eFX A New Hope Darth Vader Helmet

[Qui-Gonzalez]

I would like to see a DJ comparison to the eFX as well. There is a bit of flare on the SL neck that had me scratching my head.

This thread should also be about questions and answers too. There are newer members who are, quite frankly, too intimidated by some of the posts here to ask what COULD be deemed a "stupid question." The fact is, there is plenty of knowledge, and I think the "in-fighting" is souring some people on this awesome piece for any Vader fan.

 

[Darth Niob]

Stupid questions dont exist ...just stupid answers

 

[Qui-Gonzalez]

Stupid questions dont exist ...just stupid answers

I agree, but it has already happened. People do become turned off to Vader collecting over these discussions.

 

[vaderdarth]

One thing is for sure: The helmet is the issue, not gino. For that matter, it's not a matter of what eFX can do at this point. It's a done deal......the helmet is in production, the idea of fixing any casting issues is history. You can still change paint issues and if I get one, that's exactly what I'll do. I was thinking of using these to upgrade to ESB/ROTJ helmets, but if that dome warpage thing is still present on the production helmets, I'll have to go another route.

 

[Qui-Gonzalez]

One thing is for sure: The helmet is the issue, not gino. For that matter, it's not a matter of what eFX can do at this point. It's a done deal......the helmet is in production, the idea of fixing any casting issues is history. You can still change paint issues and if I get one, that's exactly what I'll do. I was thinking of using these to upgrade to ESB/ROTJ helmets, but if that dome warpage thing is still present on the production helmets, I'll have to go another route.

You seem to have a lot of doubt, Dave. One helmet had the warpage, the other did not. Bad pulls happen. I can only HOPE it does not end up like the Fett from MR. That was a hot mess, but even the pre-pro pieces were sub-par on those as well. Different company. Hopefully, Bryan has higher QC standards. I am pulling for an awesome piece. Not even thinking about the proto pieces we have been shown. Those are just teaser posters.

Stoopid European vacation!:unsure

 

[Art Andrews]

it should be possible to talk about this lid without bashing or trolling or trying to miscredit one person or the other.

You are absolutely right. It should be possible... but for the usual suspects, their own posts here and elsewhere clearly show their 'concern' has much less to do with the helmet than with the personalities involved. Sadly, the valid points that are being made are virtually negated by the overwhelming hate an venom that has been stirred up solely because of Gino's involvement. It is interesting to see the effort to dance around it and come in from a different angle since I posted yesterday...

 

[Art Andrews]

We all know that efx CAN'T offer a 100% perfect casting. Just imagine if your a collector and you own one of the original helmets that you spent your kids college savings for.. Do you think you'd be happy if all of a sudden uncle George allowed a company to release untainted castings that would surely devalue your prized piece? I think being pissed would be an understatement of how you would feel. I mean, come one, who the hell would want to spend 60 + thousand
dollars when everyone and their mammy can buy one for under a grand?

They ultimately have to clean the helmet a little in such a way that an EFX
can be distinquished from an original movie casting. Period. I think this is the best offering EVER by a company and I applaud both Bryan and Gino for
their hard work. :thumbsup

This myth has been floating around for years and years and while it makes rational sense, it has no basis in fact. I have worked with a number of licensees from different licensors and I have yet to come across when where someone like Lucasfilm made them make changes to a product on purpose to distinguish it from the original. The opposite is usually the case in which Lucasfilm comes back and says 'no, you missed this or that.' Now this may be different when it comes to replicas seen in museums and such, but in the replica prop world, it has always been my experience that the studios never fight for a licensee to differentiate the replica from the original. The most common reason I have seen for differences between the original and the replica is due to the mass manufacturing process and that items which are easy to make a small number of copies of in a particular way, have to be reworked in order to be mass produced for the consumer market. The second most common reason I have seen that creates differences is the difficulties many companies have in communicating with Chinese mass manufacturers and the unexpected liberties those manufacturers take.

 

[vaderdarth]

I'm hoping for better castings as well. Only time will tell if the resulting casts are as warped as the prototypes. I think it would be easy for eFX to fix that prior to production. The question remains whether it was addressed in time. Bryan being the professional that he is, I would think it's been fixed. Let's hope the factories can do the paint scheme justice. I've been hopefully hinting all along that the production samples should far outweight the prototypes in both form and decor. With any luck even the minor paint issues were corrected prior to it going to the Chinese production facilities.

 

[Art Andrews]

Art you are off the mark with this helmet.

When were we talking about the helmet? lol:lol

From what I have seen, this has never REALLY been about the helmet, but just another effort to undermine Gino's credibility and to attack him because Bryan decided to use Gino as the lead for this project against the adamant outcries from many of you. You can deny it over here, but the fact is, from the minute you guys learned of Gino's involvement this helmet never stood a chance and was destined for your collective ire and disdain. While that was expected, the lengths some of you are going to in order to contrive a conspiracy is some of the most laughable yet pathetic copy I have read in a long time. As I state in the post above, I do have to give you kudos for stopping the direct attack and making an effort to come from another angle, as transparent as it is.

