My GMH # 30

The problem with the crack theory, which has also been argued at length, is that there would have to be chunks missing in between the cracks for the helmet to collapse in on itself in those areas to alter the shape dramatically :)

If you can imagine an earthquake fault line for a moment. Once it separates in an earthquake, there is a gap left between and soil in between is lost. In the case of the helmet, if this happened one side of the crack could pull in and rest against the other, if material was lost in between. "If". Therefore, making this theory sound.

However, in the case of the helmet, there was no material lost in between. That's not the nature of fiberglass.

Being that I am somewhat of an expert in fiberglass (I've only been at it for about 15 years now) I can reasonably say with confidence, that the cracks in the hero helmet are merely "surface gel coat layer cracks". And I can assure you, without a shadow of a doubt that gel coat stress cracks like that do NOT alter the shape of a glass casting. Because, the lamination layer underneath it is still reasonably
sound, no matter how thin it is. It
Would have to go clean through, and as stated before, lose material in between to alter shape. Otherwise, even a body filler repair would put it back into it's original shape within a thousandth because each side is resting back on itself without loss in between.

But, convolution aside, gel coat layer cracks do not affect a thing. One board member comes mind.
Deadland. He dropped a helmet of mine on a ceramic tile floor from about 3 ft or so, and it suffered a number of cracks JUST like the hero.
All surface cracks in the gel coat. And in all the same places. The first thing I thought when I saw it was, "wow, doesn't get any more authentic than THAT "! lol

In 2003, my mannequin took a face plant in my living room and completely cracked off one whole mandible of an original MSH. Just like a puzzle piece, it went right back together and never lost a thing.

There's a thread active right now of a gel coat layer crack in another second hand FP helmet. Hasn't lost a thing. As with 99% of all cracks like this, you grind out the crack I'm the gel coat a little, apply new gel coat, sand and finish. This is a typical fiberglass repair, most often seen on boat hulls. Still, the laminated back remains intact, and supports the structure.

An egg is a poor analogy. It will certainly lose shape when fractured.
It only has a very light membrane backing holding it together :)

All of this may be moot to you. considering that the next point will likely be, "how do you know that they were just surface gel coat cracks"?

We do know. Nothing was ever severed through on the hero helmet. Nor the Pre-Pro 2, which suffers from similar neglect (y)


Chris
 
One other thing to note, is with the exhibit at C4, the most common reaction to that helmet, is that it looks like the ROTJ shots we're familiar with. Almost unreasonably narrow and skinny. There is no way, that helmet could have ever been wider unless it had been halved, and put back together (y)

Chris
 
Fair point! I hadn't considered just the gelcoat being cracked. That's more than reasonable. The eggshell analogy was more for the big crack though and the point still stands on the mustard crack because missing material is not at all required. You're not thinking about it properly or I made the point poorly. :) The crack is all the way through, that I know. But there, very definitely, is a pronounced ridge as a result of a sloppy repair. That ridge indicates one of two things: a)stress relieved from the body, or b)stress induced on the body. The ridged area was not pushed back into place before it was sealed. That crack's ridgleline is the equivalent of a crease and that will cause changes in the shape. I don't care if it's plastic, paper, gelcoat, laminate or steel - if it's rigid and curved and has a ridgeline crack it's shape is affected. If it were a ball how well do you think it'd roll?
 
The bottom of the helmet is no more narrow today than it was then. The illiusion of more flare would come from a "twisting-in" of the left ear at the top by pushing that ridge in flush. It's an illusion more than anything. It's hard to visualize.
 
Chris I was going to bring up that Premium but you already did...And maybe this weekend I'll get some pics of what Chris is refering to on the cracked helmet when it gets here.
 
And BGH way to sneak update your post...where do u have the riot cup attached to just curious. Interesting what u did there I dont think Id want to tighten my helmet up like that though for sake of breaking it
 
Fair point! I hadn't considered just the gelcoat being cracked. That's more than reasonable. The eggshell analogy was more for the big crack though and the point still stands on the mustard crack because missing material is not at all required. You're not thinking about it properly or I made the point poorly. :) The crack is all the way through, that I know. But there, very definitely, is a pronounced ridge as a result of a sloppy repair. That ridge indicates one of two things: a)stress relieved from the body, or b)stress induced on the body. The ridged area was not pushed back into place before it was sealed. That crack's ridgleline is the equivalent of a crease and that will cause changes in the shape. I don't care if it's plastic, paper, gelcoat, laminate or steel - if it's rigid and curved and has a ridgeline crack it's shape is affected. If it were a ball how well do you think it'd roll?


That crack, would still not be enough to affect the shape as drastic as what you're all working yourselves up about, evening "IF" it did go all the way through. The crack would have to be a clean break 3/4 of the length of the crack to affect the shape whatsoever because it's rigid material, and the affect would be minimal at best.

What I think you're missing is, you're actually arguing against verified, legit information. The major crack you're referring to is not a clean break, it doesn't go all the way through. To be even more clear, or specific ... is that it doesn't go through - the full length of of the crack. Sometime later, it's been said that a clumsy archivist finished it off, but there is no evidence that has differed over the years to substantiate that claim, as this thing has been photographed to death without change over the years. So your saying "that I know" is a bit arrogant sounding to be honest. I didn't make up the facts. This is info that's been around for years buddy.

But even more, there are members here, that have had their hands in that thing. Debates like this are always a recipe for someone ending up with hurt feelings. Much like Gino tries to lead people in the right direction with things he DOES know for a fact, so are there individuals here that do the same. He is still argued with in spite of it, as will others about this. It is the way of things. The way of the force ;-)

I'm out guys. Have at it (y)

Chris
 
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i totally agree with fettpride!

VOLKERC!!! Where've you been buddy? (y)

But even more, there are members here, that have had their hands in that thing. Debates like this are always a recipe for someone ending up with hurt feelings. Much like Gino tries to lead people in the right direction with things he DOES know for a fact, so are there individuals here that do the same. He is still argued with in spite of it, as will others about this. It is the way of things. The way of the force ;-)

Exactly(y)... I think most of the Flare debate has already been done.. the answers are on this board, just gotta search for them....
There is NO Flare I promise... I was at C4, maybe even touched the thing;)... total on film Illusion.. debate done. :D
 
I too was at C4 and can agree that there is no flare. I spent enough time staring at that helmet(it practically counts as my first love).

Besides, when did Boba ever work at a Bennigans?
 
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