A Darth Vader Collection and Lineage Thread....

[SithLord]

Qui-Gonzalez This message is hidden because Qui-Gonzalez is on your ignore list.

 

[The Death Curse]

Likewise a pleasure!



Well it could always be better. But keep in mind what I show of my own masks is pretty high resolution AND magnification. What I show of photos I have or screencaps are basically the best I have.

I see. That is good to know.

Well not completely different. Lighting angle affects relief of an object in terms of where the shadows fall, therefore how tall it might be or how sharp an edge might look. Given the details are so small in relation to the light source, it isn't the case of shadows masking detail, for example. Those two little circular details on the side of the nose that I show on the SL ANH....they are two little circular details. Different lighting angles will simply cast shadows on different parts of the same detail. Bright reflections off surfaces can mask details, certainly, but I am showing what is there.

I didn't mean to insinuate that "shadows" would be masking the appearance of any such small detail. I meant to suggest that, depending on the light source's location(s), you can sometimes get an image that shows something very different from the last, including washing out some details completely and showing other sides/angles of details present in another lighting. To some people who can't understand the 3D aspect of the shapes shown in your images (again, due to not owning any extremely high lineage castings), one lighting situation on the same area of a replica mask VS. a different lighting situation on the Tantive ANH screen caps or bts shots can become a confusing, unreliable mess.

And I'm *NOT* saying that all of your photos are a "confusing, unreliable mess"...In fact, I see quite a few of the mask details you have pointed out earlier in the thread, including the pit around the eye opening and the dip on the sharp edge of the one cheek. However, there are a few other comparisons you've made which really don't quite drive home the point of "This precisely represents this."

I can easily show that in photographs. Video cannot match the resolution of still digital images.

Why don't you tell me what detail you have a question about? Otherwise it is no different than the other guy who just said it is crap. You are just saying it more nicely and in greater depth. :lol And I find it interesting that I have people with low post counts trying to stir the pot about the same thing...image quality, without actually addressing something specific about the details I present and discuss.

I never said such a thing and I consider you paranoid for even suggesting it. Furthermore, my post count on this forum does not matter in the least. Anyone with an eye for detail will most likely feel inconclusive regarding your last comparison pic of the right cheek face of the SL and TD VS. the "ANH original reflection line"...The evidence, in the case of the ANH shot used, to prove that any minute detail from the TD helmet is also present on the original hero helmet is a bit far-fetched. However, the SL helmet in comparison to the ANH looks dead-on and I can spot most of its details on the visible parts of the ANH cheek immediately. However, the TD (minus the light reflection) looks almost entirely different.

I know and I sympathize with those who don't. Hopefully showing details as I have shown will encourage them to study castings themselves in person in more detail. Any casting has things to discover on it, to various degrees. But if I show a detail, I show what it looks like on the original mask. So my own ability to discern accurate detail is limited by the reference I have of the original mask. So I only show what I feel confident about....ie: that it really is on the original mask.

Why don't you then point out something specific and I'll endeavor to show it more clearly.

Man, you just made me realize how far I'd travel to hold some of these masks in my own hands for examination...:lol Anyway, I mentioned one thing in particular above that you could perhaps show more clearly, if you would like to try.

They are my own photos that I take of my castings. Only the TM mask I have agreed not to show in detail. Anything I do show will be to address what someone else has shown in regard to accuracy.

...

Well that's already been done, mostly based on details shown of the VP ANH and TM ESB masks.

...

True, but people try nonetheless, and not just in terms of physically replicating but also in terms of painting details on to make them look real.

I did NOT know that. It probably should have been obvious to me, since the sky is the limit when it comes to fanaticism for Vader helmets. Well, I hope that you can maintain the degree of secrecy you strive for with these pieces, then. That said, I'm extremely surprised that nobody here has molded any of those 2nd/3rd gen face plates/helms, even under the table. If you don't mind me asking, did you have to agree to any conditions regarding recasting/molding before you purchased either the SL or TD pieces? 'Just curious how that works.

It really is no different than the Blade Runner hero pistol issue that came up a while ago when someone showed photos of the original. What is the point of having something authentic and collectible if you show everything about it? :lol But I will show what I think is necessary to make a point.

I think it depends on the prop/wardrobe/object in question, personally. I own one prop (screen-used and screen-matched) that I want to protect partially from people who want to produce perfect replicas. However, I am not stingy with photos. I've taken quite a few and have them uploaded in plain sight of anyone who wants to see. The secret is lighting and presentation. (IE: I won't take photos of my prop in certain lighting situations or show its underside to help keep its complete construction methods and authenticity intact.)

You could actually take some pretty large, clear photos of your helmets for public viewing if you had the right lighting situation and kept the camera at odd angles to avoid showing dead-on "maps" of important sculpture/paint details. It'd be lovely to finally see your SL and TD helmets in larger, clear photos.