 

[Art Andrews]

Please see this post:

http://www.therpf.com/f9/efx-anh-darth-vader-helmet-wow-90572/index43.html#post1640792

I disagree. King George will never allow what you want to be released. You say it could have been better, yes i agree, it could have been an exact copy but it is not. It is a licensed product that has to be approved by LFL. Do you guys think EFX wouldn't have like to have released an unmodified helmet?

 

[ArtisanProps]

This myth has been floating around for years and years and while it makes rational sense, it has no basis in fact. I have worked with a number of licensees from different licensors and I have yet to come across when where someone like Lucasfilm made them make changes to a product on purpose to distinguish it from the original. The opposite is usually the case in which Lucasfilm comes back and says 'no, you missed this or that.' Now this may be different when it comes to replicas seen in museums and such, but in the replica prop world, it has always been my experience that the studios never fight for a licensee to differentiate the replica from the original. The most common reason I have seen for differences between the original and the replica is due to the mass manufacturing process and that items which are easy to make a small number of copies of in a particular way, have to be reworked in order to be mass produced for the consumer market. The second most common reason I have seen that creates differences is the difficulties many companies have in communicating with Chinese mass manufacturers and the unexpected liberties those manufacturers take.

Hmmm, that's pretty interesting.. And here I thought all these years the
licencee was held to a certain guidline concerning details that differentiate
an original from a copy.. Nice to know, thanks. :thumbsup

 

[Darth Niob]

You are absolutely right. It should be possible... but for the usual suspects, their own posts here and elsewhere clearly show their 'concern' has much less to do with the helmet than with the personalities involved. Sadly, the valid points that are being made are virtually negated by the overwhelming hate an venom that has been stirred up solely because of Gino's involvement. It is interesting to see the effort to dance around it and come in from a different angle since I posted yesterday...

There are many people who have a problem with Gino and his behavior since years and i'm one of them. But its not about Gino in this thread but about the eFX helmet and some things which are misleading for potential buyers. So it must be allowed to make constructive critic without being teached by a mod who just want to defend his personal friend and see an attack out of every post which was made regarding this helmet. And your post against the Den members and the Den as a forum itself was unfair and totaly out of place. And just because you are a mod here you dont have the right to do and say whatever you want. Its not your forum and as long as i make my critic on that lid without mention well known persons here but only to say what i think about this helmet and make constructiv critic you havent any right to make such an attack against me or other forum members here.
I cant do more as not commenting any of "his threads" and i dont want to hear an opinion of him in my threads. If i critize him on another forum its not your concern. I hope i made my point clear. It sucks to have always the same discussions since years.:thumbsdown

 

[Juansith]

Come on people, how hard can it be to explain " the masses" whats so wrong about this helmet.
Just mention technical aspects of it:
Warps:
Number of scratches missing:
Dents missing:
Dome details not accurate:
Paint problems:
Mesh:
Color of lenses:
Widows peak:
Mouth:

All in all, what you are doing is giving this helmet bad publicity but we the potential buyers dont get the insights.
personally i dont think ive learned any more from all this comments, but im getting afraid that maybe spend $900 plus on this might be a waste. Because all of this i might not compromise, and it would be unfair not to buy something just because people bashed the helmet because they hate Gino, or just for personal interests.
And no, i dont think this is all about " if you like it, buy it", this is a collectible, not a mask i will wear on halloween, for this money, i expect to have an accurate replica.

 

[Qui-Gonzalez]

There are many people who have a problem with Gino and his behavior since years and i'm one of them. But its not about Gino in this thread but about the eFX helmet and some things which are misleading for potential buyers. So it must be allowed to make constructive critic without being teached by a mod who just want to defend his personal friend and see an attack out of every post which was made regarding this helmet. And your post against the Den members and the Den as a forum itself was unfair and totaly out of place. And just because you are a mod here you dont have the right to do and say whatever you want. Its not your forum and as long as i make my critic on that lid without mention well known persons here but only to say what i think about this helmet and make constructiv critic you havent any right to make such an attack against me or other forum members here.
I cant do more as not commenting any of "his threads" and i dont want to hear an opinion of him in my threads. If i critize him on another forum its not your concern. I hope i made my point clear. It sucks to have always the same discussions since years.:thumbsdown

Woah woah woah..."misleading" is a very harsh statement to make without proof. Post something comparing something from the Baker mold with the eFX offering before throwing that around. The ONLY fan helmets that are even better in lineage and looks are the DJ and SL. That's it. This is the best offering and it is from the molds that others have coveted (And paid many thousands of dollars to have a piece from) and kept to themselves and their sychophantic "friends".

