eFX ANH DARTH HELMET SAMPLE!!

eFX doesn't take their helmet back : they ask you to shatter it on the floor and send them pictures proving it. A friend of mine had to do it for having little glitches in the paint job.

Such a bad moment to live through!!!
 
I am going to have to take some of my critisism back. After looking this thing over close I do see some of the tells they are just toned down. I do want to say i think the paint job is excellent for a factory paint job. I have been comparing it to Ginos paint job on pg1 and i'm suprised how close they got it compared to the one Gino painted. Even the C scar is positioned and shaped perfectly. I wonder if they had stencils made so they were all the same. The one thing i want to warn everyone about is the pointy V in the center of the dome, between the eyes. You need to be very carefull. It is sharp on the back of it and if it touches the face plate at the nose bridge it will scrape paint off. Needs to have a small piece of black tape or something to keep it from touching. At least stick a piece of paper or 2 in between the nose bridge and helmet when you put it on then slide the paper out after it is situated.
 
I was hoping the extra $200 was for the pedigree and not the paint job. Nothing would have made me happier then if the Limited had the same hand brushed finish as the Legend.

I know you probably have to pay someone more to brush on the paint instead of putting on a pre-cut mask and spraying the paint, I'm just not sure how that translates to $200 a helmet.

The dings, scrapes, diviots, and warts should be worth the $200 alone.
 
Is it possible that a lot of the detail is not cleaned up from the mold so much as thick paint is covering it up?
 
That and i wonder if after looking at super close ups for so long we are thinking these things are mountains instead of mole hills. Maybe if i take some super close up pics they will look bigger.
 
Even the C scar is positioned and shaped perfectly.


Nope. :unsure

It is close, and the shape is good, but it is painted on and has a bit too much rounded curve near the base, and shifted over to Vader's right a bit. Nevertheless a good effort in attempting to replicate a physical feature using paint.
 
Can't wait to see comparison pics between the fan made and the efx.

I am sure the difference is marginal and most of you are just exaggerating.
 
Factory paint always seems to be on the heavy side. I'm sure someone will strip a limited as well to compare against.
 
Can't wait to see comparison pics between the fan made and the efx.

I am sure the difference is marginal and most of you are just exaggerating.


The exaggeration depends on what you define as important artifacts left from the original helmet or just minor surface blemishes superficial to most and how important those surface markings are to you as an individual. Not so many will care but to me and others all those little blemishes bring us that one step closer to the original prop.

What may seem like a minor detail to some may be a huge detail to others no matter how small it is.
 
Well, in fairness to this helmet, there are a great many positives about it that are easy to overlook given what we've been spoiled with over the past five years in terms of authentic castings. There is certainly some remaining detail in areas, like around the tusk tubes. It is easy to point out things that one would like to have seen retained on it but, keeping it in perspective, if one looks at all the fan-made or licensed Vader helmet castings that have come to light over the past 13 years, this helmet is still outstanding. There is no doubt about it. To think we would have this coming from such an important mold is really amazing. We are very lucky at this time that a company was willing to take this on. It is natural to always want more, but really if I was starting the hobby back in 1999 and was able to get something like this at that time, I would be in heaven. I only wish Master Replicas understood the value of something like this back in the day when the concept was initially pushed to them. But they were set on the ROTS helmet and that was that. The 30th Anniversary of Star Wars came and went, and there was still no interest. Finally, eFX takes the torch and runs with it.
 
The difference is not marginal. It's like the difference between 150 grit sandpaper and 800 grit. Details are softer or missing on the Efx. The surface of the dome, and faceplate almost have a completely different "texture"

I'm not thrilled with my helmet either. I got it in the hopes that it could really be up there in caliber with the really top anh vader helmets (SL, TM, DJ). But it's really not in terms of detail. Don't misread the above, I'm not saying efx promised or represented that it would be. I just hoped that it would be, given the pedegrie.

Ah wells. it's still a nice helmet, but it's good to know there fan made stuff is still better than licensed stuff.

I'll probably be selling mine. It's not taking over the spaces that I have put my current Vader helmets as it is my personal opinion that they're better. So this may just sit in the box... and it's a big box.
 
I believe it was for mass production reasons.


Incidentally, was the mounting ring present in the original Baker Mold or is that a modification to ensure that every dome sits properly on the face for this run?
 
Incidentally, was the mounting ring present in the original Baker Mold or is that a modification to ensure that every dome sits properly on the face for this run?

The mounting ring is not on the original helmet and was added by efx, like you say, to ensure that the dome sits consistently across the product run.

A very wise choice in my opinion :thumbsup.
 
anyone have a lowered # plaqcue on this piece interested in trading placques and will throw in something on this end for the trade either item/items or $

just curious as some don't care and maybe could work a trade and give something nice in favor

not asking for a #1 but let me know if you may be interested via pm.

Congrats to all who bought this piece and like it and understand the points those made who do not....to each his own....

thanks in advance :)
 
Vader #139 has landed in Montreal!!!

I'm very, very happy with this helmet, no, I'm not a Vader expert, far from there but I've followed every discussions, and read all reviews since they began landing .. and boy, people have made me really unconfortable on my Legend's choice .. now, I couldn't be happier .. this thing IS wonky and has a **** load of dings everywhere ..

I won't judge the criticism of people that said it's too soft, but mine is not at all .. I tried to take a couple examples of what I'm seeing, but seriously, I see a lot .. a lot!!!

Pics, of course, for your viewing pleasure.



 
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FINALLY, some great pics!!!! The helmet might not be perfect, but its the best shot most of us have to some pedigree. I'm proud to have it in my collection.
 
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