MR has rocketeer helmet for $179 (sold out)

[Treadwell]

Re: MR has rocketeer helmet for $179 right now

now that its all sold out and all is said and done......... lets discuss its INACCURACIES?

whats wrong with it?

Width, real metal rather than painted to look metal, and the "welds" are too uniform and look more like ric-rac. That's all I remember. For $179 I will live with these (and as we've learned the width is fixable!)

 

[dualedge]

Re: MR has rocketeer helmet for $179 right now

now that its all sold out and all is said and done......... lets discuss its INACCURACIES?

whats wrong with it?

Jay covered a couple of the more notable issues... We had a long thread where we covered most of it when it first came out but I don't know if it's anywhere on the forum still.

Ultimately, it's inaccurate because it wasn't cast from an original helmet but was made by eye. And considering it's made out of metal and the manufacturing process they had to use... it's pretty much inaccurate on nearly every point.

As I've mentioned many, many times before, that's not meant to knock it. I think it's a fantastic prop! It all just depends on what you're looking for as a collector. The fact it's made of metal is pretty freakin' awesome IMHO.

That said... the shape of the body is a bit off, it's too narrow, the finish is inaccurate (the originals were painted resin, not metal), the eyes aren't shaped exactly right and the welds aren't remotely the way the original looks.

IMHO, it's a great display piece but not good for costuming because of the weight - it's very back heavy because of the fin (which is hollow but very sturdy.)

For $179, that's a freakin' steal - especially if you're more of a casual Rocketeer fan. For more hardcore fans, I don't think you can beat the accuracy you can get from a kit that has received proper tender loving care. It just depends on what you're looking for personally...

 

[dualedge]

Re: MR has rocketeer helmet for $179 right now

Here's a comparison between a kit version on the left (done reasonably well IMHO) and the MR on the right. The camera angle is a bit off but you should still get an idea of the difference - the weight of the fin on the MR makes it hard to get it to sit perfectly straight (it tends to tilt backwards just a tad). The kit in this case comes from a pretty accurate source. It too has a couple of minor issues but those are quibbles even among hardcore fans, y'know?

 

[NEKROFANATIC]

Re: MR has rocketeer helmet for $179 right now

Mine has arrived in the city! Now the real waiting game begins!

 

[Kylash]

Re: MR has rocketeer helmet for $179 right now

heres another comparison, the expanded MR that someone posted in this thread, and a resin kit i used to have. Main difference is the vents and width, the eyes didnt look that off to me, or the mouth.

 

[dualedge]

Re: MR has rocketeer helmet for $179 right now

heres another comparison, the expanded MR that someone posted in this thread, and a resin kit i used to have. Main difference is the vents and width, the eyes didnt look that off to me, or the mouth.

Interesting comparison... Obviously I don't feel the same way at all but everybody sees 'em differently

Many of the individual discrepancies aren't very dramatic in my opinion but the cumulative effect is like looking at a portrait that has something wrong with it and you have a hard time putting a finger on what it is. That's just my 2 cents This prop has been my... er... holy grail... for the past decade so I've spent a lot more time than any sane person should nitpicking it

I take some consolation in knowing not everyone is as OCD as I am over these things

 

[Kylash]

Re: MR has rocketeer helmet for $179 right now

well and the welding, but I was more pointing out dimentional differences. Im not saying its 100% either, but when comparing them like I did, they seem more similar than I first though they were.

Dualedge, you probably know, are the leather straps supposed to be rounded around the button or square like the MR helmet?

 

[dualedge]

Re: MR has rocketeer helmet for $179 right now

well and the welding, but I was more pointing out dimentional differences. Im not saying its 100% either, but when comparing them like I did, they seem more similar than I first though they were.

Dualedge, you probably know, are the leather straps supposed to be rounded around the button or square like the MR helmet?

They were done both ways on the original helmets. My understanding is that there were about a half dozen or so hero helmets and the one that I'm most familiar with has squared off straps. I've seen photos also showing the rounded off straps though. So since the originals were inconsistent to some degree, I'm not sure if it can be more accurate one way or the other. It would just depend on if you're recreating the look of one helmet/scene in particular.

In some scenes it also appears that the straps don't meet in the middle but that the button is off to one side a little... So among the originals there seemed to be some variety in how the strap was done.

I know that probably doesn't help much in giving a definitive answer but it's a good example of how there isn't always one single "right" way to do it I suppose.

 

[Kylash]

Re: MR has rocketeer helmet for $179 right now

well, which did you use for your favorite helmet

 

[dualedge]

Re: MR has rocketeer helmet for $179 right now

well, which did you use for your favorite helmet

I tend to round off the straps for the replicas I've finished.

This is the scene I remember most often - Cliff's first take-off. You can see that the strap is rounded on this one and it appears the button is off-center.

 

[Kylash]

Re: MR has rocketeer helmet for $179 right now

yeah, when I finished my resin helmet thats what I used for reference and made them rounded adn the button off-center. I wonder if the MR helmet straps are easily replaceable...are they just glued under the padding somehow?

 

[DavidS]

Re: MR has rocketeer helmet for $179 right now

I tend to round off the straps for the replicas I've finished.

This is the scene I remember most often - Cliff's first take-off. You can see that the strap is rounded on this one and it appears the button is off-center.

i still cant beleieve ALL of the movie helmets were resin....
that picture there looks just like dull brass

 

[Clutch]

Re: MR has rocketeer helmet for $179 right now

I see why I got one for 179. It is obviously a return. The base has spots on it, and the fin is scuffed. The fin only shows when it hits the light just right. The spots are inexcuseable. I knew something was up when the box had the two end flaps sticking out. Then I noticed that the envelope inside was loose. MR sucks. If I can't get another one, does anybody want mine?

 

[yt]

Re: MR has rocketeer helmet for $179 right now

I see why I got one for 179. It is obviously a return. The base has spots on it, and the fin is scuffed. The fin only shows when it hits the light just right. The spots are inexcuseable. I knew something was up when the box had the two end flaps sticking out. Then I noticed that the envelope inside was loose. MR sucks. If I can't get another one, does anybody want mine?

Mine was the same way, it had obviously been opened and re-sealed (poorly). However, I am happy with the price I paid and none of the blemishes were anything I can't live with. I just sucks that MR pulls this kind of crap. I would be livid if I paid full MSRP!

 

[KidL]

Re: MR has rocketeer helmet for $179 right now

So are all the helmets that were sold at the sale price basically 'returned/defective' items?

If so, they should have at least mentioned that on the sale page...

 

[Clutch]

Re: MR has rocketeer helmet for $179 right now

If so, they should have at least mentioned that on the sale page...

Exactly.

 

[DavidS]

Re: MR has rocketeer helmet for $179 right now

Oh you have got to be shtting me!?!?!?!?!?

 

[Utinni]

Re: MR has rocketeer helmet for $179 right now

WTF? Mine better not be in that condition when I get it, other wise I'll be going to the MR Booth at Comic-Con next week and grilling them on it!

Jeff

 

[LiquidPhoenix]

Re: MR has rocketeer helmet for $179 right now

Mine has not been shipped yet...and Im worried it might have some of the problems everyone else is showing off. I still can't wait to get it though. Since I was a kid I've always wanted this thing



-LP

 

[DavidS]

Re: MR has rocketeer helmet for $179 right now

i called MR today and they said that they are waiting on them to come from the warehouse or some such nonsense.....

im tellin ya, i will be severly pssed if mine is fcked up like that