How was Vader's helmet modified from ANH to ESB to ROTJ

[Darth Africanus]

Hey all who follow this thread or just any Vader fanatic

I haven't forgot about the ESB and ROTJ sections on the Vader helmet

2023 ended up being a difficult year I think for not just me but most

But this year I will finish the work I started

Hope all is well and healthy !

 

[Skywalker1973]

It was painted the same Gun metal grey or Rolls Royce grey paint as the grey on the mask on most prop Vader helmets used

Thanks for confirming Darth Africanus.

 

[Halliwax]

Hey all who follow this thread or just any Vader fanatic

I haven't forgot about the ESB and ROTJ sections on the Vader helmet

2023 ended up being a difficult year I think for not just me but most

But this year I will finish the work I started

Hope all is well and healthy !

Wicked appreciate this thread, I’ve learned a lot and respect all the time you’ve put into it

 

[Darth Africanus]

Wicked appreciate this thread, I’ve learned a lot and respect all the time you’ve put into it

Thank you so much for your kind appraisal man much appreciated ! can't wait to finish this thing for everyone!

 

[DOGFOX2109]

This thread is a great read and so so helpful with a project i'm working on right now and has been very helpful and I hope to contribute in the very near future.

 

[Jamesfett]

This thread is a great read and so so helpful with a project i'm working on right now and has been very helpful and I hope to contribute in the very near future.

Don't tease us. What project?

 

[DOGFOX2109]

Don't tease us. What project?

lol its obviously a Vader project / projects but lineage plus I don't want to highjack this thread its great when we are ready ill show you guys first

 

[Too Much Garlic]

Thought this was the pefect thread to post this since its original intent was to discuss how the Vader helmet changed between ANH to ROTJ.

I recently got hold of a couple of excellent French prop books showcasing the collection of Arnaud Grunberg and Patrice Girod. Arnaud has got the original ANH Vader mask in his collection. The ANH mask is featured inside the book but an ESB dome and mask is shown on the front cover.

I'm curious to know what people think about this? The eye lenses were presumably replaced because they look grey (not amber) in the photos shown in the book. I had read comments from people saying that the mask he's got was untouched since filming, but to me, it looks like this is the repainted version as it appeared in the Chronicles book photos.

Anyone still have this video - posted by Nairod - http://www.wat.tv/video/star-wars-ce-co ... .html#t=12

The link no longer opens up the video... and for some reason I no longer have it.

It's the video showing the reveal of Arnaud Grunberg's collection and especially the screen used ANH face mask.

Also I tried to link to the Arnaud collection video on youtube - LA COLLECTION SF LA PLUS FOLLE DE LA GALAXIE - but it for some reason won't post here.

 

[Too Much Garlic]

Found it... sorry about that. Hope it's okay to post it here. Originally posted by Nairod.

 

[FolkyPatrol]

LA COLLECTION SF LA PLUS FOLLE DE LA GALAXIE

 

[joevader]

Was (were) the ROTJ Vader helmet a reused/repainted ESB? Or was it pulled from modified ESB molds?

Mysteries upon mysteries I think with the indication with the CFO is that the ROTJ dome was at least something that came from a mold
and the mask was just the stock standard modified ANH that came out a mold of the ANH helmet.

My belief as per the understanding I have

The master of the upcoming Bob Rose cast (BR) was made on late summer of 82, which would place it very late in the production of ROTJ. That fact would support the theory that all ESB/ROTJ masks used in the movies are direct pulls from the UK mold. So, as Darth Africanus correctly states, all episode 5 & 6 masks started off as ANH copies.

As of now, a copy of the Tour Cast from 83 by Mike Warren is best way to get an ROTJ mask with accurate geometry to one of the many different props used in the movie.
Combine it with a GS dome and you could get a very close Jedi look.

 

[DOGFOX2109]

Yeah BR was cast in late summer 82 as my cousin was allowed to visit the set and Stuart Freeborns workshop at the time

 

[skynet]

I hope I don't derail the thread somehow but since it's about the stages from ANH to ROTJ and the general shape and size (?) of various casts there are:

I've watched the 1980 David Prowse interview where David talks about wearing the mask during filming. For me it became interesting at 04:52 of the interview.

quoute: 'you see when they made the mask foa they made the mask miles too big", next he describes that when GL wanted him to turn his head, left to right or right to left, his head turned but the mask stayed in its position. To fix that he mentions that they added the foam rubber to the inside of the mask to make it fit more snug to Davids head.

