eFX A New Hope Darth Vader Helmet

[Too Much Garlic]

Do we have ANY clue whats under the dome yet?

Isn't that a bit rude?

 

[vaderdarth]

Last they mentioned it, they hadn't decided on an attachment mechanism. Maybe one of the insiders could give us an idea what they're thinking on that. I'd personally create a magnet system in the shape of the 3 tabs, just for fun. Seems like that would please the heck out of the collectors and make it nice and stable at the same time.

 

[Art Andrews]

I don't know what the plan is, but I saw the magnet attachment system for the Mcquarrie Darth vader and that was VERY cool! I know it wouldn't be accurate at all, but for a display piece, I think that would be a great system.

 

[SithLord]

I guess the question is whether it should be inaccurate and secure or accurate and not so secure. My advice would be make the brushed version accurate with the exact same tabs (even the same orientation and markings...ie: subtypes), the same screws, and with the same mount inside the dome (unfortunately we don't have tab reference for inside the dome). Then, make the clean version of the eFX more for trooping than display, and give it a robust mounting mechanism, ring, magnets, whatever.

 

[CSMacLaren]

You guys know there's a thread with hot chicks in it, right?

You're kidding us, right? The only reason why you see this level of banal anal-ity is because this thread's participants don't have hot chicks in their lives and they have too much spare time on their hands.

Speaking of which, I'd better go find a girlfriend! :love

 

[vaderdarth]

Tom, they'll never use real tabs because the first customer to drop the dome off their facemask, will cry foul and demand a refund. It's a liability nightmare waiting to happen. Still, smooth tab shaped magnetic appendages. Attached with screws like the original...........that would fit the bill nicely and still allow die hards to retrofit their own tabs if they so wish. That's how I'd do it. Certainly not a ring for ANH.

Dave

You're kidding us, right? The only reason why you see this level of banal anal-ity is because this thread's participants don't have hot chicks in their lives and they have too much spare time on their hands.

Speaking of which, I'd better go find a girlfriend! :love

 

[SithLord]

Well I like to think mine's plenty hot....but that is for another thread... :love


Anyway, here is one example of the partial repaint by the time of the Corbis photoshoot. This black marking on the left cheek is seen onscreen in every shot (more clearly seen in a promo shot). It is seen at DP studios as well. But not in any of the Corbis images, regardless of the angle so it isn't a lighting effect...it just isn't there. And that is one of many examples I could show.

So if something has this particular paint detail, that detail would be from the time of ANH. And if it doesn't have that detail, then it is more likely from the period beginning around the time of the Corbis shoot or thereafter.

The main point of this is that the ILM mold (from which the eFX master was derived) was taken off the original ANH helmet when it had the original screen paint on it. It doesn't get any better than that... :cool

 

[RKW]

Well I still advocate the ring method with cast tabs albeit better condition than these.

Example:

The ring is a genuine securing method for Vader and doesn't imply it's part of the original sculpt and the tabs (new ones) would be there for historic purposes only. Developing the ring attachment method now would mean no extra development for future ESB releases.

While I can see the appeal of having magnets in the same location as the original tabs I would still think any slight knock to the back of the dome will break the connection.

 

[SithLord]

There are plastics that are not so brittle as to snap the stalks, that will have some flexibility so they can still "snap" but not break, I'm sure of that. They just need to test different materials as they will be casting their own tabs likely if they went that route. But plastics have come a long way since the old 3M tabs...I know someone at MIT who could probably point me to the right material for that application since he works with synthetic polymers. He could probably even mathematically model the forces it could sustain both vertically and longitudinally. :lol (I'm actually not kidding about that...)

 

[RKW]

It's not much good devising a securing mechanism which requires so much force to seperate the dome that you're likely to either damage the paint or send the dome flying :lol

 

[SithLord]

Well I still advocate the ring method with cast tabs albeit better condition than these.

We know they wouldn't use that as a template. They would have to make real tabs and then cast them in. But then why go through the trouble of duplicating tabs and casting them in when you could just use them to begin with and forgo the ring? The ring is ESB. Again, maybe for the clean version they could use a ring but for the brushed version it would be nice to see the original mounting mechanism.

On thing to keep in mind is that an ESB ring actually wouldn't work on an authentic ANH. The dome would not sit correctly. It would not be possible to sit it as low unless the ring was shorter, and so you would have to reinvent the ring for ESB if they do that later.

Plus tabs permit adjustability since depending on where they snap in place you can have the widow's peak higher or lower or the dome misplaced to the side a bit as we often see onscreen. A ring mount has only one position and personally I don't like that. I like to be able to adjust the dome somewhat to personal preference since the ANH dome appears in different ways onscreen depending on the scene.

 

[SithLord]

It's not much good devising a securing mechanism which requires so much force to seperate the dome that you're likely to either damage the paint or send the dome flying :lol

Well no it would still be pliable enough to separate with a tilting motion with minimal force. And how often have we seen damaged mounting rings on DP Deluxes?

 

[RKW]

Gino already confirmed that EFX would not be using the original tab method of securing the dome.

If I'm not mistaken the DJ helmet also uses the ring method.

 

[SithLord]

Well if Gino told you that then that's a shame if they opted against it...it would be good if he could chime in here himself.

You are right, the DJ uses a ring.

 

[vaderdarth]

Yeah he did say that it was their call not to pursue the tab system.

Also, when I say magnetic tab system, I don't mean functional tabs...........aside from perhaps being alignment pins to guide the rest of the magnet system. Similar to the MR.

 

[tekniq]

I saw this helmet up close at comic con this year and they look amazing!

 

[Qui-Gonzalez]

This goes out to the few of you with authentic tabs. Why would you want that system to SECURE the dome to the face? I have been told it is a hell of a piece of crap system and not very secure to start with.

 

[vaderdarth]

It was shoddy as hell for a securing mechanism. Hence broken domes and tusk tubes on the mask......LOL. The attraction for me is simply because that's the way it was then. For the nasty dirty accurate style helmet, it would be a huge plus. For the clean Version that we never saw on film, doesn't matter what they use as an attachment.

 

[Qui-Gonzalez]

I honestly hope they go for something like rings. I want secure and easy enough to remove. Yes, it is funny how the tubes are the hands down weakest part of the whole shootin' match.

 

[Zenwalker]

Make a Brian Muir Sig. Edition please.