eFX Darth Vader A NEW HOPE Helmet!

[jkno]

why? what changed your mind? you are like one of the most hardcore prop collectors here....

My girlfriend asks me to keep the Vader LE pre-order, but I want to cancel it. I simply have NO interest in this helmet anymore, and for that fact, in other eFX helmets either. When I've seen the superb LW Scout helmet compared to the eFX proto, I knew eFX needs to do something else besides telling us "Legend" is made from original molds. That is not enough for me anymore. Original molds are important, but also is the way a helmet is made since I want it to be like the screen used one.

Making a Scout or a Stormtrooper out of fiberglass is not really something I like. Add to that the "awesome" eFX communication... We'll see if I get the Vader LE or the other eFX helmets. But right now I'm not too enthusiastic about any of them anymore, especially since there are really great options out there.

 

[Mandible]

My girlfriend asks me to keep the Vader LE pre-order, but I want to cancel it. I simply have NO interest in this helmet anymore, and for that fact, in other eFX helmets either. When I've seen the superb LW Scout helmet compared to the eFX proto, I knew eFX needs to do something else besides telling us "Legend" is made from original molds. That is not enough for me anymore. Original molds are important, but also is the way a helmet is made since I want it to be like the screen used one.

Making a Scout or a Stormtrooper out of fiberglass is not really something I like. Add to that the "awesome" eFX communication... We'll see if I get the Vader LE or the other eFX helmets. But right now I'm not too enthusiastic about any of them anymore, especially since there are really great options out there.

Mate, can I ask?

If eFX had have released this a year ago when they said they initially would - and if they didn't have all the quality control/communication issues - would you still be interested?

We've been friends long enough for me to feel how disheartened you are - is it the whole eFX "experience" that's making you look elsewhere? From memory, when this was first announced (back in the day), you were enthusiastic, yes?

 

[jkno]

Indeed it is the eFX "experience" that made me look elsewhere for products some time ago and never regretted for a second. And now this "experience" became even more acute and disappointing. It was eFX's own game, not mine, I'm just a player who got sick of all this.

I received a PM here from a good friend saying that the Vader helmet is cool and I should not cancel my order. My gf says the same. Not sure though if worth the trouble.

 

[Avenger]

Indeed it is the eFX "experience" that made me look elsewhere for products some time ago and never regretted for a second. And now this "experience" became even more acute and disappointing. It was eFX's own game, not mine, I'm just a player who got sick of all this.

I received a PM here from a good friend saying that the Vader helmet is cool and I should not cancel my order. My gf says the same. Not sure though if worth the trouble.

You gotta do what you gotta do. The eFX experience is the worst in the business. That said, the product I received is 95% awesome, and I was the first to report the dome scuffing issue. I don't know how confident I am that they come through on the promise of replacing them. Maybe in a year or two? But, at the end of the day, if you don't already have a really accurate helmet, you'll regret passing this up.

I continually admire the paint colors they chose, and enjoy looking it over for all those little prop nuances and imperfections that you don't see on screen, but were there if you could. Knowing this came from an original mold, connects it to the movies in a way I'm always proud to tell people that see it about. The eFX experience is far from perfect for me, and my helmet has a few little factory imperfections, but I wouldn't send it back or sell it because that experience is over, and the helmet is in my room. It's like having a piece of the movies I grew up with in my house. That's what counts for me in the end.

 

[Qrest Fourstar]

Have to kill my neighbor. He said he'd keep a look out for my helmet.


Of course, he left to go a block away for a half hour, and it came while he was gone. Hope I can pick it up tonight.

 

[IrishJedi]

That's a shame, jkno. You're such a big, pure collector who truly appreciates this stuff that I'd sell my extra to you for the same $1500 I paid for it, plus shipping. And I'd be sure to ship it to you in the least expensive trackable way and mark it as a personal " gift" for customs. Basically I'd do what eFX did not.

 

[momaw]

I just wanted to make a few comments on my efx "experience". The Vader Limited Edition is the first efx product I have ever bought. I would have loved a legend, but adding the international shipping just put it out of my reach. As a collector, I love having awesome stuff, but living in Australia, the years have taught me sometimes the price once shipping is added is just too high. I'm not happy about it, and always feel disappointed when I miss out not because of the price of the item but the price of shipping, but paying so much extra just isn't always possible.

