eFX A New Hope Darth Vader Helmet

[exoray]

Re: eFX ANH Vader?!?! WOW

I always thought so too, but I recently have been told we (super detail oriented collectors) aren't nearly as large of a consumer group as we might like to think when compared to the average prop consumer. 3% was the number that I was given. I am sure that changes from company to company and product to product.

Yep, this isn't contained to this hobby or scene either... When it comes to Internet forums the members tend to really inflate their influence an impact overall in that scene as consumers... Yeah they might be and are the hardcore fans and yes they are surely part of the community with a vocal impact and influence but in then end they are small compared to the unknown masses that simply don't participate or get involved in the online communities but will buy the product...

 

[cboath]

Re: eFX ANH Vader?!?! WOW

I guess it depends on what you term 'average consumer' then. For example, i can't forsee someone who doesn't know the helmet was different in all 4 movies it appeared in shelling out that kinda cash for one. $300 for a lightsaber, I can see. Upwards of, or over, $1,000 for helmet? I just can't see.

Hell, I'M in the uber nerd category, and I'm having a lot of trouble convincing myself to spend that kind of money on one.

 

[Art Andrews]

Re: eFX ANH Vader?!?! WOW

Yep, this isn't contained to this hobby or scene either... When it comes to Internet forums the members tend to really inflate their influence an impact overall in that scene as consumers... Yeah they might be and are the hardcore fans and yes they are surely part of the community with a vocal impact and influence but in then end they are small compared to the unknown masses that simply don't participate or get involved in the online communities but will buy the product...

Agreed. I really think it is amazing the level of influence we do seem to have with some of the licensees and their willingness to pander to us in a lot of areas, knowing we aren't their "bread and butter." I won't pretend to speak for them, but I am sure some of it is because many of them do have a true passion for the hobby and the props they provide but also that while we may not be the biggest consumer group, we can be a large advocacy group for their product. There are a number of consumer prop products out there that the RPF comes up on the first page (and sometimes the first link) in terms of a Google search, meaning what we have to say could have an impact on the casual consumer.

Whatever the reason, I appreciate the licensees willingness to listen and incorporate some of our ideas into their products, even if they don't take every idea or appease us on every level.

 

[skynet]

Re: eFX ANH Vader?!?! WOW

How did the DS 20th century compare to a TM ROTJ in terms of size and shape?

Dan

I'm sry I can't provide an answer since the DS was sold many months before I got the TM ROTJ.

All I can say for 100 % bulletproof is, that the Elstree is a 20th Century recast with major cleanup done.

 

[SingleSeat]

Re: eFX ANH Vader?!?! WOW

I certainly agree with all of that, but I'm sure everyone can think of at least one licensed replica that paid little to no attention to what the hardened 3% of fans would appreciate and rode the fail boat all the way into the red. An investment in the most intimate levels of accuracy ends up selling the products produced three years from now, not today's Vader. It will sell just fine. These are investments in reputation.

 

[Too Much Garlic]

Re: eFX ANH Vader?!?! WOW

What the hell... a full 12+ hours since last post... this doesn't bode well...

 

[vaderdarth]

Re: eFX ANH Vader?!?! WOW

For me personally, just having a solid mounting system for any ANH helmet would be a plus. It'll never bee seen on my own helmet anyway. The only helmet I display in parts is the reveal from Jedi. Having a decent ANHesque trooping helmet, now that's a winner! It's all gonna depend on price at this point.

PS if the helmet paint job looks even remotely this nice, it will be worth a grand!

 

[JoeR]

Re: eFX ANH Vader?!?! WOW

EFX should do a run purely for the RPF. They should do something separate for the 3% of customers who want super accuracy. Unless LFL insists on nothing being too accurate as part of the licencing deal.

I can think of hundreds of people on here and other forums who would buy super accurate helmets, in fact I bet it could easily run into thousands. A thousand helmets at $1,000 is a lot of cash, surely this is worth doing!

Joe

 

[kraaam]

Re: eFX ANH Vader?!?! WOW

that's a nice idea.

could the members over at the propden have a 10% discount

 

[Qui-Gonzalez]

Re: eFX ANH Vader?!?! WOW

that's a nice idea.

could the members over at the propden have a 10% discount

LOL...even as a member of the Den, I have to ask "Why?"

 

[darthvaderv]

Re: eFX ANH Vader?!?! WOW

Quote:
Originally Posted by kraaam
that's a nice idea.

could the members over at the propden have a 10% discount

LOL...even as a member of the Den, I have to ask "Why?"

