eFX A New Hope Darth Vader Helmet

[Qui-Gonzalez]

Re: eFX ANH Vader?!?! WOW

Interesting article with an $899 price listed in the LA Times.

Thanks Facebook RPF!

 

[SithLord]

Re: eFX ANH Vader?!?! WOW

Interesting article with an $899 price listed in the LA Times.

Thanks Facebook RPF!

Yep thanks see post #483.

Interesting they do mention there might be a Muir signature version....it appeared to me like they were not going that route. I hope they do; I would prefer that over Dave Prowse' signature so as to finally give Brian his due credit.

 

[StarWars Collector]

Re: eFX ANH Vader?!?! WOW

Interesting article with an $899 price listed in the LA Times.

Thanks Facebook RPF!

Old news Qui...

For those whom are awaiting news of pricing, wait no longer. According to this article in the LA Times, the helmet will cost $899.

 

[Qui-Gonzalez]

Re: eFX ANH Vader?!?! WOW

Old news for a slow Saturday for me. LOL. This is what I get for looking for the TLDR posts. All creds to Trilogy!

And yes, I would much rather have Brian's autograph than Prowse's.

 

[Zombie Killer]

Re: eFX ANH Vader?!?! WOW

I say do both sig editions. The original helm with Brians sig and the cleaned up helm with Davids sig.

 

[The Death Curse]

Re: eFX ANH Vader?!?! WOW

Interesting article with an $899 price listed in the LA Times.

Thanks Facebook RPF!

Yes, but which version will cost $899? If they mean to say that the ultimate screen-accurate style will be $899, then hallelujah... :eek In addition, I'd imagine the "cleaned up" design will cost a bit less than the screen-accurate helmet, so that's even more great news.

Are there any real sculptural differences between the two releases? If so, what exactly has been changed between the two prototypes? Minus one specific circular swoop down by the cheek/mouth area (and that's still questionable), I can't find any real changes or smoother details on the "cleaned up" face mask yet. However, that "clean" dome actually looks better than the screen-accurate version, shape-wise. The screen-accurate proto's dome is extremely misshapen (bowed inward) on its lower right-hand side...Let's hope that's not present in the subsequent production copies!

Cheers,

Ryan

 

[Qui-Gonzalez]

Re: eFX ANH Vader?!?! WOW

My hope is a, $899 version of both, and a signature edition of both. Otherwise, I will be stripping that idealized stuff down and repainting it.

 

[Art Andrews]

Re: eFX ANH Vader?!?! WOW

Darn it, was logged in a Mirax there for a moment...

Ok, well the factory in China wouldn't be involved at this point.

This is incorrect. I don't want to say too much because I don't know what I can say and what I can't, but I feel I can at least verify that you are completely off the mark here without getting myself in trouble.

 

[The Death Curse]

Re: eFX ANH Vader?!?! WOW

My hope is a, $899 version of both, and a signature edition of both. Otherwise, I will be stripping that idealized stuff down and repainting it.

See, that was my thought at first..."Both versions are $899." Well, if that's truly the case, then both are likely to be from the same exact production molds. Further sculptural changes and new mold production would likely warrant a new price tag for one or both versions. Hence, we would be deciding purely on "either paintjob on the same blank and NO signature for less money" VS. "either paintjob on the same blank WITH signature for a lot more money." If that's all there is to it, then it will be VERY easy for me to make my purchase decision.

However, I can see this going in the opposite direction...$899 for the ultimate edition, and $799 or $699 for the potentially much simpler, less time-consuming, block-painted version. On top of that, heightened relative prices for both designs if a signature version of one or both is offered. Bah! We need to wait for official clarification, I guess. :lol

Cheers,

Ryan

 

[StarWars Collector]

Re: eFX ANH Vader?!?! WOW

Will these be offered as a kit also? :love

Sorry, I just had to ask...:lol

 

[Qui-Gonzalez]

Re: eFX ANH Vader?!?! WOW

However, I can see this going in the opposite direction...$899 for the ultimate edition, and $799 or $699 for the potentially much simpler, less time-consuming, block-painted version. On top of that, heightened relative prices for both designs if a signature version of one or both is offered. Bah! We need to wait for official clarification, I guess. :lol

Cheers,

Ryan

Wishful thinking, but there is NOTHING wrong with optimism. I see $899 as the LOW price.

 

[SithLord]

Re: eFX ANH Vader?!?! WOW

This is incorrect. I don't want to say too much because I don't know what I can say and what I can't, but I feel I can at least verify that you are completely off the mark here without getting myself in trouble.

Ok well where is China involved in the two castings that are on display now?

Molding? Casting? Finishing?

The only possibility then is that we are looking at final production versions and the molds for production are already ready to go. But if the castings themselves came from China I stand corrected.

But I doubt it, especially if the mounts are not finalized yet...

 

[Art Andrews]

Re: eFX ANH Vader?!?! WOW

You are not looking at the final production versions... and you do stand corrected.

Again, I don't want to overstep my bounds and say more than Bryan would want said on this, but this has been very enlightening for me personally to see where assumptions can get us on issues we don't have insight on and how we can come to think that a thing MUST be a certain way when it is not. I am beginning to understand a bit of the licensees frustration with us when we make declarative statements when we don't have all the facts. Thomas, I am by no means singling you out in this regard. We all do it from time to time, but sometimes we simply don't have all the facts and there is more we don't know than we realize. If Bryan wants to say more on this or more about the exact details about the prototypes on display at SDCC, I will let him do so.