Me? Offended? Never! :lol

Thanks too for posting....

Funny! I hope the "Thanks" part wasn't sarcastic, though. I'm being nothing if not totally courteous and personable right now. Furthermore, I am truly interested in this whole...chart/lineage tree/discussion/argument/TD & SL helmet comparison/mess, and would like to take away something enlightening from reading it all. Owning an accurate ANH or ESB Vader helmet is one of my oldest prop dreams. That is why I suddenly popped out of the woodwork.

Thanks and cheers,

Ryan

 

[LeAngeSolitaire]

An acquaintance of mine was a propmaker on ROTJ and has somewhere a Vader lid that he pulled from the ROTJ moulds one night as a personal souvenir. I'll get some pics next time I see him.

 

[skynet]

Now this is something I definately can't wait to see!

 

[SithLord]

An acquaintance of mine was a propmaker on ROTJ and has somewhere a Vader lid that he pulled from the ROTJ moulds one night as a personal souvenir. I'll get some pics next time I see him.

Very intriguing and thanks for posting. I'll be curious to see if it is like Brian Muir's ROTJ helmet that he also got from a friend who worked on the production or if it is more like the screen helmets.

 

[LeAngeSolitaire]

I'll give him a call sometime and ask him. He's a retired fabricator, one of countless craftsmen who were hired to do fibreglass work on the movies. He's not even a big fan of the movies let alone a prop geek. The only reason I know about this thing is that I saw it in the corner of his garage on a visit to his house about 5 years ago. It's a raw pull, unfinished and unpainted. By all accounts, there are a few of these lids kicking around as the guys all did some extras one night as mementos.

 

[SithLord]

That sounds great, another casting to add to the lineage. :thumbsup

 

[Darth Niob]

Lookin forward to the pics:love

 

[Too Much Garlic]

An acquaintance of mine was a propmaker on ROTJ and has somewhere a Vader lid that he pulled from the ROTJ moulds one night as a personal souvenir. I'll get some pics next time I see him.

Interesting. Looking forward to seeing that.

 

[sskunky]

I'll give him a call sometime and ask him. He's a retired fabricator, one of countless craftsmen who were hired to do fibreglass work on the movies. He's not even a big fan of the movies let alone a prop geek. The only reason I know about this thing is that I saw it in the corner of his garage on a visit to his house about 5 years ago. It's a raw pull, unfinished and unpainted. By all accounts, there are a few of these lids kicking around as the guys all did some extras one night as mementos.

Yeah, give him a call and get him to post over to me so I can examine it for a very long time.......:love
What I'd do to get me an original casting or at the very least one from an original mould.
I have a few casting but not quite close enough for my liking since reading and learning about Vader in the recent years... These kind of threads help so much with the understanding on direct lineage castings and I thank you Thomas for enlightening me further and everyone else that have contributed.
Now I just need to go and remortgage just in case something pops up....:lol

 

[Qui-Gonzalez]

An acquaintance of mine was a propmaker on ROTJ and has somewhere a Vader lid that he pulled from the ROTJ moulds one night as a personal souvenir. I'll get some pics next time I see him.

Little gems like this are worth waiting for...if it is true. Forgive my skepticism, though.

 

[LeAngeSolitaire]

Little gems like this are worth waiting for...if it is true. Forgive my skepticism, though.

No problem. Just something I thought I'd post in passing. I'm not a big SW fan and the passion you guys have for this stuff is mind boggling. The lineage charts amaze me!

I'm more of a Doctor Who fan myself :love

 

[Qui-Gonzalez]

No problem. Just something I thought I'd post in passing. I'm not a big SW fan and the passion you guys have for this stuff is mind boggling. The lineage charts amaze me!

I'm more of a Doctor Who fan myself :love

Doctor who?

Hey my fingers are crossed you can get us some really good pics of this.

 

[Brian Muir]

LeAngeSolitaire - if you give me your friend's name (privately if you wish) I would be able to verify whether he was on the ROTJ production

Brian

 

[LeAngeSolitaire]

I will put this to him Brian. Who knows, maybe you know each other? However I don't want to get myself or any other party embroiled in any of the politics and bickering that this place is famous for when all I have done is mention something in passing I thought might be of interest to some people. I will obtain some pics and that's it. If the person doesn't want his name made public, that is something all of us has to accept. Having seen some of the legendary squabbles on here I hardly blame some people for not wanting to get involved.

 

[CSMacLaren]

 

[SithLord]

Why thank-you Mac.

I look forward to the next 20 pages. :lol


:confused

 

[Too Much Garlic]

I will put this to him Brian. Who knows, maybe you know each other?

Anymore word on this?

 

[Too Much Garlic]

Guess it was a dud.

 

[Nightwing Returns]

I guess so... Bummer.