ROTJ Stormtrooper Studio Armor Different From Location Armor?

[Folgore]

I am wondering if is possible that the ROTJ Stormtrooper armor used for location shooting in the US was modified from the armor produced and used for principal photography in the UK? I ask because when looking at the photos of the studio shots, like Luke’s surrender to Vader, the trooper’s shoulder straps do not appear to have rivets but the armor used in the Endor battle scenes clearly do. Is it possible that when the US based wardrobe/props department received the armor from England, they riveted the shoulder straps as well as retrofitted hardhat helmet liners to the helmets to ease and speed-up the costuming of so many extras while in the woods?

From the photos I have seen of original ROTJ armor, which was supposedly used for background troops in the docking bay scenes, they appear to have Velcro on both ends of the shoulder straps as well as foam padding in the helmet. If the armor was ‘liberated’ from the studio and never left the UK then that might explain why it was not modified State side with rivets and liners.

When analyzing pictures of ROTJ armor out of the Lucas Film archives and tour armor, I also noticed that some of the breast plates appear to have small squares of white ‘loop’ side Velcro and/or adhesive residue where the shoulder strap connects. This made me question why it would be there if you were going to rivet it?

This is just a theory and I am curious to as to your thoughts as I am a newbie and am trying to do some research. Thanks!

 

[juajn7fernandez]

I'm not an expert on Trooper armor, but I do know that in ROTJ on the death star scenes we see what is known as the MKii helmets ( which were first made during the early ESB production for Promo shots and seen in the freezing chamber). However the MKii I believe doesn't appear on any of the Endor scenes. Not sure if this is linked to the differences you are spotting on the armors.

 

[OdiWan72]

calling sskunky

 

[sskunky]

I believe you are getting confused between ESB mkii and ROTJ. The pics you posted are of the ESB mkii variant. The inside of the plastic has a pinseal/haircell texture which indicates ESB mkii. Also foam padding used on ESB mkii helmets. The ROTJ helmets utilised a suspension liner from a climbing helmet although it was restrapped by the costume dept.
Notice the square ends to the “frown/teeth” ROTJ has round ends. ESB mkii also used Hovi mic tips whereas ROTJ used machined aluminium mic tips. ESB has trimmed ANH ears and ROTJ has different very trimmed ears. Both the helmets were glued and ROTJ has a rivet under the ears holding on the chinstraps.
Some ESB mkii helmets had bubble lenses some had flat. Some had the teeth cut out, some didn’t.

 

[Folgore]

Yes, I am a little confused. Nothing new.

I understand that climbing helmet liners were used in RotJ helmets, but my question was if they were installed by the wardrobe department in the UK for the studio scenes or were they originally foam, like the MkII helmets, that were subsequently removed by the wardrobe department in California to have the climbing liners installed?

All the pictures I can find of the interior linings of original RotJ helmets are ones that have come from the States, which do have the adjustable liners in them (Grant it, I am a little late to the party so many of the forum discussions of original helmets have been wiped clear from the great Photobucket purge). I know some of you guys in the UK have handled original RotJ helmets that were supposedly used at Elstree. Do the ones that never left the UK have the same climbing helmet liners?

Now, that brings me to the body armor. The one in the photo that was supposedly used in the docking bay scenes and I assume never crossed the pond, has Velcro tabs under the shoulder strap and lacks rivets. Also, some of the pictures I have seen of tour suits and from the Lucas archives show the shoulder straps being riveted but I also spy what appears to be remnants of Velcro tabs under it. My question is why would they remove the original rivet, place Velcro under it and re-rivet it?

I know with my limited experience with wardrobe and props departments they will very often modify off the shelf stock costumes or equipment to streamline dressing of many people as well as prep them for what kind of conditions the costume or prop will be exposed too, e.g. running around a battlefield as opposed to standing in formation in a docking bay. So, is it possible that ILM made the modifications to the armor to reinforce it for rugged location shooting after receiving the stock from England or were they originally made with rivets and plastic liners?

Thanks!