AFettFullofDollars
Well-Known Hunter
Hey, but at least we learned there definitely is a 'wavy brow' on the ESB helmet, and that it's not an optical illusion due to the paint up.
ESB HERO copy????
- Thread starter Wes7
- Start date
Wolfsburg
Hunter
Hopefully it won't come to that, but if the factory paintjob proves to be that bad, I'd probably just have the whole thing stripped and repainted by one of the talented artists in the Fett world. I just hope the helmet itself isn't exorbitantly expensive! This helmet's lineage is pretty much the holy grail for Fett helmet fans (unless you prefer the ROTJ helmet! 
) so pricing makes me a bit nervous.
) so pricing makes me a bit nervous.
Misfit2
Well-Known Hunter
Now all those Malone Fett Sales make sense.
I can't help but feel a bit of sad emotions. It's just my opinion but that thing doesn't need to be touched and behind glass. It's priceless. Now that someone has and poured a bunch of castings materials all over it, it doesn't seem as special, rare and mysterious. Maybe that's just me.
I'll stick to a friend who makes my lids from his own hands.
I can't help but feel a bit of sad emotions. It's just my opinion but that thing doesn't need to be touched and behind glass. It's priceless. Now that someone has and poured a bunch of castings materials all over it, it doesn't seem as special, rare and mysterious. Maybe that's just me.
I'll stick to a friend who makes my lids from his own hands.
norgs79
Active Hunter
I have very mixed feelings about this. Of course, we never dreamed that this would or could happen. I always hoped it would, but now that it has, my dream of it happening is over. I know this sounds crazy but like most have said, the mystery is gone. It's exciting but at the same time, I feel the original has been cheapened. It's legend status belongs on show out of our hands (in my opinion). I know not everyone will agree with me saying that, and even as I type I'm saying 'what a douche'. We all want that perfect Fett, of course we do. I do! So why do I feel a little sad that has happened? Would I buy one if it was available? Hell yeah. So I'm contradicting myself. Oh my word this hobby..........
redkraytdragon
Active Hunter
Took the words right out of my mouth...still not sure how I feel about this either....I really think it should have been left alone, but that's just my opinion
Talented artists from here at the Dented helmet were involved in this project from start to finish...
Incorrect. Legend editions come directly from an original source. In this case, eFX is offering the ESB helmet, cast from the original, as close to its original form (cracks corrected), not as it is today.
Legend has never meant unmodified because there is always some modification necessary, no different than with the Grant McCune helmet, the Banzai/ESB or even the Malone Fett. The difference here is the purity of the casting and lineage. The waters haven't been muddied.
You do realize the ESB helmet has been cast before, correct?
I know exactly what you mean! I felt that very same thing as we took the ears apart. I have given a lot of hours of my life to studying and trying to figure out various aspects of this helmet... and now all the mystery and wonder were gone because I had every answer I ever wanted in my hands. It is a very complex and weird feeling; elation and also a little bit of sadness. The thing is, long ago, I learned (and here comes the cliche) that it is the journey and not the destination that most of us love and long for. That is why when we finish one project, we start another. We love the challenge. We love the striving and the aspiration for perfection.... not necessarily perfection itself.
For me, this closes one chapter of a very long book and I very much appreciate the helmet for what it is; the very best we will ever get of this helmet, without owning the original. The thing to remember is that this is not the only part of the Fett costume and there are still a thousand mountains out there to climb and challenge yourself upon. Climb them!
LongHammer
Hunter
I agree with the majority. I will hopefully buy one. But that doesn't mean I am happy. It seemed like a crime to watch the video, ESB hero just covered.... It was a ton more fun to look at old photographs and speculate in order to achieve accuracy. I mean, look at all those amazing suits out there that are hand made by people on here. Not by companies. Hand made helmet molds that took months. Armor that has gone through many versions. Stencils made by people studying suits behind glass, or grainy screen captures. We didn't need a mold of the real deal, because we all sort of felt that the ESB hero is a relic not to be trifled with.
Now that said, I really want one. I am also thankful that this was oversaw by Art, whom I think we can all agree took exceptional care of the helmet and ensured it retained its condition.
Now that said, I really want one. I am also thankful that this was oversaw by Art, whom I think we can all agree took exceptional care of the helmet and ensured it retained its condition.
Help me understand this mentality, because I have seen it in a few people who have their ulterior motivations for feeling that way, but also see a lot of those, like you, who seem very sincere, yet conflicted.
You say that we didn't need a mold of the real deal.... no? From as far back as I can remember, lineage has meant virtually everything to many on this board as well as a number of others. While we are stand in awe of those who sculpt and create things from scratch, many yearn for something that traces back to the original. The first I really recall was the "mystery" helmets. They were claimed to have lineage (although at the time we didn't know what) and everyone was clamoring for one. Then came the MR... scanned directly from a real helmet... but many weren't really happy with the fact that a scan is so imprecise. I remember, at the time, that many complained about MR using scanning as opposed to casting, but begrudgingly accepted that LFL wouldn't allow casting. Along the way, various iterations of the second prototype have been coveted by the few who could get them which led to the GMH project. Didn't need a mold of the real deal? FP sold so many he couldn't catch up for over three years! The selling point? That he was offering a helmet with as early a lineage as we knew from the second prototype... meaning... it was molded... and damaged by men who were absolute professionals in the industry. Even FP's most recent offering is due to an RotJ stunt helmet being molded after the ESB helmet was molded the first time.... so a double molding of pieces from the original production!
