Sillof has created a complete series of Steampunk modified Star Wars action figures.
What is Steampunk you say? According to wikipedia, Steampunk is a subgenre of fantasy and speculative fiction which denotes works set in an era or world where steam power is still widely used-usually the 19th century. The stories are often set in Victorian era England-but with prominent elements of either science fiction or fantasy, such as fictional technological inventions like those found in the works of H. G. Wells and Jules Verne, or real technological developments like the computer occurring at an earlier date. The cool new trend at Comic Con is to dress as a Steampunk version of your favorite character. Last year I saw a Ghostbuster wearing a top hat and a wooden backpack. And in previous editions of Cool Stuff we’ve shown you a guy who made a Steampunk Flux Capacitor and another guy who made a working life-sized Steampunk R2-D2.
 ”The idea behind my C-3PO design was a mechanical man, almost skeletal, with exposed gears, pulleys, and hinges,” writes Sillof. “Since 3PO was mechanical I wanted to balance the 2 with gears and steam. So R2 is designed to be a little steam powered boiler-bot. I incorporated the focal elements segmented dome (this time with rivets), the single eye, the short nature, and used R2’s original air vents as a modified furnace door & the knob on R2’s head is now a stovepipe type chimney. Inside the vents is a large translucent flame that lights up.”
“With [Obi-Wan Kenobi], for a European feel I went for a more traditional knight, rather then the Asian samurai robes. I wanted the look of Kenobi’s head to look like a guy who had been hiding out and keeping low. I also wanted it too have the feel of an elderly warrior who put on his old armor for one last adventure. I went for a thinner frame, kind of Don Quixote-esque.  I thought the antique armor worked as the Jedi are established as an ancient and dead order. I gave the armor the riveted steampunk feel. I also made it look old, tarnished, and little rusty. With the shoulder pauldrons and waist tunic, I tried to evoke the brown Jedi robes, I also felt they gave the armor a ceremonial feel. The lightsaber is connected to the same power pack as Luke.
“Han Solo is still the cocky smuggler pilot, but I played the smuggler up with a pirate feel and rather then a spaceship he now pilots a large dirigible-like airship. I added the classic steampunk goggles to the smug grinning face,” writes Sillof. “I gave Chewbacca a more animalistic look with the more feline face and clawed hands and feet.  As first mate on the airship I figured he would still have mechanic duties, as seen from his classic bandolier now serving as a tool bag. I gave him some pirate-ish clothing with loosing too much of the exposed fur look.”
“I wanted my stormtrooper to have the classic white on black look. I used the more ornate and engraved look for a more antiquated feel. I wanted the stormtrooper helmet to resemble Vader’s helmet to tie the two together aesthetically. I used the air tubes to resemble the shape of the classic Stormtrooper’s helmet. Of course the air tubes have to lead somewhere, in my design the go to the large riveted air tanks on his back,” wrote Sillof. “To capture that European feel I used title “Lord Vader”, as Tarkin calls him, as the inspiration. My imperials are meant to have that Eastern European/German feel that the film version had somewhat. Vader’s flared out helmet is no longer a samurai look but now a more Prussian spiked helmet. His fierce angular face mask that helped with his breathing is now a modified gas mask. The patina chest armor is a homage to his classic shinny black armor. The clunky lightsaber is connected to a power pack via the tube.”
You can check out all of Sillof’s designs, along with a ton of more photos and description on Sillof.com.
Cool Stuff is a daily feature of slashfilm.com. Know of any geekarific creations or cool products which should be featured on Cool Stuff? E-Mail us at orfilms@gmail.com.
April 11th, 2008 at 6:46 am
These are really cool. They should make a cartoon based on these action figures!
April 11th, 2008 at 8:31 am
Pete,
They did. It’s called “Treasure Planet”.
April 11th, 2008 at 8:39 am
This is simultaniously the coolest and stupidest idea ever. i don’t think i’ve ever been so split down the middle in my life…..
April 11th, 2008 at 8:43 am
….Chewbacca looks bitchin’ tho. His hands are even articulated! Me Wantee! No, Wait… Me No Wantee. No, wait…
Oh, hell….
April 11th, 2008 at 10:12 am
Are these purchasable?
Please say yes.
April 11th, 2008 at 10:16 am
Yet more Star Wars “Cool Stuff” ahah. Not that I’m complaining since these look amazing. Ben Kenobi especially looks awesome.
