HDPE Helmet: The real deal.

Back in 1976, before the main shooting for SW started, the art and costume department came up with all the props and armors for ANH. At that time, Stormtrooper armor was sculpted by Brian Muir based on the concept designs by Ralph McQuarry. At that time the famous Stormtrooper helmet was sculpted by Liz Moore. A legend was created.

When the sculpts were ready, armor and helmet had to be pulled from plastic. Being white ABS the choice for the armor and green High Density Polyethylene HDPE for the helmet.

Jump to this days, Stromtrooper armor is pulled by a bunch of makers in a few different plastic. From ABS to HIPS... and a few in HDPE. But only RS Propmasters pull a helmet with first generation moulds derived from real screen used armor in the original accurate HDPE.

This IS the holy grail of Stormtrooper helmets for prop/armor builders. And is the only kind of helmet I would feel 100% happy with if I want to build a completely accurate armor in the ANH fashion, style and technique.

My helmet was not only pulled in HDPE by RS Propmasters, but expertly finished by them. put together and detailed by hand in the same way original armor was made in '76.

So, with no further word, this is my RS HDPE Stormtrooper helmet.

Stormtrooper armor almost ready for Tantive IV raid.

It's September already, and even if I would like to had shared my progress in bits, I was not able and now seems like a titanic task. So, I will instead post a link to my "build in progress" thread over the FISD (First Imperial Stormtrooper Detachment) and post some pictures of my current progress here. Just want to say that all armor was trimmed, fitted and put together in the most possible ANH style I could. Meaning that it was not measured cm by cm and cut, but put together following my prop maker instinct and knowledge of the hobby. I did this cause I believe that is the way the art department did it in '76. The results do show the same look and style, so, I guess I am not that far from mark. Here it is... my Tantive IV Stormtrooper armor, all assembled and ready for final weathering and detailing. The TM armor is awesome! A true work of art. And being 5'10" works great, since the armor is made to fit guys my size. The same size actors were casted for ANH. Maybe I am a bit less thin, but fits fine anyway. One thing I really was concerned and came out perfect, were the shoulder bells. Would they be able to be tucked in the chest plate? My size and thr trimming I did worked perfect, and I can see the ANH look over that area. That is, for me, one of the most distinctive characteristics on ANH armor... So, So far, so good I think.

I still need to take pictures of every detail... Will hopefully do that later on the next couple of weeks.