Elstree Precision Co Ltd Hero Metal Ears Project

[boba87fett]

To my knowledge, the ESB hero helmets by MF and MCR both have the damage of a SE helmet, for obvious reasons, but not all that damage was present during the filming of ESB, right? Unless I'm wrong. So am I wrong to assume that it wouldn't be correct to paint them in anything other than SE without alteration to the cast? (I'm still learning, so please excuse me if I'm completely wrong and sound really stupid)

It’s all good man, I am still learning on a daily basis haha...

Exactly, the ESB - MC and the raw ESB casts offered by other makers do have the damage seen in the RotJ SE scenes, so you are correct that the most correct paint up for them would be the SE paint up.

However, there are variations of the helmet offered that have been restored and cleaned up to only incorporate the damage as seen on screen in ESB for this reason. The MFHero ESB is the only one I currently know of, but there could be others too. The MFHero ESB can’t be sold on TDH anymore, so you would have to talk with MF on IG about it.

Hope that helps.

 

[Haloax44]

It’s all good man, I am still learning on a daily basis haha...

Exactly, the ESB - MC and the raw ESB casts offered by other makers do have the damage seen in the RotJ SE scenes, so you are correct that the most correct paint up for them would be the SE paint up.

However, there are variations of the helmet offered that have been restored and cleaned up to only incorporate the damage as seen on screen in ESB for this reason. The MFHero ESB is the only one I currently know of, but there could be others too. The MFHero ESB can’t be sold on TDH anymore, so you would have to talk with MF on IG about it.

Hope that helps.

Doesn't the MFHero ESB also have the SE damage? The only one I've seen that was restored to just ESB damage was the WF fugly, however it seems nobody can tell me anything about that and my DMs regarding it have yet to be answered.
I could be wrong about the MF helmet, however if there is another he produced. But the pictures on the MFHero ESB thread here on TDH have all the SE damage

 

[KaanE]

He was working on a cleaned version for the ESB era scheme, I don't know if available yet, just ask him through IG/FB, or ETSY.

 

[intwenothor]

These ears look fantastic. I was not able to offer any meaningful input besides a possible resizing for the right pieces. The left piece was in place and was a perfect fit.

I don't know what these cost but I think this will be a loss making exercise due to being made as closely as possible to the original methods. This is pure passion project with each piece requiring a substantial amount of work; you can't just chuck a lump of metal into a machine, turn it on, and sit back for a snack.

I find myself in the unenviable position of two metal hero ears runs happening at the same time and not being able to afford either!

I also think that it is unlikely there will be a repeat run. If you want a set, now is your time.

 

[TheBobaFett]

Not the right thread to ask this kind of question but i'm very curious on the scale of the actual hero and these ears in comparison to the FPH2. I imagine they're not far off? I guess we'll see.

 

[intwenothor]

Not the right thread to ask this kind of question but i'm very curious on the scale of the actual hero and these ears in comparison to the FPH2. I imagine they're not far off? I guess we'll see.

No, they are far off because the FPH2 has significant scaling issues, as has been pointed out before. The only ear pieces of a FPH2 that are in the right ballpark are the upper RF pieces. The lower RF and left ear are really rather small and certainly far smaller than they should be.

 

[TheBobaFett]

No, they are far off because the FPH2 has significant scaling issues, as has been pointed out before. The only ear pieces of a FPH2 that are in the right ballpark are the upper RF pieces. The lower RF and left ear are really rather small and certainly far smaller than they should be.

Right ok..wasn't aware of that, thanks. I was under the assumption they sort of were as i recall it being supposedly scaled close to the Hero helmet but what do i know, i've never owned one before. All i know is i must get my hands on one of those ESB casts so these fit lol.

 

[intwenothor]

With these ESB casts floating around I would struggle to understand the purchase of a FPH2 unless it was for a financial reason but even then there are preferable helmets available at that price.

 

[boba87fett]

Some more updates from John:

I call this photo "I've seen the light"

Some of the prototype RF Stalks have been drilled from top to bottom making them a hollow stalk for the wiring to pass through. The side slot for the wires will likely have the slot extended to the base like the original pieces.

The original RF Stalk has a hole from the bottom and a hole from the top, which makes it easier to drill the channel - we may utilize that method in the future... but John was able to get a hole drilled from the top without having to also drill from the bottom because they are bosses over there in the UK. Pretty amazing feat.

John had suggested studs and nuts for the RF stalk like I have seen some people utilize on their builds, but he decided to try out this alternative method. In the pot of old hardware at Elstree, John stumbled on these lovely knurled (socket head) BA bolts of exactly the correct size & length.

He says that he is happy to use these. What do you guys think? Would you prefer to use these or have a threaded bolt piece coming from inside the top of the RF Stalk with nuts being secured from inside the RF Topper?

Oh and he also couldn't resist creating a custom tool to reach these hidden bolts... If you have ever tried to install screw from inside the RF Topper housing down into the stalk, then YOU KNOW how much of a help this is...

"I can include one with every kit. Took me a matter of seconds to fit." - John

The texture you see on the RF Topper is John experimenting with trying to reproduce the transition edge seen in some photos.

Let us know what you think! More to follow.

Thanks,

Steven and John

 

[boba87fett]

Not the right thread to ask this kind of question but i'm very curious on the scale of the actual hero and these ears in comparison to the FPH2. I imagine they're not far off? I guess we'll see.

These are my ears from the last MCR FPH2 run up against a raw hero helmet. The most notable difference is the height of the ear platforms. The width is pretty similar.

Left ear:

Right Ear:

 

[intwenothor]

These are my ears from the last MCR FPH2 run up against a raw hero helmet. The most notable difference is the height of the ear platforms. The width is pretty similar.

Left ear:

View attachment 192184

Right Ear:

View attachment 192187

Whomp! And there it is!

 

[TheBobaFett]

Ah cheers for clearing that up. I see the problem hahaha

 

[boba87fett]

Ah cheers for clearing that up. I see the problem hahaha

haha thus the current two “hero” ears runs lol

 

[intwenothor]

haha thus the current two “hero” ears runs lol

Or properly sized ears, as some of us call them.

 

[RafalFett]

The rangefinder stalk looks great, but I would love to see them made as the originals with threaded holes for the screws.

 

[KaanE]

The rangefinder stalk looks great, but I would love to see them made as the originals with threaded holes for the screws.

Do you have any proof of how originals were made? The known as PP2 had the holes fully threaded if I'm not wrong, but I cannot see that on the ESB helmet.

 

[Keegan]

I'm not sure I understand the concern about threaded holes. Are we talking about the bolts that hold the Rangefinder top onto the stalk?

 

[KaanE]

I think so.

 

[RafalFett]

I'm not sure I understand the concern about threaded holes. Are we talking about the bolts that hold the Rangefinder top onto the stalk?

Yes.

 

[Keegan]

Then I don't understand the concern. I see threaded holes in the Elstree stalk. And the PP2 we know had a screw added from underneath to help hold on the top.
Sorry am I missing something obvious?