Got my MR Vader......

[KevVader]

Originally posted by chris1748@Jan 29 2006, 08:40 PM
That is a metal piece not as easy to scratch than an automotive quality buffed finish.

chris

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.....yeah, but it's easy enough to screw up in production/painting, or due to improper packaging.....doesn't matter what it's made of. Which seems to be the cause of the issues with the Vader & Clone lids....

Once my Vader lid gets here and is (hopefully) perfect, I'll be the first guy to give MR a pat on the back....as I have in the past. But to shrug off their QC problems with their current helmets as "nobody's perfect"....sorry...I expect more when I plunk down my hard earned $....

 

[chris1748]

My post was not to shrug it off and say nobodys perfect.
My post was to say the helmets that have a tiny scuff from shipping that can be fixed in a few seconds are not defective.

chris

 

[KevVader]

Originally posted by chris1748@Jan 29 2006, 09:03 PM
My post was not to shrug it off and say nobodys perfect.
My post was to say the helmets that have a tiny scuff from shipping that can be fixed in a few seconds are not defective.

chris

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Chris...understood and my intention is not to hack on ya. I agree that this is a fantastic piece with unmatched pedigree as far as licensed Vader helmets go....and I'll be really excited when I get mine. However, MR charges a premium price for these items and they should arrive pristine...a couple defective helmets is understandable.....but there have been quite a few so far. Even a scuff that can be buffed out is too much of a defect IMO....if they had packaged the helmet properly it wouldn't be an issue.

 

[Darth Kahnt]

Originally posted by KevVader@Jan 29 2006, 11:08 PM
Chris...understood and my intention is not to hack on ya. I agree that this is a fantastic piece with unmatched pedigree as far as licensed Vader helmets go....and I'll be really excited when I get mine. However, MR charges a premium price for these items and they should arrive pristine...a couple defective helmets is understandable.....but there have been quite a few so far. Even a scuff that can be buffed out is too much of a defect IMO....if they had packaged the helmet properly it wouldn't be an issue.

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I agree Kev. If you are throwing out that much money for a helmet you expect it to be pristine.

 

[vaderdarth]

Yep, if only 1 out of every 6 are un-flawed......there are huge issues for MR to resolve. Some folks aren't comfortable with self fixes. What if something goes wrong.........and then MR refuses to accept the piece back. I mean, your warranty isn't really good if you alter the piece yourself.

That may not be the case with MR, but it does apply with most other products out there.

They just need to fix it themselves.

Dave

 

[Darth Bill]

Originally posted by chris1748+Jan 30 2006, 01:28 AM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(chris1748 @ Jan 30 2006, 01:28 AM)</div>

...but as soon as you put the dome on the helmet you wil have a bigger scuff mark on the front of the mask where the dome touches.

[/b]

<!--QuoteBegin-vaderdarth@Jan 30 2006, 01:34 AM
URGENT...... 

Cut out a square and put it inside the dome where it will contact the faceplate. 

I've started doing this on all my helmets.  Or else you will scar the face plate. 

Huh? Wha- ?. :confused :confused

What in the blue hell are you talking about???

No problems with the dome:



See the strip...??

*I* didn't put it there....

Who could have done it, then...?? Who? WHO?? :lol




Russ

 

[Vandark]

Just got my Vader (Number 149)

It WAS almost perfect, but one of the tabs to hold the back plate on was loose in the bag.

Also i've notice, the back plate doesn't seem to lign up unless you put it on upside down, so i'm thinking maybe the tabs are in the wrong place on some of these.

Anybody else noticed this?

 

[vaderdarth]

Hey Bill, did that strip already come inside the dome??? If so cool... I've been doing mine like that for a year or more.

Dave

 

[Darth Bill]

Yes.

It's leather-y and the circle is padded.

I have no idea what that chris1748 guy is talking about with "scuffing the face plate"...

The dome never touches the face. :unsure




Russ

 

[Megatron]

Originally posted by Vandark@Jan 30 2006, 01:22 PM
Just got my Vader (Number 149)

It WAS almost perfect, but one of the tabs to hold the back plate on was loose in the bag.

