How certain are you about this? I realize that you are stating that you had no say on what was used, so is it something you were told or actually saw? At what point was the back portion abandoned? From my understanding the 3 "tabs" served a different purpose which had nothing to do with the joining of the two face portions, so I'd like to hear what you know or were told about how the face and dome were attached?

Well that´s outstanding to know! Brings new aspects to Vaders "Faceprison"! I would love to see the backside. You are great, Brian!

Vadermania,

The plaster cast was taken from the mould that was produced from the clay mask. I then sharpened the features on the plaster head with wood carving chisels. It was then moulded and cast in fibreglass to create the final piece.

Brian

The plaster cast of Dave Prowse with clay still attached to back of head after moulding has taken place - showing that a back was sculpted.

A screen capture of Dave Prowse wearing the complete mask with helmet about to be fitted.

I've cracked the technology but the photo positioning is a mystery!

Brian, were there two plaster molds then? One for the face and one for the dome? or was the mold just taken of the clay sculpted dome over the initial plaster faceplate?

Interesting thread Brian...

There was only one plaster cast. When I'd sharpened it up and it was remoulded and cast in fibreglass I then used the same plaster cast to sculpt the clay helmet on.

OK, thanks. Was there anything changed from your initial sculpt of vader to what we finally saw on screen? Anything added or deleted other than the back portion of the faceplate?

Wow! This is a great thread. I always thought there was another half to the Vader head and my question is this - in that shot where costume folks are about to lower the helmet portion onto Prowse's masked face, are you saying that he is wearing BOTH halves of the originally intended face mask? You use the word "complete" and is that what you mean? If so, then very cool.

To your knowledge, were there any scenes in the film in which he was wearing both halves of the face before someone said "heck with this" ?

Brian I'm curious now? Since the tabs on the top were to connect the two
pieces (back and front) together. Were the tabs added on the plaster cast
before the final mold was made, or were they added to the final fiberglass
cast..

I'm also curious if you have a picture of the original clay sculpt.. I've always
wondered how the Eyes looked before the plaster.. (bubble, flat, Ect, Ect)


Great thread by the way

Well, I know that somewhere I have a side view photo
of a full head vader cast. I always assumed someone had just
filled in the blanks as it were.

If no one else has the shot (which I'm sure they do) I'll dig it out
tomorrow.

I've seen other pics of the full headcast and upper torso, but if you have a pic of the headcast alone, dig that sucker out Colin.

Brian, are you at liberty to discuss your role in the upcoming AA trial as you mentioned? I know what your role was with regards to the original stormtroopers, but can you give out the details yourself?

Thanks for that info about the tabs' purpose Brian.

Their presense on the mask despite them being such a rubbish method for attaching the dome makes more sense now, given that was never why they were added anyway.

Jeremy

Fascinating read. I always knew there was a back side to the mask...kidding of course. I had no idea. It is very interesting that the tabs were for joining the front and back and not the dome to the mask. I'm guessing that there were the same tabs on the back part of the mask with an attachment strap velcroed on top of them? Or were there straps permanently mounted on the rear portion which velcroed to the front tabs?

Brian, any idea how the dome attachment was accomplished?? It kind of throws off a bunch of assumptions we've all had.

Thanks again for joining the forum. It's great to have you here.

I dont quite follow the whole tab thing, Unless I missed something the tabs were added after the faceplate and dome were made , the connection in securing the pieces together make no sense to me as far as the part that the tabs played out from where they sit. Not unless you mean the tab location as we know it now was previously in a different location.

I have spoken with a few people involved with the Original Trilogy and I must say the tabs seem to confuse many people in general.