The Prop Den
http://thepropden.aokforums.com/

Recently found ANH Vader
http://thepropden.aokforums.com/viewtopic.php?f=181&t=2025
Page 18 of 20

Author:  juan7fernandez [ Tue Jul 28, 2020 5:52 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Recently found ANH Vader

Maybe I stopped following the discussion but last I read was that there were differences between this helmet and the one on the poster. However there are plenty of details that match perfectly match. The dome has the dead giveaway marking inside. The face mask on the other hand looks like it was re painted after the poster photoshoot, but you can see clearly that the crack going down the center of the face was already there for the poster. Runs from the right side of the nose bridge, down the right cheek and ending right of the mouth.

Author:  trooper18938 [ Sat Aug 01, 2020 12:32 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Recently found ANH Vader

estimate $500,000. upwards to 750,000. one million bucks will get it.

Author:  vadermania [ Thu Aug 06, 2020 6:32 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Recently found ANH Vader

trooper18938 wrote:
estimate $500,000. upwards to 750,000. one million bucks will get it.

One million for an early ANH promo costume? I really doubt that. Some of the components are in pretty bad shape - nevertheless, it‘s a fantastic vintage costume with historic value.

Are we sure that helmet is one of the promo ANH Vader helmet castings made by Rick Baker? Looks like there were once three tabs installed on the faceplate, before they were removed in favor of the metal latch. The mounting system inside the dome is consistent to what we know of the original screen used ANH dome. Both faceplate and dome of this promo costume were fabricated using an uncolored, bright polyester, like what was used for the screen used helmet. The cod piece could be an original made for the movie according to the Bermans & Nathans tag. The shirt and pants - are they Prowse-sized? I owned an early 2-piece ANH Vader promo leather suit once, which looked slightly different compared to the screen-used leather combo.

Could it be possible that this promo costume is a mix of made-for-production and early promotional costume components?

Author:  belloq [ Thu Aug 06, 2020 7:06 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Recently found ANH Vader

That is exactly what I want to know too. I need to look more closely at the full res photos. If any of this is original ANH, look for the French toy store heir to try to reunite them with the mask.

Author:  vadermania [ Thu Aug 06, 2020 7:16 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Recently found ANH Vader

belloq wrote:
That is exactly what I want to know too. I need to look more closely at the full res photos. If any of this is original ANH, look for the French toy store heir to try to reunite them with the mask.


Do you remember that pic of the ANH Vader faceplate on the carpet next to an Indy whip? That‘s the exact same faceplate which I have seen in person in Grunbergs collection in France aboutv4 years ago. I found this pic at Elstree Studios many years ago, when I visited Paul Harrison. There were a few other pics of that faceplate WITH a dome, but those were never published unfortunately.

I have seen another ANH-style dome with a similar mounting system in the LFL archives in 1995.

Author:  Darth Niob [ Thu Aug 06, 2020 7:22 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Recently found ANH Vader

At least the trousers seem to be from the screen used suit. I remember seeing a pic of it showing the same Kind of wear in the front like the screen used trousers. If the helmet is not from the Baker mold it could be the other cast made for production and not used for the movie?

Author:  vadermania [ Thu Aug 06, 2020 7:51 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Recently found ANH Vader

Darth Niob wrote:
If the helmet is not from the Baker mold it could be the other cast made for production and not used for the movie?


In theory - why not?

Has anyone here positively identified this faceplate being a casting originating from the Baker mold?

Author:  dcarty [ Thu Aug 06, 2020 8:20 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Recently found ANH Vader

I have my doubts about the helmet being from the Rick Baker mold as well. When we first saw the helmet years ago the photos that were shared online looked as though there was filleting done along the upper tusk tubes -- a signature of the RB mold -- so it was sort of generally agreed that it was an RB casting. Now that I compare these new photos with the older ones I'm not so sure that is the case.

To Darth Niob's point the talk has always been that, according to Gary Kurtz, there were three copies pulled from the original mold. One was turned into the screen used helmet and the other two vanished into a never confirmed existence. I wonder if this helmet and the Sotheby's/Planet Hollywood castings are the other two? They both seem to be missing traits associated with the UK and RB molds and, for the movie poster helmet at least, the off-white gelcoat and dark green primer is consistent with what we know of ANH production.

[EDIT] After watching the video it's still difficult to say but, if I understand Brandon correctly, the type of fiberglass sheet and overall manufacture matches the other RB fabricated helmets in the Lucasfilm archive so that could be the final word.

Dave

Author:  Darth Niob [ Thu Aug 06, 2020 8:44 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Recently found ANH Vader

https://www.facebook.com/10466468290020 ... =null&vh=e

Author:  Too Much Garlic [ Thu Aug 06, 2020 9:44 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Recently found ANH Vader

To me it seems to be a cast from the screen used ANH. In the right side view where the thick paint has peeled off and left a large gap, you can see the paint run at the corner of the eyelid edge as seen on the screen used mask and all UK and US mold casts - it's sanded down slightly, but it is there. The neck paint or glue run also seems to be on the helmet, just very faint through the thick paint. You can see it when he moves it around and the light catches the run.

The tab thing could have been because they tried it out at first and decided it wasn't good enough for touring helmets where it's better to be able to put it on and take it off quicker and being more secure.

Author:  vader45 [ Thu Aug 06, 2020 10:26 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Recently found ANH Vader

Darth Niob wrote:
https://www.facebook.com/104664682900207/posts/3469642259735749/?extid=aemOzYRG07qvShso&d=null&vh=e


That video made my day. Thanks for sharing.

Author:  Too Much Garlic [ Thu Aug 06, 2020 10:27 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Recently found ANH Vader

Yes, thanks for the video. wish I were able to download facebook videos, though. Seems really worth saving.

Author:  juan7fernandez [ Thu Aug 06, 2020 11:12 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Recently found ANH Vader

Here is a link to my DropBox for you to download the video in HD:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/by29ofzk6s0r ... ZWHla?dl=0

Author:  vadermania [ Fri Aug 07, 2020 1:07 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Recently found ANH Vader

Thanks a lot for the video. Rick Baker touring helmet #1 it is then. I‘m really curious to see the final going price on the costume.

Author:  vader45 [ Fri Aug 07, 2020 3:38 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Recently found ANH Vader

So if the helmet is a Baker cast how does it have deeper teeth bars then the other known Baker casts?

Page 18 of 20 All times are UTC
Powered by phpBB © 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007 phpBB Group
http://www.phpbb.com/
Hosted by Freeforum.ca, get your free forum now! TOS | Support Forums | Report a violation
MultiForums powered by echoPHP phpBB MultiForums