eFX A New Hope Darth Vader Helmet

[SithLord]

Re: eFX ANH Vader?!?! WOW

Okay children.

You're all a bunch of idiots for obsessing over such minute details, that if they had had a bigger budget wouldn't even be there.

The two tone paint job looks great on film but looks ridiculous on display.

I'm going to buy one and PAINT if black. So there.

Hopefully it will make your heads explode and we will all be free of your nonsense.

Keep your arrogant comments which contribute nothing to the thread to yourself please. If you don't like it find another thread to troll or insult people.

To throw in your usual two cents into a thread about which you know nothing belies your typical arrogance, assuming that everyone thinks the same way you do in that when they fork out $900 for a Darth Vader helmet they won't care about:

1. The Lineage

2. The generation

3. The retention of detail

4. The shape of the casting

5. The size of the casting

6. The finishing quality

etc. etc.

If you have something constructive to contribute then great, but nobody cares about your usual inane one or two sentence comments.

 

[SithLord]

Re: eFX ANH Vader?!?! WOW

BTW, the lower tooth gaps should be cut so the corners are square and not rounded as much...

 

[SithLord]

Re: eFX ANH Vader?!?! WOW

I noticed the the mouth walls on the DJ Helmet look slightly thicker than on the eFX helmet. Although, I don't have Photoshop at the moment to do a better photo analysis. Anybody else see the same thing?

I went back to check this and I think it is fine, on the left side (Vader's right) of the mouth triangle some of the gunmetal paint is creeping onto the front surface making it look thinner a bit, but the thickness is ok there. Perhaps a bit was taken off from the inside of the U-shaped part of the nose because on Vader's left it seems just a bit thinner, but not too bad.

 

[SithLord]

Re: eFX ANH Vader?!?! WOW

Another eFX vs DJ comp....this time with the clean eFX casting. The dome of the clean version as I mentioned before is definitely the better of the two, making me think it goes with the brushed mask. It almost seems like the height of the center dome ridge is just a tad less on the eFX. The DJ provides a good example of the correct paint scheme as well, in addition to better grills. Also I don't see a reason to trim the tooth gaps the way they were...they look fine untrimmed (on their sides) as seen on the DJ, but on the eFX they are a bit too wide in places. But apart from these few quibbles still the eFX is looking not too shabby even in clean form. Somehow DJ achieved a great balance between a clean and hand-applied look, amazing when you consider that he painted this, when, before there was even the internet? Credit and thanks to DJ for a terrific photo of his helmet.

 

[Too Much Garlic]

Re: eFX ANH Vader?!?! WOW

Find out for yourself and prove me wrong or keep your snide thoughts to yourself.

I don't need to prove you wrong, you're doing a fine job yourself.

 

[MK Ultra]

Re: eFX ANH Vader?!?! WOW

MK Ultra, those are some great pics!

Thanks Art, glad you liked them.:thumbsup

 

[AJK001]

Re: eFX ANH Vader?!?! WOW

Just my opinion, which is as valid as anyone elses, but if you don't like the eFX helmets, then don't buy them. If you like the way the casting looks and don't like the paint jobs, then buy them and have them repainted. As most of us have found out over the years, it is really hard to determine anything from pictures, no matter how high res they are.

I for one, and probably one of the few, like the way both of them look and will buy both of them and leave them as is.

 

[darthvaderv]

Re: eFX ANH Vader?!?! WOW

BTW, the lower tooth gaps should be cut so the corners are square and not rounded as much...

Yes, The teeth aren't too far out IMO, not perfect but close-ish, definately a welcomed improvement over straight teeth from a licensed mask. It's just really the first slot I'm not keen on but a good job.

First pic is from Thomas...

 

[CGClone]

Re: eFX ANH Vader?!?! WOW

So, in hopes of eFX reading this thread, what are we really hoping for here guys in this thread? Chest beating? Cmon now - we get a frikking cast of a legit helmet, not something scanned and outputted, this is pretty much a gem. Sure, this and that are here and there, but cmon now.

Theres no charades being played with this helmet like all the other helmet pulls in the Vader world and its come to sandbox politics and a pi$$ing match.

 

[Qui-Gonzalez]

Re: eFX ANH Vader?!?! WOW

So, in hopes of eFX reading this thread, what are we really hoping for here guys in this thread? Chest beating? Cmon now - we get a frikking cast of a legit helmet, not something scanned and outputted, this is pretty much a gem. Sure, this and that are here and there, but cmon now.

