the brassy look…. That was a dissapointment.
I know a lot of people didnt like the trigger portion of the pistol. but its Blocky looking because its cast off the STUNT pistol. Its not the one they used for close ups just the one for the rough and tumble wear.
I have to say in retrospect I dont feel the QMX was worth the money. The Sidkit had its problems but I was quite happy with what I got vrs Cost. Phils pistols are rare and hard to come by, and you dont get more accurate than cast from screen used hero. The Arsenol Models was verry disspointing and extreemly small, its a Kids toy not a 1:1 replica. If you want a Pistol thats fairly accurate and wont break the bank, buy Bills from Wilco Models. Placed side by side with the Phil, and QMX its a cut above most Garadge kits. Correct Size and basic details and really if you were to take elements of the Firefly version and combind them with the Serenity version its excellent!
I spent a Year and a Bit telling people that the QMX Metal Pistol will be better because they promised us a hero version. I saw a wonderful little video about the process of the research. And yet we see nothing.
I have to say Shame on QMX! I dont give a hoot about this Maquette or Lithograph Luh Suh. While I think that Ben “Whitefall” does good work and bringing him onboard was a Great thing. Over the past years we have seen repeatedly “limited edition” Items re-releaced at the same or reduced prices! Beyond unacceptable when I buy somthing thats Rare I expect it to stay that way. Thats why We paid the high price.
Instead of Re-releacing Whitefalls stuff, or coming up with Non Cannon tourist trap items. Lets see what we expected to see out of QMX. Innovative, High quality collectors items. Thats what they used to try and do.
Its been YEARS…. so lets see it, Mals Metal Hero pistol.
Yes I’ll buy one…….
Untill I see that Item, I will remain Sorely Dissapointed.