Windlass Studios Mark II Iron Helmet (Big Pictures)
- Thread starter nightwing58
- Start date
00MrNotWrong00
Sr Member
I like threads when every one says the love something or think it is great even though it is not. But that being said does something being "bad" ever make it more valuable? Seriously could you put it on a high shelf at an angle so when people come into the room they don't get a good look at it and they just think it is awesome? In like four years are there going to be people saying "yeah I had one of those with the box and paper work and I sent it back, damn-it." ? Not to defend the idea of being a real company and making some thing that can't hang with fan made props or nuthin, but is there a saving grace to something like this?
nightwing58
Well-Known Member
Truthfully, I was hoping for something to look straight out of the movies. Even when the final pics came out, you had to hope they did that so early out that they could get feedback early on and adjust what it would look like once they were shipped out. But, they didn't even do that. So i'm not gonna have something sit on my desk of cabinet staring back at me looking like something I didn't like, I'd rather have a plastic or fiberglass fanmade one that looks like it's out of the movies and then fix it up and paint it myself
GINO
Sr Member
I don't think you are the only one with that vibe.
I've recently approached Windlass (through the proper channels) with an offer to help them with their upcoming SW costuming line.
Long story short, I was thanked for the interest and assured that they "have it under control".
This is a direct quote from their response:
"Currently our design team (with constant and direct help of the Lucas Archives and research staff) has been able to handle the tasks nicely."
Am I the only one whe doesn't take comfort in that statement?
I think they either simply just don't know what they don't know, or just don't care. Maybe a little of both?
When you have a price point in the range they are shooting for, people's expectations will be higher and unfortunately it sets the consumer up for disappointment.
Access to the real props is worthless if the product you put forth does not represent it well.
.
00MrNotWrong00
Sr Member
Oh I love that smug response, But some one else said something that got me thinking. "Those don't look like weld marks" and on top of that some of the lines aren't straight and if it was sheet metal cut on a brake then hand hammered to get the shape, Wouldn't those lines still be straight? That leads me to believe this is a poor then ground and buffed, like a bad bronze casting. If that's so they could have used the original helmet for the first casting.
This is bothering me more and more.
This is bothering me more and more.
Did you talk to them about sending it back? Did it come with a return invoice or instructions as to how to do it? You're not gonna' get hung up with some kind of a dispute with them over this, are you? I hope not.
And you definitely want to get one of Fettster's helmets.
Definitely.
weaselflinger
Sr Member
Once you begin annealing and hammering metal, everything including straight lines, can distort considerably. I have cast a lot of bronze pieces, and the amount of work and engineering it would take to hollow cast a helmet like this (and not have it 1/4" thick) would be totally impratical if not impossible.
nightwing58
Well-Known Member
Luckily it came with an invoice from them inside the main box saying that I could return it for a full refund minus the shipping I paid for within 30 days if I didn't like it. So i got it yesterday and sent it back the following day and emailed them as well along with a tracking number so I know when it gets to them. Anyone have a link to what Fettster's helmets look like?
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00MrNotWrong00
Sr Member
I think I prefer either of the ones I bought from folks on this board to that.
You told me once before but I can't find it meow. Who made the one on the right? and where can I see more pictures?
I really wanted to defend the Licensed prop. I mean it's got a box and a number and it says MARVEL right on it. But I don't think I'm going to come up with a good argument meow.
Was I a little slow on the "This is a casting" thing? Was everybody like " We got eyes, dumb ass " .
yeah there is at least 3 helmets if not more made by our fellow members that would piss all over that windass effort.
i got the "oooh....ahhh" vibe from a couple of fanboys about it being made out of metal. woop dee doo. ive got a hip made of metal, id swap it for bone anyday.
as for windyasses reply to gino - "have it under control" :lol
i got the "oooh....ahhh" vibe from a couple of fanboys about it being made out of metal. woop dee doo. ive got a hip made of metal, id swap it for bone anyday.
as for windyasses reply to gino - "have it under control" :lol
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DAVIDYR1
Official Licensee
I agree, and let me say that I'm not implying that they wont do a fine job on the costumes...I just agree with that particular statement.
