eFX SCOUT TROOPER HELMET LEGEND EDITION!!

[Wolfsburg]

Well when these were first announced, they were going to be the only lineage Scout helmets available. I think EFX had access to the original bucks or something. Of course, taking 10 years to release the thing, somehow expecting cheap Chinese labor to build the “Legends” like LFL did rather than colloborate with a skilled prop builder somewhere, they were beat to the market by RSProps several years later. Now it frankly isn’t anything too special.

I’m now not actually sure how the “Legend” differs from the cheaper “Limited” if they didn’t even build it the correct way. Surely it’s at least ABS?

This bait and switch they’ve done seems illegal since we’re no longer receiving the product we paid for (and haven’t even been alerted by them as such) but this only further cinches I will never buy another product from them ever again. How they’re still in business, I’ll never know.

 

[Inquisitor Peregrinus]

Access to the original bucks is one thing. But even without that, there are several screen-used assets they could have reverse-engineered by scanning the interiors and doing some cleanup (things like digitally removing the connecting strip). The only way I can see them getting this in a one-piece helmet in an "accurate material" would be if they blow-molded liquid styrene into a negative form created by scanning the outside of an original helmet. But that would definitely not be accurate, as those originals were pulled over positive bucks. They'd basically be making a Black Series helmet with false provenance and fewer features, for a buttload more money.

 

[jkno]

Access to the original bucks is one thing. But even without that, there are several screen-used assets they could have reverse-engineered by scanning the interiors and doing some cleanup (things like digitally removing the connecting strip). The only way I can see them getting this in a one-piece helmet in an "accurate material" would be if they blow-molded liquid styrene into a negative form created by scanning the outside of an original helmet. But that would definitely not be accurate, as those originals were pulled over positive bucks. They'd basically be making a Black Series helmet with false provenance and fewer features, for a buttload more money.

Add a Limited Edition (Legend in this case) plaque to a turd and the suckers will run to buy it at whatever price you ask.

 

[jkno]

Such a hilarious message from EFX below, courtesy of Yavuz Kantoglu on MR Facebook group. "ABS helmets begin to deteriorate within weeks" . The screen used props are decades old and had been handled on screen without much care and still are in ok shape today. People are trooping in full ABS armors for years and years and no issues. Excuses after excuses from EFX. I want what this guy from EFX smokes, though I guess he is smoking the money they got from the collectors almost 10 years ago.

 

[Wolfsburg]

It's interesting he said all that just to say "yes, it's made with ABS". Lol! To be fair though, I can fully believe the original 40yo helmets could be fragile due to how they were put together. I’m surprised about the signature. I had assumed that wasn’t gonna happen.

 

[Inquisitor Peregrinus]

To be fair, they did not say ABS starts deteriorating within weeks, but that the vac-formed ABS object starts deteriorating. This is accurate, for the reasons they stated. Entropy is a bitch, and everyone in the Star Wars costuming groups knows that the second your costume is done, it starts falling apart and needing repairs and will never be as good as it was when you stepped back and pronounced it done (enough). Flexing causes fatigue points to show up. Those eventually become cracks. Every seam (like the center seam on the original Scout helmets) is a weak point. Every passthough, every cutout with corners, every screwhole... All are places where failure will occur, sooner or later, depending on care, handling, and use.

None of this is an excuse, though. Their objective with this, theoretically, was to make an exacting replica of the original prop, out of authentic materials and using authentic methods. Once it is in the customer's hands, it's on them to not destroy it through carelessness or overuse, not the manufacturers to deliver the undeliverable. I highly doubt anyone signed up for this expecting a bombproof bucket.

 

[jkno]

To be fair, they did not say ABS starts deteriorating within weeks, but that the vac-formed ABS object starts deteriorating. This is accurate, for the reasons they stated. Entropy is a bitch, and everyone in the Star Wars costuming groups knows that the second your costume is done, it starts falling apart and needing repairs and will never be as good as it was when you stepped back and pronounced it done (enough). Flexing causes fatigue points to show up. Those eventually become cracks. Every seam (like the center seam on the original Scout helmets) is a weak point. Every passthough, every cutout with corners, every screwhole... All are places where failure will occur, sooner or later, depending on care, handling, and use.

None of this is an excuse, though. Their objective with this, theoretically, was to make an exacting replica of the original prop, out of authentic materials and using authentic methods. Once it is in the customer's hands, it's on them to not destroy it through carelessness or overuse, not the manufacturers to deliver the undeliverable. I highly doubt anyone signed up for this expecting a bombproof bucket.

My mistake for leaving out "vac-formed" in the text above. But in the end even vac-formed pieces will last for decades if taken moderate care of them. EFX is considered a prop replica company, not a costuming company like Anovos/Denuo Novo for example (or RS, MonCal etc.), so 99.99% of their collectors will not troop or handle badly the EFX collectibles, they will be only displayed on shelves. EFX's excuse remains only because this was the easy way out. After 10 years this is what they call a "Legend" helmet and this is what they could produce...

