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 Post subject: Rubie's Darth Vader Deluxe (Supreme) Helmet Set
PostPosted: Fri Sep 14, 2007 9:45 pm 
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A while back, when I first started modifying my Rubie's Vader helmet, I had a very bad digital camera. Thanks to Anakin Starkiller's help, I've been presented with an opportunity to properly photodocument the Rubie's Deluxe helmet clearly and consisely.

Just a bit of background information. The formal name of this helmet is the "Rubie's Darth Vader Deluxe Helmet Set" when purchased alone. When purchased with the suit, the suit is the "Rubie's Darth Vader Supreme Edition Costume" but sometimes the same helmet and packaging is referred to as a "Supreme" instead of a "Deluxe". This is made out of black plastic and averages about $85 retail.

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Last edited by CSMacLaren on Fri Sep 14, 2007 9:47 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Fri Sep 14, 2007 9:46 pm 
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There are a lot of inaccuracies with this helmet, and so long as you're oblivious to them, it's a fun collectable. It was used in "Chad Vader: Day Shift Manager" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wGR4-SeuJ0) - a fan film that got me started in this community. One can correct the obvious errors on the mask, and it will still fail to resemble the screen-used prop. If you then coat it with gloss black paint and metallic gray highlights, you can impress some people, but purists who have been exposed to the higher end replicas screen-used props won't be fooled. The Rubie's Deluxe/Supreme was delibarately modified to be different than the more expensive Rubie's Fiberglass Limited Edition (FG LE) such that even if you modified it and recast it in fiberglass and resin, it would still be notably different than its FG cousin.

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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Fri Sep 14, 2007 9:47 pm 
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The Deluxe is advertised as "Cast from Original Movie Molds." How accurate is that statement? In a phone conversation with Rubie's, the representative (possibly its owner) stated that Rubie's received the same mold(s) that were leased to Don Post Studios.

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While there is a good deal of resemblance between the Rubie's Fiberglass Limited Edition (FG LE) and the Don Post Deluxe (DLX), you can see that the plastic Rubie's Deluxe is notably different, and in some ways oversimplified and less elegant.

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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Fri Sep 14, 2007 9:56 pm 
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Just as Rubie's FG LE is the more prestigiuos fiberglass cousin of the lower-priced plastic Rubie's Deluxe, the Don Post Deluxe was the higher end fiberglass couson of the lower-priced plastic Don Post Classic Action.

However, it is clear that the two plastic helmets are non-identical.

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Could they, however, be related in some way? It is possible but difficult to establish.

Other than the obvious, one fundamental and foundational flaw of the Rubie's is that the eyes are pressed together too closely at the sides (the temples). Purists with access to accurate prop replicas will notice this very quickly.

The DP CA suffers from the same problem. When looking downwards at it, observe the shape of the lower eyelids. The DP DLX's eyelids have a deep "U"-shaped bowl-like profile, whereas the Don Post Classic Action's "U" actually starts to narrow to begin to resemble a "V". However, the DPCA compensates for this by having a narrower skull profile so that things do not look utterly out of proportion.

The Rubie's however is a different story. If the mold for the DPCA ended up in Rubie's hands and the master was modified where the rear opening was pulled wider to make the skull bigger, the eye and area will still appear pressed in at the sides. This is extremely difficult to correct structurally on the Rubie's. Typical fan mod tutorals may improve on the appearance of the Rubie's but do not sufficiently address foundational probelms like this.

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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Fri Sep 14, 2007 9:58 pm 
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For $85, it's a great entry level helmet, but even after fan modifications it is extremely difficult to make uber-accurate. The skull and head are fundamentally the wrong shape to begin with. Some costmetic and structural are possible and will improve the overal appearance. Gloss black is your friend because its reflectiveness is attractive and ultimately hides many structural flaws. Those desiring uber-accuracy are encouraged to consider another helmet.

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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Fri Sep 14, 2007 9:59 pm 
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Mac's Photo Archives

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PostPosted: Fri Sep 14, 2007 9:59 pm 
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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Fri Sep 14, 2007 9:59 pm 
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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Fri Sep 14, 2007 9:59 pm 
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Last edited by CSMacLaren on Fri Sep 14, 2007 10:00 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Fri Sep 14, 2007 10:00 pm 
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- Mac
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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Fri Sep 14, 2007 10:00 pm 
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Joined: Thu Dec 21, 2006 10:46 pm
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_________________
Cordially,

- Mac
( Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sculptingvader/ )


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Fri Sep 14, 2007 10:00 pm 
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_________________
Cordially,

- Mac
( Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sculptingvader/ )


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Fri Sep 14, 2007 10:01 pm 
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_________________
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- Mac
( Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sculptingvader/ )


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Fri Sep 14, 2007 10:01 pm 
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Joined: Thu Dec 21, 2006 10:46 pm
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_________________
Cordially,

- Mac
( Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sculptingvader/ )


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Fri Sep 14, 2007 10:01 pm 
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Joined: Thu Dec 21, 2006 10:46 pm
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Location: San Jose, CA
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_________________
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- Mac
( Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sculptingvader/ )


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