Vader Helmets... for the non-Prowse?

[lingarn]

Greetings.

I apologize if this topic has already been addressed ad nauseum, but my searches haven't come up with an answer for it.

I am approximately 5'10". Fine height for a stormtrooper, but wearing a Rubies Supreme Vader costume a few years ago, the second most frequent comment people made was something about the size of the helmet in proportion to my less-than-Prowse frame.

Are there options available for helmets that are smaller than the OT lids, but aren't the smaller plastic ones like the lower-end rubies? Perhaps fan-made?

Thanks for reading,

Lingarn

 

[yakcam]

Not that I'm aware of, I think your only option would be to mod a STD (Rubies or DP). There was a lady who did one for her costume and it turned out pretty well, although she was only 5'4" IIRC, but that was years ago.

Cheers,

Kraig

 

[Darth Detroit]

I also 5'10". When you wear the amsk it puts you a little over 6'. Add the armor, put lifts in your shoes, and it kind of conceals the fact that you arent exactly Vader-esque. Besides, its a black costume so it hides a little more. The biggest thing you have to be concerned about when wearing the mask is how farr the dome sits away from the shoulders. The capes cover most of your body anyway.

 

[HAL9000]

you could always just go for the standard sized mask sold everywhere.
That way your whole look would be in proportion.

I don't think people (who aren't obssessively in the know) would worry too much about
that - they certainly didn't with Hayden. :rolleyes

Just make sure you don't stand next to any 'screen sized' vaders that's all.

:thumbsup

 

[Darth Detroit]

IMHO the standard mask is only good for someone who is under 5'. Its a really small mas, youcan practically fit it inside of a DP delux.

 

[Darth Kahnt]

Yeah, the fan mades are generally the same size.

There is always the Hasbro Voice changer helmet.... j/k.

 

[kalkamel]

Lingarn, I think you need to boost your height so that you don't end up looking like Dark Helmet. I'm the same height as you, but I use 3.5 inches lifts in my boots. The helmet adds about 3 inches, so in costume, I'm about 6'4" - 6'5".

 

[lingarn]

Thanks for the input, everyone.

I thought I'd read something about smaller helmets, but I concede that this assembly of the learned is better versed in the subject than my partial memory of a comment on some forum somewhere. :lol

Next time I think about wearing the costume in public, I'll make sure to work on the lifts first.

Lingarn

P.S. -- I've seen pictures of the 5'4" woman. She did a great job with it, and pulls it off nicely.

 

[Darth Domain]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(kalkamel @ Feb 2 2007, 04:05 PM) [snapback]1410256[/snapback]</div>

Lingarn, I think you need to boost your height so that you don't end up looking like Dark Helmet. I'm the same height as you, but I use 3.5 inches lifts in my boots. The helmet adds about 3 inches, so in costume, I'm about 6'4" - 6'5".

[/b]

I'm 5ft 11, i wear 2.5 inch lifts in my boots, but i gotta ask, does it not make you walk a little funny with 3.5 lifts? I struggle in 2.5

 

[ob1al]

Yeah, the 'standard' toy Vader helmets always look like pinhead Vader - avoid at all costs.

To retain some proportion, better to bulk out your torso and the chest armor adds a bit of width too. Lifts, for the shorter sith lord, are a must to pull the look off IMO. Nothing shoddier than seeing a small Vader, it just doesn't look right.

I say this in the knowledge that I'd LOVE to don my Vader suit on a Troop, but even at 6ft I just don't think I'm tall enough.

In the words of Clint Eastwood, a man's gotta know his limitations...

 

[kalkamel]

Darth Domain, the lifts are quite comfortable. I've always thought (before I had them installed) that they would be a pain to walk on, but I've trooped in them for 2 to 3 hours straight and I don't walk funny at all.

 

[James Kenobi 1138]

Well, here is my Vader solutions:

I have 2.5 inch lifts for my Vader, and at 5'8" barefoot with the 1 inch of the boots, 2.5 of the lifts, and the height of the dome, I'm come in at about 6'4" in complete costume.

