BingoBongo_275

Absolutely not. I think it was simply a case that they felt that they needed to show something at the UK Toy Fair so just went out and bought one thinking no one would notice Cheers Jez

Its turning into a VERY interesting case Cheers Jez

Hi there, been a good while since I have been on the board. Not sure if it was the same gig but a mate of mine was working up at the London toy fair and had a look at the Mr stand, picked up the trooper lid on display, had sds sticker inside........... Thats incredible but doesnt surprise me I can only guess they didnt have anything to show so just popped across London and bought one from SDS. AFAIK the one at the US Toy show was the "correct" prototype, although it looks like they need to make thir mind up over the Stunt/Hero issue Cheers Jez

The bumpy eye would have looked ok if theyd gone for the flat lensed Stunt. However having gone for the curved lensed Hero they should drop the bump. The problem with it is its neither one thing nor the other Cheers Jez

Given MR are notorious for nicking other peoples images (including some off my site on more than one occasion), maybe this time they've gone one step further and the stormtrooper helmet on show at the UK toy fair WAS an SDS Cheeers Jez

It looks quite a lot like the sds! Thats quite funny Anyone got any more pics? Cheers Jez

I dont know about you guys but I'm pretty sure I'm a fu^%ing genius Cheers Jez

Braks, Maybe the rush of coffee through my nose took a detour and a few brain cells with it Cheers Jez

I don’t think anyone here condones wilful recasting of others work. However I do think that there is a problem with certain prop makers abusing their positions and almost trying to position themselves as the “owner” of something that really isn’t theirs - hence my beef with TE. In the past I’ve stated my unease at instances where a prop maker sells his moulds and therefore “rights” to produce (say) armour to another individual, yet continues to produce himself, repeating the process in perpetuum. We’ve all seen this happen with the result that almost all of the helmets and armour are derived from a single source – with the guy who first “recast” it still trying to exert some kind of moral or financial ownership over the entire domain. However, Gino’s comments below summed up the real problem to me ay – there’s the rub. Basically this is the get all that’s used to cover the cracks in the “grey area” that joins black to white. I would probably paraphrase it as since the difference in each situation is entirely subjective. Basically Gino’s suggesting that the “rules” can be bent to suit the individual, yet apparently fails to understand others who will bend them a different way to serve their own purpose. No one doubts that the helmets he and CRProps made were very good representations of one of the original screen-used helmets, although I’d question what “only select people (have my work)” (sic) means when we’re talking 40’s - 50’s helmets not 2’s - 3’s. In parting I have one suggestion, and it might sound strange that I of all people should say it, but I’d personally like to see TrooperExpert’s return to this board (without the very obvious smoke and mirrors). I may not agree with many of the things he says, but I at least appreciate the right he has to express his views – however bonkers I might think they are at times. His post about a hypothetical brawl at C4 almost made me laugh such that the coffee I was drinking spurted out of my nose! ****, if we can get away from the crowing, chest-beating and histrionics maybe we’ll all be able to get along one day! Cheers Jez

James- thats a scary pic! weiBes trooper - i know what you mean with regard to the Hero helmets, noones quite got it right however I'm sure there wasnt a Hero mould, it was just the same as the Stunt, only cleaned up and done a month or so later with more time taken on the helmets (like the TIE's) I'm never seen anything to suggest that all the armour was anything other than white ABS, the Hero helmets certainly were. These pics from the REAL/ANH Trooper section Here's Luke's ..and an original Hero helmet in the LFL archive I've a section on the site (Real/ RotJ TK Armour) with some good pics of a real set of RotJ armour, but not the one TE used as his base. Cheers Jez

I agree. I'm sure I'm one of the 5 and it must be frustrating for others However, like I said, if someone questions your integrity then its understandable that you'd want to respond to that. Hopefully between all the snapping and vitreol there's some useful info Here's a collections of helmets (alphabetically so to as not upset anyone ) GF Type 2 Hero GF Type 2 Stunt Gino/CRProps Stunt Gino/CRProps Hero RT Mod Type 2 Stunt SDS Stunt SDS Hero OMM, sorry TE Stunt Version1 (bumpycap) TE Stunt ver 2 TE ABS Stunt (left) with SDS Stunt and finally some more comparisons from left to right FX, AA/SDS, Gino/CRProps and GF Type 2 More on my site (which needs updating!) Cheers Jez

Apologies if my post lowered the tone guys. Having been away from the thread for a couple of days I didnt expect to see an attack from Gino on me and my site, with him trying to paint himself as some kind of "victim" in this Cheers Jez

Well it looked like they took one of GF's ANH Hero's and then made it a little more symmetrical Cheers Jez