Theres no charades being played with this helmet like all the other helmet pulls in the Vader world and its come to sandbox politics and a pi$$ing match.

Hear hear. Again, eFX probably has source material none of us here will EVER have. I am taking it at face value. My only hope is no dome warping like we saw on the brush painted Vader. I will buy the best looking one to suit me, but I am sold.

 

[Art Andrews]

Re: eFX ANH Vader?!?! WOW

assuming that everyone thinks the same way you do in that when they fork out $900 for a Darth Vader helmet they won't care about:

1. The Lineage

2. The generation

3. The retention of detail

4. The shape of the casting

5. The size of the casting

6. The finishing quality

Thomas, I have sat and watched you do everything you can to tear this helmet apart, to the point that you are undermining your own purpose because you are making it very clear this is a personal issue and not simply a sincere criticism of the helmet (where have we seen that before, very recently?). Each post is sounding more and more desperate and I don't know what you are hoping to gain. The truth is, the most die hard Darth Vader fans are never going to be satisfied with a mass produced piece, and who is surprised by that? The most die hard Fett fans weren't happy with the MR Fett either, and we made our gripe about the one glaring error clear, but didn't bother with a micro examination of a prototype piece, because 1) it is a prototype 2) it is going to be a mass produced piece 3) no matter what we said, some things won't change but 99% of the market will be thrilled with it anyway.

Why am I commenting now? Because your quote above really seems to be grossly stepping over the line by insulting anyone who would consider buying the eFX Vader. Go back and look at virtually any Vader helmet that is worth anything... $900 is a steal for a finished helmet with such clear lineage. Is it perfect? Surely not. Will there be faults and inconsistencies on the final product? I have no doubt there will be. Is this still, hands down, the BEST massed produced Vader helmet ever offered to the public, despite its imperfections? Yup. Is it worth further degrading your already flagging reputation so you can get in a couple more indirect jabs at Gino and eFX? I guess that is for you to decide for yourself, but I think insulting all the would-be buyers and treating them with such disrespect as you have done above is not helping to shore up your case against your perceived enemies.

 

[RKW]

Re: eFX ANH Vader?!?! WOW

Lol

Art, in defence of Thomas he wasn't suggesting every EFX customer wouldn't care about those six points. He was saying that just because Mic may think that way doesn't mean everyone else shouldn't care about the details. Atleast that's how I interpreted his post.

However I'm sure the owners of the SL & TM castings are all breathing a huge sigh of relief

 

[Art Andrews]

Re: eFX ANH Vader?!?! WOW

Art, in defence of Thomas he wasn't suggesting every EFX customer wouldn't care about those six points. He was saying that just because Mic may think that way doesn't mean everyone else shouldn't care about the details. Atleast that's how I interpreted his post.

Maybe I just misread it, but it sure looks to me like Thomas is saying if you buy this helmet, you MUST not care about those things. If I am wrong, Thomas you have my apology, although I stand by my other comments about your overall approach to this thread.

However I'm sure the owners of the SL & TM castings are all breathing a huge sigh of relief

Did you guys REALLY think that a mass produced product was going to compete with a hand done piece by members here? If so, I am shocked.

I think this is a beautiful piece and I think most of the customer base is going to blown away by it, but when it comes to this vs a helmet that is hand finished by one of you... I guess I don't know what you were ever worried about.

 

[vaderdarth]

Re: eFX ANH Vader?!?! WOW

Hey it just has to exceed the DP Deluxe production helmets and equal the MR ROTS helmets to meet my own expectations for a solid collectible. Though the 6 concerns Sithlord have mentioned are certainly valid, we won't know for sure what eFx puts out until we see a finished production sample. One thing that I can say for sure about eFx, they do listen to the fans wants and suggestions on their products. I've already seen a couple changes made on the TIE model based on collector feedback. They do also have to work from a business model in that it has to be mass produced and satisfy thousands more people than are on this forum. It may have to be a bit prettier than our desires to make the general public happy. I can live with some minor esthetic improvements though the perfectionist in me wants every bump/bubble/scratch and dent. I think it's well within eFx's ability to come to some compromise with collectors. I mean if they are offering two versions, they've already met most of our criteria, right?

