clonecollector
Well-Known Hunter
Love this thread! Congrats on the score!
Chris, you're like a prop detective!
Chris, you're like a prop detective!
New PP2 Helmet Acquisition ...
- Thread starter fettpride
- Start date
RafalFett
Well-Known Hunter
Congrats for this 'new' acquisition, Chris!
I'm also curious about the differences (if any) between this casting and the GMH.
I'm also curious about the differences (if any) between this casting and the GMH.
fettpride
Well-Known Hunter
Thanks again guys. T'was just dumb luck more than anything else I think though lol
Rafalfett and Jayvee, and JodoKast ... I can certainly take a couple of shots with the GMH. Though, the road may get a little rocky
afterward. This is something that's been avoided by a lot of people for years. And will likely upset several. But ultimately, it was
always destined to happen eventually. Might as well be me lol
Jayvee, on a personal note ... this helmet just sort of screams ROTJ to me. And always has. It would be fantastic to see you put
your skills to work on one of these. I am a bit ashamed to admit, I only recently saw your thread for the first time. I've been so
busy catching up that I flat missed it. You rocked it man
Rafalfett and Jayvee, and JodoKast ... I can certainly take a couple of shots with the GMH. Though, the road may get a little rocky
afterward. This is something that's been avoided by a lot of people for years. And will likely upset several. But ultimately, it was
always destined to happen eventually. Might as well be me lol
Jayvee, on a personal note ... this helmet just sort of screams ROTJ to me. And always has. It would be fantastic to see you put
your skills to work on one of these. I am a bit ashamed to admit, I only recently saw your thread for the first time. I've been so
busy catching up that I flat missed it. You rocked it man
Jayvee
Active Hunter
Chris, firstly, thank you for all the wonderful work you have done over the years for this community. This latest acquisition, is another in a long line of awesomeness you have provided for us all. And I know exactly what you mean with it screaming ROTJ - that updated pic just seems to have that correct sweep and flair..
On the personal note : thank you kindly for those words on my helmet. It is because of folk like yourself, that have always pushed the boundaries, that have provided a massive inspiration. So if someone of your experience thinks I was able to do a reasonable job, then it is truly humbling. Final interior and exterior pics not far away, but again, your comments are much appreciated. If time were to permit, if one of these became avail, another ROTJ, or even a pp2, would be an experience
On the personal note : thank you kindly for those words on my helmet. It is because of folk like yourself, that have always pushed the boundaries, that have provided a massive inspiration. So if someone of your experience thinks I was able to do a reasonable job, then it is truly humbling. Final interior and exterior pics not far away, but again, your comments are much appreciated. If time were to permit, if one of these became avail, another ROTJ, or even a pp2, would be an experience
Fett 4 Real
Sr Hunter
This just poses more questions now doesnt it? I hope that with this aquisition and the possiblity of being granted the authority to cast it we see something amazing (anything from FP is normally more then amazing...).
intwenothor
Well-Known Hunter
This is a great read and the shotgun story is excellent. It all adds to the tapestry.
Edit 23/08/2015:
The plaster master was not obliterated with a shotgun and survives in good health to this day.
Edit 23/08/2015:
The plaster master was not obliterated with a shotgun and survives in good health to this day.
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Mr Fett
Well-Known Hunter
If time were to permit, if one of these became avail, another ROTJ, or even a pp2, would be an experience
Looking forward to seeing you paint one!
Keegan
Active Hunter
Congrats Chris! That's quite the nice casting to have.
I love the flare and overall shape proper. I know you can fix this up. If I were you I would make the obvious fixes directly to this casting. Like fixing the keyslots, grinding the ears off, fixing the mould tear.
You know how I care about preservation so believe me when I opine that there is nothing valuable you would lose by making those fixes right off the bat.
After that, I would make the master casting so you can tweak some of the trickier things without fear of losing anything. I know you can straighten out some things and fix that dome.
This casting will surely yield the PP2 and ROTJ helmets of your dreams!
In time, I hope some other's can share your joy. :cheers
I love the flare and overall shape proper. I know you can fix this up. If I were you I would make the obvious fixes directly to this casting. Like fixing the keyslots, grinding the ears off, fixing the mould tear.
You know how I care about preservation so believe me when I opine that there is nothing valuable you would lose by making those fixes right off the bat.
After that, I would make the master casting so you can tweak some of the trickier things without fear of losing anything. I know you can straighten out some things and fix that dome.
This casting will surely yield the PP2 and ROTJ helmets of your dreams!
In time, I hope some other's can share your joy. :cheers
Im really glad you picked this up Chris. I was thinking about it but thought it better in your hands, and im glad thats where it ended up. If i had bought it i may not have realized all the things you noticed about Lee's mods and i may have mucked it up! Really happy for ya buddy!
Congrats on acquiring one of these for your collection! It is a shame to hear how it was being presented to you as it most definitely is from the generation you described and not the same generation as the Ken Tarallo plug.
