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E-FX Hero Stormtrooper (ANH)
Limited Edition Helmet |
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24th June 2008. Today,
e-fx kindly sent us a
production Stormtrooper helmet and I've cracked off a few shots
as well as some comparisons against the equivalent MR helmet released last
year.
If we rewind back to 2007, you may remember that Master Replicas sent us
their final production
version of their forthcoming Hero Stormtrooper helmet, something that had
been in development for some time. Unfortunately due to production delays at
the final stages MR's Stormtrooper helmets didn't start to ship until the
fall and by the time their license ended on 31st December 2007 they had only
sold just over 1,000 of the expected 2,500 run. If you want to check out the
review of the MR "version" of this then go here..
So rather than disappoint the large number of collectors who missed out on
the MR, e-FX is producing a short run of 500 Hero helmets - which are in all
intent and purposes the very same MR helmets. Sure the stand and plaque now
sport a different moniker, but the helmet is just the same as the MR - and
that really isn't a bad thing! |
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| So here's the package, sans paperwork. As with the Master
Replicas "Limited Edition" helmet, this is a solid-feeling Fiberglass helmet
based on the "Hero" design used in Star Wars - A New Hope. If you're
unsure of the differences between the "Hero's" and "Stunt's"
then check out this page. |
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| EFX is due to release a brand new Hero Stormtrooper sometime
next year (2015) so it will be interested to see how things have improved
over the intervening years. Though they will also be producing a fiberglass
version - they have promised an ABS version which is the one we're most
interested - in since will be the most accurate (same materials as the
original - duh!) |
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| So these helmets are made from the same moulds as the MR
versions and are also made in China (although a different factory) - however it looks like the specification they
used
was the same as everything bar a few minor things match up 100%, including
rubber trim, replica hovi-mix mic tips, frown screen and lenses. |
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| Above, close up of the frown and Vocoder - better painting
of the frown (still
by hand I understand) and the chin Vocoder has been cleaned up
a little. However, ignoring the stand and plaque these are the only
differences between the MR and e-FX helmets. |
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| Above a shot with the e-FX specific stand which features a
circular "hat" rather than the MR half-sphere. IMO this made the e-FX easier
to position on the stand as the MR's tended to slip forward. |
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| As with the MR the e-FX comes with two sets of bubble
lenses, with the smoked grey versions pre-installed and the green inside the
packaging. It's still my belief that the original Hero's were grey, not
green. |
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| With only 500 helmets due to go on sale on 7th
July you can expect these to sell out very quickly - and should go a long way to address those who lost out on the
MR helmet shortfall. However if you've already got the MR LE, there's little
reason to add this to your collection - unless you really are a completest. |
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| So to summarise, this is effectively the same helmet as the MR,
with a few (very) minor tweaks. However this should be seen as a good thing
since the MR helmet was pretty darn good in the first place. As most off you
reading this will know, the original screen-used Hero helmets for ANH were
made of vac-formed ABS plastic which is great for a movie expected to wrap
in a couple of months, but not so good for a collectible expected to
sit on a shelf for years on end receiving close examination. Hence the only
real criticisms from hard-core fans of the MR/eFX are due to their
composition rather than physical appearance - and as I've said for a long
time, the realities of producing mass-market "high-end" collectibles means
fiberglass is the only way to go. The eFX doesn't improve on the MR, since
in effect there's nothing to improve on..... If it ain't broke,
don't fix it. |
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Comparison with MR
Stormtrooper
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As you can see that apart from a better defined Vocoder
(and the obvious stand/plaque changes) this is exactly the same as the MR
version - thought that really isn't a bad thing! Note that If you want to
check out the review of the MR "version" of this
then go here.. |
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| The frowns painted a little better. On some MR's the frown
wasn't too clever but a more standardised way of painting for the eFX should
see a more uniform appearance across production. |
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| Rear's all the same. I tried to look for subtle differences
in the trapezoid paintings across the helmet but found nothing - really. |
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| Spot the difference - No matter how hard you look, they're
the same, apart from that subtle Vocoder bump. No difference in sharpness -
remember this is fiberglass not vac-pulled plastic. |
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| Inside eFX has chosen the same velour-type material as MR
for padding, which personally I thought was great. Reminded me of an old
Vauxhall Cavalier used to have! On the inside-rear of the helmet (not in
shot) the tab now says eFX not MR so in years to come it'll always be
clear which is which. |
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| There's only so many side by side "spot the difference"
shots I can do, but here goes..... |
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| The blue of the tube vents seem a bit muted to the extent
they almost look black - blame the overcast British weather for that! |
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| People not into this hobby must look at pages like this and
say "WTF?" |
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| If one looks bigger then its CLOSER TO THE CAMERA - OKAY? |
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| Can this be the end of the "I think the xx looks better
than the yy" debate? |
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| Finally a helicopter shot taken at 500 feet using a Nikon
XB4000 with RF7 trillion Mcbastard lens |
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