Yet suddenly, when the holy grail that so many have wished and longed for is provided in the cleanest way possible... people have mixed feelings... as if it never occurred to them what would be required to make this possible.
As I have said before, the ESB helmet has already been cast, during the making of RotJ... so it had already been vetted as an item that could endure the casting process and eFX spent an entire day ensuring that every precaution was taken to make the casting process as safe as possible, so I am not sure why some are expressing their regret, as this isn't the first time this helmet has been molded.
LongHammer
Hunter
I guess I liked the thought of having a helmet molded from the original pp2, and the actual hero helmets being something untouchable. I like the fact that Boba Fett was a strange character injected into the film with no knowledge of how beloved he would become. People love him for more than the look. They love him for the mystery and intrigue. I like that about his original role. Don't get me wrong. I want one of these helmets because of their lineage, but I also totally enjoy the mystery and creativity involved with making a Boba Fett without the ease some of the other suits have (stormtroopers for one).
I guess I feel a bit torn. I love the idea of owning one, but I am a bit saddened by the fact that we CAN own one, hahaha. And I totally agree with you about it being about the journey, not the destination. I didn't mean to come off in a weird way. I guess we all just love the thrill of not knowing all there is to know about this suit.
- - - Updated - - -
Also, keep in mind we did not get the awe inspiring experience of touching the ESB hero helm
I guess I feel a bit torn. I love the idea of owning one, but I am a bit saddened by the fact that we CAN own one, hahaha. And I totally agree with you about it being about the journey, not the destination. I didn't mean to come off in a weird way. I guess we all just love the thrill of not knowing all there is to know about this suit.
- - - Updated - - -
Also, keep in mind we did not get the awe inspiring experience of touching the ESB hero helm
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Don't worry. You didn't come off weird. Just trying to understand the mentality behind those who feel the way you do.
And don't get me wrong... I too feel a touch of emptiness and a bit of "what now?" But... we still have armor to track down... a jetpack... soft parts. Lot of challenges and obstacles to overcome before we reach the end of this very long journey. This is but one step!
And don't get me wrong... I too feel a touch of emptiness and a bit of "what now?" But... we still have armor to track down... a jetpack... soft parts. Lot of challenges and obstacles to overcome before we reach the end of this very long journey. This is but one step!
I guess I liked the thought of having a helmet molded from the original pp2, and the actual hero helmets being something untouchable. I like the fact that Boba Fett was a strange character injected into the film with no knowledge of how beloved he would become. People love him for more than the look. They love him for the mystery and intrigue. I like that about his original role. Don't get me wrong. I want one of these helmets because of their lineage, but I also totally enjoy the mystery and creativity involved with making a Boba Fett without the ease some of the other suits have (stormtroopers for one).
I guess I feel a bit torn. I love the idea of owning one, but I am a bit saddened by the fact that we CAN own one, hahaha. And I totally agree with you about it being about the journey, not the destination. I didn't mean to come off in a weird way. I guess we all just love the thrill of not knowing all there is to know about this suit.
- - - Updated - - -
Also, keep in mind we did not get the awe inspiring experience of touching the ESB hero helm
Misfit2
Well-Known Hunter
Was the casting after the movies were completed?
So to understand the process, after cleaning up and sterilizing the mold , you made a second mold, pull a casting and send it to china for another round of production run molds. This effectively makes it three generations from the original with shrinkage in between each molding and casting stage.
Adding in factory paint jobs as well.
I appreciate the lineage but am trying to understand the direct from original moniker.
Adding in factory paint jobs as well.
I appreciate the lineage but am trying to understand the direct from original moniker.
The Empire Strikes Back helmet was cast during the production of Return of the Jedi in order to create the RotJ Stunt helmets.
Don't hold me to this as I don't know this to be absolute fact, but, my understanding is that the cleaned up master will be sent to China and multiple molds will be created from that single master from which the final helmets will be created.
Also, I think calling it "cleaning and sterilizing is to misunderstand the process of creating the master as it implies details are being purposefully removed to keep them out of your hands. The master has the paint details removed because new paint will be laid down and it would be impossible to do so exactly along every line. Additionally, all the damage that has occurred between filming and now has been removed. It isn't so much a cleaning and sterilized as it has been prepped for production.
Also, I think calling it "cleaning and sterilizing is to misunderstand the process of creating the master as it implies details are being purposefully removed to keep them out of your hands. The master has the paint details removed because new paint will be laid down and it would be impossible to do so exactly along every line. Additionally, all the damage that has occurred between filming and now has been removed. It isn't so much a cleaning and sterilized as it has been prepped for production.
