Vader lid experts chime in

[Too Much Garlic]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(bigbaddaddyvader @ Nov 23 2006, 12:19 AM) [snapback]1363885[/snapback]</div>

I think that would be a very good idea and the results would be interesting.She didn't contact me but I saw the auction and asked her about it.If there are corresponding details in your cross-referencing she should most definitely be reported.
[/b]

pm sent.

Any chance of posting the link to the auction - if it is over it is allowed to be posted.

 

[bigbaddaddyvader]

Well they dont seem to be the same person so that's something.However the auction is still running....just under four days left to go.

 

[Darth Kahnt]

This stinks to me too. Actually, if an auction is considered to be suspicious for legitimate reason then the link is allowed to be posted in an effort to protect and educate the membership if I'm not mistaken.

 

[Too Much Garlic]

Hmm... interesting. The tusks are missing and the tubes are scratched, but not in a similar fashion to the MGM exhibit Vader shown.

Anyone daring to bid on this is a brave soul indeed, imo.

 

[bigbaddaddyvader]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...p;rd=1&rd=1

As i am a newbie to this forum i wouldn't want to be stepping on any toes with any wrong etiquette.Anyway it's dubious-at best.

 

[JacoNB]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(bigbaddaddyvader @ Nov 22 2006, 07:58 PM) [snapback]1363910[/snapback]</div>

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...p;rd=1&rd=1
[/b]

A friend and neighbor of mine runs a site specifically about Vader costuming, molding, casting, etc. He might be able to point you in the right direction. I think it's safe to say he knows everything there is to know about the differences between each movie version of Vader's helmet. He might be able to help point you in the right direction, at least.

www.sithtrainingtemple.com

Ask for Gypsyboy. (The site admin/mod).

Hope that helps.

 

[Darth Kahnt]

Yep, definately suspicious to say the least.

 

[darthvaderv]

As others have said this looks suspiciously like the orlando Vader. I cant get the pic at high res so I am unsure 100% but am pretty convinced they are one and the same even though the marks are different. Either way this is the closest representation to the ESB Vader display that I have ever seen.

 

[Darth Detroit]

If this WAS the Orlando PH Vader... why would it be sold in POUNDS? Should I raise the RED flag or the BS flag?

 

[darthvaderv]

Well it's pure BS for sure. Definately not the first scam like this. There is more of it around Christmas time :rolleyes .

 

[SithLord]

For each film they made and used 3 helmets, after the Empire Strikes back he made an extra one for me to keep as a memento.[/b]

It does seem strange that she's spouting truths about the helmet as if she knows something. There was a fake helmet being touted as original made at Pinewood studios that seemed to fool even seasoned collectors...that raises a red flag with me. She doesn't know where the helmets were made, she doesn't know how many were made for each film (clearly using the number 3 from the starwarshelmets.com website Muir interview for Star Wars...for ESB and ROTJ many more helmets were made). Unless she comes up with more photos...I agree...buyer beware.

It's not the PH helmet...the tube break pattern is different. Also the neckline is different. The paint on the faceplate of this one looks pretty metallic...not indicative of it being made by someone who worked with the studio. Also, the ESB masks have the notch on Vader's right side of the nosebridge...this one doesn't seem to have that. Still, after closer inspection I don't think it's a DP recast.

 

[Cantina_Dude]

Well I never thought it was the PH helmet itself, but I do think it comes from the same source. There are just too many details that line up perfectly and are unlike any fan made helmet I have ever seen. Here's a quick comparison of the faces:

And just for kicks, here's a bit better enlargement of the full helmet image:

Anyway, the other question here is even if the helmet pictured is an "original mold" piece, it's not necessarily what is for sale in the auction. It could be that, like some other questionable sellers, the person has found an image of a helmet and is using it to sell a different or even possibly non-existent helmet. If the helmet pictured is actually what is for sale, I would grab it up, simply because it looks like the most accurate ESB helmet I've seen available. But with all these unanswered questions, I would be very cautious.

Regards,

MJC.

 

[Too Much Garlic]

Definitely a bit of a gamble, imo.

 

[Darth Kahnt]

It's a huge gamble I would not be willing to take personally.

 

[Uber Fett]

While I first thought that this was the same PH bucket when I first saw it...CantinaDudes side-by shows that it is not. There are two giveaways.

1: Look the schmutz on the right side (left in the pic) of the mouth/ cheek on the PH helmet. It's not there on the sale helmet. Now, I thought...well, photoshop can fix that...but

2: look at the mouth grill. The PH has sharper lines. Look at especially the bottom of the grill. The lines are more squared off on the PH and if you look at the sale helmet, they are more curved.

3: The tusks. The left (right on the pic) tusk on the PH is damaged further back than the sale helmets left tusk.

What say you folks...

Shawn

 

[darthvaderv]

Yep good comparison. The helmet in question is still the closest resemblance of an ESB Vader I have ever seen as I mentioned in my first post. As CD said maybe it good be a cast, if so a very accurate one. The teeth comparison is very interesting.

 

[KevVader]

Regardless of the helmet's authenticity/origins, I wouldn't give that kind of cash to a 3 week old seller with 2 feedback and dicey auction details.

 

[Star Wars Helmets]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(KevVader @ Nov 24 2006, 02:46 PM) [snapback]1364773[/snapback]</div>

Regardless of the helmet's authenticity/origins, I wouldn't give that kind of cash to a 3 week old seller with 2 feedback and dicey auction details.
[/b]

Agreed. The only way I'd go for this would be Cash on Delivery.

Cheers

Jez

 

[Too Much Garlic]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Uber Fett @ Nov 24 2006, 10:15 AM) [snapback]1364708[/snapback]</div>

While I first thought that this was the same PH bucket when I first saw it...CantinaDudes side-by shows that it is not. There are two giveaways.

1: Look the schmutz on the right side (left in the pic) of the mouth/ cheek on the PH helmet. It's not there on the sale helmet. Now, I thought...well, photoshop can fix that...but
2: look at the mouth grill. The PH has sharper lines. Look at especially the bottom of the grill. The lines are more squared off on the PH and if you look at the sale helmet, they are more curved.
3: The tusks. The left (right on the pic) tusk on the PH is damaged further back than the sale helmets left tusk.
What say you folks...
Shawn
[/b]

Very nice analysis. Just a few things:

2: the differences between the two are noted, however, camera's can do strange things - even make straight things look curved, if it is not a good camera or the lighting conditions are poor. But definitely worth to take into account that they are not completely identical, when comparing the two. Could be explained as a cast of a cast... though... I'm only speculating here.

3. completely agree with that and I believe I mentioned that earlier in this topic. It is imo definitely not the same helmet... but seems to share many similarities to each other - source.?

It definitely has sharp features... and looks very interesting - but the lack of and wrong information, lack of more pictures and the newbie-ness of the seller makes it highly risky... though, I'm still intrigued, as you would think that a scammer would simply take any standard and easily available picture on the net and use that instead of one that no one has seen before... just thinking.

 

[Darth Kahnt]

I think the person went a bit more in depth than the average scammer would go. They tried to take good measures to make sure people would not pick up on all the small things. I have no doubt it's a scam and a waste of money.