 

[sskunky]

Hi Guys

I was going to post my email correspondence with EXF but it looks like it’s already been done.

I am CFO.

I have asked EFX if they can clarify how it’s made because it sounds to me like they are injection moulding it like their $300 PCR line. Not a $899 Legend we were led to believe from the beginning.
To me the whole point of the Legend is that it’s made of the same materials and the original and assembled and painted like the originals.
This is not.
I’ve asked EFX to clarify more but they seem to be ghosting me now.
What would be honest/Transparent is if they gave us this information in the updated email. But no mention that they’ve changed the production of what we have all waited 9 years for. I find this very shady.

Not only that, I have a shipping bill of $236 plus 20% tax on the helmet price and shipping cost. Bringing the total up to $1362!
For a helmet that in my eyes is no longer a Legend.
Pretty sure this goes against the sale of goods act and trades description. Or as you call it in the states ”Bait and Switch”.
Thoughts?

 

[masterX244]

Seconding on the bait and switch. Those that only did the deposit could take revenge by paying, getting it delivered and then a "not as described" claim to annoy EfailX since they did not tell the change on any official channel

 

[Synz314]

They're not offering refunds on the deposits, right?

If they are injection molding it, then this is just an extremely overpriced PCR helmet like Sskunky said. The PCR helmets have additional seamlines given how they are pieced together. I strongly doubt the Legend helmet is going to be a 5-piece construction like the screen used helmets.

I would just pay the balance and as soon as the helmet arrives just put it up on eBay, priced enough to make all my money back. I'm sure it'll sell quickly to collectors who only care about rare or licensed stuff.

 

[Wolfsburg]

Yeah sounds this thing is a dud as far as an exacting replica of the original prop goes. This thing was made for display not wearing so the durability argument doesn’t really hold up in this case.

I foolishly paid in full all those years ago so Im guessing if this really is akin to a $300 PCR helmet, hopefully the signature, blaster and the “free” Darth Vader helmet they sent years ago at least partially makes up for what I have in this thing.

 

[masterX244]

Yeah sounds this thing is a dud as far as an exacting replica of the original prop goes. This thing was made for display not wearing so the durability argument doesn’t really hold up in this case.

I foolishly paid in full all those years ago so Im guessing if this really is a $300 PCR helmet, hopefully the signature, blaster and the “free” Darth Vader helmet they sent years ago at least partially makes up for what I have in this thing.

Thanks god i went the RS route straight (and i only joined this hobby after thensale window was over long ago). for using/wearing i just wait for the black series one since those are made for that (thats why i get those even though i got more accurate ones already)

 

[Wolfsburg]

Yeah if the RS helmet had been available back then, there would be no doubt I’d have gone with that. Frankly, I may still pick up one at some point.

 

[Inquisitor Peregrinus]

To me the whole point of the Legend is that it’s made of the same materials and the original and assembled and painted like the originals.
This is not.

Exactly. The only ways I can see making the body of the helmet as one piece are either liquid plastic or other material into a die or mould, or a styrene bubble blown into a negative form, a la glassblowing with a bottle form. Neither of which is what a Legend Edition should be. PCR/Collectors Edition, sure, but not this.

 

[sskunky]

Exactly. The only ways I can see making the body of the helmet as one piece are either liquid plastic or other material into a die or mould, or a styrene bubble blown into a negative form, a la glassblowing with a bottle form. Neither of which is what a Legend Edition should be. PCR/Collectors Edition, sure, but not this.

Exactly.
Sounds to me they have taken the easy route rather than actually spending the last 9 years learning how to assemble it.

 

[Wolfsburg]

I know they had to watch their bottom line like any business would, but it still astounds me they didn’t have the manufacturing process locked in *before* preorders opened up and even beyond that, still insisted on using cheap Chinese labor even when it became evident it was going to be problematic at best to manufacture the helmets the correct way as promised. That’s when you look elsewhere to deliver the product you advertised to the prepaid customers, even if that cut into the profit margin. EFX should take their lumps from their own poor planning and management rather than the customer not getting what they paid for.

 

[KaanE]

eFx could have built a vacuum table, vacuumformed and handbuilt/asembled the helmets with just one intern after all these years.

 

[Hecubus114]

I have no skin in this game, but I'm very curious to see what people actually end up getting here...

 

[Whiskey]

I have no skin in this game, but I'm very curious to see what people actually end up getting here...

PCR with a blaster.

Better off buying the RS lineage Helmet and lineage armor combo and get the option to also purchase a production blaster at nearly the same price. And the helmet is built in the traditional method.

 

[Kroenen77]

You are all talking about the build of the helmet...I would be more afraid about the weathering of this thing..when it looks like the Mando PCR helmets you can say good night.