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

[joevader]

As far as community available casts go:

DJ by Mike Warren has very accurate dimensions for ANH. The EFX PCR has almost the same measurements.

TM mask/dome and the GS mask are very spot-on for the ESB hero props. And MWs stunt based hero is insanely accurate too.
Jedi is a very, very difficult beast. Mike Warren´s 80s tour cast mask is really nice. I haven't seen it combined with a GS dome, but it could look very close to one of the many screen-used props.

All casts have their pros and cons, though. None is 100% like the props.

 

[blewis17]

As far as community available casts go:

DJ by Mike Warren has very accurate dimensions for ANH. The EFX PCR has almost the same measurements.

TM mask/dome and the GS mask are very spot-on for the ESB hero props. And MWs stunt based hero is insanely accurate too.
Jedi is a very, very difficult beast. Mike Warren´s 80s tour cast mask is really nice. I haven't seen it combined with a GS dome, but it could look very close to one of the many screen-used props.

All casts have their pros and cons, though. None is 100% like the props.

Let me chime in with my useless 2 cents here and say just how good the EFX PCR ANH Vader helmet really is. It is a quality lightweight piece that looks like it stepped out of Elstree/Shepperton Studios in 1976. I got one 2nd hand years ago, and it makes me feel like a kid again back in 1977 watching Star Wars for the first time. If you need a NICE Vader helmet for cheap, this is definitely the way to go

(hoping we can still get an ESB or ROTJ PCR Vader bucket someday!)

 

[Darth Africanus]

I watched part 2 of the deep dive on the Vader helmets
from The Stuff Dreams are made of podcast
and again I was disappointed!

Although there were some very nice photos of the ESB NO 1 helmet
The information was very basic and not deep at all, and nothing in-depth

I also found it interesting how it is still determined by Gino that the ESB helmets in his opinion were just reused for ROTJ
as per his wording
There is a UK mold from which new helmets would have been cast, and the clear proof and evidence we have that ROTJ domes existed at the same time as ESB, hence a mold existed of these domes, otherwise we would not have the JBR and GS.

Also, that logically it makes no sense to say 7 ESB helmets exist and 7 ROTJ helmets
yet some ESB helmets are accounted for in collections
and some ROTJ helmets are accounted for
For example, the ESB stunt, why did they then not just repurpose it as a ROTJ stunt
Yet, there are 2 accounts for ROTJ stunt helmets, not the same as the ESB stunt
both instances are unique helmets, and at that time, I'm positive the ESB stunt was available for reuse, if they had the others to reuse, then

and both being distinct helmets
If the ESB dome prints were just filled in to turn them ROTJ, then clearly the paint would have flaked over the filled-in parts by now
and someone would have realised they are just repurposed screen used ESB helmets

The domes were from unique molds as per the evidence.

 

[Halliwax]

Did the rotj stunts have the clear plexi glass sections in the front like the ESB one had?

 

[joevader]

Did the rotj stunts have the clear plexi glass sections in the front like the ESB one had?

Yes, the transparent inserts on the cheeks can be seen right here. A couple of screws to hold the perspex on the neck are also visible.

 

[vadermania]

Ron Punter, the guy who painted the OT Vader helmets at Elstree Studios, told me many years ago that he refurbished the ESB Vader helmets that came back from the shoot for use in RotJ.

 

[Halliwax]

Yes, the transparent inserts on the cheeks can be seen right here. A couple of screws to hold the perspex on the neck are also visible.

Son of a gun…. Never picked up on that!!

 

[JamesM242]

I caught both episodes of the podcast and found it very interesting - interruptions aside.

 

[Darth Africanus]

Ron Punter, the guy who painted the OT Vader helmets at Elstree Studios, told me many years ago that he refurbished the ESB Vader helmets that came back from the shoot for use in RotJ.

Very interesting
I don't doubt some ESB helmets where reused such as the NO1 ESB for example that was the helmet seen before the reveal scene in Rotj.

But I can't think all ESB helmets became Rotj otherwise no unique ESB helmets would exist as they became Rotj helmets.

And also then the Gs and JBR would be cast from a screen used ROTJ not a production mold that was around during filming of ESB as per the info we have on them.

 

[joevader]

Very interesting
I don't doubt some ESB helmets where reused such as the NO1 ESB for example that was the helmet seen before the reveal scene in Rotj.

But I can't think all ESB helmets became Rotj otherwise no unique ESB helmets would exist as they became Rotj helmets.

And also then the Gs and JBR would be cast from a screen used ROTJ not a production mold that was around during filming of ESB as per the info we have on them.

I don´t doubt that ESB masks were repurposed as ROTJ and maybe more new pulls where made at some point before ROTJ production started.

The GS mask and JBR mask do come directly from the UK mold, not from an ROTJ prop mask. The tabs on both raw casts are the main tell.

On the other hand, the 80´s tour mask and Ghost Host ROTJ are replicas that are directly related to the various ROTJ hero masks used in the movie.

I haven´t found any leads on when the ROTJ dome mold was made, though. My guess is that it was after ESB production wrapped.

 

[Halliwax]

I need a note pad…

 

[blewis17]

I need a note pad…

We're trying to analyze and make sense of decisions that were made over 40 years ago during film production, when those involved back then were probably just mixing and matching and modifying on the fly, doing what "looked good" or just needed to be made for the shoot, without in-depth record keeping (short of using a marker to quickly number the inside of the helmets)... so the logic behind those now ancient decisions may be flimsy and not up to our RPF inane level of critique.

 

[Halliwax]

We're trying to analyze and make sense of decisions that were made over 40 years ago during film production, when those involved back then were probably just mixing and matching and modifying on the fly, doing what "looked good" or just needed to be made for the shoot, without in-depth record keeping (short of using a marker to quickly number the inside of the helmets)... so the logic behind theses decision, while present, may be flimsy and not up to our RPF inane level of critique.

I hope you didn’t take my reply negative, I was just meaning I have so much more to learn about these helmets I need a note pad to keep track

 

[blewis17]

I hope you didn’t take my reply negative, I was just meaning I have so much more to learn about these helmets I need a note pad to keep track

Not at all, I know what you meant... we have some great digital archeologists here, but it still gets confusing trying to keep it all straight!

Wondering if the DV helmet(s) I saw on display at TMOM tour, or Disney Hollywood Studios back in the day were ESB, ROTJ, Touring Suit, production made but not used, or mix-n-match of all of the above!

 

[Halliwax]

Not at all, I know what you meant... we have some great digital archeologists here, but it still gets confusing trying to keep it all straight!

Wondering if the DV helmet(s) I saw on display at TMOM tour, or Disney Hollywood Studios back in the day were ESB, ROTJ, Touring Suit, production made but no used, or mix-n-match of all of the above!

Great, phheeewww! Some times when I write I can come off as a a-hole, and that’s not in my character at all, just poor writing on my behalf lol

 

[vadermania]

Wondering if the DV helmet(s) I saw on display at TMOM tour, or Disney Hollywood Studios back in the day were ESB, ROTJ, Touring Suit, production made but no used, or mix-n-match of all of the above!

Based on the reference pics I collected over the years, I‘d say mix-n-match of tour and screen used helmets and costume components. Back in 1995, the only screen used helmets I saw in the archives was a screen used hero RotJ faceplate, the fat lipped stunt faceplate and the reveal mask. Might be possible that more Vader stuff was stored away in boxes.

 

[thd9791]

Might be possible that more Vader stuff was stored away in boxes.

I don’t doubt this. The fact that old blades, stunt sabers or whatever was stored in those boxes and dug up still blows my mind lol