| |
|
 |
|
Stormtroopers from
Return of the Jedi and the Special Edition's |
|
|
| For Return of the Jedi, Made
1981/82, the Lucasfilm needed a significant number of Stormtroopers for the
Death Star and Endor scenes - far more than were left over from ESB
(themselves hand-me-down's from ANH). They therefore produced 50 or so new
Stormtrooper helmets and Armor sets, basing the design on effectively a "recast" of an earlier ANH/ESB
helmet and armor. Because of this recasting process - the RotJ versions made
in 1981/82 look significantly
different from their ANH/ESB counterparts. The design was amended quite significantly by the prop
makers in London from the ANH/ESB look (although partly so by accident) and it features a
taller, almost squashed or
streamlined look with thinner ears. The majority of the
helmets had green bubble lenses. Thanks to Veedox for the pic above. |
|
 |
| It appears there were two slightly
different versions of the helmets, with the majority of them featuring rounded black frowns,
Aluminium Mic tips, new RotJ Decals and Hard hat liners (left). However
there are also a smaller amount that were finished differently, and these
feature squared off frown-ends,
resin recast Hovi-Mix mic tips, ESB-Style decals and foam lining (right).
Update October
2009 - We've added a section detailing these two different versions, and
whether the Squared Frown version (above right) could have been used in ESB
here.... |
| This section is
now split into three parts.....
|
| Rather than use the few remaining
sets of helmets and armor produced for ANH in 1976, new moulds were made
(cast from an existing suit) but adapted quite significantly giving the RotJ
trooper helmets a more "squashed" look. However the recasting process was
not without its problems and the right hand side of the face gave way as the
mould was being made further accentuating the asymmetrical appearance. |
|
|
Above, a
superb-looking RotJ helmet from the Lucasfilm Archives. Cast off an original ANH helmet
it has the tell-tale asymmetry of its parent - and this is especially
apparent when you look at the different size/shape cheek
tubes. Interesting the VERY SAME helmet is featured
in the following photos sent to me by Brinn '71 who has some other photos
lower down. Brinn worked for LFL in the 90's so was able to don the suit
himself on a number of occasions! These shots were taken in 1994/1995. |
|
|
His name is written on the inside of it, along with
another 2 chaps. He also found a pair of riding boots with the name "Harrison Ford"
on the inside too! This next photo below is
good as it shows how the RotJ armor had a lip running around the major areas
like the chest piece. |
|
|
|
Also note the design of the hand plates, which are much
like the ESB's. The shoulder bells which have a more
"pinched" look. Note also that the detailing on the Ab section
is upside down! Again many thanks to Brinn 71 for sharing these unique
images. |
 |
 |
| ..and below thanks to an anonymous
contributor to this site of an original RotJ helmet which
looks to be in superb condition when this photo was taken. |
|
|
| Below,these images are of David Oliver's original
UK-Studio RotJ trooper helmet. The history
of this helmet is very alarming. It spent most of it's life in Blackpool (UK
seaside resort near Liverpool) and belonged to an extra from Jedi. |
|
|
 |
| This item was in mint condition
until the late 90's when (gasp) the original owner allowed his kids to play with it and run around the house with it
on! (Noooooooooooooooo!!!!).
The eye lenses have been replaced with replacement green bubble lenses. Interestingly, this helmet
was up for auction on April 10th 2003 at Cooper-Owen here in the UK but
didnt reach its reserve: The following is the description from
Cooper-Owen: A production used Imperial Stormtrooper helmet, of off-white painted
vacu-formed plastic with rubber edging details. The crown and sides are a
single unit, and the face panel is an inset panel. With attached ear unit
on right hand (left hand side is missing). Inside the helmet is a piece of
'petal' shaped foam padding. Condition: well worn, and some restoration
(full details on request) Measures approx. 13 inch (33 cm) high, 12 inch
(30 cm) at widest point at base.
