There is just something about a 'real deal' Vader helmet.I think most of us have said it, I know I have. But there
is something about a real deal Vader helmet, something in the size, shape and color, just as there is often something about most other real props. They are not always
smoother, sharper and cleaner than the replicas. Sometime they are rough, bumpy and look like something Mike and Frank pulled out of the storage barn on American Pickers. But there is still something
about a real deal Vader helmet that sets it apart from all the rest.
I would like to do a thread about this aspect Vader helmets, though I know the same thing would go for most other props, troopers, armor or weapons. And I'm hoping you all join in, as I haven't seen a lot of posting
going on lately.
The purpose of this thread is to discuss what it is that makes a Vader helmet most likely a real prop or promo/tour or a fan made helmet. What are the typical differences. If you think by some miracle you
have managed to locate a real deal Vader helmet for sale, what should you look for? What things would suggest that it's not real and what things might suggest that it is?
I want to start with some basic facts.1.'Real deal' Vader helmets are OLD.The newest real deal Darth Vader helmets are over 30 years old. Even in good storage conditions colors fade or darken, paints peel and glues breakdown. Metal rusts.
If you look at the interior of the dome on most if not all of the real deal helmets, the paint or clearcoat is completely oxidized. And in these pics you will also notice peeling paint,
eye lenses that are on the verge of falling out and sadly water spot damage after somebody decided to wipe off a dusty helmet with a wet rag but didn't take the time to
dry the helmet afterwards. So now the paint is permanently damaged.
2. A 'real deal' prop was a tool.Real deal Darth Vader helmets were made for the sole purpose of getting a job done, they were never meant to be a showpiece on a shelf, so it is very unlikely, unless it's been restored,
you will find a pristine real deal Vader helmet. And if it has been restored, good luck figuring out if it was a real deal or not. They virtually all have some level of damage.
3. As tools, 'real deal' Vader helmets did get modified or re-used.There seems to be a general idea or belief that after a helmet's last scene was shot, it was then rushed off to storage, or maybe sold or given away as a reward or momento to producers or
friends of Lucas or something and therefore if they surface, should all look essentially the same as they did just after that last scene. But this was for almost for sure not the case. Look at
this private owned ESB. Look at all the damage to it. It definitely didn't look that way immediately after it's last scene shot. So what happened to it? It obviously didn't get all that damage
sitting in someone's display case. Yes, the owner may have pulled it out a lot and passed it around to friends at parties and maybe it got some damage that way. but I think it unlikely that
this would account for the extensive damage seen. So were did it really get all this damage? IMO from working.
Most, if not all of the ESB real deal helmets were either subtly modified or completely modified to more closely resemble ROTJ helmets.
As an example, Magic of the Myth (MOTM) is one such helmet. MOMT was believed to be an ROTJ helmet, however upon comparison of the known ESB and
ROTJ helmets, MOTM is clearly an ESB. Compare the pictures below. MOTM is a much closer match to the ESB stunt on the left, than the two ROTJ helmets pictured to the right.
4. 'Real deal' Vader helmets were used as tour helmets. The pic below (Thank you, Locitus
) on the right shows a Vader on tour in the UK I believe. If you look close, this is clearly the 'Magic of the Myth' Vader helmet, only 30 years never and no damage. Yet.
Obviously the suit is not. But I think it's pretty obvious that the suits and helmets were not tied together.
Is it old? Is it new? Has it been repainted?You might remember this guy from about four years ago. Starting at about page 8 it was the final topic being discussed in the thread 'ESB/ ROTJ Vaders - what do we know?'
The question at the time was, is it the real deal or touring helmet? IMO the real question is, is it a touring helmet or recast? I would say it is most likely a touring helmet that has
been repainted.
One of the biggest issues I have with this helmet, is the eyes. The left eye lense is set back way further than it should be, at least 50% further, almost twice as deep as the right eye
and the right lense is sunk in and distorted. Also, the flange or lip around the inside of the dome is too thin, only about half as thick as those on screen used helmets. It is also very
clean and smooth, lacking the subtle definition that you have in the real deal helmets. There is noting real deal about this helmet. it still has a nice look as helmets go, but clearly a copy.
When I go back and reread the older threads, I see arguments based mostly on minute details, i.e. this little squiggle, that
little bump, etc. etc. etc. And I agree, that is sometimes important to the story. But I have seen where a lack of these details were deemed to be an absolute,
while it seemed that the real story was being ignored. There are two un-altered examples of the ESB 'real deal' helmets and three good examples of ROTJs.
Compare the helmet to these. The exact details may not be the same, but just because it doesn't have some tiny detail that your authentic cast has, doesn't
mean it's not real.
I've also seen arguments about mounts. It can't be a real deal, cause it's got the wrong mount. But I can't find any threads where it was categorically
determined what sort of mounts were used or not used on what helmets. Simple fact is, there's only so many real deal Vader helmets out there. Likewise,
there's only so many touring helmets out there.