RS Prop Masters - ANH Stunt Stormtrooper Helmet - PVC or ABS???

[cking]

Hi everyone,
I've pushed the button on an order for an RS Prop Masters ANH Stunt Stormtrooper helmet but I'm in a dilemma now. Originally, I'd ordered the slightly creamy coloured ABS plastic for my helmet but on watching ANH at the weekend, I forgot how shiny those helmets were when the originally filmed. From what I could see, they looked more shiny than the modern ABS helmets I've owned in the past and something about the glossy PVC seems to say "ANH" more so I've updated my order to have a helmet made in PVC instead.
Has anyone on here got both PVC and ABS and would it be possible to post a side by side comparison photo? I know the Hero helmets were ABS but those stunts looked pretty shiny in the movie.
Advice would be much appreciated before it's time for my helmet to be constructed!

Look at the shine on this stunt helmet in the Tantive IV lighting. I've never owned an ABS helmet that has this sort of shine to it.

 

[mortifactor]

The stunts were painted with some kind of enamel paint for the movies, iirc. Also, studio lighting will make a lot of stuff shine more than in the hand (I've got an enamel painted RS stunt)

 

[Treadwell]

Agreed on studio lighting. As you might already know, the stunts were greyish-green HDPE, and painted (with latex house paint, is what I've always read).

 

[cking]

Yes, I'm aware of the painted HDPE. My point is that they look shinier than the ABS finish. Even TE's original ANH helmet looks really shiny in his photos that were taken without the use of studio lighting. Hmmmm. Tough decision.

Photos that I took of my previous ABS helmets never looked this shiny.

 

[Edraven99]

This might help. Here’s a side by side of my new RS hero (ABS) and my RS stunt (HPDE).

You can easily tell the colour difference.

 

[cking]

Thanks for the photo Edraven99. It's actually a comparison between the gloss PVC and ABS that I was interested to see. The ABS on the hero helmet looks very un-glossy there. Definitely not the same shine that can be seen on the photo of TE's first helmet. This is my dilemma.
I found this photo which I believe is from an RPF member. This is the unpainted gloss PVC that has been weathered. The gloss on this looks very similar to the appearance of the original helmet owned by TE.

 

[gizmo]

Honestly if the look you want is the onscreen shine but not painted then I think you've gone with the right choice. The pvc is pretty damn shiny. I'm pretty sure the pic above is pvc and belongs to either R2dan or Denis Hahn. They were one of the first to build an RS.

Ben

 

[Gerard2567]

TE doesn't own an original helmet as far as I'm aware? Molded an original yes, but those original moulds have long since been... expired. But let's not revive an old issue everyone has had with him. If he managed to finally secure an original, good for him, but I wouldn't trust him.

Back on topic.

Yes. The PVC helmets are shinier than ABS. PVC is just made weirdly like that.

I think the reason they offer two different ones if for whether you want strength or looks.

ABS yellows faster than PVC in direct exposure to sunlight, however, ABS is stronger and can take a beating.

 

[gizmo]

Not sure why my txt was in bold either. Sorry for that.

 

[cking]

Don't want to spread false info around so apologies if my reference to the TE helmet was not very clear. I have no idea whether he actually owned it. I just remember that these are the photos he posted of it.

TE doesn't own an original helmet as far as I'm aware? Molded an original yes, but those original moulds have long since been... expired. But let's not revive an old issue everyone has had with him. If he managed to finally secure an original, good for him, but I wouldn't trust him.

Back on topic.

Yes. The PVC helmets are shinier than ABS. PVC is just made weirdly like that.

I think the reason they offer two different ones if for whether you want strength or looks.

ABS yellows faster than PVC in direct exposure to sunlight, however, ABS is stronger and can take a beating.

 

[darthbooth1978]

This is interesting as I was contemplating the same thing. Apart from the finish, is the PVC style Stunt a lost softer to the touch when compared with the ABS ones?

