Today we’d like to introduce you to Nate Dalzell.
Hi Nate, please kick things off for us with an introduction of yourself and your story.
I’m Nate, and I’m a movie prop builder. I serve national as well as international prop collectors specializing in assembly of Star Wars movie props that replicate the original screen-used items with a high level of detail and precision. I founded my business, Iron Destiny Props, in early 2018 and work out of my home. Not long after, I was approached by a gentleman online who saw my work and gave me my first opportunity to build him a static, accurately assembled Luke Skywalker lightsaber from the film A New Hope. From then on, I have built Darth Vader’s iconic lightsabers from the original trilogy films and all the various iterations of the Skywalker lightsaber as well as the bunker bomb from Return of the Jedi and the “holy grail” of Star Wars props: Obi-Wan Kenobi’s lightsaber from the first film in 1977. I’ve continued to post prop completion updates on my social media on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, which have helped to elicit continued commissions from new clients worldwide. My business is founded on the three principles of integrity, precision, and professionalism, and I have endeavored to remain true to that with each new client commission I receive.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I have been fortunate in the Star Wars prop-collecting community to have a regular flow of clients who are patient, kind, and enthusiastic about my work. Thus far, my prop-building journey has been prosperous and a positive experience overall. I love making precise things for people, and that passion and fervor have been well received by all my clients. Many of them have been very encouraging with their suggestions and trusted me to build props for them despite that I’ve never built some of them before.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Building highly screen-accurate movie props is my passion and particularly Star Wars props. Ever since I was a young boy and my parents introduced me to the first three Star Wars films, I have had a fondness for the franchise. I predominately build lightsaber props for Star Wars fans from all walks of life around the world. I am probably most well-known for Luke Skywalker’s Graflex lightsaber and Darth Vader’s lightsaber from the original trilogy films. Those props, especially Luke’s from A New Hope, I have a particular attachment to since that was the first one I tried to build as a child growing up watching Star Wars. Currently, I am most proud of a recent build for a well-respected sound engineer and designer on YouTube, Kyberphonic. He requested a commission to build him a highly accurate Obi-Wan Kenobi static lightsaber from A New Hope, and it turned out very well. I am fortunate to have been able to obtain a substantial photo archive of many of the original props which have allowed me to build my commissions with an exceptional level of accuracy that would not have been possible otherwise.
Risk-taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I am not by nature one who “takes risks.” I tend to favor prudence and caution rather than living my life “on the edge.” That being said, however, nothing in this life can be won or achieved without some degree of risk, danger or loss. Our country would have never been founded if our early leaders had not dared to take the risk to establish a new nation, America. Also, our eternal destination and relationship with God would have never been restored if Christ had not chosen to lay down His life for us so that we could have eternal life. If we live our lives constantly driven and dictated by “safety” and fear, we may never reach our fullest potential and never become the people we are created to be.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/irondestinyprops/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IronDestinyProps/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7b9ayuPpJsYw66cZlZlckg
Image Credits
Nate Dalzell