Also i've notice, the back plate doesn't seem to lign up unless you put it on upside down, so i'm thinking maybe the tabs are in the wrong place on some of these.

Anybody else noticed this?

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The plate doesn't line up because it needs to have some play in it. When you turn your head with the whole deal on it is the only area that "flexs" But I did notice if you do wear it the back neck piece sides will rub against the back of the face mask. IF you plan on wearing this you might want to put some sort of buffing between the two areas so that you don't chafe the areas.

 

[fettpride]

One of mine arrived today ... figured I'd report here first ..


#602 :lol Can ya believe it? Looks like I've got the highest number yet :lol


The good news -- out of the box ... no major paint flaws, putty marks, scuffs/scars or drips. :thumbsup

Overall, I'm pretty pleased with it. It's nice to finally see this thing.

The bad news -- although there are no major finishing flaws, it's not without defect. Keep in mind as you read this, that I'm really combing this thing for flaws. The average person might not even notice some of this ...

There are a couple of places on the dome skirt, where a micro fiber or something similar
got stuck in the clear-coat. I say micro fiber of some kind, because it's smaller in size than a human hair. No bigee. Took many minutes of oogling to see them. There are also a couple of spots where some sort of "nib" or spec/particle got stuck in the in the paint. Also, no bigee. But there are some anomalies that I'd like to point out so as to compare with other copies that members here have received.

1. Mouth Grill - each hole should be perfectly cut, as per the promo shots of this thing. My #602 has a very noticeable small chunk missing off of one of the "should be" perfectly sharp edges of one of his "teeth" that either was not filled before painting, or is a possible a sign of mold breakdown, or both. Could be something to consider, being such a high number? Either way, quality control boned it on this one. This is "THE # 1" reason I will be sending this one back. Unless of course I find out they're all this way.

2. Widow's Peak - I've become VERY intimate with the details of this helmet over the last year. And although there is no actual Widow's Peak on the ROTS dome, there is a slight "Rounding" on the real deal that can't be denied, where the point would be on an ANH helmet for instance. My #602 is "Flat as a damn pancake". This is "# 2" reason I will be sending this one back. Unless of course I find out they're all this way. :lol

3. Right lens has a pretty good "warble" goin on with it. Can't see it unless it's under REALLY bright light.


Conclusion - As I said above, I'm pretty pleased with it. But if I find that the maladies reported above are NOT normal, I'd still rather send it back. It would be a sad, sad day, if something advertised as "Cast from screen used original", came to us in an altered form. That is, missing a detail here, or detail there. It can't be considered accurate. Something that some guy, or gal for that matter, overlooked during the clean-up phase, and figured "No one would ever notice" kind of thing. Sorry ... too anal here. You can't fool a geek.

If I do send it back, I have to wonder if the replacement will be better, or worse. I have another on the way that got held up by the MR "freeze" on shipping, so maybe it will be a better copy. I'll hold onto this one until I get it for sure

If anyone is interested, I can post some ACTUAL pics of this helmet tomorrow. I figured the newness has worn off already.

FP

 

[KevVader]

Originally posted by fettpride@Jan 31 2006, 03:49 AM

If anyone is interested, I can post some ACTUAL pics of this helmet tomorrow. I figured the newness has worn off already.

FP

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Nah...always willing to see new pix FP. I read your assessment with great interest as I will be going over my lid very carefully as well.....when I get it. And you're right...if one advertises that's it's cast of the screen used piece, then it had better be identical.

As far as the further delay....well, as long as they get it right, I won't mind waiting a little longer....

 

[soltic]

Originally posted by fettpride@Jan 31 2006, 04:49 AM

#602  :lol  Can ya believe it? Looks like I've got the highest number yet :lol

.... or is a possible a sign of mold breakdown, or both.  Could be something to consider, being such a high number?

FP

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Hi Chris, well it looks like u got at least 1 semi-o.k 1 - did it come w/ any dome scuffs?

Man, u've got an eye for detail, I guess that's why I worship my MSH2 :lol

Just curious though (I've always been intrigued by the relevance of these #'s - unless u've got #1 or the last 1 I guess)- I know the plaques are numbered but not the lids, but is there any proof that helmet production is being assigned to appropriate matching #'s?