I ordered the Limited Edition from a local reseller. The last few years have been good in my country with a high Australian dollar. For most of my collecting life it has sat around 65US cents. It's just above parity at the moment and has been for the last couple of years. I don't know who much I can stress what a difference this almost 35% difference has made for Australian collectors. I never used to buy from local resellers, as for them to make money at that kind of exchange rate, the prices were usually double the US price (some place still try and charge that). The local resller had this item at less than $100 over efx direct pricing for the item alone shipped to my door. efx shipping was quoted to me at close to $400 making the legend literally twice the price I could get the limited for. So I made my decision and the limited was my product.

Once the decision was made, it was purely a waiting game. Yes it came about six months later than I was expecting, but I grew up where it was usually 90 days for shipping alone, so waiting is nothing new and six months for this sort of product isn't too bad. In the end I had it in my hands 15 months after ordering.

The helmet itself came in pristine condition. I can only assume efx has learned from the Legend edition shipping problems and fixed them.

So other than the high shipping cost from efx direct preventing me from getting a legend, my experience has really been quite good.

That said, if I had of had to mess around with international returns on the dome (with only 30 days or being charged another $1,000), I would probably not be as happy as I am.

This tie fighter is another ballgame. I paid for my Vader in full, something I was very grateful for when it turned up. I would not be happy having a large deposit out on the tie fighter for so long. I wonder how many sellers have gone bust in the time it has taken, with the world economy being the way it is, and collectors having lost their deposits.

 

[shocktrooper_au]

I just wanted to make a few comments on my efx "experience". The Vader Limited Edition is the first efx product I have ever bought. I would have loved a legend, but adding the international shipping just put it out of my reach. As a collector, I love having awesome stuff, but living in Australia, the years have taught me sometimes the price once shipping is added is just too high. I'm not happy about it, and always feel disappointed when I miss out not because of the price of the item but the price of shipping, but paying so much extra just isn't always possible.

I ordered the Limited Edition from a local reseller. The last few years have been good in my country with a high Australian dollar. For most of my collecting life it has sat around 65US cents. It's just above parity at the moment and has been for the last couple of years. I don't know who much I can stress what a difference this almost 35% difference has made for Australian collectors. I never used to buy from local resellers, as for them to make money at that kind of exchange rate, the prices were usually double the US price (some place still try and charge that). The local resller had this item at less than $100 over efx direct pricing for the item alone shipped to my door. efx shipping was quoted to me at close to $400 making the legend literally twice the price I could get the limited for. So I made my decision and the limited was my product.

Once the decision was made, it was purely a waiting game. Yes it came about six months later than I was expecting, but I grew up where it was usually 90 days for shipping alone, so waiting is nothing new and six months for this sort of product isn't too bad. In the end I had it in my hands 15 months after ordering.

The helmet itself came in pristine condition. I can only assume efx has learned from the Legend edition shipping problems and fixed them.

So other than the high shipping cost from efx direct preventing me from getting a legend, my experience has really been quite good.

That said, if I had of had to mess around with international returns on the dome (with only 30 days or being charged another $1,000), I would probably not be as happy as I am.

This tie fighter is another ballgame. I paid for my Vader in full, something I was very grateful for when it turned up. I would not be happy having a large deposit out on the tie fighter for so long. I wonder how many sellers have gone bust in the time it has taken, with the world economy being the way it is, and collectors having lost their deposits.

Your lucky your reseller has received theirs, CF have not

 

[momaw]

Your lucky your reseller has received theirs, CF have not

That really surprises me. Ikon is the official distributor of efx in Australia and pc sourced theirs through them. So unless CF is using another unofficial partner then I can't understand them not having them. Bryan even said that they sent them to the international distributors first.

 

[momaw]

For those who asked, the dimensions of the Limited edition are as follows:

Base 42cm (front facing) x 44.5cm (side facing)
Height 46cm (measured from where the base touches the table to the top of the center of Vader's dome - I erred on the side of caution as it seemed to be between 45.5cm and 46 cm).

