Propsculptor ANH Vader Helmet
- Thread starter Onigiri
- Start date
Too Much Garlic
Master Member
My guess is close to a Fyberdyne.
CSMacLaren
Sr Member
Different distances, so there's going to be camera distortion, but the SgtFang is derived from a Fiberdyne.
CSMacLaren
Sr Member
Different camera angles and camera distances, but you get the picture.
CSMacLaren
Sr Member
A while back, when Propsculptor shared his intentions of offering castings of his newly acquired mask, I had a conversation with someone who revealed to me that he was the former owner of Propsculptor's mask. I'm not going to mention names because I want to focus purely on discussion of the origins. Please do not PM me for names.
The former owner sincerely believed in the provenance of the mask and that because of its size believed it superior to most other masks in the fandom. Part of the basis of his belief was the latch of the forehead which he alleged made it superior to the GH masks which do not have the latch.
Now around that time, a bunch of us here on the RPF were aware of certain misconceptions around the Jeff GH/Fiberdyne type masks in relation to provenance and superiority, but we were an unpopular minority. You see, part of the RPF culture of the time was the belief that the larger the casting, the closer it must be to the original size - and that recasts are supposed to be always smaller.
The physical manipulation done to the father of the GH/Fiberdyne masks has made many people erroneously assume accuracy and superiority due to its apparent size. Having now studied some of the more accurate castings, I think I can safely say that the bloated shape of the GH/Fiberdyne is not accurate to the original. At the time, a fable circulated the Vader community that this descended from a "4th pull" from the original molds. Eventually this was shot down, but not before it potently seeded everyone's perceptions and belief system.
I approached the previous owner with this information, but it was unfortunately waived off. He had already given Propsculptor permission. I do believe that Propsculptor is genuine in his belief that he has permission and communicated his intent properly to the previous owner. I also believe that PS believed the mask to be of better lineage and size because the former owner told him so.
I don't want it to come across like I'm siding with GINO against Propsculptor because I'm not. At the same time, I see GINO baiting Ghost Host, and I've heard GINO's side of the story. Since GH long ago stopped defending himself on this topic, I feel it fair that we have a bit more information than what's commonly presented to us.
As GINO has said, he and Ghost Host each had one casting from Jeff W. GINO said of hist casting that it was the best in the fandom. Being that at the time there were only two in existence, I can imagine the joy of exclusivity. Seeing GH make copies for other RPFers, I can only imagine that prestige of exclusivity was adversely impacted. GINO has related that he went to Jeff W. and relates Jeff's disapproval of the GH copies. However, we only have GINO's word that GINO benevolently inquired of Jeff W. and did not bias Jeff against GH.
I'm also personally interested in finding out if the GH ANH master had a latch on the frown bump, as GINO's was a peer casting and does not. If the existence of the latch indicates that it precedes the GH ANH and GINO's copy in terms of lineage, then Ghost Host should *NOT* be blamed for the proliferation of the latched masks (e.g. Fiberdyne) because GH only had a latchless casting that descended from a latched mask.
My first fanmade ANH was a SithPlanet. SithPlanet related his ANH comes from a Planet Hollywood suit. Whether this belief is accurate or not, I believe it to be sincere. I was shared the following photo. Notice the Fiberdyne influence and the latch.
(Oh, BTW, I don't offer lenses. I was very new at the fandom at the time. The SithPlanet was small enough that I found sunglasses large enough to fit the eyeholes.)
RKW did an excellent analysis of the oversanding and inconsistencies. There are so many "tells" in the Fiberdyne that anyone who uses it as a base will have to completely rework and eradicate the tells to evade detection.
(image courtesy of RKW)
You can basically see that, regardless of whether its GH or Fiberdyne or SgtFang, the traits, tells and inaccuracies are similar. If you work very hard on it, you can achieve a decent look, as evidenced by some RPFers' efforts such as Onigiri, etc.
Different people have recast the Fiberdyne. They're going to vary in size and shape. So be aware that the skull shape, neck width, etc. may throw you off, so focus more on the face itself when doing comparisons.
I just went through my old photo analysis. This may help:
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Trap Joe
Sr Member
Wow Mac. This ist very interesting. And I like to know the origins of my very first Darth Vader mask in movie size, I have since 1994/95.
As you know I have the TM mask at home to work on it. I compared it´s size to this mask. And found out that the size and dimensions are nearly identical. No shrunk noticeable.
As you know I have the TM mask at home to work on it. I compared it´s size to this mask. And found out that the size and dimensions are nearly identical. No shrunk noticeable.
runnriottt
Well-Known Member
The 20th is small comped to the TD or better. I wish I could comp to a TM or an SL but well... :lol
Yea. Tad on the small side. At least the dome matches. I can put the dome inside my JB and my SPFX. The face fits inside as well. Plus all the details slide or angle the wrong way on the fang.
For a scaled Vader, its a steal. Display piece, maybe. Raved about it when I first saw it, then I got one... It looks like Vader!
Interesting take Mac. :thumbsup
One more comp pic and Ill stop derailing. Maybe we should start a comp thread? Get the sizes out?
Note in this pic the JB is not larger than the SPFX. There almost the same size. The dome mount is throwing it off.
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o199/runnriottt/IMG_0893.jpg
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Trap Joe
Sr Member
Cool comparison:thumbsup
BTW: my SPFX ANH Vader helmet was a lot smaller than my fiberdine style ANH helmet and of cause my TM.
Onigiri
Sr Member
runnriottt
Well-Known Member
Trap Joe
Sr Member
lol
R
reddwarf81
Guest
I just acquired one of these.
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