April 11th, 2008 at 11:17 am
These are 100x cooler than the star wars figures I collected as a kid. Very creative.
April 11th, 2008 at 11:37 am
I am a huge fan of the cyberpunk/steampunk genres. These look amazing!
“I also wanted it too have the feel of an elderly warrior who put on his old armor for one last adventure.”
That was an awesome decision. Kenobi is definitely my favorite of the ones shown.
April 11th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
awesome i recently became a steampunk fan and these are some bad ass, thanks for the post :D
April 11th, 2008 at 4:04 pm
Hey, congratulations for the job, really nice figures, although i don´t change the classic star wars figures for anything in the world, these figures are perfectly adapted to what steampunk is.
KUTGW
April 11th, 2008 at 4:28 pm
agree w/ BetaFett….
Just cashing in on the steampunk craze, or something more original and artistic?
I’m torn.
April 11th, 2008 at 4:39 pm
Amazing for the creativity of it. Creating action figures like that, to that detail is no easy task.
April 11th, 2008 at 5:05 pm
10/10
These figures are just fantastic. Oh Boyyyy.
Master Jedi-Robe
April 11th, 2008 at 5:13 pm
It looks like the lightsabers run on steam. Very nice detail there and overall awesome work.
April 11th, 2008 at 5:23 pm
Love these figures. The droids are especially well done.
April 11th, 2008 at 5:24 pm
Amazing. I’m not a steam-punk or Star Wars fan, but I’m absolutely blown away by this. Incredible artwork; truly stunning.
April 11th, 2008 at 5:42 pm
Oh my God.
You put lederhosen on the wookie.
YOU ACTUALLY PUT LEDERHOSEN ON THE WOOKIE.
George Lucas must be fuming.
April 11th, 2008 at 5:59 pm
Okay, I am a huge Star Wars fan and I loved all the figures… except Darth Vader. Seriously, what were you THINKING? He doesn’t look evil anymore, he looks comical! Darth Vader is NOT supposed to be comical. Make Vader more evil please.
April 11th, 2008 at 6:22 pm
I like the droids, stormtroopers and vader. Other than that…Meh.
April 11th, 2008 at 8:33 pm
Man, I don’t care what anyone says, these are FREAKING! amazing. Talk about creativity! If these ever hit the shelves, I would buy a crap load of these just cause they look DAMN cool. I’ve been a steampunk fan for AGES, and these are just instant classics. Damn good work man!
April 12th, 2008 at 6:02 am
Just Amazing !
It appears to be made with a lot of love and creativity.
Star Wars fans are very loyal as it is proven by this figures.
April 12th, 2008 at 10:41 pm
I agree with the guy above that Vader doesn’t look evil enough. I would have gone more in the direction that you did with Old Ben. That aside all of them do capture the essence of both steam punk and Star Wars quite well and the work looks marvelous.
April 13th, 2008 at 12:21 am
I think the stormtrooper armor should be much less ornate as they are supposed to be mass produced, grunt armor. I also agree that Vader could be a bit more sinister in the helmet area.
Overall, an amazing job!
April 13th, 2008 at 4:57 pm
Well first I must say that these figurines are some of the most original and artfully created movie inspired action figures that I have ever seen. I am fascinated with your use of European styles rather than Oriental. I can tell that a lot of this has been inspired by some of the Star Wars concept art, which can look quite steam punk-esq. The figurines really do show that not only is Star Wars an amazing saga, but a story that can be interpreted in a staggering variety of ways.
April 13th, 2008 at 5:00 pm
Secondly, awesome job, I look forward to new more sinister versions of Lord Vader and his storm troopers. But I understand where you are coming from by making him look more like a wealthy and diabolical mastermind than a huge imposing warlord. Please continue doing your job so well.
April 14th, 2008 at 7:43 pm
Cool vader looks awesome..To bad they don’t make a like series off of these guys.
and I defiantly like leia outfit and hair better.Except for on return of the Jedi but everyone likes her in that one lol
May 5th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
Steampunk looks kinda evil IMO I figured just the dark lord and his minions would get this type of style
May 18th, 2008 at 4:08 am
I am a huge Star Wars fan
May 29th, 2008 at 11:38 am
Ok I have to say this how can anyone say that the original vader is more evil looking his clothes were far from scary closer to stupid but this version is awsome.
July 8th, 2008 at 3:10 am
yea, man. It’s cool :)