It was also posted on Rebelscum - this was my reply....
Let me firstly say that I think MR helmets are extremely nice, I have 3 MR clones and the Vader and have been extremely impressed with them – and not least the build quality. As Hedjii72 has said the MR helmets feel more like “real” helmets (like a bikers) than the fan made or SDS helmets, which are more like the original props. People have their preferences, I like both.
With regard to Brian’s comments, with respect they didn’t so much explain why the MR helmet looks different from the originals, but more a history lesson on Stormtrooper helmets (and much of which could have come from my site!), so let me provide a bit of background and perspective…..
1976 - The original STUNT and HERO helmets were made using 2 significantly different plastics. The STUNTS were a khaki green HDPE (Polyethene) which were subsequently painted white, whereas the HERO’s were a less flexible (but naturally white thus unpainted) ABS.
Fifty painted HDPE STUNTS were made over a period of several weeks, before the six “Close-up” unpainted ABS HERO’s were made some weeks later. Due to the aggressive timescales of production the STUNTS were rushed and this resulted in greater variation of finish, and significant damage to the moulds, most noticeable in the undercut where the STUNT helmets often had to be cut away from the mould. By the time the HERO’s were made several weeks later, they looked slightly (but noticeably) different from the STUNT’s, and in addition the material used also significantly affected their appearance since it reacted differently from the vac-forming process.
2006 - The MR helmet was cast off an original STUNT helmet owned by Gary Kurtz and Jason Joiner. Ive had this specific helmet in my possession (a few years back) and can confirm its this one….
Taking a cast from the inside of the helmet was exactly the right thing for MR to do. However the problem is they have produced a HERO helmet from the 2nd generation moulds of a STUNT helmet, and therefore the inherent differences in the STUNT have now been reflected in this MR HERO helmet – and that’s why many see this as a “hybrid”. I’m pleased they had access to HERO helmet in the archives and have scanned it – which should help the detailing (although the HERO in the archive is missing its eye lenses WHICH WERE SMOKED GREY NOT GREEN).
With regard to the detailing on the MR helmet, we’ll all need to see the final version. However the prototype had black tube stripes which is incorrect since the originals had Blue stripes (HERO’s and STUNT’s). MR’s confusion over this may have been due to the paint scheme on Kurtz/Joiner’s Stunt which had been repainted (badly) sometime since 1976 (and confirmed to me by Jason), and it featured Black tube stripes.
I hope that fills in any of the missing information people have. For the record I’ll be getting one of these as I love trooper helmets!
Cheers
Jez