OK, I want to preface all I am about to say by stating that I am making these points because I detest inaccuracy and opinion that is posted as "fact." Too often things are stated as fact with no proof to back it up and if it is said often enough everyone simply begins to believe it IS fact. this is how props myths like the Obi-Wan "motorcycle grip" and "lawnmower gear" are born. We already have enough problems and issues among trooper helmet enthusiasts without adding more confusion to the mix. I am NOT trying to start a fight here, just squashing fallacies.
Originally posted by Jumpin Jax@Jan 27 2006, 09:59 PM
This is the only way to get a helmet 100% identical was to do it this way. (TE's words)
This is simply untrue. First, this helmet was made via realscan. Rescan technology is not perfect and is prone to some error not only in the scanning but in the cutting of the part. Also, the original material this was made from was a foam that was very pourous with a grainy, sandlike surface which had to be filled and smoothed and sanded. You could also see a seam line across the dome on the original bust that had to be taken care of. Additionally, here are a few quotes in regard to the creation of the original bust:
"the laser pics up the detail, but sadly the bit used to cut the parts is bigger than the detail areas are sometime"
"you have to guess as to how deep the detail needs to be since the bit only scathed the surface and left where it goes... not everywhere, but in some spots"
Aside from all of that, this was to be a one piece, fiberglass helmet, with all the detail molded in, including the rubber brow trim. 100% identical? This would have been much closer, in term of build, to what MR is producing. It might LOOK very similar to the real thing due to the amazing abilities of the realscan technology, but it would have been nowhere near "100% identical."
Originally posted by Jumpin Jax+Jan 27 2006, 09:59 PM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Jumpin Jax @ Jan 27 2006, 09:59 PM)</div>
Nothing on this helmet was changed.[/b]
This is also untrue. Setting aside the fact that the entire surface had to be smoothed and sanded, I talked to Matt about a difference I saw in the bust and he openly admitted they had to make a correction. Here is our abridged IM conversation:
Braks Buddy: the details in your real scan casting looks considerably sharper than the real helmet it came from
TE: no not really
Braks Buddy: well then, the pic above is VERY misleading
TE: are you speaking of the detail above the vocoder?
TE: the lip there?
Braks Buddy: yes
Braks Buddy: it looks considerbly sharper than on the original helmet
TE: that area had a small issue with it being chunked when the bit passed
TE: sadly this is the best we could do to salvage it
TE: the machine made a boo boo
TE: but it captures the essence
What I noticed was that the lip above the vocoder was extremely sharp on the bust while it was not nearly as sharp on the original helmet. If the bust was JUST like the original and nothing was changed this area wouldn't be SHARPER than the original, but it is and Matt explained in the IM conv posted above why that is. The point being, changes WERE made. I will not make any assumptions about other changes but I do know that all realscans have to be cleaned and descrepanices corrected.
<!--QuoteBegin-KevVaderJAN 27 2006, 10:01 PM
WOW....very nice. :thumbsup ....you could grate cheese on that vocoder.....
You are right. You could. The problem is that from what I see you couldn't on the Dave M helmet from which this bust was scanned. The original does not appear (to me) to be as sharp as the bust and it seems to me (again, my opinion) that not only are the individual vocoder ridges, on the original, thicker, but that the troughs are not as thick and not as deep, as if someone has sharpened them, taking material off the ridges while deepening the troughs. But don't take my word for it. Decide for yourself.
You can also see in the image above the change to the hood over the vocoder due to the machining error.
It may sound like I am just trouncing this helmet or trying to make it look bad. That is not the case at all. It is an AMAZING bust and in many ways you would never be able to get something closer to the "Set for Stun" helmet. However, to state that it is EXACTLY like the helmet it came from (100% identical) and to say that nothing was changed simply is no more true than AA's original claims that his helmets were from the original untouched molds... Scary to see that parallel surfacing here.
If this helmet is ever produced, I am sure that there will be many people happy to line up to purchase it and will be proud and thrilled to own it as they should be, but lets keep facts and opinions seperated.
