Darth Vader Chest Armor Question

[womo68]

Hey guys,

I'm trying to put together my Vader chest armor and was wondering how you guys attach your shoulder bells? Are they generally under the main armor piece or do they line up parallel? I can't seem to find a real clear pic...also, I want to go towards an ESB look.

Pics would be great.


thanks in advance

 

[Too Much Garlic]

There are two styles. Lined up with armor or beneath it. The second one is the most prominent positioning throughout the trilogy and what looks the best, in my opinion.

 

[womo68]

Awesome!!! Thanks so much for the pic Mr. Garlic!

 

[Too Much Garlic]

You're welcome, oh, and it's just Garlic, please. Mr. sounds so formal. :cheers

 

[CAndrewNelson]

Hey guys,

I'm trying to put together my Vader chest armor and was wondering how you guys attach your shoulder bells? Are they generally under the main armor piece or do they line up parallel? I can't seem to find a real clear pic...also, I want to go towards an ESB look.

Pics would be great.


thanks in advance

I can tell you firsthand that with all the Vader costumes from the original Star Wars trilogy the shoulders are attached to the main chest armor by hinges. They are slightly offset and tucked under on the ANH and ESB costumes. For ROTJ the shoulders were mounted so that they were even with the chest armor. The ESB style is by far the most impressive looking, but the ROTJ style is a bit more comfortable (although more susceptible to damage).

 

[GINO]

I can tell you firsthand that with all the Vader costumes from the original Star Wars trilogy the shoulders are attached to the main chest armor by hinges. They are slightly offset and tucked under on the ANH and ESB costumes. For ROTJ the shoulders were mounted so that they were even with the chest armor. The ESB style is by far the most impressive looking, but the ROTJ style is a bit more comfortable (although more susceptible to damage).

For ANH, hinges were not used. That started in ESB. And all the ROTJ armor sets were actually re-used ESB armor.
All the ESB sets were hinged, except for the set shown in the meditation chamber (which I very strongly believe is the ANH set repainted.)
The ANH armor is the only set that has loops under the shoulder bells.
And the armor in the meditation chamber sequence has the loops as well and hinges are not utilized.
No armor in ESB/ROTJ has bells that were not attached by hinges nor does any set have loops on the shoulder bells.
Hope that helps.


.

 

[CAndrewNelson]

For ANH, hinges were not used. That started in ESB. And all the ROTJ armor sets were actually re-used ESB armor.
All the ESB sets were hinged, except for the set shown in the meditation chamber (which I very strongly believe is the ANH set repainted.)
The ANH armor is the only set that has loops under the shoulder bells.
And the armor in the meditation chamber sequence has the loops as well and hinges are not utilized.
No armor in ESB/ROTJ has bells that were not attached by hinges nor does any set have loops on the shoulder bells.
Hope that helps.


.

I would beg to differ with you just a bit on that. Not all of the ROTJ armor sets were re-used ESB armor. Some were actually created for ROTJ. The pieces are marked on the inside. Having worn parts from each of the original three films I've noticed the minor differences in the construction of the ESB Vader armor and the ROTJ Vader armor. On one occasion Lucasfilm actually had me in bits and pieces from all three films, sort of making me a walking trilogy. :lol

Over the years I've handled and/or worn all of the surviving Vader armor and costume parts that now reside in Archives Building at Skywalker Ranch. It's the most amazing costume I've ever seen or worn. Horrendously uncomfortable though, but as an actor you channel that discomfort into your villainous performance.

 

[Trap Joe]

I would beg to differ with you just a bit on that. Not all of the ROTJ armor sets were re-used ESB armor. Some were actually created for ROTJ. The pieces are marked on the inside. Having worn parts from each of the original three films I've noticed the minor differences in the construction of the ESB Vader armor and the ROTJ Vader armor. On one occasion Lucasfilm actually had me in bits and pieces from all three films, sort of making me a walking trilogy. :lol

Over the years I've handled and/or worn all of the surviving Vader armor and costume parts that now reside in Archives Building at Skywalker Ranch. It's the most amazing costume I've ever seen or worn. Horrendously uncomfortable though, but as an actor you channel that discomfort into your villainous performance.

Wow! Congrats. Must be great to have this kind of access. It seems like you are the man who walkes into Ellers footsteps. I´m sure may people will have a lot of questions to you.
I also have one. Were you allowed to take some pictures? Can you share some of them with us Vader nerds?

 

[Darth Niob]

Wow! Congrats. Must be great to have this kind of access. It seems like you are the man who walkes into Ellers footsteps. I´m sure may people will have a lot of questions to you.
I also have one. Were you allowed to take some pictures? Can you share some of them with us Vader nerds?

I have to second that. Very interessting to hear that from a person who has such infos. May i ask what part of armor and helmets you have seen/worn or know off?

 

[CSMacLaren]

I would beg to differ with you just a bit on that. Not all of the ROTJ armor sets were re-used ESB armor. Some were actually created for ROTJ. The pieces are marked on the inside. Having worn parts from each of the original three films I've noticed the minor differences in the construction of the ESB Vader armor and the ROTJ Vader armor. On one occasion Lucasfilm actually had me in bits and pieces from all three films, sort of making me a walking trilogy. :lol

Over the years I've handled and/or worn all of the surviving Vader armor and costume parts that now reside in Archives Building at Skywalker Ranch. It's the most amazing costume I've ever seen or worn. Horrendously uncomfortable though, but as an actor you channel that discomfort into your villainous performance.