On a side note, when MR had the SW license, after the Obi and Ani prototype costumes were made and shown at some of the shows, I was contacted to take on the entire redesign of those costume prototypes and also take on the subsequent production and delivery of the SW costume line. Things seemed to move well, and under the usual time frames one might expect...fabrics and different samples were sent to us from the Lucas archives and we got to work replicating everything in incredible detail and accuracy. The costumes look basic and simple enough but nothing could be further from that.
Nearly all of the fabrics needed to be recreated from scratch...minus a few simple cotton areas that were well hidden under the garments anyway. Even with offical patterns, fabric samples and tonnes of inside info provided, the R&D on these particular costumes was unbelievably intense. As a costume maker but also a huge SW fan, being 'emotionally connected' to the character/s, costume or movie in question allows for that extra dose of stubbornes to see to it that these replicas are in fact 'true' replicas once finished. They basically had to 'be' the movie costumes...not just 'look' like them...That was a big deal for us all and the main focus of the project. Now unfortunately, at the time their whole SW licensing consideration was going on behind the scenes and when it was official that they no longer were going to have the SW license (for whatever reason, and it's irrelevant anyway) were we told that the project was dead in the water. Expenses aside, it was an unfortunate outcome to something that we not only believed in from a business stand point...but were eager to be involved with. The idea of high end replica SW costumes, made from documented resources would have been a first in the world of licensed replicas. I/we really wanted to be a part of that. It was unfortunate that it didn't happen.
Never the less, we had access to everything needed to bring these costumes to life...faithfully and accurately with no compromises in quality, look, design and function. It was just unfortunate timing. I'd guess that they too now have those same resources so I'd be optimistic about the end result.
So getting back to Gino's comment, I look forward to their costume line. it's a big deal and will be a first in the costuming world.... and I also believe that many more opportunities like this are out there......
Sorry for the brief hijack.
David
00MrNotWrong00
Sr Member
So we are going with it not being a casting ? Then I would say each one of these is a one of a kind work of art, and even if it is a little (lot) off then it is still a very cool thing to own. This would be like having a custom gas tank for your motor cycle. It isn't perfect but being hand made I can respect.
I think we may have a build challenge here. Could any one on this forum put together a sheet metal, screen accurate Iron Man helmet ? Does anyone here even have the means to get it done ? Even with a nice template making something like that is challenging. Then you also get a nice box.
So do anybody think they can pull it off ? Seriously ?
I think we may have a build challenge here. Could any one on this forum put together a sheet metal, screen accurate Iron Man helmet ? Does anyone here even have the means to get it done ? Even with a nice template making something like that is challenging. Then you also get a nice box.
So do anybody think they can pull it off ? Seriously ?
00MrNotWrong00
Sr Member
So I shouldn't start a challenge thread ?
I just got one today. After seeing the reviews and listening to everyone I figured I had to look to see how bad it was. After looking at it and screen caps online I think the real problem I have with it is the brow line and the eyes being to wide. Aside from these I don't really have any other complaints about it. (ducks for cover). I think that yea it could have been a lot better. What I am wondering is if light up eyes are put in it would it draw away from the wide eyesockets and brow line. My two big concerns with it. I am still on the fence to keeping it but I'm wondering if a set of light up eyes will help make the helmet look more correct to me. Just my thoughts on it.
Jim
Jim
They did.
Submariner
New Member
It's a reach to call that a work of art. Windlass is a factory in India. They make the swords and helmets and armor for Museum Replica's too. It's just an assembly line, like any other factory. I'm not trying to take anything away from the people that put hours of hard work into making these things, but I've been a factory worker for 12 years, and I know its hard to put all your care and love into an individual piece, when you've got hundreds or thousands of them flying by you every day. Of course, with a limited run like these Iron Man helmets, its a little different, but I'm sure as soon as they finish them, its on to more bascinets or armets or chain mail or whatever the orders are.
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I have a couple questions on the helmet that maybe I could get some input on. First how do you remove the oil that it is coated in? is there a special technique or just wipe it off? second is there a way to polish the helmet up so that it looks really bright without damaging it? Also has there been a review on the Mark I and if so does that one have a lot of problems too? You can pm me to keep this thread on track. Thanks.
Jim
Jim
KnightAsylum
Sr Member
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