With excitement for Star Wars: The Last Jedi reaching fever pitch, eBay UK challenged YouTube personality and inventor Colin Furze to create a life-sized model of the TIE silencer, using only parts sourced from eBay, in order to surprise six lucky Star Wars fans.
The replica of Kylo Ren's TIE Silencer from the new film is Furze's biggest build to date, taking seven weeks and a team of five people to complete. All the items used to build the model were sourced from eBay, including everything from paint and LED lights to the steel frame and welding supplies. The ship specifics also include a cockpit with targeting screens, a captain's chair and joysticks, comprehensive lighting inside and out and a personalised KR67 TIE number plate. The model weighs an estimated seven tons.
Once complete, it took five articulated lorries to lift the vast spaceship from a secret build site to the grand country estate of Burghley House in Stamford, England. It was here that the ship was revealed to six lucky Star Wars fans, who narrowly missed a run-in with storm troopers before discovering a Silencer bigger than their dreams.
To further celebrate the release of one of the most anticipated films of the year, eBay is also the exclusive home to a limited run of commemorative notes specially created to celebrate the launch of Star Wars: The Last Jedi and raise money for the charity Together for Short Lives. With 100% of the money raised to be donated to the charity on behalf of Star Wars: Force for Change, the sale sparked a buying frenzy on eBay. Collectors across the globe rushed to own a piece of intergalactic history and, within 15 minutes, all 1,000 commemorative notes had sold. The sale successfully raised £100,000 for charity – that’s more than £6,000 raised a minute.
An additional 50 unique premium notes will be on auction on eBay until Sunday, December 17. The notes incorporate special features, including an original light side/dark side artwork composition, pattern work of the First Order and Resistance emblems, hidden scenes (discoverable under 365nm UV light), hidden messages in microtext (discoverable with an eye glass), a message in Aurebesh, one of the languages of the galaxy and the signature of Director/Writer Rian Johnson. Another 50 unique premium notes are up for auction. Additionally, the premium notes will include an intaglio (a raised, hand-engraving of Rey) and each will have a unique, sequenced serial number.
Together for Short Lives is a UK-based charity that supports children’s hospices, all children with life-threatening and life-limiting conditions and their families. Star Wars: Force for Change is a charitable initiative from Lucasfilm and Disney that harnesses the strength of Star Wars to empower and improve the lives of children around the world.
For even more Jedi fun, head to eBay for all your Star Wars needs.