If you notice in the movie, Vader is usually only about a head taller then whomever he is talking to (except for Leia). I can only imagine the other actors were standing on apple boxes or something to allow for Vader and them to be in the same frame without too much of a height difference. The gap is very noticable in ANH when Vader is walking down the Tantive hallway with the Imperial Officer, but then when they stop to talk the Officer is 'taller'. Tarkin is 'taller' next to Vader in shots where we can't see his feet and shorter when it's a wide shot.

I decided that as long as I was taller then most women and children (the bulk of whom I would see at Cons), and as tall or taller (even by inches) then most Stormtroopers, then it would not look too odd to be a 6'4" Darth Vader.

 

[Darth Detroit]

Yeah, but Peter Cushing was 5'11"... thats pretty easy to pull 6' off on film. looking at those scens David Prowse is actually a few feet away from the Imperial officers. And Peter admited in a lot of scens he wasnt even wearing boots, he wore his slippers. So unless Prowse was weraing platform bunny slippers, it was all in the angle of the lense.

 

[Unfated]

I'm '6 04" and if I walked up in a Vader you would look like a tater Vader.
Why did you decide on a Vader and not a costume that works more for
your size. Not being a dick, just asking. It's like when I go to DragonCon
and see those people dress in predator outfits that are way to short to
be taken seriously.

Just curious.

Maybe I'm just an hight elitist.

 

[Darth Detroit]

...Elitist... :rolleyes

 

[kalkamel]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(James Kenobi 1138 @ Feb 3 2007, 11:03 PM) [snapback]1410900[/snapback]</div>

Well, here is my Vader solutions:

I have 2.5 inch lifts for my Vader, and at 5'8" barefoot with the 1 inch of the boots, 2.5 of the lifts, and the height of the dome, I'm come in at about 6'4" in complete costume.

If you notice in the movie, Vader is usually only about a head taller then whomever he is talking to (except for Leia). I can only imagine the other actors were standing on apple boxes or something to allow for Vader and them to be in the same frame without too much of a height difference. The gap is very noticable in ANH when Vader is walking down the Tantive hallway with the Imperial Officer, but then when they stop to talk the Officer is 'taller'. Tarkin is 'taller' next to Vader in shots where we can't see his feet and shorter when it's a wide shot.

I decided that as long as I was taller then most women and children (the bulk of whom I would see at Cons), and as tall or taller (even by inches) then most Stormtroopers, then it would not look too odd to be a 6'4" Darth Vader.
[/b]

And in my case, being in an Asian country, where 5'10" is considered "tall", my 6'4" Vader fits just nicely. :lol

 

[Mados]

I'd suggest a ROTS lid if you're more Hayden sized. I'm about 6' and my friend just got a Vader costume, so now my Vader has been relegated to mannequin display duty. He's 6' 3." Although we wore our costumes on New Years and our friends couldn't tell us apart since I had two inch lifts. So if you have lifts, the average fan won't notice anything. To make my helmet a little more proportionate(Don Post CA), I made the mask a little skinnier my heating it and bending it inwards. The same thing could be done with a Rubies Supreme.

 

[nightrider]

Yes, narrowing the neck will help with the disproportionate look you're talking about, an easy task with the rubies. The portumac lids are very narrow and look good with the GT sized armor on someone in the 5'10-6" range. My porty helmet is so narrow a friend of mine can't get it on while he can easily put on his DPDLX.

 

[Darth Kahnt]

I'm 6'6 so Vader was a natural choice for me, besides the fact that he is by far and away my favorite character.

But I wouldn't dare try and pull off a stormtrooper as I am just too big. I think it works best to pick a costume suited to your height and/or body type OR mod it in a way that allows it to look better onyou (ie: lifts in boots for shorter Vaders).

 

[OldKen]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Unfated @ Feb 3 2007, 11:19 AM) [snapback]1410933[/snapback]</div>

I'm '6 04" and if I walked up in a Vader you would look like a tater Vader.
Why did you decide on a Vader and not a costume that works more for
your size. Not being a dick, just asking. It's like when I go to DragonCon
and see those people dress in predator outfits that are way to short to
be taken seriously.

Just curious.

Maybe I'm just an hight elitist.
[/b]

yeah, like how all the TKs are beanpole skinny and 5'10-5'11 only... :lol :rolleyes


as long as you have lifts it can be done.

:thumbsup B)