It's funny, as I was finally promising myself to go through with this quest and get the Stormtrooper and Vader helmets I have always wanted - really, going back to 1977 and 1978 when I was a glossy eye'd kid still marveling at the movies on the big screen - I was all ready to get an Anovos TK and Quasi V2 ESB. I had always loved Vader in the ESB, the QV2 is the one I wanted - it was the best helmet I had seen in the short amount of time I spent on research.
But as it always happens, I get sucked into the research, and I dig deeper. As I continued to do research, joined and started pouring through the plethora of Vader info on the TPD, went through (and continue to do) countless Vader helmet google searches and comparing images, I started pulling back from the Quasi. I love Mac and Book's work, but I just started seeing the details of the more accurate helmets that others didn't provide. ..even the TK helmets. I cancelled my Anovos ST helmet, and ordered an RS ANH helmet. When that arrived, that pretty much did me in. I not only had an appreciation for the details on the RS TK lid, but it created a new appreciation for the detailed/grimy looking ANH Vader helmet.
But it's so damn hard to get a good accurate authentic cast. I had a few email exchanges with Thomas about the SL, but he just vanished! Edit: just heard from him. Good to know he's ok.
I waited a good bit, and as that feeling of inevitability came over me that the SL was becoming an improbability, I was really starting to decide between a Efx LE on Ebay (priced awfully high, but I'd make an offer - though lacking in casting details), the Brian Muir Ultimate Vader (also lacking in casting details), and the SPFX ANH helmet I currently see on Ebay (desperate times
). I have a pretty strong opinion on recasting (stemming from plagiarism as a graphic designer/photographer). But the SPFX is recasting an out of production EFX, which is a company I'm not entirely in love with as a whole, so I do have a bit of a double standard here.
However, Phil has seemingly stiffed quite a few people along the way, so I'm reluctant to pad his wallet in any way shape or form. ...unless my desperation reaches a wildly HIGH threshold level.
Because there are so many cool authentic Vader castings that seem to have their own individual special qualities, I still wanted to hold out with hope that something might magically fall in my lap. ...this story is still kind of unfolding.
So no, I don't think a single helmet is going to be enough anymore.
I could see myself with 4+ helmets, including that Brian Muir helmet - just so I can say I have a helmet made by Brian Muir.
...though I'll probably have someone repaint it.
I get the feeling this is going to be a long journey.