SL ANH Darth Vader helmet...finally got it finished :D
- Thread starter SithLord
- Start date
Absolutely brilliant. Congrats!
vaderdarth
Master Member
Absolutely, Stone's clear tabs look perfect!
vaderdarth
Master Member
Overall it probably is a larger casting than the eFx. But in that photo, part of the difference is the thickness of the paper towel roll the two helmets are sitting on. One is a bit thicker than the other one. Also the eFx is so heavily sanitized as you can easily see between the two castings.......that it has lost bulk. There are tons of missing details on the eFx. It's still a nice casting though. Best commercially available hands down! For us die hard vader fans, there is no comparison between the SL and the eFx. SL is far closer to the screen helmet!
nwjedidave
Sr Member
Ditto! Well done Thomas!
Thanks, guys. The domes are actually fairly similar in size, with the SL being a bit larger, it is just how the dome sits on the eFX that makes it look smaller, plus I had the dome sitting a bit higher in the rear on the SL and that makes it appear larger as well. I prefer to have it tilted a bit further back in the rear on the SL, but that was just how the mount worked at the time of the photos.
There has been some that have thought that the SL ANH doesn't have the original paint on its surface as seen on the original ANH helmet as in the Tantive IV scenes. A lot of the focus had been on discussion of the C-scar, and justifiably so. However, that is just one detail. What of, for example, Vader's left front cheek face? Is there detail there that indicates the original paint surface was preserved at the time Rick Baker molded the original mask? The answer is yes. There is a complex imperfection on the left front cheek surface that initially detectable by virtue of some black paint showing beneath (or on top of?) the gunmetal. One of the most identifying features of this imperfection is a ring-shaped detail. The comparison below shows a closeup of the original ANH check (left closeup image) and that imperfection along with the ring which shows up better if one reduces the intensity of the LUT somewhat and applies a bit of sharpening (center closeup image). That ring is also clearly on the SL ANH in exactly the same location as on the original (right closeup image). Interestingly, by the time of the Chorbis photoshoot, that detail is completely gone, as there was some touch-up paint work by then in specific areas. This is but one example indicating how early the mold had been taken off the original ANH mask by Rick Baker.
vaderdarth
Master Member
There are many things to love about the eFx helmet, The dome attachment is one of them. I know it's not proto accurate......but it's solid. I do wish they had set the dome down lower on the nose. For an attractive clean finish, eFx did very well! It displays beautifully. For the most part, the paint finish is very clean and well executed on the sample I got. Base is solid and though I don't prefer that widow's peak position, it does match at least one scene in the film........just not my favorite look. As you know that dome was all over the place on that mask in ANH. It has lovely tusks, lenses and screens too. For overall gross details seen on the screen helmet in all it's goobery glory, the SL is still miles above the eFx. eFx left a few details on my legend, and the paint is brushed nicely, however so much helmet casting detail is MIA that it does distract me somewhat. Do I regret having it, Not one bit! Great addition to my collection. Do I highly recommend getting an SL if the opportunity arises, hell yes!
CSMacLaren
Sr Member
Thomas, I'm impressed that you found that little cheek circle in the CreatureFeatureKid photo. That's some good sleuthing.
Any chance of a comp of the helmets looking directly into the camera, facing forward?
Any chance of a comp of the helmets looking directly into the camera, facing forward?
banthapoodoo
Active Member
Very accurate helmet! I knew something just didn't look right about the eFx dome the moment I first saw it. How it draped and drooped around the faceplate. Just didn't look right. I think you've pretty much nailed it!
OldKen
Master Member
My legend dome sits very differently.
A friend and I each got one and compared them side by side.
His looked like the one pictured here. (Almost ESB-ish)
Mine looks closer to the SL pictured here in terms of dome position lower on the eyes.
Guess I got lucky?
Gorgeous helmet and paintup. I guess I missed this thread.
A friend and I each got one and compared them side by side.
His looked like the one pictured here. (Almost ESB-ish)
Mine looks closer to the SL pictured here in terms of dome position lower on the eyes.
Guess I got lucky?
Gorgeous helmet and paintup. I guess I missed this thread.
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