 

[StarWars Collector]

Re: eFX ANH Vader?!?! WOW

I am beginning to understand a bit of the licensees frustration with us when we make declarative statements when we don't have all the facts. Thomas, I am by no means singling you out in this regard. We all do it from time to time, but sometimes we simply don't have all the facts and there is more we don't know than we realize. If Bryan wants to say more on this or more about the exact details about the prototypes on display at SDCC, I will let him do so.

My point exactly, Art.

 

[Qui-Gonzalez]

Re: eFX ANH Vader?!?! WOW

I am reminded of Steve's quote when he was with MR: "Trust me, that's exactly how it is."

 

[R.P. McMurphy]

Re: eFX ANH Vader?!?! WOW

I've ordered the McQuarrie, I'll definitely order one of these, and I'd love one of their x-wings. I guess I'll be living on bread and water for some time!

 

[CGClone]

Re: eFX ANH Vader?!?! WOW

So I'm taking it by this quote from the LA Times -

"There may be an edition of the helmets available that are autographed by David Prowse -- the actor who wore the Vader suit -- or sculptor Muir and, no surprise, the price might go up higher."

That our base price is going to be $899 for either and then for sig edition it goes up? Its all speculation, but it sure is fun! LOL $899 is not bad.

 

[The Death Curse]

Re: eFX ANH Vader?!?! WOW

Again, I don't want to overstep my bounds and say more than Bryan would want said on this, but this has been very enlightening for me personally to see where assumptions can get us on issues we don't have insight on and how we can come to think that a thing MUST be a certain way when it is not. I am beginning to understand a bit of the licensees frustration with us when we make declarative statements when we don't have all the facts. Thomas, I am by no means singling you out in this regard. We all do it from time to time, but sometimes we simply don't have all the facts and there is more we don't know than we realize. If Bryan wants to say more on this or more about the exact details about the prototypes on display at SDCC, I will let him do so.

Ain't that the truth? High five!

You know, all these new SDCC photos of both helmet prototypes have shown sculptural details from the original ANH helmet design that - to my knowledge - in terms of replicas, only the DarthJones pull has shared in common. Noticing all that stuff led me to easily spot a plethora of those same, shared sculptural details in bluray screenshots (using only the EFX protos and DarthJones helmet for cross reference, mind you) that I hadn't *ever* noticed before. Granted, the DJ is a bit sharper than the EFX and a couple of random nicks and indentations have been filled in and leveled off on the EFX. However, remnants of those details are still readily visible and there isn't much of a difference otherwise. The level of true-to-life detail maintained in the creation of these EFX prototypes is nothing short of astonishing.

What I'm trying to say is, when it gets to the point that we can learn more facts and spot more previously unseen or unconfirmed details from the level of accuracy in a commercially-available replica than we ever did from enlarging and examining the same tired old photos and screen shots of the original prop itself over the last 20 years, we will have taken an enormous step forward as a community. I personally believe that scenario could finally occur with the release of these EFX ANH helmets.

Cheers,

Ryan

 

[SithLord]

Re: eFX ANH Vader?!?! WOW

You are not looking at the final production versions... and you do stand corrected.

Again, I don't want to overstep my bounds and say more than Bryan would want said on this, but this has been very enlightening for me personally to see where assumptions can get us on issues we don't have insight on and how we can come to think that a thing MUST be a certain way when it is not. I am beginning to understand a bit of the licensees frustration with us when we make declarative statements when we don't have all the facts. Thomas, I am by no means singling you out in this regard. We all do it from time to time, but sometimes we simply don't have all the facts and there is more we don't know than we realize. If Bryan wants to say more on this or more about the exact details about the prototypes on display at SDCC, I will let him do so.

If the factory in China is involved then that's fine, and frankly to me what is more important is whether these helmets represent the final versions. Let's step back a moment:

Davy Jones posted:

Quote:
Originally Posted by CGClone View Post
eFX shows us at sdcc

So now the question begs, how many more molds are going to be made for manufacturing? What amount of warp, problems, angles changing etc are going to happen.

Knowing China, anything could happen. Look what happened to the Master Replicas Fett! It didnt come out anything like the paint masters prototypes. So unless this is handled with care be prepared for more warped domes etc.
Not trying to put a damper on things, just worried that China will continue their awful track record.

To me it seemed there was some concern about inaccuracies with the helmets arising as a result of the production end of things. I simply said it is unlikely at the prototype stage (as you've confirmed they are not production versions), and with these two helmets being shown in particular, that molds or pulls from China were involved. That is a reasonable assumption. But if they are from a production mold made in China or they are in fact pulls from China then I stand corrected. But I would not state as fact that they are not, simply that it is unlikely for eFX to show final production versions especially after hearing how rushed they were to get these castings to CC. If we find out more then fine, but in the meantime I hope we have license to make assumptions as to what might be reasonable.

 

[Darth Infamous]

Re: eFX ANH Vader?!?! WOW

The dome is certainly a concern for me. Knowing these are not final pieces gives me some relief. To be honest if the the dome on the rough Vader helm was to be on the final version I would not buy this helmet. As much as I like this helmet. The face mask btw looks great to me. It is a great piece overall but I am buying this piece for its authentic shape. I don't really mind that this mark or that mark is obscure or gone. I just want the authentic shape preserved. That is all. Why they allowed such warpage in that one dome is something I cant explain. Maybe it was time related. Maybe it was some other reason. Time will tell on this one. So I am really hoping they correct the dome because I want this piece in my collection.

Carl