Great pic TD-4935 – glad someone here’s got a sense of humour. I’ve got a few points since my last thread. The Stormtrooper section IS out of date, but like I said its partly due to LFL's interest at the moment in everything "trooper" and I’d rather not want to tweak LFL's nose more than I really have to! The reality is my whole site could do with an update, but I’ve not got the time. Even if I did I’m not so sure that my appreciation of Gino’s work would match his own apparent narcism My experience with his stormtrooper (owning a helmet and a couple of mates in the UK with the armour) – leaves me with the feeling that its lovely to look at but most certainly not suited to troop in as it’s the most brittle Styrene I’ve encountered. As to whether it’s the most accurate, we all have our own opinions. IMO the back and cap are great but the SDS face is measurably better. Armour-wise they’re both from the exact same RotJ source so neither catches the ANH look in my eyes. I’ve never seen Trooper Master’s helmet and armour in person, but from pics I have seen it looks excellent. Another one that really should be on my site. Like I said its my opinion and we all have our own! As far as the “it’s the most accurate and I’m the best, please love me” – its all a bit childish. Given all the original Stunts were khaki HDPE painted white I’ve yet to see ANYTHING that really comes that close. Maybe helmet makers who really want to earn some praise should spend more time making props and less talking about how wonderful they are? With respect to Vader helmets, a recent poll on the RPF saw the Darth Jones as #1 and Ghost Host ANH as runner-up and I’d probably agree with that. OMM’s correct that Gino only made a few helmets (either alone or in business with Dave Gielda/CRProps, my guess 50) so maybe he/they couldn't really be considered a significant producer and so are maybe often overlooked. Apart from SDS (currently in a legal battle with Lucasfilm), the biggest producer of Stormtrooper, TIE helmets and armour was most probably OMM’s alter ego Trooper Expert. I therefore found it highly amusing and ironic that this was the same guy Lucasfilm used as their “Expert” witness in the UK LFL v SDS case Cheers Jez

Thanks Jack, You'll notice that Ive not updated any of my Stormtrooper pages for some time now (at least 18 months), due to "you know who's" interest in a certain prop maker - which is why certain makers arent included. Bottom line is the whole site could do with an overhaul but I dont really have the time, however I'm conscious that a number of helmet and armour makers arent represented, eg. AP, SDS, Meatsock, TE Fiberglass. Maybe I should make a call.... Cheers Jez

TD252 - thanks for the encouragement mate I think the vast majority of people WOULD let me use their pics. After all I usually take the time to quote the owner/photographer of the photos anyway so would do the same within a book. HOWEVER, I dont think for a minute that LFL would sanction a book that deals with "fan made" (aka unlicensed) works, especially when in the majority of cases they put the licensed equivalents to shame! In order to do a "proper job" on it imo LFL would need to be involved. Nice idea though! Cheers Jez

I think their first prototype WAS a modified GF recast! Cheers Jez

I'd agree with most of what Troopermaster's said I dont think AA's armour moulds were destroyed byy the fire on 26th March 1976 as the time line doesnt work. I just think he ditched them due to size etc. Keeping a helmet mould for 30years is one thing, 20 huge moulds for armour is another. I was personally very annoyed when he told people he still had the original armour moulds as I knew it wasnt the case - it was obviously a rotj copy. It made it very difficult for people to believe his earlier claims about the helmet moulds(which i still believe to be true) so its not surprising people didnt trust him. Cheers Jez

Not sure how the AP compares to the GF - same moulds? But my "old" GF set was superb - I trooped in it several times and never had any problems. IIRC TE only made a few ABS sets so unless you can get one of those then forget anything else. Same with Gino's. Nice to look at but made of styrene and absolutely NOT for trooping in. My Gino helmet cracked when I wore it for just a couple of hours Just my 2c Cheers jez

Excellent collection/photo butcherbird Cheers Jez

That was my understanding. The $20m was an uncontested default in the US which is worth nothing in the UK unless LFL can convince a court here to uphold it, which is highly unlikely. LFL has started action over here so hopefully it will go all the way to court and we might finally find out the truth as to "who did what" Cheers Jez

I too like the AP amrour. After all its effectively the GF Mark 3 so what's not to like? I've not seen much TE stuff but have not been impressed with what I have. The painted stuff was not good and Ive seen some pretty bad warps in some of the newer stuff. Anyone who buys armour from SDS is doing so because they want it from the "original maker" nothing else. The helmets are from the original moulds (except the battle spec) but the armours the same as everything else out there Regarding construction, unless somethings changed recently then aa vac forms and makes everything himself, he doesnt employ anyone bar some students from the local art college who help with painting, but not manufacture or assembly. Anyone who lives in the UK can go and see him in Twickenham and see for themselves, he's a very open guy. Probably too open Cheers Jez

Chris Interesting, I'm presuming thatss for the RotJ suits - looks a lot like the same system as Mollo adopted for ANH I suppose if it aint broke..... Cheers Jez

Thanks for the thanks guys! www.StarWarsHelmets.com has been going for 4-5 years now and the sole reason for it is to share information with the wider community. To be honest I get tired of many people involved in this hobby who seem to see "information as power" and refuse to share information or pictures, almost seeing it as if theyve "lost" something themselves by doing so. Christies have been very supportive of my site in the past and provided me exclusive access to the four helmets last year (2 Storm + 2 x/y - one was sold before the auction) and helmets in previous years. UNfortunately it looks like its dried up this year and I dont think they will be having any interesting pieces in this years action. Ah well there's always next Cheers Jez

My gut reaction to this is that they are casts made a long time ago from a couple of original helmet faces, but certainly nothing to do with the "original moulds". I'm giving the owner the benefit of the doubt here in that I dont think theyve been done recently. You can see that the mould has been extended beyond the line of the face it was cast from, and also remnants of an ear screw hole which was patched up unconvincingly. My guess is that some guy in West London working either on the SW project or sometime thereafter got hold of a couple of faces and made a cast off them. As others have suggested, they could have been done recently, but its almost the slap-dash way theyve been cast makes me think they're more egit. Either way not something I'd want to spend 2 grand on. Lucasfilm has pulled the auction on the VERO copyright program. Cheers Jez