I mean is lid #1 actually the first post pre-pro lid? Also, then where do the sig lids fit into production ie single sigs were 500+ dual sigs 750+ then back to regular open-ended production? Or were the sigs first off, only to be held for the signed plaques to arrive?

The reason I ask is I had 174, u've got 602, can we rely on the higher# to assume later / possibly fixed production or even a decrease in mold accuracy as u've possibly pointed out?

I doubt that we'll get our #'s back - I assume they'll reuse the # w/ a new lid which'll blow any form of actual production tracking out of the water as far as bad batches may be concerned....

-Rod

 

[Darth Bill]

Originally posted by soltic@Jan 31 2006, 01:36 PM
I know the plaques are numbered but not the lids, but is there any proof that helmet production is being assigned to appropriate matching #'s?

I mean is lid #1 actually the first post pre-pro lid?

The simple answer:

No.

Numbered plaques are just that: numbered plaques.

Plaque #1 does not mean the helmet is also first off the line.




Russ

 

[chris1748]

even with the fabric piece that comes with the helmet inside the dome on the forehead ,it still will mar it .If you do not believe me I will take pics later tonight to show this.
I am going to buy a pice of the felt.
Yes the forehead does touch , it just has that piece between it.

chris

 

[fettpride]

Hey Rod - I have to agree with Darth Bill on this one. We'll never know if the plaques match up to the helmet ... most likely not, wishful thinking, and all that

It's not that this hadn't crossed my mind either ... my statement was really based on the "Honor System" in regards to MR Production, but I suppose that really is silly, isn't it? Because when you get right down to it, MR never actually advertised that each helmet will coincide with the numbered plaque. They never guaranteed anything. We just assume that they'll do it like a Limited Edition Bronze Statue or something of the like :lol We can't cry foul on this one ...


FP

 

[fettpride]

Oh, and I almost forgot to add this (it was really late when I posted my review)


While we're on the subject of accuracy, it should be noted that the "Final MR Product"
is VERY different in regards to the dome attachement magnet ...

I believe that the MR Sample "Prototype" Helmet shown in this pic is actually more accurate to the
screen used helmet, based on clips of the Darth Vader Featurette released with the OT DVD set.

Why it ended up the way these are being shipped is beyond me. Probably because the domes moved too much without the "notch" that was added to the final product. Nevertheless, is it accurate?

FP

 

[Megatron]

Originally posted by chris1748@Jan 31 2006, 09:49 AM
even with the fabric piece that comes with the helmet inside the dome on the forehead ,it still will mar it .If you do not believe me I will take pics later tonight to show this.
I am going to buy a pice of the felt.
Yes the forehead does touch , it just has that piece between it.

chris

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its not fabric but a black closed cell foam on mine..no marks from it and the forehead does not touch on mine.

 

[Darth Bill]

Originally posted by fettpride@Jan 31 2006, 08:04 PM
Hey Rod - I have to agree with Darth Bill on this one.

The gates of Hell just opened up and the Horsemen of the Apocalypse are upon us...
Starting my repenting.... now. :lol

Anyhoo, with regards to the attachment:

At C3, I asked a certain "demigod" about how the dome attached to the master and he told me that you had to lower the dome off-center and rotate it into place.

The scratching aroung the center ring backs up that explanation.

It also explains (to me) why they went the way they did....

I'm sure a decision was made that people would notice that their domes were scratching like that eventually and start weeping and wailing after the fact so they came up with an easier "drop'n'lock" solution to mounting the dome.




Russ

 

[soltic]

Originally posted by fettpride@Jan 31 2006, 04:04 PM
Hey Rod - I have to agree with Darth Bill on this one. We'll never know if the plaques match up to the helmet ... most likely not, wishful thinking, and all that

It's not that this hadn't crossed my mind either ... my statement was really based on the "Honor System" in regards to MR Production, but I suppose that really is silly, isn't it?

FP

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Yeah, to set the record straight, I'd never call u silly. I hope u didn't take it that way.

I was just thinking "hmmmm, funny the lids aren't #'d too....", then I remember reading how another member figured he'd just get his regular plaque signed - u know add to the Whole "fun of the hobby" thing....