You are a hardened, jaded Rep-Detective (retired) with a constant craving for Johnnie Walker Black, Tsing Tao, and noodles. The perpetual acid rain drones in your ears and stings your eyes. Welcome to Los Angeles, November, 2019. The White Dragon neon sign above the noodle bar beckons you to the familiar sights, sounds, smells, and flavors of Sector 4. The electric buzz of its flickering tongue has a comforting, almost tranquilizing effect on you; some days it even helps you forget the pain... You wait for your dinner order, surrounded by bright neon. An overhead blimp blares Off-World propaganda, but you already know it by heart. Why didn't you leave? What kept you on Earth? You just don't ask yourself those questions.
You glance at your newspaper, there's a headline about a planned worldwide computer linkup. Some would call that progress, but you don't really care. You contemplate your life and what it could have been, but you're haunted by the lifeless faces of all the replicants you retired. You took away their chance to begin again, but Earth was off-limits and they knew it. Somebody had to remind them, and that somebody was you - but not anymore. You've had your fill of killing, so you quit. They gave it to Holden - he's good. You close your eyes to shut out the faces, but they're always there, blankly staring back at you, silently asking why... Your order is ready. You try to focus on the entrée of cold fish and side of noodles set in front of you, dulling the rest of the world for a few solitary moments of marginal culinary enjoyment. But your past abruptly catches up to you in the form of Gaff and a patrolman. You try to ignore them, without success. Bryant wants to see you, the charmer says. You've got no choice, pal. You take the noodles to go. A police spinner is parked next to another White Dragon neon sign, its talons spread wide, as if to catch its prey. The White Dragon signs are everywhere, it seems. For a moment it feels like this particular one is laughing at you, as if it knows your fate. Maybe it does... Are you the dragon or the prey? Its flickering tongue is the last detail you see from the spinner as you take off. Gaff is rattling off about something but he sounds distant and muffled. You loose yourself in the noodles, contemplating what you'll say to Bryant when you see him...
You've spent years collecting posters, blasters, glasses, bottles, lamps, ashtrays, replicant photos, origami unicorns, and other knick-knacks to feed your Blade Runner obsession, and you've learned over the years to smile and shrug off the eye rolling and head shaking from your friends and significant other. They know they can never douse or curb your collecting passion. What will you get next, they wonder? But the shrine you've built for this dystopian future-noir sci-fi classic has gotten stale with age, and most likely you've long run out of space in your Detolf display cabinet, wall shelves, book case, and desk for new additions. You've been told the rest of the house is off limits - the Riot Act has been read to you. Repeatedly. Then you look up at your wall - there's an empty spot near the ceiling you always gaze at, dreaming of one day hanging there your very own White Dragon Noodle Bar neon sign... to take you back to Sector Four... to where it all started... If only someone would step up and make it. If only...
The White Dragon neon sign has become a symbol for your passion for Blade Runner. You want this. You need this. It's what you've always told yourself you'd get if it was ever made available, or you vowed many times to have it made professionally, exclusively for you. If only you had the time and money... But family, work, and other priorities and obligations keep getting in the way - or so you keep telling yourself.
Deckard had his unicorn dream. But you, my friend, can finally make yours come true! Read on to learn more...
Background:
The result of a three month collaboration with a talented neon artisan, I am proud to offer a faithful one-sided scaled interpretation of the original White Dragon neon sign. This sign, like so many other signs and graphics, was designed by graphic artist Tom Southwell, a legend to all Blade Runner fans. He discusses his inspiration for the sign in the fantastic documentary, "Dangerous Days: Making Blade Runner." This sign is dedicated to Tom and his genius vision, and to whom full credit is due for the White Dragon sign's artistic origins. The screen-used White Dragon neon sign had 2 symmetrical sides, painted body scales, and featured neon wings and lunging talons - too complex and expensive to recreate in an affordable replica for most collectors. So instead I projected them onto the body, which in fact is how they're seen in most of the sign's on-screen appearances. But no self-respecting fan would have compromised on a red tongue that didn't flicker, so I didn't - this sign has it! See videos in the links below:
Light Blue neon, polished black acrylic backplate:
https://youtu.be/550yPlWE2gk
https://youtu.be/s5q6fzTZLf4
https://youtu.be/UObB1opHqUs
https://youtu.be/Q5zUzRAydc8
Product Specifications:
* Real glass neon tubes are mounted onto a polished black, matte-black painted, or polished clear acrylic mounting plate, cut to conform to dragon's shape; all electronics are mounted behind the plate.
