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 Post subject: Original Don Post Deluxe sightings
PostPosted: Wed Jul 18, 2007 5:58 pm 
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This thread is about the original Don Post Deluxe Vader fiberglass helmets which were made by the old Don Post Studios in the 90's. Since then they've been acquired and seem to exist in name only as a brand for latex rubber masks.

The paint scheme was the reverse of that on the originals.


Educational reference shots

Don Post Deluxe posed with Rubie's Supreme armor:

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Don Post (right) vs. a Rubie's Supreme (left):

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Don Post (left) vs. a Rubie's Supreme (right):

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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Jul 18, 2007 6:03 pm 
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No 589/1000 seems to have surfaced today.

http://cgi.ebay.com/STAR-WARS-ESB-DON-P ... otohosting

The auction bundles an FX-styled Stormtrooper helmet (inaccurate fan design) with the Vader, so it's difficult to determine the value of the Vader helmet.

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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Jul 18, 2007 8:01 pm 
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Great side-by-side of the Rubiles and DP deluxe. I remember this used to be my dream helmet that I could never afford when they were selling on ebay for $1000+. It's still an important collectible I think as far as being the nicest licensed OT Vader helmet.


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Jul 18, 2007 8:33 pm 
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People forget that the original Deluxes were cast from an original positive provided by LucasFilm. It may not necessarily have been screen-used, but I think a lot of the anti-DP DLX sentiment was created by vendors to bolster their own "helmets with lineage" and yet many such helmets with "lineage" look horrible and don't look as nice as the Don Post Deluxe.

In my opinion, the Don Post Deluxe may lack in a few areas but, all round, it's a very nice helmet and for years it has set the standard that many compare against. You can't go wrong with an original Don Post Deluxe, and since this came from the 90's and was the first high quality fiberglass cast-off-an-original Vader hetlmet, it's literally a historical helmet and a piece of film history.

I don't think I'll be selling mine, regardless of monetary value. For me, it's the educational and historical value.

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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Jul 18, 2007 9:45 pm 
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Actually... the reason why people dislike the DP helmets is that the quality of the individual helmets were inconsistent - not one was similar to the next. The warping became more and more extreme. It was this quality inconsistency in the shape of the helmets that pissed people off... and for a licensed company... such inconsistency is unacceptable. Just remember the uproar with the quality issues of the MR helmets.

If you get a nicely shaped one with not so much warpage - great, then you've gotten yourself an excellent helmet. Otherwise, I'd think it's a waste of money.

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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Jul 18, 2007 10:23 pm 
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Location: Australia
Mac, I remember seeing 188 up for sale just before you aquired it and I thought long and hard about having a crack at it because I have 189.
The only thing that stopped me was the terrifying thought of explaining to my misses why I needed 2 of the exact same helmet.
I love mine too.


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Jul 18, 2007 10:29 pm 
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Cookman,

DUDE! Our helmets were once right next to each other!!! :ac6

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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Jul 18, 2007 11:45 pm 
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#485/1000 surfaced also:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... otohosting

Image

BuyitNow price: $999

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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Thu Jul 19, 2007 4:17 am 
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Another vader sighting! :lol
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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Thu Jul 19, 2007 4:29 am 
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Here's DPD #166 (Dome #167). It was the first Star Wars prop I ever bought way back in 1996 for $750 the most I'd ever paid for anything outside of a car or a student loan lol. I sold it three years ago for $800 and have regretted it ever since--even though I have had much more accurate helmets since. I wouldn't mind owning another some day.

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Cheers,

Dave C


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Fri Nov 16, 2007 8:30 pm 
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I have no pics to back this up, but a good friend of mine has a DPD in the 30's I think. I will talk to him and try to get him to post up pics.


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Sat Nov 17, 2007 9:12 am 
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... I sold No. 322 about 2 weeks ago ... :pale

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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Sat Nov 17, 2007 11:24 am 
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Location: Edinburgh Scotland
Hi Mac,

The early numbered helmets are supposed to be better according to legend.

One thing about the Don Post helmets that people may not be aware of is not only do they have the helmet number on the metal plaque and the paper certificate they have a number written on the faceplates and domes under the paint.

I know three people who have stripped the paint off their helmet for a new paint job and none of the faceplates and domes numbers matched.

The number on the certificate matches the faceplate and the domes just seem to have been thrown together randomly.

Don Post were a big US company that had made money from halloween masks for decades. They done all the original 1970s masks etc and made a fortune from Star Wars. Ironically I think I am correct in saying Star Wars Episode 1 The Phantom Menace put Don Post studios out of business. Huge licence fees coupled with no decent helmets, masks etc from the movie buckled them. If that is incorrect anyone who knows different please jump in.

Cheers Chris.


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Sat Nov 17, 2007 12:23 pm 
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Chris is right about the numbering!

I have no 73 - the number inside the dome under the brass plate was 17.
I have another in the 800's - it's a totally different helmet.
The neck's flared and so's the dome.

I was told at one point that the mould was an enormous silicon rubber block with no fibreglass jacket.
As the run continued the mould started to lose it's shape.

I doubt if they only had one mould all the same - they probably had a few.


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Sat Nov 17, 2007 2:53 pm 
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Wow, 73. Nice. I'm trying to recall the lowest number I've seen on ebay or anywhere...I used to have all those ebay ads saved but lost a big part of my older archives :cry


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