I recently thought about that because I am 5.10 (179...180cm) and when I sometimes out of couriosity tried on one of the Vader masks I owned over the years...they were all VERY small on me, especially on the neck / throad area.

I thought...how the hell did his head even fit half way in there when mine doesn't?

I am aware that the main vision he had was through the chin / lower vent which indicates, that his face was not that deep into the mask (otherwise you wouldn't be able to look through this chin vent).

But in regards to the size of the masks which are floating in the community...what was the molding material used for molding the original ANH mask? Was it platinum silicone or tin cure silicone? Was it even silicone or was it another kind of rubber?

Even if the original mold had shrunk over time - the castings made back then, out of a fresh mold would retain the original size...

Would be interesting which authentic casting - avaiable to the community - has the most accurate size?

Sorry if this is pure nonsense.

 

[vadermania]

Dave was a big man, he had a big head, too. The ANH Vader faceplate was the largest of all three OT Vader faceplates, but I think that the faceplate did fit him quite well with some foam padding inside. Have a look at the padding inside one of the screen used RotJ faceplates, it‘s not as much compared to the Bob Anderson stunt faceplates.

I do have another theory though - I think the original Darth Vader faceplate had a much longer neck originally, much like the RotS Vader faceplate, which made it difficult for Prowse to turn his head, because the chest armour and the weight of the inner robe and the cape „locked“ the faceplate, with only limited movement possible. One can see the longer neck on the plaster casting in Grunberg‘s collection in France, and sitting on a shelf in Brian Muir‘s workshop during ANH preproduction.

 

[skynet]

Dave was a big man, he had a big head, too. The ANH Vader faceplate was the largest of all three OT Vader faceplates, but I think that the faceplate did fit him quite well with some foam padding inside. Have a look at the padding inside one of the screen used RotJ faceplates, it‘s not as much compared to the Bob Anderson stunt faceplates.

I do have another theory though - I think the original Darth Vader faceplate had a much longer neck originally, much like the RotS Vader faceplate, which made it difficult for Prowse to turn his head, because the chest armour and the weight of the inner robe and the cape „locked“ the faceplate, with only limited movement possible. One can see the longer neck on the plaster casting in Grunberg‘s collection in France, and sitting on a shelf in Brian Muir‘s workshop during ANH preproduction.

I think in the interview Dave referred to the ANH mask when he mentioned 'miles too big' since this was the first film and they had to optimize things which didn't fit quite right in the first place.

He said it did not fit well and it was too big for his head - so the foam padding was added to 'connect" his head with the mask. (as to Bob Anderson, I think he wasn't as big as Dave Prowse was so the padding inside therefore was simply a thinner one).

The theory with the long neck sounds plausible hence the plaster casting exists - but there is not one single picture of a fiberglass face mask with such a long neck at least none that I am aware of.

If there was such a mask, padding the inside with foam would make no difference in the movement restrictions.

Fiberglassing is a science on its own and materials then where (chemicals) often inferiour to todays resins. There is so much to it from a technical standpoint..how much matting was slapped in there, how long was it allowed to sit in the mold, how was it cured etc.

I would give an arm and a leg to compare these masks with the ones floating around in the community today since I firmly believe that 99% of them are not only a hair too small but significantly (depends on how you define the term significantly).

 

[Halliwax]

Agree dave was huge… he was in his 80s when I got to meet him, I walked with him to his signature table

He was walking with crutches.. I’m 6’2” and even with prowse walking hunched over with the crutches I still had to look up at him to speak..

Wicked wide shoulders too.. had to be the biggest 80yr old I’ve ever met

Another giant is Spencer wilding… wide wide shoulders

 

[PAULH]

There's a deep-dive into the Vader helmet on the "Stuff Dreams are Made of" podcast. Well worth a watch...

 

[skynet]

There's a deep-dive into the Vader helmet on the "Stuff Dreams are Made of" podcast. Well worth a watch...

Couldn't stand the permanent interrupting and stopped the thing after 15min or so.

 

[Darth Africanus]

Also watched part 1, it wasn't much of a deep dive to be honest
I found the info exactly lines up to this thread so nothing new really
Looking forward to part 2

 

[skynet]

Also watched part 1, it wasn't much of a deep dive to be honest
I found the info exactly lines up to this thread so nothing new really
Looking forward to part 2

is already avaiable...Idk who the guy on the right is who's doing the podcast but permanent interrupting mixed with embarrassing jokes...I couldn't stand it.