So, let's stop tearing this thing down based on some pre-production warpage on ONE dome.

 

[SithLord]

When were we talking about the helmet? lol:lol

From what I have seen, this has never REALLY been about the helmet, but just another effort to undermine Gino's credibility and to attack him because Bryan decided to use Gino as the lead for this project against the adamant outcries from many of you. You can deny it over here, but the fact is, from the minute you guys learned of Gino's involvement this helmet never stood a chance and was destined for your collective ire and disdain. While that was expected, the lengths some of you are going to in order to contrive a conspiracy is some of the most laughable yet pathetic copy I have read in a long time. As I state in the post above, I do have to give you kudos for stopping the direct attack and making an effort to come from another angle, as transparent as it is.

Art, if I discuss features or details about the helmet, that is because I am interested in it and if there are any differences with what one would expect from a casting from the Rick Baker mold. Gino just happens to be involved in this venture, so naturally he will make points to the contrary, and so on. And then you come in and say it is an attack on Gino, only. It wouldn't matter who offered this helmet, I for one at least would still present what I think are differences.

I do not agree with any comments made in regard to making assumptions about eFX's intentions or Gino's role, or if there is any intentional effort to mislead. I don't think that and I don't think saying things like that helps because we simply do not know. All I am interested in is examining the casting on its own merits from a collector's but also a Vader enthusiast's point of view.

If you look back in this thread, I described differences I saw without making any reference to Gino, and then you seemed offended about my involvement. Why is that? If you look at my posting record, I do that with any significant Vader helmet that comes along.

I don't speak for anyone but myself, and I made myself clear in my previous post about what my own intentions are if I do discuss or compare helmets. But I cannot even do that here without unfair and unkind assumptions being made.

That being said, there has been reference made to the dome. Yes there are some differences, but there could be a number of reasons why and I for one will not make any assumptions or accusations in regard to that.

 

[cboath]

I would like to see a DJ comparison to the eFX as well. There is a bit of flare on the SL neck that had me scratching my head.

This thread should also be about questions and answers too. There are newer members who are, quite frankly, too intimidated by some of the posts here to ask what COULD be deemed a "stupid question." The fact is, there is plenty of knowledge, and I think the "in-fighting" is souring some people on this awesome piece for any Vader fan.

I found this shot, via google, that links back to page 24 of this thread, but i couldn't find the photo actually on the thread. Google has the pic and you can see it there. Since some people flip out over posting of photos, i'll just post the link. If the image is pulled, i saved a copy to be safe

It's one long link

Edit:

Ok, link was screwy...

Here's a quote of the actual post - it was just on a different page than what google pointed at...

I'm always the first to appreciate a good comparison , and am naturally curious about the details you've compared. Your mention of the Darth Jones gave me an idea...

 

[Darth Niob]

Woah woah woah..."misleading" is a very harsh statement to make without proof. Post something comparing something from the Baker mold with the eFX offering before throwing that around. The ONLY fan helmets that are even better in lineage and looks are the DJ and SL. That's it. This is the best offering and it is from the molds that others have coveted (And paid many thousands of dollars to have a piece from) and kept to themselves and their sychophantic "friends".

So, let's stop tearing this thing down based on some pre-production warpage on ONE dome.

The dome is clearly not from the Baker mold. But will we see it if the final product arrives to the customer.

 

[Juansith]

Ok, some refferences to the Efx dome,lets go from there.
Which ones?, what is wrong with it?.
As far as ive read, one thing wrong with the widows peak is that the top left side of the Y Doesnt align with the top of the left eye brow.
Supposedly, the original has it widows peak top left Y aligned.
Ok, point, moving on, whats next.

 

[SithLord]

This myth has been floating around for years and years and while it makes rational sense, it has no basis in fact. I have worked with a number of licensees from different licensors and I have yet to come across when where someone like Lucasfilm made them make changes to a product on purpose to distinguish it from the original.

Well, the MR ROTS Vader helmet has differences in part on account of trimming (which could as you mentioned be based on the production process) but also in what appears to be an intentional modification (to the nose, for example which is shaped differently). And their helmet master came from the production mold. The reverse paint schemes on DP and Rubies Vader helmets are another example. It doesn't really matter who decided to make any changes, or whether it is a byproduct of design or just a byproduct of the manufacturing process, the point is are they changes or are they part of the mold?

 

[Juansith]

On the link i read something about a holy trimark.
Which is bad painting on the neck
It seems to be a very relevant detail... I dont get it.
If, for example, the original painter while doing his job on the screen used, went to the bathroom, there wasnt any tolilet paper, used a hand, then rubbed one finger on the helmets cheek with a little poopy, left it there, would you replicate that on yours?.