UK Antiques Roadshow tonight - possible original Star Wars helmet

[Inquisitor Peregrinus]

Was this filmed quite a while ago? I spoke to Stephen Lane via email early 2013 to ask about this helmet and he said he had sold it when he bought another hero TIE helmet.

I only wanted to see a photo of the back of the helmet to see if it had the same box as the other helmets on it as I was going to try to make a nice replica of it.

The Prop Store then started exhibiting this hero TIE helmet.


View attachment 392197

That's the one I saw Jez review a couple years back. Might be Stephen sold that one in favor of the one seen on AR. I don't know the exact lineage of the various helmets, but at least one (all black, no grey trimming, silver/grey cogs, sold by Christies in '02) was made at some point with the compad slotted into the back of the mohawk instead of having the pill box mounted on it. I'm going that route with my build, because I think it looks better.

For the pill box, maybe send a message to our much-overworked MonCal. He's done what looks to me to be the best recreation of the pill box I've seen out there. He doesn't part his helmets out, but he may be able to give you some pointers...

--Jonah

 

[GINO]

Yep, two of the three HERO tie pilot helmets are owned by Stephen.
The third is still in the archives but it's been painted over (presumably for use in ROTJ?).

Amazing that these pieces are still around, and even more amazing that all three are in very good hands
I think if I was Stephen I would have tackled that lady. lol

or better yet like this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgOIEGz7o_shttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgOIEGz7o_s



.

 

[Yeebeme]

I watched this on TV when it came on and I think I was about ready to jump right into the telly when she knocked on the helmet. Absolutely disrespectful. I know the way she was talking was meant to be lighthearted but it sounded so belittling. I don't understand why someone's old dinner plate could be worth a thousand quid but I wouldn't act all surprised and would've handled it without care if they told me. The helmet just looks so beautiful.

 

[voice in the crowd]

For the pill box, maybe send a message to our much-overworked MonCal. He's done what looks to me to be the best recreation of the pill box I've seen out there. He doesn't part his helmets out, but he may be able to give you some pointers...

--Jonah

Hi Jonah,

It wasn't the box I was going to make a nice replica of - it was the helmet Since I have never seen the back of the striped hero TIE for all I know it has a comm pad on it rather than a box.

The 'pill box' is a found item so no need for accurate recreations I have some of the real 1970s boxes to go on any helmet. Thought it was common knowledge these had been found? There is a thread somewhere on this forum.

Stephen told me he had sold the one with the stripes down the face I still have the emails. I completely understand him fobbing off some random questions about his property to a complete stranger. He must get 100 emails a day about his items and it is his prerogative whether he wants to answer them or not. I have no issue with Stephen or The Propstore they all seem good guys.

@ Gino - I had always thought the painted helmet in the archives could have been the missing hero helmet. The paint is so obvious and in all the areas the silver paint was on.

Thanks very much for the confirmation though, and agreed it is fantastic they all still exist

 

[voice in the crowd]

This is the painted hero helmet in the Archives for anyone interested. You can see the paint brush strokes on the areas painted. You can see the paint line near the eye and the eye areas are clearly not painted.

 

[zorg]

as someone not clued up on ties, are the stripes down the face metallic grey or just standard solid grey, can't make it out.

ta

 

[Nagedzi]

I think it's gunmetal. Maybe Humbrol Gunmetal Metallic #53?

 

[brightmidnight]

Was this filmed quite a while ago? I spoke to Stephen Lane via email early 2013 to ask about this helmet and he said he had sold it when he bought another hero TIE helmet.

I only wanted to see a photo of the back of the helmet to see if it had the same box as the other helmets on it as I was going to try to make a nice replica of it.

The Prop Store then started exhibiting this hero TIE helmet.


View attachment 392197

They shot the episode in July. I was going to go but it was on a weekday. If I'd known that helmet was going to be there I'd have called in sick and taken the day off work!

I was surprised at the coverage too, there was definitely an air of side show. I watched the whole episode expecting them to cut back and give it some proper coverage with an expert, especially considering its value and pop culture significance.