DARTH VADER EXPERTS please chime in!

[Prowler]

I need to know from some hard core Vader experts some facts about the costume.
1) Can anyone post a good pic of the chest aromor and which shoulder bell goes on which side? I have a Ghost host armor and am going attach the bells
2) Regarding the bells and chest armor. How were the bells attached to the chest in ESB I like the look where the bells are slightly under the chest armor like in the pic where vader is in his meditation chamber. Please be specific as im planning on attaching the bells in the same way.
3) Was there ever a cape hook used for the ESB/ROTJ armor. How about ANH?
4) In all three OT movies, was there a satin hem along the bottom of the cape or what it leather. Was it there at all???
5) exactly what kind of material is the cape made of? Ive seen many pics where it looks like a wool crepe.
I appreciate your help .
-Jo

 

[SHalamar]

I'll answer what I can:

3: There was no Cape hook in ANH. There MAY have been one in ESB, but if so, it was under the mask. There was one used in ROTJ.

4: Debateable. In a couple scene, you can see what may have been a satin trim on the bottom of the cape as Vader walks away. I believe it was the wool cape pulling away from the Satin lining as it flowed. My cape does this. You cannot see the satin from behind, unless I'm walking at a nice brisk pace.

5: The cape was made of wool, lined with Satin. Not sure what weight of wool was used in the movies. Look for a mid-weight wool, with no pattern to it. Too light, and it won't hang or flow right. Too heavy and you'll regret the weight, and the heat.

 

[TMP]

I disagree on the cape and robe issue you present.

There is a structure to the material of the cape and robe.
To say otherwise whould be wrong. all fabric have a texure.

If you judge by the movie scenes its impossible to se.
Its to dark and a film is putt on top of the movies to tone down the contrasts.
If you look on close up photos of the material used you will se it has a texture pattern or even the exebitions you will se this.

The satin edge on the cape is from the inner lining. Its not a extra material sown on. Its not leather.

I made on my old capes before with leather edges going from the neck and down to the bottom to make the finish better. But people did not want it so i removed it.

 

[SHalamar]

What I meant regarding the fabric, is to avoid a wool with an obvious pattern to it. Many Suiting wools have it, to help with the 'look'. It should have a rather simple texture to it, and hang well. If you're not going to purchase the cape from someone who makes them, get a few samples, and drape them to see how they hang, and flow. I think it took me three different wools until I found one I was happy with. Alas, the 'tropical' weight wools did not hang or flow right. And my shoulders hate me for it. :lol

 

[darthjones]

All of this makes sense but check it out - if you want a cape for accuracy and a cape for walking around in for hours you may want them to be 2 different things for effect, weight, warmth, etc.

I have a snapshot where you can see the material grain on an ESB hero cape.

But I have reached my MB posting limit. Would be happy to email direct to someone.

 

[Hermes]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(darthjones @ Feb 21 2007, 06:04 PM) [snapback]1423509[/snapback]</div>

All of this makes sense but check it out - if you want a cape for accuracy and a cape for walking around in for hours you may want them to be 2 different things for effect, weight, warmth, etc.

I have a snapshot where you can see the material grain on an ESB hero cape.

But I have reached my MB posting limit. Would be happy to email direct to someone.
[/b]

Jones, if by "someone" you mean anyone who chimes in, count me in. My e-mail is hermesiii@gmail.com and I'm really eager to see this texture you speak of

Thanks a lot.

 

[KevVader]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(darthjones @ Feb 21 2007, 01:04 PM) [snapback]1423509[/snapback]</div>

I have a snapshot where you can see the material grain on an ESB hero cape.

[/b]

Hey DJ....you mean this pic?

 

[TMP]

Compare that texture to the fabric i use on our capes and robes.
I had our fabric made to our specifics, I did not buy them.

I wanted the correct texture and the correct lenght.
This combined with the fact that we can cut our materials differently because we are not depended on store standard size lenght it allows us to get the fabrics texture correctly angled when we stich them together.

 

[Darth Kahnt]

Anyone have any idea of the width of that leather on the collar? It looks about 1.5 inches to me but Ive also heard one inch. Anyone know for sure?

 

[ob1al]

Dunno for sure, but I opted for 1" on my ANH cape and it looks right, to me.

 

[GINO]

That cape and inner robe set that was auctioned off (the one pictured above) is not a film used set.
For what its worth.

 

[DB73]

yeh thats not screen used, and most of the exhibition robes are not screen used either.

also i may be wrong but bails of wool in those days came wider than they do now without having the bail speacially woven for you. so alot less joins in a screen used than most fan capes..correct me if im wrong

another thing i heard once and this may be totally wrong but its how ive done my cape, the inner lining isnt attached to the lower cape instead its seamed and opened at the bottom so the cape drapes alot better as not all screen used capes had the bottom lining i left that off...this is just my own cape im refering to

 

[darthjones]

Hey, gang. YES... Thats the photo... I took that myself a ways back but it is pictured here a bit low-res...

But I remember Vader capes at ILM like this and others that were slightly "softer" with wider lines. Would be hard pressed to describe it further. Felt a tiny bit more "flannel" but it was definitely not flannel.

And as far as sections go, they do that to preserve the grain and fall of the material. They are called "gores." If you are just going for coverage without such consideration then there are fewer seams, yes.

This one was sold as an ANH movie cape but I thought it was the "Nooo disintegrations" cape from ESB.

GINO - how do you know its not screen used?. I personally can't tell. Got to wear it though.