* Overall dimensions: 26 in. x 26 in. x 3 in. (66 cm x 66 cm x 8 cm)
* Hanging weight (not including cables, control box, transformer): 5.5 lbs (2.5 kg)
* On/Off switch for dragon and flickering tongue.
* Wired for 110v and 220v AC; includes adapter plug for destination country.
* Completely assembled and ready to hang on a wall - just plug it in and turn it on!
* Available in white, electric blue, and pale light blue. Eye is yellowish-white. Flickering tongue is red
* All versions of the sign come with hanging chains.
* Each sign is hand-built to order using a master template, so minor discrepancies between the photos and videos should be expected.
* CUSTOM NEON COLORS ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST - MESSAGE US BEFORE YOU ORDER TO CONFIRM!
CAUTION: use only appropriate screws and wall anchors for hanging or attaching the sign to different types of surfaces, such as drywall, fiberboard, plywood, brick, etc. do not hang in an area where there is regular foot traffic, because clothing, hair, backpacks, etc. can snag on the sign and cause the chain to break or the mounting hardware to fail, resulting in damage or injury. If you have any doubt regarding mounting hardware or your wall's material and load-bearing capability, please consult an expert at your local hardware store.
Payment:
We only accept PayPal. IMPORTANT: please include your email address and cellphone number in a note with your payment - these are required for customs forms and the EMS waybill.
Shipping information:
The White Dragon neon sign ships from Hong Kong via express carrier, typically arriving at your door within 5-10 business days after departure, depending on outgoing and incoming customs delays. Delays due to flight availability stemming from the pandemic are beyond our control or the carrier. The sign is packed in multiple layers of compressible foam, molded EPS, and cardboard for ultimate protection during transit. However, mishandling, loss, and abuse can always occur and are beyond my control. IMPORTANT: if you see ANY visible damage to the box, please take photos from several angles before opening it. If the damage is so extreme that the sign itself is visible through the damaged packaging, you are entitled to refuse delivery. If damage to the box is extensive (TAKE PHOTOS FROM SEVERAL ANGLES!!!), or in the event of a lost package, we will file a claim with the carrier and arrange for a replacement sign at no additional cost to the customer. On an optimistic note, after shipping over 60 orders, only one sign has ever arrived damaged (due to a bad corner impact during transit), and none have ever gone missing.
Warranty and Service:
Every neon sign we ship is warrantied against defects and faulty operation for one year upon delivery. After opening the box on a table or the floor, the customer should inspect the front of the sign for any visible tube damage and take close-up photos. If no damage is visible, the customer should test the sign while it's still in the open box by plugging it in and turning it on (there is no warm-up time, and the tongue should flicker between one red tube to the other). If everything looks good, unplug the sign, continue to carefully unpack it, and hang it WITHOUT TOUCHING THE GLASS NEON TUBES. But in the event any of the neon tubes, frame, or back plate are damaged during transit, or if the sign is visibly defective (i.e., doesn't light up, flickers intermittently, or has one or more dark tubes), the customer should immediately take cell phone video and close-up photos of the damage. The customer has 48 hours following delivery to document and send the seller a written explanation of the defect or damage, including said photos and video, via Contact Seller or by email, supplied in the Thank You note that accompanied the sign. Defect or damage claims must be include the eBay item number, order date, customer's full name, phone number, and email address. In the event of serviceable damage resulting from transit, Yesteryear Props & Models will, depending on the nature and extent of the defect or damage, and at our discretion, either replace the entire sign or ship replacement tube sections and/or electrical components with simple installation instructions, at no additional cost to the customer. Yesteryear Props Store will not be held liable for any damage resulting from improper or negligent storage, improper hanging, accidental dropping, or unauthorized tampering with the electronic components. Post-delivery damage resulting from accidents or mishandling can be resolved by the customer requesting up to three (3) replacement tubes or electronic components, which will replaced for free, as a customer loyalty gesture, but the customer will be responsible for paying the shipping cost before they are sent. More extensive damage will be addressed on a case by case basis.
Disclaimer:
Yesteryear Props & Models is not responsible for customs release fees, import duties, VAT, courier fees, storage fees, or any other additional expenses incurred as a result of your country's policies or receiving agent agreement. You are solely responsible for any additional delivery costs, and should consult your country's customs and tax laws before ordering if you have any doubt. Contact seller if you need to know declared customs value in advance.