Vader Lids

[madrobot]

I've been on the forum a while and have been reading about all the various Vader Lids that people have made over the years. I have yet to see any of them that I thought were awful, as there are so many talented people out there making stuff that is truly inspiring.

After seeing so many of these pieces, I am giving some thought to making one of my own, and wanted to get some input.

When it comes to making a Vader Lid, is Accuracy more important than Symmetry? The ANH Lid was asymmetrical. I prefer symmetry, but am curious to hear what other people think.

My thought was to make an ANH lid, that when you removed it piece by piece, that the exterior would have all the greeblies on top like the ROTJ helm, and the neck collar as well.

It was an idea I've toying around with.

Any thoughts?

 

[Darth Niob]

If you want an ANH it has to be asymetrical, otherwise its not an ANH.

 

[defstartrooper]

If you're going to make it for yourself i say go for it but if you're planning to do a run i don't think there will be many takers for a symmetrical ANH Vader.

 

[Al May]

If you want an ANH it has to be asymetrical, otherwise its not an ANH.

What he said,if you want symmetry then its rots but is that version really worth all that effort?,

 

[Qui-Gonzalez]

I've been on the forum a while and have been reading about all the various Vader Lids that people have made over the years. I have yet to see any of them that I thought were awful, as there are so many talented people out there making stuff that is truly inspiring.

After seeing so many of these pieces, I am giving some thought to making one of my own, and wanted to get some input.

When it comes to making a Vader Lid, is Accuracy more important than Symmetry? The ANH Lid was asymmetrical. I prefer symmetry, but am curious to hear what other people think.

My thought was to make an ANH lid, that when you removed it piece by piece, that the exterior would have all the greeblies on top like the ROTJ helm, and the neck collar as well.

It was an idea I've toying around with.

Any thoughts?

Accuracy on any OT Vader helmet is asymmetry. Remember, Brian Muir did not use all of the fancy C&C machining that they did in making the RotS lid.

 

[madrobot]

I want an ANH lid. I know that some folks like Symmetry. I do too, but in order for it to really be an ANH lid, it's gotta be Assymetrical.

I am planning to make just the one, and if there's someone who wants to do a run off of mine, that would be fine. I don't want to do any production.

 

[KevVader]

I'd be interested to see what you come up with.

 

[Qui-Gonzalez]

I applaud you on wanting to do this. It would take some heavy crafting skills to sculpt a good copy. Good luck.

 

[madrobot]

I'm still wrestling with what to construct it out of.

 

[phase pistol]

ROTS Vader was symmetrical, which is why it looks so strange IMHO... no funkiness, no personality. :unsure

ANH is best because of the widow's peak (pointy! ) and the droopy cheek. Twisted, and evil. :sleep

k

 

[madrobot]

I think I figured out what to make it out of.

Now I need to pull a casting of my melon.

 

[TV8]

I applaud your idea, but I can't imagine a symetrical ANH lid. That would be like a "accurate" polar beer, but in red. The asymmetry is what makes it ANH. That said, can't wait to see what you come up with. Maybe a sort of "clone wars" pre-ANH lid? What are your preliminary thoughts on the paint finish?

 

[Jumpin Jax]

Accuracy on any OT Vader helmet is asymmetry. Remember, Brian Muir did not use all of the fancy C&C machining that they did in making the RotS lid.

Proof positive that symmetry isn't necessarily better :lol
Go for idealized ANH Style, that's my vote. It's a cool look that could use a tweak.

 

[Too Much Garlic]

Looking forward to what you come up with! :cheers

ROTS Vader was symmetrical, which is why it looks so strange IMHO... no funkiness, no personality. :unsure

That's because they only used one side and mirrored it. They should have scanned the whole helmet, reversed it and put the two images on top of each other and had the computer average out the shapes to go 100% symmetrical. Not this Don Post mirrored symmetry bs they did.

Sorta like this instead:


I know it's not perfect as I suck at Photoshop.

 

[madrobot]

I applaud your idea, but I can't imagine a symetrical ANH lid. That would be like a "accurate" polar beer, but in red. The asymmetry is what makes it ANH. That said, can't wait to see what you come up with. Maybe a sort of "clone wars" pre-ANH lid? What are your preliminary thoughts on the paint finish?

Not a clue. Just planning on doing the sculpt. I'm not planning on producing anything but would be interested in letting someone else do that chore.

 

[madrobot]

Looking forward to what you come up with! :cheers


That's because they only used one side and mirrored it. They should have scanned the whole helmet, reversed it and put the two images on top of each other and had the computer average out the shapes to go 100% symmetrical. Not this Don Post mirrored symmetry bs they did.

Sorta like this instead:


I know it's not perfect as I suck at Photoshop.

I am SO glad you posted this pic.

I didn't realize just how asymmetrical the ANH lid really was. I think the mind corrects things and makes them symmetrical when they're not. Not sure what you mean by Don Post Mirrored Symmetry, but what you've posted is something that I would go for.

If people really wanted the Asymmetrical lid, it wouldn't be all that hard to do. The problem, is what people would say when they saw it done. The first thing they'd say would be, it's not symmetrical. Only real purists are going to be interested in an asymmetrical ANH mask.

 

[madrobot]

I guess the question begs to be asked, is there a market for a true ANH lid?

If so, I'd like to take a shot at it.

 

[Too Much Garlic]

Not sure what you mean by Don Post Mirrored Symmetry, but what you've posted is something that I would go for.

Don Post mirrored symmetry is taking one side, flipping it and merge the two identical images together. It looks like crap and is a half assed attempt at symmetry.

Take the whole mask, flip a mirrored identical image onto itself and work out the average of the shapes and you get a 100% symmetrical look that doesn't look like crap.

 

[madrobot]

Isn't that what you did?

 

[Too Much Garlic]

Isn't that what you did?

I did the second option. Taking the image, flipping it, pasting it on top of the other and then having the program work out the average, as best it could and that created a near fully 100% symmetrical look. Just look at the picture I posted - the last picture is the two previous pictures on top of each other and averaged out.


Don Post and the way the ep3 Vader was done, was NOT doing it that way - DP cut a helmet down the middle, mirrored one side and attached it to the other half, whereas the movie people took pieces of one side of Vader, mirrored it and put the pieces back together. Both look like crap and is the lazy way of doing symmetrical.