All in all, I believe that from what I've seen of Art's photos, eFx is on the right track. This helmet is not meant to compete with the likes of an SL or TD or TM or DJ helmet. Those are certainly of a different caliber! But it will easily hold it's on with most die hard collectors for what it is versus it's price tag.

Dave

 

[RKW]

Re: eFX ANH Vader?!?! WOW

Did you guys REALLY think that a mass produced product was going to compete with a hand done piece by members here? If so, I am shocked.

I think this is a beautiful piece and I think most of the customer base is going to blown away by it, but when it comes to this vs a helmet that is hand finished by one of you... I guess I don't know what you were ever worried about.

If you're just talking about paint then no but what most of us are talking about is the sculpt which is not hand done by members it's just untouched castings.

You've recently been impressed with Weta's accuracy when it comes to clean up, no? MFX has also produced product with no clean up so that's what we or I was hoping from EFX.

 

[Qui-Gonzalez]

Re: eFX ANH Vader?!?! WOW

This helmet is not meant to compete with the likes of an SL or TD or TM or DJ helmet. Those are certainly of a different caliber! But it will easily hold it's on with most die hard collectors for what it is versus it's price tag.

Dave

Well, why not? Some of the helmets you have listed above have had some extensive reworking done to them. Hell, aside from the DJ, haven't they ALL had reworking done to them?

 

[vaderdarth]

Re: eFX ANH Vader?!?! WOW

Shoot there is a certain amount of reworking involved in the paint process to eliminate blobs and pinholes in any of the castings.

I don't recall "extensive" reworking on any of the above castings

I'm talking about some cleanup that the general public will expect. Not what us collectors wish to avoid.

 

[Art Andrews]

Re: eFX ANH Vader?!?! WOW

If you're just talking about paint then no but what most of us are talking about is the sculpt which is not hand done by members it's just untouched castings.

You've recently been impressed with Weta's accuracy when it comes to clean up, no? MFX has also produced product with no clean up so that's what we or I was hoping from EFX.

I see what you are saying and on this, I simply can't speak from an educated standpoint because while I know a lot about the lineage of the helmets that were at SDCC, I don't know and have not seen what the original master looked like that was pulled directly from the mold at LFL... so I don't know what shape that helmet was in and I guess that has a lot to do with the criticism we are seeing here. It feels like there are a LOT of assumptions that are being made regarding what has been done and what has been changed and I know for a fact (having talked to both Gino and Bryan) that some of what is being called changes to the helmets, are places that have not been changed or modified by eFX or Gino at all!

Personally, I would love to see eFX or Gino directly answer more of the questions and concerns that have been posted here, but I can also understand their reluctance to do so, especially due to the few who seem more determined to take shots at Gino than to truly gain more understanding about this helmet and the differences they are perceiving. I would also love to see them show pics of the original master helmet casting but I doubt that will ever happen because then any variation from it on the final product will be attributed to poor craftsmanship on their part or worse yet, will be used to strengthen the ridiculous myth that licensed props have to be X percent different than the originals.

 

[Qui-Gonzalez]

Re: eFX ANH Vader?!?! WOW

The tube ends on the TM AND the TD were both reworked/repaired. We do not know what else lies beneath the TD paint. Also, we do not know what was done to the SL, as if memory serves, those were tweaked before copies were sold as well. Some folks talk about either smoothing out or sharpening parts of one of the four of those helmets.

These things do not detract from the value of these helmets though. None of them were screen used, so any tweaks to make them better are okay in my book. So, we have eFX offering us a slightly modded, slightly cleaned up version of a helmet with some pedigree behind it. Any changes to this put it on the same field as any of the four helmets you have listed.

 

[RoCKo]

Re: eFX ANH Vader?!?! WOW

Did you guys REALLY think that a mass produced product was going to compete with a hand done piece by members here? If so, I am shocked.

that´s exactly what i thought since 20 pages ago...
i´m definatly not as much into Vader stuff than almost anybody posting here but hell, it´s a mass produced helmet.
that says it´s not only produced in masses but also FOR the masses, not prop-enthusiast like us in forums like the RPF.
admittedly it´s not a mass product like a can of coke but it´s still produced to satisfy a more general customer.

and common, it definatly looks far superior to everything you´ve seen "mass produced" untill now except for the one-offs or very rare pieces like SL,TD,TM or DJ...