While I can't confirm it, your assessment that this might be the actual helmet that Lee cleaned up for the creation of the Malone Fett does seem entirely plausible.
In regard to the mold blowing out and castings showing that blob in the rangefinder ear after only three castings... I am not sure if I am totally on board with that. I have two myself (the one which you already know about as well as another) that don't have the blowout in the ear, and I doubt that I own the ONLY two that don't have that as it was my understanding that Lee passed out several to his friends (I would think at minimum, two additional helmets to the two I have). It is only supposition, but I think the blown out blob in the rangefinder ear MIGHT indicate the difference between helmets Lee cast himself and helmets that Paul Francis cast on Lee's behalf.
In 2010, when Paul tried to sell me the helmet that he ultimately sold to BM, I asked him about the history of the Malone Fett. Here are a few excerpts from our email conversations:
From Paul:
When I asked Paul about pricing, here was his response (the important thing to note is that he mentions two other castings... possibly castings that Lee let out?):
Paul also claimed to have cast an LED into the rim of each of the Malone Fett castings, but in the two I have seen, I have not seen an LED, but that is getting a bit off-topic.
Now, Paul isn't exactly known for his accuracy and detail when it comes to the history of things, but if what he said is true there are two possibilities; Paul said he ran a copy in glass that was cleaned up and that he also ran two slush castings and that Lee cleaned up one of those (which ultimately was sent back to Paul and used to master the Malone Fett line). Why would two helmets need cleanup? I don't know... but if Paul is accurate, you should be able to tell which yours is based on the material it is made from. Either way, I believe the helmet you have was made by Paul, not Lee, but made from the original mold that Lee took off the Ken Tarallo plug.
While I can't confirm it, your assessment that this might be the actual helmet that Lee cleaned up for the creation of the Malone Fett does seem entirely plausible.
In regard to the mold blowing out and castings showing that blob in the rangefinder ear after only three castings... I am not sure if I am totally on board with that. I have two myself (the one which you already know about as well as another) that don't have the blowout in the ear, and I doubt that I own the ONLY two that don't have that as it was my understanding that Lee passed out several to his friends (I would think at minimum, two additional helmets to the two I have). It is only supposition, but I think the blown out blob in the rangefinder ear MIGHT indicate the difference between helmets Lee cast himself and helmets that Paul Francis cast on Lee's behalf.
In 2010, when Paul tried to sell me the helmet that he ultimately sold to BM, I asked him about the history of the Malone Fett. Here are a few excerpts from our email conversations:
From Paul:
When I asked Paul about pricing, here was his response (the important thing to note is that he mentions two other castings... possibly castings that Lee let out?):
Paul also claimed to have cast an LED into the rim of each of the Malone Fett castings, but in the two I have seen, I have not seen an LED, but that is getting a bit off-topic.
Now, Paul isn't exactly known for his accuracy and detail when it comes to the history of things, but if what he said is true there are two possibilities; Paul said he ran a copy in glass that was cleaned up and that he also ran two slush castings and that Lee cleaned up one of those (which ultimately was sent back to Paul and used to master the Malone Fett line). Why would two helmets need cleanup? I don't know... but if Paul is accurate, you should be able to tell which yours is based on the material it is made from. Either way, I believe the helmet you have was made by Paul, not Lee, but made from the original mold that Lee took off the Ken Tarallo plug.
fettpride
Well-Known Hunter
Now THAT, was awesome information, Art. I really appreciate that!
With regard to 3 castings pulled before the blob, it was the most common 'as the story goes'. But I did hear the possibility of more. 4- 5 would seem about right actually. Thanks or clearing that one up a little.
What I find most interesting about your account of things is that you've just verified my helmet without a shadow of a doubt as far as i'm concerned. As you know I omitted what this helmet was made of just in case I had to sling it out with someone. So there's little point in keeping that info hidden now. The helmet I purchased is indeed hand slushed urethane. And THICK. Meaning SEVERAL layers. Making it unwearable. Based on what you have to say about it, the only logical conclusion is that mine IS the one that Paul remolded that spawned the 12 clean castings. So thank you for confirming that !
I'll post a picture of the inside of the helmet later when I get a moment.
With regard to 3 castings pulled before the blob, it was the most common 'as the story goes'. But I did hear the possibility of more. 4- 5 would seem about right actually. Thanks or clearing that one up a little.
What I find most interesting about your account of things is that you've just verified my helmet without a shadow of a doubt as far as i'm concerned. As you know I omitted what this helmet was made of just in case I had to sling it out with someone. So there's little point in keeping that info hidden now. The helmet I purchased is indeed hand slushed urethane. And THICK. Meaning SEVERAL layers. Making it unwearable. Based on what you have to say about it, the only logical conclusion is that mine IS the one that Paul remolded that spawned the 12 clean castings. So thank you for confirming that !
I'll post a picture of the inside of the helmet later when I get a moment.
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