If using these measurements to create a case, I'd probably add a few mm either side for the base to ensure a margin of error so it's not too tight. As to the height, whatever you add depends on how much space you want between the top of the dome and the top of the display cover.

 

[swo77]

I continually admire the paint colors they chose, and enjoy looking it over for all those little prop nuances and imperfections that you don't see on screen, but were there if you could. Knowing this came from an original mold, connects it to the movies in a way I'm always proud to tell people that see it about. The eFX experience is far from perfect for me, and my helmet has a few little factory imperfections, but I wouldn't send it back or sell it because that experience is over, and the helmet is in my room. It's like having a piece of the movies I grew up with in my house. That's what counts for me in the end.

My thoughts exactly.

 

[Spawn_de]

For those who asked, the dimensions of the Limited edition are as follows:

Thanks a lot, momaw.
This is my first collectible in this price range and I hope I won't be disappointed. Like I mentioned before I think this is a great alternative to the SSC LiSB.

 

[jkno]

That's a shame, jkno. You're such a big, pure collector who truly appreciates this stuff that I'd sell my extra to you for the same $1500 I paid for it, plus shipping. And I'd be sure to ship it to you in the least expensive trackable way and mark it as a personal " gift" for customs. Basically I'd do what eFX did not.

Thanks for the kind offer, I really appreciate it, but will have to decline. It will not worth in the end with the cost of shipping, taxes and VAT. Are you sure you can ship without using FedEx like eFx did? Adding a value over $100 on the item means high customs charges plus VAT 24%. Is the helmet in perfect condition, what if it is not? How will it go with replacement? What if the helmet is in perfect condition as you send it, but as an absurd example it falls off truck and gets damaged in transit?

eFX ****ed up most of the international customers and they will continue to do so with the Legend Scout helmet - the weathered Scout is Legend and sold only directly through eFX, pristine is Limited - though in this case I totally would prefer clean helmet. eFX also screwed up the QC on this and returning a damaged part from my country wouldn't be a walk in the park like it is for US customers. Communication with eFX is non-existant for months and customer service needs a lot of improvement. They go for lines like Avengers and everything instead of taking care of pre-orders made 3 years ago. They act like they simply don't want our money.

Besides all these I could get a more accurate Vader ANH helmet for about $1800-1900 total cost - the real Vader collectors know what I'm talking about, it was mentioned in this thread already. eFX Legend is still quite cleaned up for my taste, and personally I do not care about low edition and eventual rises in value. If I want a low edition I would go for Profiles in History or Christies auctions and get the real deal, a really unique one of a kind item.

The same with the upcoming Scout helmet which eFX said will be made of fiberglass, automatically for me the Legend aura is gone out the window. I want a helmet to be like it was made back then. Idealizing it only makes it lose the cool details personally i want on my helmet. The LW Scout version beats the eFX Scout proto by miles already, being made the same way as originals, with the same materials and even same type of assembly and interior padding. So if Legend only means made from original molds (that can be debated too) they can keep it for themselves.

My girlfriend really wants me to keep my pre-order with the Vader helmet, but as I said we'll see when it is ready to ship. I'm going with an EU shop and if my helmet gets damaged I'll return it and ask for refund - in the case I'm keeping the pre-order. I collect for myself and not to flip or resell later for profit (not your case here IJ). I'm interested to have an item because I like it and not because its value will rise after some time, if I want investments, then I go for other things.

 

[IrishJedi]

No worries. Hope you figure it out one way or the other.

 

[jkno]

No worries. Hope you figure it out one way or the other.

Thanks man!

 

[Qrest Fourstar]

Well, Im unpacking mine. I got Number 142

 

[momaw]

Here are some pics of the Limited Edition in daylight.

 

[Jaycepticon]

Great pics, Momaw. When I think of ANH Vader, that's what I have pictured and do not regret PO'ing it. Hopefully, Redford films gets their shipment as soon as CVI ends. I'm beyond anxious.

 

[jkno]

Fantastic pics momaw. Maybe with more pics like these I will change my mind

 

[momaw]

Fantastic pics momaw. Maybe with more pics like these I will change my mind

Glad to help you spend some cash my friend.

Actually, on second thought, cancel it. It might be the only lifesize piece with direct lineage I'll ever have that you don't!!!