Re: Daft Punk Helmet Build
I mentioned this before, but I thought I would go ahead and post it since there are more DP fans on here than I expected. This is a helmet history I made a year ago for thedaftclub.com, since there were people who thought that the HAA helmets were just the Discovery helmets "with the LEDs turned off" :lol This is not at all complete or definitive, it just covers what I consider to be the basics. I've include some basic pictures to illustrate the differences, but you can find ALL of my pictures at the link bellow for download.
BASIC differences/features in the Daft Punk helmets (in order of appearance):
Discovery Helmets:
Brief history: In the late 90’s Daft Punk went from wearing simple Halloween and novelty masks to complex robot helmets (If you are reading this you obviously already know that). These first helmets were made by special effects company Alterian Inc, with LED systems made by LED FX. Both helmets cost around $65,000. It has been said that the helmets were made around modified motorcycle helmets, but we cannot be sure that this is true as this claim was made by LED FX, who also took credit for making the helmets themselves, not just the LED systems.
Basic Features:
-LED Displays
-Backpacks containing processors for the LEDs
-Ribbed black tubes containing wires running from backpacks to helmets (amount of tubes varies depending on what is displayed on the LEDs)
-Ribbed “neck seals” that covered the neck
~lesser known features~
-Both costumes had optional “gauntlets” that had illuminating buttons that activated/ deactivated previously stored LED programs such as text or animations (think Nintendo power glove).
-The rear half of both Tom and Guy's helmet are/were removable to provide better access to the wires
-Infact, the rear half of Guy's helmet is missing in most photos and videos
-They can see, via pin sized holes in front of the eyes (Source FADER magazine interview)
-Towards the end of the discovery era the LEDs began to burn out, and needed to be repaired. Afterward, around the edge of both Tom's and Guy's visors a strange black trim appeared.
-Not everyone realizes that bellow Thomas’ visor there are holes for ventilation, as they are easily blurred in low resolution photos.
Fun facts
-Guy's helmet was capable of displaying text, just like Tom's. Although rather than scrolling vertically like most would think, the text scrolled horizontally (left to right). As a result, only 2-4 letters could be seen at a time thus making it very difficult to read.
- Guy’s and Thomas’ gloves were different in this era. Both featured the same black ribbed “under glove”, but Thomas’ metal plates were more stream line, where as Guy’s had “knuckles”
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“Transition” or “Hybrid” helmets:
History:
These helmets are often mistaken for the Discovery helmets, when in reality they are completely different. They appeared after the discovery era but before HAA. Its safe to assume these helmets were created by Alterian Inc. These helmets lacked the complex LED displays, thus allowing Thomas and Guy-Man more movement and visibility. The practicality of this was the two were no longer restricted to sitting still during interviews and were able to walk and interact with their surroundings better.
Features:
-A brand new sculpt of the helmets including smaller size and sharper details
-New but smaller LED displays
-Thomas' LEDs are a row of red LEDS (about an inch tall, that are capable of small patterns, and small text. Thus allowing much more room for vision)
-Guy's LED display is merely his 2 green LED “eyes”
-Thomas' visor is tinted red, Guy-Man's is mirror gold
-The helmets do not separate, they are just one piece.
-The back of Guy-Mans helmet has returned, and the “bald spot” is now filled with fake wires
~Fun Fact~
-The best way to identify these helmets is any time Guy's visor is gold.
-Strangely the black rubber trim appears on Thomas' visor again, but not Guy-Man's
-These helmets actually appear in the famous GAP commercial, they are used when Daft Punk is dancing. They then switch back to the Discovery helmets for the end of the ad.
-The same gloves were used from the Discovery costumes
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HAA Helmets:
Basic History:
These helmets are basically the same as the transition helmets (the same sculpt) except for the following changes:
-No LEDs period
-Thomas' smile is changed to just a slit
-Visors are now black
-New (non ribbed) neck seal
-New (non ribbed) gloves. According to Thomas in a fan interview backstage at a concert their new gloves are made out of a lycra/spandex material, with pads in the fingertips to make it easier to use their instruments.
~Fun Facts~
-Even though they do not function, Guy-Man's helmet still has red and yellow LEDS on the bottom of his ears
-In the beginning of the HAA (including Electroma) era, Thomas' ears had two colors: Grey, and Chrome. Now a days they seem to be just completely chrome.
-Its safe to assume there are defiantly more than one of each helmet, as they are much easier to make.
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Electroma “extras” Helmets:
Basically these were cheap versions of the “hero” HAA helmets. Details were compromised, for the sake of affordability. These helmets were also used as “back up” helmets for the Alive concerts, should the hero helmets have broken/gone missing. Also these helmets were wore by the bartenders and waitresses at the Electroma premier party.
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Alive Helmets:
The same helmets as the HAA helmets, but painted flat black, and feature EL-Wire accents on the edges. When these outfits first appeared (in concert) only Daft Punk’s jackets and helmets lit up. For their performance at the Grammy’s with Kanye West, their entire outfit now feature EL-wire, including their gloves.
-Interesting observation:
Their gloves for this costume do not have the “armor” pieces on the fingers or back plate, but EL-wire is there to simulate their presence. This is more than likely a result of allowing for easier hand movements.
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There you go, my contribution to the DP world. Now mind you this is not an attempt at a complete analysis. There are some details I did not touch on, I just tried to keep things simple/basic for the non-Daft Punk fanatics.
-H
Also here are some "rare" videos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Awfv1b9pmBU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DG744r3klIU (Skip to 1:07)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvOq-0zYtd4 (Fan wearing an Extra helmet at the Electroma premiere)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dkai8yM2nAc (Transition/hybrid helmets in action!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2VjJOxcks4
http://blogg.svt.se/psl/2008/03/27/minnen-med-daft-punk/ (transition helmets again!)