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 Post subject: Face Transplant: Restoration of a Ghost Host ANH
PostPosted: Sat Jun 21, 2008 6:22 pm 
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A while back, I had the privilege of being able to acquire a flawed Ghost Host ANH casting. As one who's been in the community for only two years, I missed out on the years past where helmets like this captured the imagination. As I understand it, there were twelve made. This is an unofficial thirteenth that never made circulation. Darth Karo purchased it along with a dome that was in superb condition. He began some work on it but didn't have time to complete it. So when he offered it for sale here on the Den, I jumped at it.

Up until recently, there had been comparisons of masks made using a GH-styled dome. This gave me the opportunity to study its shape and size and learn of its strengths and weaknesses in three dimensions.

Image

"Quasimodo" was a casting that happened to have a narrower neck than what we mostly see. Apparently, back in their day, the would-be owners could request a wider neck. I'm not completely sure of the reasons why this option was provided. Perhaps some felt it was more heroic looking and the wide neck helped mimick a certain screen look. I feel a more plausible explanation was that the wider neck provided broader coverage over the neck opening of fanmade armor.

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Much fanmade armor has too much shoulder slack, and the armor widens out considerably. When people say "That's natural; that's Prowse-sized" and then advocate costumers to wear so much padding underneath that they resemble the Hunchback of Notre Dame, I have to say, "Let's look back at screen captures and production photos" and you will notice the neck of the screen-used perfectly covered the neckline; the neck wasn't too wide, and I don't recall ever seeing the mask's neck slip under the armor.

Here is an image of the wider neck variety, photo courtesy of the owner.

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And here is Darth Kahnt's mask:

Image

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


Last edited by CSMacLaren on Sat Jan 08, 2011 8:25 pm, edited 2 times in total.

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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Sat Jun 21, 2008 6:24 pm 
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So, apart from Quasimodo's left facial flaw (wearer's right) the casting is of pretty good integrity otherwise, as you can see compared with Darth Kahnt's which is one of the original 12.

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- Mac
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 Post subject: Re: Face Transplant: Restoration of a Ghost Host ANH
PostPosted: Sat Jun 21, 2008 6:25 pm 
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So with this...

Image

I also received this...

Image

This is the face transplant piece to replace the flawed left side.

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- Mac
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 Post subject: Re: Face Transplant: Restoration of a Ghost Host ANH
PostPosted: Sat Jun 21, 2008 6:27 pm 
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So in theory I would have to cut out an area of the same shape.

GhostHost had told Darth Karo to simply place the replacement piece over the area and use a marker to indicate the outline.

In theory it would look like this:

Image

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- Mac
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 Post subject: Re: Face Transplant: Restoration of a Ghost Host ANH
PostPosted: Sat Jun 21, 2008 6:28 pm 
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So one last look at it's pre-op state (pre-operation) before I operate.

Image

Image

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- Mac
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 Post subject: Re: Face Transplant: Restoration of a Ghost Host ANH
PostPosted: Sat Jun 21, 2008 6:29 pm 
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Angles like these give me a lot of hope as to its potential.

Image

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


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 Post subject: Re: Face Transplant: Restoration of a Ghost Host ANH
PostPosted: Sat Jun 21, 2008 6:33 pm 
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After tracing a line using a silver marker, I used a Dremel reinforced cutting disc and cut away. This was thick fiberglass and very well cast. Kudos to GhostHost on good workmanship! The casting struck me as very durable, and often times the cutting disc needed several passes to completely cut through!

Image

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


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 Post subject: Re: Face Transplant: Restoration of a Ghost Host ANH
PostPosted: Sat Jun 21, 2008 6:36 pm 
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With a hole this big, there would be no need for a breathing box. Costumers wouldn't need to put little fans. This mod has superior airflow! :lol

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- Mac
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 Post subject: Re: Face Transplant: Restoration of a Ghost Host ANH
PostPosted: Sat Jun 21, 2008 6:38 pm 
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With this modification, you won't have to remove your helmet to eat. You can eat a hot dog through this facial opening. Hamburgers, however, might get in your eye.

Image

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Cordially,

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


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 Post subject: Re: Face Transplant: Restoration of a Ghost Host ANH
PostPosted: Sat Jun 21, 2008 6:38 pm 
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THE RESULTS

Before... and after!

Image

Above, right: I placed the face transplant piece over the hole. I'll use some Aquamend and make three little balls, and use them as holders to keep the face piece in position. It starts curing within 12 minutes so I'll watch TV or something. It should lock into place within 20 minutes, and after that I can fill in the cracks and smooth things out.

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


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Sat Jun 21, 2008 7:45 pm 
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Great work Mac. Can't wait to see the finished product. :toothy

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 Post subject: Re: Face Transplant: Restoration of a Ghost Host ANH
PostPosted: Sat Jun 21, 2008 8:14 pm 
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Blimey charlie...how many projects have got on the go at this moment??

great work so far.


cheers

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 Post subject: Re: Face Transplant: Restoration of a Ghost Host ANH
PostPosted: Sat Jun 21, 2008 11:41 pm 
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Woaw, don't think I've seen a project like this before. Very cool. :thumbsup


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 Post subject: Re: Face Transplant: Restoration of a Ghost Host ANH
PostPosted: Sun Jun 22, 2008 12:36 am 
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Mac, I'm not sure if these sort of posts are like crack or soap operas but I keep coming back for more. :wink:

The mod looks great so far. I'm really interested to see what this guy will look like after you work your magic. Are you just going to restore this to make is look like a Ghost Host mask (with all that entails) or are you using the mask as a basis for a more accurate tricked out Vader.

Hey, I just got a new idea for a show on VH1. "Pimp my Vader" the premise is that people send you their old standard Vader masks and you pimp them out to give them "the look". What do you think? :)

-best

Dan


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 Post subject: Re: Face Transplant: Restoration of a Ghost Host ANH
PostPosted: Sun Jun 22, 2008 1:24 am 
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Wow Mac, you certainly have your hands full. Can't wait to see more.

Hobie


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