Thank you for coming forward and bringing light to the question of whether or not the ROTJ props were recycled ESB props.

What are your observations of the helmets?

 

[GINO]

I have no intentions of getting into a debate.
I stand by what I said. Take it for what it's worth.

 

[Darth Niob]

I have no intentions of getting into a debate.
I stand by what I said. Take it for what it's worth.

And as always thats not worth only one cent. Go and talk with yourself. :rolleyes

 

[CSMacLaren]

Guys, can we keep this civil? Gino is entitled to his opinion, but some of us prefer to inquire of people who have actually been at the ILM Archives and handled and studied the props first hand.

In this case, here is a gentleman who has firsthand knowledge, having actually worn them. I would value his insights over any fan heresay.

We're very fortunate to have people like him and Brian Muir provide us with insights and confirmation we did not have before.

 

[CAndrewNelson]

Wow! Congrats. Must be great to have this kind of access. It seems like you are the man who walkes into Ellers footsteps. I´m sure may people will have a lot of questions to you.
I also have one. Were you allowed to take some pictures? Can you share some of them with us Vader nerds?

I began playing Vader for Lucasfilm in 1994. I was already working for Lucas at the the time. I spent six years at LucasArts where I was a visual effects supervisor and senior artist, then moved over to Industrial Light & Magic as a compositor, matte painter, rotoscoper, and texture artist working on the Star Wars prequels and other films. When I was tapped to play Vader for that first event I figured it was just a one time deal - a once in a lifetime opportunity that I thanked God I had a chance to do. But then they kept calling me back again and again. As it stands I have played Vader over 70 times for commercials, TV shows, print ads, live appearances, computer/video games, and the added scenes of the Special Edition. I'm told that by now I've spent more time in the official Vader costume than anyone else. I'm not sure about that, but I'm not about to argue with Lucasfilm.

I stumbled across this forum by accident while researching something completely unrelated. But as an actor (I've been acting since I was ten years old) I have always loved costumes and props so I'm delighted to discover this site. Everyone's work that I've seen so far is (dare I say it?) "...Impressive,...most impressive."

Trap Joe: In answer to your question, yes I have many behind-the-scenes photos of me in various stages of dress as Vader. Lucasfilm was kind enough to allow me to take those photos over the years so that I would have them as personal mementos. I would not feel right publishing them. Although we were always careful to make sure that as few people as possible ever saw the characters without their heads on, I suppose if people searched hard enough they might be able to find a few photos of me in the costume with the mask off. Lord knows there is a plethora of images of me in full costume as Vader on all sorts of merchandise and advertising all around the world. I'll post some links to those sorts of photos if anyone is interested (too sleepy to scout for them now).

 

[CAndrewNelson]

Guys, can we keep this civil? Gino is entitled to his opinion, but some of us prefer to inquire of people who have actually been at the ILM Archives and handled and studied the props first hand.

In this case, here is a gentleman who has firsthand knowledge, having actually worn them. I would value his insights over any fan heresay.

We're very fortunate to have people like him and Brian Muir provide us with insights and confirmation we did not have before.

Yes, I ceratainly didn't mean to jump in and kindle a flame war of any kind. Hopefully everyone who feels strongly about the topic can agree to disagree without making it personal.

As I stated, I've been an actor since I was 10 and have been working professionally as an actor for many years. Yet as anyone who has ever met me at a convention or lecture can attest to, I'm a big geek too. I've always been fascinated by costume & prop design, miniatures, animation, visual effects, and story telling in general. And I was a bonafide Star Wars fanboy long before I ever drew a paycheck from the franchise. I still am a fan. You have to enjoy this business or there's no point in being in it. And I truly enjoy it.

So I hope everyone appreciates that I in no way meant to stir anything up by throwing my two cents in. I'm only hoping to help illuminate the topics discussed with whatever insider knowledge I've gained. I'm happy to answer any questions that don't violate the stack of non-disclosure agreements with my signature on them that presumably is tucked safely away in a file cabinet in Lucasfilm's legal department.

 

[vader71]

Good to have someone who has logged some serious hours as Vader on the board. Welcome to the party!
Hope all the Vader drama does not scare you away, because there are not many topics that have more drama than the Vader threads.

 

[HAL9000]

Mr Nelson, Do you have any opinions about the current and recent Auctions of Vader pieces?

Further to that, would it not aid LFL if your memories and reference were able to demystify and correct certain untruths about their property?

 

[Too Much Garlic]

I guess this has a potential of going OT in regards to OP's topic, but it's good to have so many on this forum who actually had access to and handled the original pieces, was part of LFL, ILM or actually there during the production. Let's hope that the rabid fans don't drive them away or quiets them from offering us all what they know.

:cheers

 

[CSMacLaren]

Yes, I ceratainly didn't mean to jump in and kindle a flame war of any kind. Hopefully everyone who feels strongly about the topic can agree to disagree without making it personal.

My comments weren't in any way directed towards you. Quite the opposite: I didn't want anyone to scare you away! People simply have to accept the fact that no one individual has all the answers. We have to keep asking questions until we get a clearer understanding.

Back to my original question: did you see both ESB helmets and ROTJ helmets? And have you any observations you can share in that regard?

Thanks in advance!

 

[NAZGÛL]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge!