I dont know much about this so perhaps someone with more knowledge and experience can help.Does anyone know how many,if any,prototype stormtrooper helmet pulls were made during production of ANH and if there were protos made what they looked like?I have seen one or two claiming to be as such and wondered what the story is.Any information would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers,
Niall

I've only seen the supposed proto's featuring the vacuum hose around the back of the head (for want of a better way to describe it). I don't know if they're truly the original prototypes.

The 3 part helmets with the vacuum hose shape in the back was created by AA after the original helmets were made.
To my knowledge there is no prototype that was ever made.
Brian Muir posted a picture of the clay sculpt and that is the same as the helmets we know today.

Thanks guys.They are the ones I wanted to know about.I had thought that was the story with them that they were made after production but wanted to see if that was the general opinion.

Yeah, we should think of a new name for these helmets as "prototype" is clearly wrong. I'm sure my site is as guilty as any, so I suppose we need a new name.

After ANH, Ainsworth went back to the helmet moulds and created a new back and cap section I think from the remnants of the original moulds - which by this time were probably in a pretty poor state.

From what I can tell the dome is 100% the same (with all the curvatures matching up), but the back section was apparently made from a "U" shaped strip of metal with plastic hosing applied for the curve.

THeyre made from white ABS and the detail was VERY soft on the ones that I've seen. I'm not sure how many were made, my guess 10-15?

Cheers

Jez

The domes may be the same shape, but the traps are different. They look to be sharpened up and the shape has changed slightly. I'd say the face came from those twin face moulds or a derivative of it. The face looks the same as the hero except for the modified chin and tubes (underside) which was most likely modified to aid releasing the plastic from the moulds.

The term 'promo' makes it sound as though it was the first 'pre-pro' helmet made, how about 'concept' helmet?

My main problem with these pieces is that they are consistently offered as original production pieces i.e. production prototypes.In my view if AA made them after the fact they are interesting artifacts from the maker but most certainly not original production items.And they clearly were not specifically ordered by Lucasfilm.

I agree, the word prototype is too deceiving.

The word "concept" alone can still imply that it was done for LFL, e.g. McQuarrie's "Concept Vader".

I'd suggest "Personal concept" -- since the designs are non-canonical and non-official. How's that?

How about "trash"

APAC - Ainsworths Post ANH Concept

I like AAPCH better

AA Personal Concept Helmet.

yeah but how would you say it, its a bit of a mouthful "aaaaaarpuurrrrk". It sounds like the death-throes of some 70's Dr Who alien

(although some may say the helmet looks like one too!)

Cheers

Jez

But that un-abbreviates to A Piece A' Crap....

Or, simply, "personal take". I think newcomers can instantly understand that.