Stormtrooper white mic tips in ANH.

[jhfagan]

I'm sure it's a known thing, but only recently as I've been delving deep deep into the prop replica world, I noticed for the first time in 43 years, two troopers following Vader in from the blockade runner attack, have white Hovi mic tips instead of black? Odd.
Any reason, other than use what they had?

 

[Lear60man]

Prolly bare metal....just looks white. Gaffers tape on the second guys right nip.

 

[wannab]

Although one of the first scenes in the movie, it was one of the last to be shot, so all the stormies and vader were worse for wear. you can see the black paint remaining on the rear part of the tips and the rest has just worn/flaked off at this point. Notice the bottom of the vocoder the paint on the hero helmet is worn as well. By this point there is paint touch up and gaffer tape everywhere and it got to the ef-it stage - just shoot it and let's wrap this bad boy up!

 

[wannab]

Prolly bare metal....just looks white. Gaffers tape on the second guys right nip.

Only metal (not counting the interior mounting hardware) were the screens, the tips themselves were cast resin.

 

[Halliwax]

I don’t see the gaffers tape?

 

[Apollo]

Well you are not supposed to, that’s the point!

I don’t see the gaffers tape?

 

[masterjedi322]

I don’t see the gaffers tape?

It’s going down the right side of the chest plate next to the shoulder bell. Looks like it extends from mid chest up to the strap that connects to the back plate.

It’s really amazing what you can see in the 4K versions... Looks like the Empire was literally held together by tape...

Sean

 

[James Kenobi 1138]

 

[CatfoodRob]

Yes, all the mic tips were white , and painted black .like most of the paint on the helmets, it wore off .

 

[jhfagan]

It’s going down the right side of the chest plate next to the shoulder bell. Looks like it extends from mid chest up to the strap that connects to the back plate.

It’s really amazing what you can see in the 4K versions... Looks like the Empire was literally held together by tape...

SeanView attachment 1329355

The 4K discs really pointed out TONS of visual revelations, on everything, but yes, the Empire was tape, bubble gum and popsicle sticks. Vader's helm looked especially bad. Amazing. lol

 

[Lear60man]

View attachment 1329358

That poor trooper on the right, someone get him some Proactive.

 

[Treadwell]

The first example looks more to me like the chest piece has a split in it rather than it being tape.

 

[Blue Leader]

I kind of dig the white tips.

 

[R2Dan]

on that hero the left mic tip (as you look at it) is actually broken off and all that's left is the inner nipple plus the back piece and base of the front part with the four struts that the top would be connected to, which is still mainly black.

 

[R2Dan]

Only metal (not counting the interior mounting hardware) were the screens, the tips themselves were cast resin.

From what I've seen, all the original ANH (and ESB Mk2) helmets had actual found part mic tips, not cast resin copies. They are more of a soft-ish injection moulded plastic. They all have the cut outs near the base as well, which would be a pain in the butt to mould and cast, especially for a detail you'd never see

 

[Lear60man]

From what I've seen, all the original ANH (and ESB Mk2) helmets had actual found part mic tips, not cast resin copies. They are more of a soft-ish injection moulded plastic. They all have the cut outs near the base as well, which would be a pain in the butt to mould and cast, especially for a detail you'd never see

Oooooo we have a Hovi debate! I know the mic tips are metal and never heard that the crew cast them out of resin. So im in your camp.

 

[R2Dan]

They weren't metal. The ROTJ mic tips were machined metal. ANH and ESB are injection moulded plastic assemblies and clearly a found part (that has yet to be identified)

 

[Lear60man]

N

They weren't metal. The ROTJ mic tips were machined metal. ANH and ESB are injection moulded plastic assemblies and clearly a found part (that has yet to be identified)

Now Im confused. I always thought the ANH troopers had Hovi Mike tips....same thing as on 3p0's communicator? (metal)

 

[R2Dan]

They are hovi mics. But they are plastic, not metal. The main body on the communicator is also plastic - the Tomtit radial engine part. The mesh in the hovis is metal, but that's about it. The com actually features an unpainted white hovi

 

[R2Dan]

Here's a pic promoting vapour ware, but it shows an original hovi taken apart.