If you don't ask you don't get maybe? :lol

At this early stage it's a promising piece that's rejuvenated a welcome interest in Vader and I applaud the company for going the extra mile.
It will be a step under an authentic casting such as the SL but no doubt worth the money when you think what companies have released over the years in terms of official Vader product.

 

[vader71]

Re: eFX ANH Vader?!?! WOW

While I would love to think that there are 1000 hard core Vader fans that want a accurate replica I would bet the number of buyers will be alot lower than that. They would easily sell 100 but would have a hard to finding 250 buyers for a "accurate" version. Over at Rebelscum there are alot of guys wanting the cleaned up idealized version.

Looking forward to seeing what they display at SDCC.

 

[Qui-Gonzalez]

Re: eFX ANH Vader?!?! WOW

While I would love to think that there are 1000 hard core Vader fans that want a accurate replica I would bet the number of buyers will be alot lower than that. They would easily sell 100 but would have a hard to finding 250 buyers for a "accurate" version. Over at Rebelscum there are alot of guys wanting the cleaned up idealized version.

Looking forward to seeing what they display at SDCC.

That isn't too hard to believe about RS. On the surface, they seem like happy collectors who will not scrutinize too deeply and will take whatever is offered up, for the most part.

Honestly, I picture the idealized versions looking like James Kenobi's ANH costume, sprayed finish, smoothed out look. Not bad, just not for me.

 

[vistaVision]

Re: eFX ANH Vader?!?! WOW

EFX should do a run purely for the RPF. They should do something separate for the 3% of customers who want super accuracy. Unless LFL insists on nothing being too accurate as part of the licencing deal.

I can think of hundreds of people on here and other forums who would buy super accurate helmets, in fact I bet it could easily run into thousands. A thousand helmets at $1,000 is a lot of cash, surely this is worth doing!

Joe

It's a mistake thinking that the "special" run helmets would retail for the same $$ as the larger "consumer" run. No way. New molds would have to be made, a separate assembly/paint line, special packaging, higher standards for QC. All these costs divided into a smaller production run. Maybe double the cost of the "consumer" product. I don't believe the sales "could easily run into the thousands." So few that it won't be worth the effort. Cool idea however!

 

[JoeR]

Re: eFX ANH Vader?!?! WOW

It's a mistake thinking that the "special" run helmets would retail for the same $$ as the larger "consumer" run. No way. New molds would have to be made, a separate assembly/paint line, special packaging, higher standards for QC. All these costs divided into a smaller production run. Maybe double the cost of the "consumer" product. I don't believe the sales "could easily run into the thousands." So few that it won't be worth the effort. Cool idea however!

I disagree, maybe we should do a poll to see?

 

[vaderdarth]

Re: eFX ANH Vader?!?! WOW

Actually, eFx has the ability to paint using tampo printed graphics. So in essence, if they scan an original paint scheme, each helmet thereafter will be identical. So brush strokes giving character to the piece can match perfectly from one helmet to the next. That is assuming they want to go to the expense of making this thing perfect.

 

[vistaVision]

Re: eFX ANH Vader?!?! WOW

I don't think a poll would reveal accurate numbers. Look at our own Junkyard behavior. How many times do you see dozens of people responding positive to an interest thread and then the OP ends up struggling to sell 2 units. Happens all the time.

But you could try, and it would be interesting at the least. Carefully worded, fully explained. I still think the "I'll take one" responses would be inflated.

Give it a shot. Maybe we could give eFX some useful input? Can't hurt.

 

[Qui-Gonzalez]

Re: eFX ANH Vader?!?! WOW

I think eFx has capable hands with this Vader and the deal is already done.

 

[itsalive]

Re: eFX ANH Vader?!?! WOW

Hows about a dual mount system. The holes are there in the helmet for the tabs. The system is sold with the new fangled mounting system in place. It's secured to the helmet in the tabs original mounting holes.

It could also comes with a legacy system, so if the user wants to display the helmet and dome as two pieces. They can unscrew the new fangled mounting systems male connector part off of the helmet, and screw in the prop accurate legacy tabs.

Win/Win

To reduce the wear on those mounting tab holes. They can imbed metal female threaded plugs into the holes during the casting stage.

I want the tabs. I don't want some permanent deviated sculptural change to that area to secure the helmet. There are plenty of walk arounds to keep/use the shape and hole layout in that area "As Is" to hold the dome on.

 

[Qui-Gonzalez]

Re: eFX ANH Vader?!?! WOW

I may be wrong in this, but we are already going to be offered an altered helmet. At that point, having the tabs gone makes no difference. You are not getting an accurate prop replica, but an on screen helmet. I don't think you can find those tabs in any kind of quantity any longer, so why would you want them? They are not a good means of mounting the dome to the face.