"Because he's holding a thermal detonator!"
- C-3PO to Jabba the Hutt - Episode VI: Return of the Jedi

The thermal detonator is used by Princess Leia Organa, disguised as the bounty hunter Boushh, to convince Jabba the Hutt to negotiate a better price for captive Chewbacca.  While the device is never actually detonated in the movie, its explosive power must be quite impressive, as evidenced by the terrified reactions of the bystanders in Jabba's court.

The original filming prop was quite different from what was seen on-screen.  While it appeared to made of shiny metal in the film, the prop was actually constructed from two clear plastic hemispheres approximately 2 1/2 inches in diameter that were coated with multiple layers of silver and bronze plating.  Black and brown paint was stippled onto the inner and outer surfaces of the hemispheres to make the device appear weathered.

Master Replica's recreation of the thermal detonator started with a detailed examination of the original prop.  Our designers sketched a detailed map of the complex patterns created by the layers of plating and paint in order to create an absolutely authentic replica.  In order to give the replica the appropriate heft and durability one would expect of such a device, our designers decided to make the outer shells of the Thermal Detonator replica from die-cast metal rather than plastic like the original prop.  They also digitally transferred the original sound effects obtained from Skywalker Sound to a sound chip used inside the replica and duplicated the random flashing light patterns as seen on-screen.

We have taken extreme measures to duplicate every detail of the thermal detonator exactly as it appeared in the movie.  We hope you agree that this is the definitive replica of this small, but complex film prop.