I think the questions of when will we see it, how much will it cost, how close to the original helmet will it be in size (will there be any shrinkage)...what materials will be used, what visor will be used, what lights will be used in the RF.
Nothing wrong with any of those questions.
When will you see it? Hard to say. We all know eFX has REALLY REALLY long production times. But... I have been waiting over 12 years for something like this. Another year or so won't kill me.
How much will it cost? I don't know. My guess would be more than $500, and less than $1000, but I am not the one to say and when I asked Bryan, he simply did not know yet.
How close to the original helmet will it be in size? Closer than anything else we will ever see. That might sound like a smart-*** answer, but it is simply the truth. I took tracings of the bottom of the helmet while we were there so, when the final production piece comes out, we can plop it down on that tracing and see, but I expect, if eFX does their job and maintains QC it will be virtually an exact match.
What materials will be used? Fiberglass.
What visor will be used? A visor of correct thickness and color, custom made for this project. Again... unlike any that has ever been produced before. Welding visors are out!
What lights will be used? I don't know. They haven't even begun to look at the electronics or how they will tackle that. This is PURE speculation, but my guess is that they MIGHT try to do something self contained in the RF as opposed to the nightmare of running wires through the stalk. Since Gino is doing all of this, he will be in a better position to answer it.
ALOT of people here USE their helmets, they dont just stick them on a shelf to be in awe of. Some collectors will do that, and will want the licensed helmet. Just like the MR...for the name its like owning a pair of OG Jordans new in box...theyre priceless. This helmet if it makes it through production will be something similar one day, priceless... But god knows you wouldnt put them on your feet and walk around in them. So I guess if the helmet comes out and is a perfect replica of the helmet in Empire many people will want it... but with a sizable price tag more then likely due to the pedigree it has, how many will be able to afford it and use it for such purposes as trooping? If its comparable in price to building a helmet maybe, but really it'll be more of a collectors item and worth more if it was not worn...so where does that leave the guy with the lid.
No argument that this is geared to the collector and not to the costumer. eFX does not hold the Star Wars costuming license, so legally they can't market this as a wearable piece (although technically it is). With that being said, when you consider the material and labor that goes into a finished helmet, IF China can reproduce the paint on the ESB helmet in a way that does not require a repaint by fans, AND eFX can keep the price below $1,000 I think you are right in the ballpark for what many costumers end up investing in their fan made helmets already... That is what makes this a game-changer for the higher end costumers. Nothing else can touch it, and while the price might initially seem steep.. you can't compare the price of a finished piece like what eFX offers to the cost of a completely unfinished kit like the ones being offered here. There is a massive amount of work/cost between a kit and a final wearable helmet and with helmet paint jobs costing upwards of $600+? Think about it...