Question about cast from original ESB Vader helmet - pic heavy

[Spoox]

A friend of mine contacted me with the following and wondered what something like this would be worth since he might be considering selling it . Any advice guys?

Here is the story and pics

Hi Miranda,

Attached as promised some photos of the helmet. Just a reminder how I got it. My dad is a fibrous plasterer and back in the 1970’s he worked on many films. He worked on the Empire Strikes Back and whilst on set for many weeks made friends with the props and costume designers and was offered a copy helmet made from the original cast, it was then passed to me. Over the years of storage the thin fiberglass became damaged on the edges and 10 years ago I had the edges repaired and the helmet had a re spray.

David x

 

[dangerstudios]

Re: ESB cast from original Vader helmet - pic heavy

Cast it and sell resin copies.

 

[Too Much Garlic]

Re: ESB cast from original Vader helmet - pic heavy

Interesting piece. The dome takes the cake. But something more than just fixing the edges and giving it a respray has definitely been done to that face mask. The neck extension is enormous.

 

[Spoox]

Re: ESB cast from original Vader helmet - pic heavy

I don't know if he is into that lol

 

[Too Much Garlic]

Re: ESB cast from original Vader helmet - pic heavy

If it's not original paint, then strip it off.

 

[Spoox]

Re: ESB cast from original Vader helmet - pic heavy

how could you do that safely?

 

[SonOfPumpkinhead]

Re: ESB cast from original Vader helmet - pic heavy

I'll do it! Send it over!

 

[Darth Detroit]

Re: ESB cast from original Vader helmet - pic heavy

*Ding..Ding*
Paging Gino...

 

[Spoox]

Re: ESB cast from original Vader helmet - pic heavy

I'd really like some serious input guys

 

[SonOfPumpkinhead]

Re: ESB cast from original Vader helmet - pic heavy

I'm serious, PM me.

 

[Spoox]

I don't think he is looking into restoring it into it's original state. He is just interested to find out the value of it and perhaps selling it.

 

[GINO]

It's definitely something with original ties.
A base casting from the production in perfect condition (meaning a clean raw pull that hasn't been tampered with) would be fairly valuable.
The problem is that both pieces have had extensive work performed on them which significantly reduces their value. Especially since the work was really bad.
I wonder what happened to that sunken in area where the chin vent is. I've seen that phenomenon on another casting that allegedly came from the production.

The problem is that because these types of castings have been swapped around and copied between industry guys for such a long time that it makes it very difficult (if not impossible) to tell whether or not they were made for or during the actual production, or just another casting made at a later date.

I would gauge the value of this particular casting to be pretty low.



.

 

[Spoox]

Thank you GINO
My friend didn't know better and had it repaired when the edges got bad and had it repainted. He just has it more as a souvenir from his dads work and brought it up in a conversation. He is probably going to be sorry now when I tell him it would have been better if he wouldn't have done it.

 

[Too Much Garlic]

Posted this on The Den as well.

The presence of a neck extension puts it in the UK mold style of helmets - those used for production of ESB and a few fan owned helmets. The chin vent, though UK style, looks to have been carved out along the ridge, making the ridge wider. Something has been done to the tips of the tusk tubes - they could have been broken and then repaired. There's some warping and the whole back of the head is missing. I drew a rough outline indicating where the back of the face mask would normally extend back to.

Definitely an interesting piece. Does he have any pictures of it prior to the fixing up and repaint?

Never seen a neck extension that long before.

 

[Spoox]

I asked him if he does, waiting to hear back from him. he did tell me that it definitely had some work done, mainly because he was worried that it would only get damaged more over time and not survive at all. He really didn't know better I guess.

 

[Too Much Garlic]

Anymore news on this?

You should consider asking the mods to move the thread to the prop section for maximum visibility.