 

[ggriffaw]

Have you asked RS Props how much it would be to paint the glossy white? I would think they could do it since they made painted TK helmets in the past.

 

[cking]

I don't think their gloss paint is particularly glossy based on the Scout Trooper helmet I received (unless that was an intentionally dull finish), so I haven't asked them to paint this one.

 

[CatfoodRob]

I don't think their gloss paint is particularly glossy based on the Scout Trooper helmet I received (unless that was an intentionally dull finish), so I haven't asked them to paint this one.

Scout helmets from RS are painted matt not gloss .
Their unpainted helmet line is pvc ...lovely colour fast shiny white , or abs , ever so slightly yellower .
Visually, apart from colour there is no wAy of telling them apart visually .
Personally , for a display, I'd go with pvc . But there is only ever so slight difference in colour,

 

[cking]

Thanks for the info CatfoodRob. I wonder why they chose matt for their Scouts when the photos of real helmets have definitely got a shine to them (actually very similar to the shine of their ABS TK stunts). I did actually contact them about this when I received mine and asked if there was way to buff some shine into it a bit, but they advised that there was a risk of rubbing off the weathering, so my helmet is currently still dull but I'd love to get some shine to it if anyone has any bright ideas?

Yes, I have concluded that the gloss PVC will give a result that is very pleasing for display and has the shine to it that is how they appeared on screen (but also, as I showed in the photo of TE's first helmet used for his molds - that one was very glossy too).

 

[ggriffaw]

Below are pictures of my RS Props ANH Jim Dowdall signature edition, RS Props ESB Stunt, Anovos ANH, and an Anovos ANH converted to ESB.

The Jim Dowdall is several years old. I bought it from a fan so I do not know the details about it's construction. I'm not sure if it is ABS or PVC, but it is noticeably shinier than the RS ESB which I got within the last few months. The cap of my RS ESB Stunt and RS ANH Hero are both duller than the faceplate on the same helmet.

I purchased the Anovos converted to ESB from a fan, so I did not do it myself. From what I understand the frown and stickers were redone and the helmet was polished. This is the most shiny of any of these helmets. The Anovos helmets are ABS. As long as you don't have weathering to worry about, polishing should work fine to make the helmet more shiny. Although I'm not sure about polishing over the bumps on the RS.

RS Props ANH Jim Dowdall signature edition

RS Props ESB Stunt

Anovos ANH

Anovos ANH converted to ESB

 

[cyclocrosschris]

Go with the PVC...I traded SI a helmet f or a first run pvc kit, and built it up (top on my avatar). with some anh decals..its shiny as hell, and captures the on screen look to me. Plus, theres a weight to the PVC that feels more real. Thnk of it as a HDPE with p aint that wont chip off

 

[darthbooth1978]

Can I ask regarding the difference between the ABS and PVC, would you say the PVC is more bendy to touch than the ABS? I want an RS Sandtrooper but want there to be a slight shine underneath the weathering like in their Michael Kitchen photos. Cheers.

Go with the PVC...I traded SI a helmet f or a first run pvc kit, and built it up (top on my avatar). with some anh decals..its shiny as hell, and captures the on screen look to me. Plus, theres a weight to the PVC that feels more real. Thnk of it as a HDPE with p aint that wont chip off

 

[cking]

Thanks for showing those photos of your helmets ggriffaw,
The photos of your PVC Jim Dowdall ANH stunt helmet has reinforced my decision to go with PVC.

 

[RoCKo]

If you go for a stunt helmet it needs to be painted anyway so I’d say it doesn’t matter what material is used underneath.

The original stunt helmets were imo first primed with a red/rusty primer with no ears attached (leaving that misty reddish look on the helmet inside), then painted white (maybe another white primer?) with ears attached and finally painted with a coat of glossy white spray paint.

At least that is what I did with my last builds and it definitely gives me that specific glossy ANH/ESB glossy stunt helmet look!