MR Stormtrooper helmet. Opnions?

[lonepigeon]

First, let me say that I found a way that unequivocally proves the colour of the 'Hero' helmet lenses.

None of what you did proves the color of the lenses.
After all those modifications everything black is green (rubber trim, mic tips etc.) If you lighten black and bump up the saturation in any photo
it's going to be a primary color. Note Chewy is bright red.

 

[Zenwalker]

Lone Pigeon, you are partly right there. If the saturation of the image is overly adjusted you do not get a true reading. I will do some more experimenting with it witout using the saturation adjustment and also try some other screencaps first before I make anymore claims.

 

[superrune]

None of what you did proves the color of the lenses.
After all those modifications everything black is green (rubber trim, mic tips etc.) If you lighten black and bump up the saturation in any photo
it's going to be a primary color. Note Chewy is bright red.

I work in compositing, and I also do a bit of colour grading. Of course gaining the image will wonk out the colours a bit, but they will still remain the same hue as the base colour - that's why Chewie is red and not blue. I'm sitting here with the HD ANH myself, and there is clearly a green tint to the eyes that are greener than any other part of the same screen. And I am just doing a gamma boost in Fusion - something that is very careful to the hues in the image.

However, I wouldn't in any way agree that the HD version is best for colour accuracy. The new SW releases have been heavily colour corrected, tinted blue and the blacks are crushed. By going back to the OT release I am pretty sure you can figure out if the lenses are green or not. I am going to take a look now

Rune

 

[superrune]

Re: MR Stormtrooper helmet. Opinions?

The current OT on DVD looks crap, I must say. It's very hard to get anything out of that bad transfer. But I guess that without the original negatives, this is the best there is. So in many ways the HD version could be more trustworthy, since it's a recent transfer of the film.

Remember, that the effect is really subtle. The reflections don't have any tint to them, so green lenses might look grey due to the reflections (just as Darth Vader still has coloured reflections even though he is black). The only way to catch a glimpse of the colour is when the actors face is lit up, in other words when something catches light inside the helmet. That's of course very rare, but it happens from time to time when the helmet is tilted correctly.

I did my test anyways, and I have two series of shots you can look at:

This first image has a gamma boost applied, and in the HD version you can clearly see the green tint of the lenses. I can clearly see a green tint in the OT images as well, but I have a saturated monitor. I have prepared a version with slightly boosted saturation to make it clearer:

I would say that some of the hero lenses are green, especially together with the quote from Mark Hamill (who in comparison to AA has no financial interest in this).

Sorry is this was Off-Topic in regards to the MR helmet, but at least it kind of proves they can be correct on the topic of lens colours

Rune

 

[Too Much Garlic]

What about the scene where Hamill takes off his helmet in the control room... any chance of getting a good look of the lenses there?

 

[Amanaman]

To me, the helmets are perfectly symmetrical with black lenses. I'm not interested in replicated imperfections. To someone else, a wonky, greasy, discolored plastic helmet with green lenses is perfection. :lol

 

[Star Wars Helmets]

Superrune - I'd be interested if you could do the same with screen grabs of the TIE helmets.

Having many pics of different TIE helmets, all with Grey lenses, I wonder if they too would look green under the same photo manipulation?

Cheers

jez

 

[JoeR]

NHM

Here's one from that scene...

 

[Star Wars Helmets]

After a few discussions earlier in the week, MR has kindly sent me the prototype Stormtrooper helmet, so I've been able to spend a bit of time today looking over it - and taking some shots in the garden.

As with the Clone's, Ive been really impressed with the build quality of this helmet. Sure there are a few things that need to be changed, but I'm really pleased that theyre prepared to listen to collectors before finally going into production. Bryan's already identified a few areas that will be altered, and these along with a few other minor changes will result in what IMO will be a really great collectible.

Its difficult to compare with other helmets, since the huge difference in material used (Fiberglass Vs ABS), and manufacturing process has produced a distinct helmet. Obviously the ears are integral to the design, rather than separate so there's no "gaps", but away from that there's nothing that points to its fiberglass composition (other than the weight which is pleasantly substancial).

Here are a few pics, again remember this is the prototype so areas such as the ears, frown, bump under the eye are already "due for change"

on with the pics.I'm out for the evening but will check back later if there are any questions

Cheers

Jez

 

[Gytheran]

The "headphone" trooper.

 

[Zenwalker]

Thanks for the new pics Jez, they are definitely much better than MR's shots. I am starting to warm up to this helmet, especially if they are working on the problems that you mentioned, namely the mouth and ear caps which are too sharp.

 

[Too Much Garlic]

Strangely, I actually like the sharpness of the ears... if only the rest of the helmet would be sharpened up like that as well, so it matched. That would be an interesting design change, imo, though, will likely not happen.

 

[KevVader]

Great pix Jez....even tho it looks better in your pix, something is really throwing the look off for me. I think it's the lopsided frown among other things.

I'm still looking forward to this release especially if they change it for the better.

 

[Emeldahay]

MUCH BETTER pics Jez!!

Always looking forward to your next website update.... :thumbsup

 

[trooper70]

Not bad actually , not bad at all :thumbsup

 

[ob1al]

I'm glad MR are listening and well done Jez for getting stuck in and giving them feedback on the prototype.

I know everyone can't always agree on everything, such is life,but I'm always impressed by threads like Cyberman's Yoda sculpt thread, where the artist took all the critisism and feedback thrown at the piece and used that feedback constructively to make the final product so much better than it would have been otherwise.

Hopefully, that can be the case here too.

MR can't please everyone all the time, for sure, but by listening to the thoughts of us 'prop geeks' who really do care about this stuff, it can only make the final product better.


:thumbsup

 

[Jedi-72]

Those prototype pics look MUCH better than the photoshopped images they used on their site. They instill a great deal more confidence, and the fact that they are soliciting feedback and input from collectors/ "experts" is encouraging. I'm still surprised that they would need such assistance given their resources and source material. But, the fact that they are appealing in some way to their target market for creative feedback is quite unique. Well done.

I may wind up ordering one of these after all.

 

[vaderdarth]

Now that's tons better than the MR shots. Wow. So MR is charging me how much for a Falcon, but can't buy a really nice digital camera???? LOL

I may have to get one of these afterall. Nice pics Jez.

Dave

 

[Predatormv]

Yea I now feel much better about this helmet. Hopefully the "improvments" they make will actually improve the helmet and not some how make it worse. But all in all it is a step in the right direction.

 

[defstartrooper]

It's still the same crappy helmet they're great photo's Jez but the issue still remains that MR have not delivered the product they promised or indeed are selling,namely an authentic replica ANH hero stormtrooper helmet and im not convinced they ever will.