Hot Toys Darth Vader : tips , tricks and any other mods

[genghisjon]

Thank you, sounds like quite a Vader!!! I look forward to seeing pics.

 

[genghisjon]

That's not the ESB tunic... or did you steam the pleats out?

Yep it's ESB. I steamed out the pleats as best I could + pulled, tucked, and futzed the inner robe around so the seams were less noticeable.

 

[agonistes86]

I made some progress on my ANH mask today. Since I removed the HT grill, I started on the new one. I decided to use the opportunity to angle it a bit more accurately.
I used the SSC V2 chin grill for the back, and cut it to size to fit inside the mouth. For the grill itself, I'm using styrene. I only made a (wonky) prototype for now, to see if it generally works.
Any thoughts?

 

[Dr. Odd]

Damn that’s quite the project

 

[zackg__]

Tons of great mods here; I know I'll be doing some of them, and a few of my own.

Now that I finally have what i'm sure is the best ANH Vader available, (and, being a sculptor) there's one mod that I've wanted and planned to do for many years: to sculpt a custom David Prowse head. I'm sure I'll need to do something with the neck peg to make both the head and the helmet fit by themselves, but that'll be minor. The idea of honoring David Prowse is important to me, even if Georgie won't. If there's enough interest, I might even sell them. Here's a sample of my head-sculpting skills: Raza from IRONMAN.
View attachment 426542

I’d be down for one if you make casts! Currently I’m reworking the Kenner electronic Vader Head but it could use improving.

As for the iforigno cape I have two and they’re awesome.

 

[Anthrapoid]

I have a suggestion, agonistes86...
The company 'Paragrafix' makes laser-etched brass parts for the Lost In Space 'Chariot' model kit, made by Moebius Models.

The roof luggage rack of the kit lacked the correct metal grate, so that part is provided on the brass sheet by Paragrafix.

The metal grate is the perfect size and design to be used as the mesh behind Vader's vertical 'teeth' piece.
There are three different types of mesh on the sheet, so you can choose which one looks right for the mouth and the small chin triangle too.

I built the Chariot kit, I bought the Paragrafix add-ons, and I Know the metal grate would work perfectly.
Here's the item I'm talking about, which can be bought on eBay and at various hobby sites.

 

[zackg__]

Anyone have any leads on this kind of etched metal?

This is from a Kaiyodo scratch build. It seems to come in a large sheet but I’ve had no dice finding anything like it.

 

[agonistes86]

Damn that’s quite the project

Haha yeah it is. I'm going further and further down the rabbit hole.

I have a suggestion, agonistes86...
The company 'Paragrafix' makes laser-etched brass parts for the Lost In Space 'Chariot' model kit, made by Moebius Models.

The roof luggage rack of the kit lacked the correct metal grate, so that part is provided on the brass sheet by Paragrafix.

The metal grate is the perfect size and design to be used as the mesh behind Vader's vertical 'teeth' piece.
There are three different types of mesh on the sheet, so you can choose which one looks right for the mouth and the small chin triangle too.

I built the Chariot kit, I bought the Paragrafix add-ons, and I Know the metal grate would work perfectly.
Here's the item I'm talking about, which can be bought on eBay and at various hobby sites.

View attachment 426940

Thanks for the advice! I'll have to check that out. I was actually planning on making my own mesh for the chin, using thin brass wires. I'm see how that goes, if I can get the detailing right. Great to know there's a backup plan!

Anyone have any leads on this kind of etched metal?

This is from a Kaiyodo scratch build. It seems to come in a large sheet but I’ve had no dice finding anything like it.

I bought the wireform 1/16" contour mesh recently for this purpose, but found it's not fine enough for the ANH look. It should work well for the ESB/ROTJ mask, where the grid was less fine.

 

[paulcarson]

It's looking quite good. A lot closer to how it should have been. I did a similar thing to my total resculpt of the ANH mask. I'm going to take a mould from it when I've completed it to make the ESB and ROTJ versions.

 

[TaliBane]

It's looking quite good. A lot closer to how it should have been. I did a similar thing to my total resculpt of the ANH mask. I'm going to take a mould from it when I've completed it to make the ESB and ROTJ versions.

View attachment 426945

View attachment 426946
View attachment 426947

wow, just wow. sign me up if you are doing casts!

 

[Solo_bones]

Someone should start a thread in the customs page..this is a must track custom project.

 

[generalgrevious]

wow, just wow. sign me up if you are doing casts!

that makes two of us.

 

[agonistes86]

It's looking quite good. A lot closer to how it should have been. I did a similar thing to my total resculpt of the ANH mask. I'm going to take a mould from it when I've completed it to make the ESB and ROTJ versions.

View attachment 426945

View attachment 426946
View attachment 426947

Thanks and wow, really looking forward to seeing one of these painted up!

 

[zackg__]

Hopefully you guys don’t mind if I share this here. But my wife repainted the Kenner electronic Vader Head (minus the microphones that I removed and resculpted) and it fits perfectly Into the sideshow collar. Here’s a shot!

 

[generalgrevious]

pretty cool it`s been a while since I had the old Hasbro/kenner electronic Darth Vader. here is a custom of mine I did

 

[Anthrapoid]

pretty cool it`s been a while since I had the old Hasbro/kenner electronic Darth Vader. here is a custom of mine I did View attachment 427063

That's a VERY nice custom. Did you sculpt the head from sratch? I thought at first it was a modified Hasbro head, but... it looks too good for that.

 

[GodParticle]

Is the silver on the V1 ANH vader too dark? I'm planning on fixing the color pattern by painting the black bits correctly, but it seems the gunmetal silver is too dark and thought about going with a more silver color

 

[generalgrevious]

That's a VERY nice custom. Did you sculpt the head from sratch? I thought at first it was a modified Hasbro head, but... it looks too good for that.

it`s from hurricane he did for me some time ago I like it makes for a good DX one ESB Vader AND THE OTHER ROTJ VADER.

 

[Anthrapoid]

it`s from hurricane he did for me some time ago I like it makes for a good DX one ESB Vader AND THE OTHER ROTJ VADER.

I'd love to have one of those, if available...
I'm going to sculpt a David Prowse head soon. I considered doing it as a revealed in-full-makeup Anakin, but I've decided against it. I'm just going to do an actor reveal of David, to honor him... but I think you already knew that.

 

[chalor]

I'd love to have one of those, if available...
I'm going to sculpt a David Prowse head soon. I considered doing it as a revealed in-full-makeup Anakin, but I've decided against it. I'm just going to do an actor reveal of David, to honor him... but I think you already knew that.

That's a beautiful idea. I hated that in the documentary 'I am your father', we didn't get to see the footage of Prowse being revealed in that fan re-shoot. I know he had his issues, but it was really sad to not finally see the man behind the mask in ROTJ.