vadermania wrote:
Could it be possible that the ROTJ reveal faceplate was originally built for ESB?
When you look at it detail-wise it certainly seems possible. But if they had used it, they would've had to come up with a more elaborate system for the 'in scene' assembly, As it would be a three-piece affair, as opposed to the two-piece affair that was used in the film (there is no use in having all that cranial detail, if you're not going see it). To note: the helmet they did match it with was the primary helmet used in all the Stardestroyer bridge scenes in ESB. So if they had used it in ESB it still would have been matched up with this particular helmet. Which is definitely an interesting thought.
I've also always thought that the reveal helmet they used in ESB looked a little rushed and somewhat crude, after all, they didn't even paint the nose. This scene was filmed later in the production, so perhaps they originally planned to use the ROTJ reveal, but decided the scene wasn't working and made another helmet for a redesigned scene. Of course, that's pure speculation.
No Humor Man wrote:
Well, they certainly made a reveal in ESB, so chances are they could have been experimenting and made two. Heck, even the RotJ stunt helmets are rumored to maybe having been made during ESB, if I remember correctly - or maybe I'm just remembering wrong on that one. The bottom part of the RotJ reveal could even BE the ESB reveal refurbished, where they cut off the upper tusk tube, as I haven't heard any rumbling on the ESB reveal ever being found. It certainly looks like the same neck brace.
However, the upper part of the face mask is clearly not the ESB reveal as it has the upper tusk tube as being part of the cast, where the ESB was trimmed above both tubes.
Somebody did say that, I remember reading it. I would have to say absolutely not. Besides the fact that it is very ROTJ in detail, it's also like an improved version of the ESB stunt. But there is a much more solid reason why it could not have existed. If you look at the picture on the cover of the making of ESB (the jacket) with Vader fighting Luke, you can see that his left tusk is broken and missing. However, if you look at this image of Luke fighting Vader in the cave, the left tusk is broken there as well. That makes two scenes where this helmet with a broken tusk was used. If the other stunt helmet had been around they would've used it.