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
Despite its condition, its still a great piece of Star Wars history, so many thanks to the
owner for the photo's and info, as well as the update from Cooper Owen.
|
|
 |
| Next some hi-def screen-grabs of the
Rounded Frown (RF) Stormtroopers seen on-set in Elstree above and below
on-location. Though it was suggested these were different helmets that's not
not seen as the case - its just weathering. |
|
 |
| ..and below a couple of troopers
about to be "owned" by those nice cuddly Ewoks. |
|
 |
| |
|
 |
 |
| Above (excuse the quality of the
shots), here's a couple of images of the Helmet auctioned by Lucas, the
proceeds of which went to the families of the September 11th victims. |
 |
 |
|
Above a couple of nice shots from Anson showing the
slightly sleeker ROTJ helmet look. |
and below
shots showing a fairly camp looking
trooper from the MOM exhibition |
|
 |
 |
|
Below, slightly showing its age it has the hallmarks of
the ROTJ helmet |
|
 |
 |
| |
| Brinn 71, who's been fortunate to be
able to wear the original costumes (ROTJ) as well as the tour suits has
said the following:
Velcro held the calves together, but that is all, except for the belt and over-the-shoulder
fasteners / shoulder pads. My calves were too big so they gaffer-taped mine shut with white
tape (Ed - I've had this same problem with a ROTJ copy too). The arms and thighs were glued-
together NOT Velcro. The main body was held together with elastics. The boots just slipped on.
Under the pelvis was a rubber belt (that slid between the legs) that was bolted into the back piece and clamped into the front cup with a female button on the belt, and a male bolted to the front cup.
We never wore holsters or the thermal detonators. They were afraid people may try to take them off of us- we wouldn't have known! You really cant see much! |
|
|
|
A belt was worn under the suit to loop the front thigh elastics into to hold them up. I could not sit in my suit! These were made for thin 70's British guys. The gun I had was METAL. In the archives I did see resin ones but mine was always metal. |
|
|
|
The helmet lenses were rounded and green. There were no screen mesh in the mouth holes in the helmet- just holes. An adjustable ring like a construction worker's hat was in the top of the helmet for your head, as was a rubber strap to go under the chin. My name is written on a piece of masking tape and it is inside the helmet (to this day, I think?) along with 3 other names (worn by stunt guys and troopers from the films). I had seen other suits of armour that had wiring in it (we thought maybe for squibs??). The ST belt was bolted to the main front body and Velroed at the back. Not a very comfortable suit unlike the BIKER SCOUT
which was! |
|
|
| Above and below are interesting
shots of an original ROTJ-style trooper from one of the UK Exhibitions. The armor's been incorrectly fitted and is therefore showing off the detail
around the Ab section and its connections. Thanks to Paul A for these
images he took himself. Looking at the frown and ears this could be one of
the Square Frowned (SF), potential ESB helmets. |
 |
 |
| The final 3 shots have been sent to
be by Jeremy Firth who's visited a number of the SW exhibitions over the
years. These Lucasfilm licensed exhibitions have toured the World over the
years and typically the same exhibits such as these RotJ troopers. |
|
|
| These two above and below are from
the MOM tour in 1992 and look like a modified RotJ helmet which has had a
flat lens fitted (the others missing) |
|
|
| The next one below from the Art of
Star Wars Exhibition at the Barbican in London in 2001. |
|
|
|
..and below a shot of a RotJ Trooper helmet as it sits
in the LFL Archive. |
|
 |
| Below a shot from a recent
Lucasfilm Exhibition of a screen-used RotJ Stormtrooper helmet. It looks to
me like it might be the same helmet as at the top of this page, only
slightly restored. Thanks to Grant for sending this photo in. |
|
|
| Finally a shot of one of helmets
used in filming, this ones missing its eye lenses and was used by Billy
Horrigan, who did some of the stunts for the production. It was badly
damaged at the back - probably from a fall - so really was a "Stunt"
helmet! |
|
|
| |
|
Special Edition's and
Tour suits
Although they're based on the RotJ design, we've moved the helmets used
in the Star Wars Special Editions - along with the Various Tour Promotion
suits to their own page.
|
|
RotJ Stormtrooper Armour and more info |
|
|
If you've not already done so and
want to further explore the RotJ version Stormtrooper then check these
sections out...
|
|
To go Back to the
Stormtrooper Menu Click here |
