They've taken that from EFX though - yesterday the page for the standard line version was working, and that's how it's described - taken from the Baker molds, not a scan. The way it's worded is technically true, but omits the fact that this pull was then scanned and the EFX molds made from that data. I'm sure it was just an accidental oversight That pic is also not doing EFX any favors.I will say, EFX is not the only one guilty here of this "sort" of thing...I guess you can say it's some good "bait..."
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If Efx wasn't a ****ty company, then Gino wouldn't have to be on here badmouthing competing product. Their production manager ought to be fired. Their costumer service is absolute joke. Their website? They still list products as "in development" that have been sold out for YEARS!!
As for licensing fees.... Gino has, I think, been involved with producing an unlicensed helmet or two.
I'll tell you this. If his goal was to rubbish the competition and get people to send more money to the black hole that is his "business," it has failed. I'd be inclined to buy one of these if the product were actually available, and if Gino weren't acting like a complete ass on here. Not now. I'd rather make a helmet out of paper mache and duct tape than buy an Efx product first hand.
Let me just say that Vader politics suck!
I've owned several Vader helmets over the years, including a DP deluxe and a few Classic Actions...And while I've always watched the Vader discussions from the sidelines, I'm far from a Vader expert. I have no direct "loyalty" to EFX, Anovos, Don Post, Rubies, JB, Cking, Rick Baker, Gino, or anyone else involved in making Vader lids...
But I gotta say that those pics look pretty amazing...I will gladly throw down $329 for a helmet that looks that good. It does a great job at capturing the look, feel, vibe of the ANH Vader...warts and all...at a decent price point when you compare to the fiberglass version. So therefore I really can't understand all the negativity in this thread.
If you don't like, don't buy...If you do like, get in line behind me.
Jason
PS - Gino...dude...That website is hurting...Any updates?
Lens perspective distortion. Unless you can match the focal length of the lens, the distance from lens to subject, and the angle, you're going to have a distorted non-matching image. The closer to the subject, and the wider angle the lens, the more perspective distortion you'll see, especially towards the edges of the frame.
Also, there is a reflection of light along the edge of the dome, which hides the true edge of the dome against the white background. So that's adding to the flattened features as well.
I can totally understand the negativity, and I have pretty thick skin and can take a bashing on my gear. What I'm REALLY sick of is COWARDS that hide behind the internet and say unnecessarily rude comments and would NO WAY come up to me and say that stuff to my face if I walked into a brick and mortar forum and said "Hey guys, here's my new Darth Vader helmet, I really like it." So I actually feel embarrassed for rude people, as they're looking quite childish and resemble the beginnings of Idiocracy. And if any of these bashers are "makers," then they are real dandys. I studied this behavior for months on end for a project while earning my communications degree. I call it "Revenge of the Nerds - STAR WARS Style."
Good to meet at least one person with an objective and intelligent point of view.
Good day sir.
PS - Gino...dude...That website is hurting...Any updates?
For a pure trooping helmet, I can see the desire for something like this EFX version, but yea you brought up a good point regarding the production in relation to the Rubies supreme. While yes, it was a bastardized version of it's former self, i.e, ESB, speaking purely about quality (not accuracy or details), it wasn't a bad "product," especially that I was able to score it brand new for $25 (I was borrowing a vader suit for a disabled child's birthday and it didn't come with a helmet! ) and with some significant amount of re-work and patience could be deemed passable to most audiences. The one key thing that's throwing me off for this EFX version is the need to have separated tubes along the faceplate. IIRC, the rubies didn't have this issue at all, or at least I don't recall many previous iterations having to make a compromise for that part of the helmet.
That being said, I didn't know there were 2 versions offered here, and assumed that the pics from Meekerscott were just "it." I am curious to see how the weathered version looks on hand VS the "display model" or if it's worth just repainting. Considering I dropped a good chunk of my tax return on a vader helmet and armor set, I don't have a need at the moment for alternatives.
Oh come on man! JUST the post before I thought you were starting to not be such a complete dingle berry, and you have to go on another bizzaro-world rant about how mean everyone is to you? Look, you seem awfully insecure, Scott - just take a chill pill already. Oh, and it's not a difference between phone cameras and 1970s lenses, it's the physics of optics. What you are battling there is the difference between whatever focal length that scene was shot at and the focal length you're shooting with. It doesn't matter if you have a sensor or celluloid behind the glass - if you don't match focal length you're going to get a very different looking result.
I've been watching the attacks on the product and honestly expected it.I had the rubies version but when Gino posted picks of his version, I was like finally somebody made an Affordable helmet that looks right.I got rid of the rubies and am just waiting for the website to come back on.I'm glad you like the helmet for what it is ,not what it isn't.Can you see thru the lenses?
I really don't feel insecure, and I don't concern myself with being "hurt." I'm far from a pansy and I'm not "hurt" by you calling me a dingle berry. I'm just fascinated by rude people...PERIOD. That's what it is. It's really not that big of a deal to me, and I'm feeling pretty chilled. My emotions are really not in this so much, just still fascinated by the observations and had something to say about it. THIS is NOTHING, its quite petty from some of the outrageously rude behavior I've seen from other keyboard warriors. I just think it's a very interesting phenomenon but it isn't going to chap my ass as much as you think. I said my piece...let the rudeness continue, I like to watch.
Does it have the same level of accuracy of the fiberglass legend, of course not, but for the price and the fact is it injection molded, it's exceeded my expectations.
DARTH VADER ANH PCR HELMET - SPECIAL EDITION - $329
I like how you did a drive by earlier in the thread calling me "rude" just for pointing out that the helmet looked like a plastic toy. You clearly have a very thin skin if you find a comment like that rude and on a forum dedicated to screen accuracy I can tell you with 100% certainty that you're going to encounter a lot worse.