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

[McHaleyArt]

Yeah the closed-back is not screen-accurate but it is in-universe accurate, according to the Marvel Darth Vader comic #8 from 2017. Plus the closed-back gives the shoulder armor more structure to it. I'll post some pictures of my modified Hot Toys Rogue One Vader soon.

It all depends on how you look at it. The artist was using inaccurate reference...namely the SSC Darth Vader figure. Usually, no one is going to see from the back anyway.

 

[TonTon]

Yeah the closed-back is not screen-accurate but it is in-universe accurate, according to the Marvel Darth Vader comic #8 from 2017. Plus the closed-back gives the shoulder armor more structure to it. I'll post some pictures of my modified Hot Toys Rogue One Vader soon.

Wasn’t that run just using the Sideshow ROTJ figure as its model? I wouldn’t trust what you see there for a second.

 

[The Autistic Asexual]

It all depends on how you look at it. The artist was using inaccurate reference...namely the SSC Darth Vader figure. Usually, no one is going to see from the back anyway.

If no one is going to see Vader's shoulder armor from the back then why isn't it just a front piece only? Like I said before the closed-back of the shoulder armor gives it more structure and more of a completeness. The special fx people working on The Empire Strikes Back in 1979 should've just built a closed-back shoulder armor for David Prowse in that one scene when Vader is in his Meditation Chamber aboard his Super Star-Destroyer.

 

[agonistes86]

Hi all, I'm looking for some feedback/advice from all you Vader nuts out there!
My ANH Vader is slowly nearing completion, but overall I still feel something feels considerably off. I still have several things I'm planning to do, but before I bias you with my POV, I'd like to get some input. This can be anything like proportions, paint, fabric, weathering, futzing, etc. Whatever you think can be improved, let me know! Would love to get some fresh perspective.

 

[StarWarsFam]

Anyone use the titanium dome on ESB Vader?

 

[The Autistic Asexual]

Hi all, I'm looking for some feedback/advice from all you Vader nuts out there!
My ANH Vader is slowly nearing completion, but overall I still feel something feels considerably off. I still have several things I'm planning to do, but before I bias you with my POV, I'd like to get some input. This can be anything like proportions, paint, fabric, weathering, futzing, etc. Whatever you think can be improved, let me know! Would love to get some fresh perspective.

View attachment 439883

Bravo to you for putting Vader's belt boxes in the front almost touching his belt buckle. That needs to catch on.

 

[heon123]

Hi all, I'm looking for some feedback/advice from all you Vader nuts out there!
My ANH Vader is slowly nearing completion, but overall I still feel something feels considerably off. I still have several things I'm planning to do, but before I bias you with my POV, I'd like to get some input. This can be anything like proportions, paint, fabric, weathering, futzing, etc. Whatever you think can be improved, let me know! Would love to get some fresh perspective.

View attachment 439883

JazzInc's custom is probably still best representation of IV Vader for me. I used to have photos saved of his but I can't seem to find them atm.
I think he's got more weathering on his and more accurate proportioned fit - apart from that I don't think yours is too far behind.

edit: nvm found the photos; credit to jazz of course

 

[Waste Time Continuum]

Jazz clearly does nice work, and most folks that have contributed to the discussion have excellent Vaders, but I think my personal favorite is Matrix69, in my book that’s the gold standard so far.

I left the wire inside the tunic as i find it easier to pose...i also buffed up the leg armor to add more of a sheen to them.. View attachment 254282View attachment 254280View attachment 254279View attachment 254278View attachment 254281

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[agonistes86]

Thanks for the feedback, guys.
My main inspirations and favorite ANH Vaders on here are by McHaley, OhHellNo, matrix69, and Sturtrup. Joost's Vader is great, but not entirely accurate IMO. He did nail the weathering, though, which I'll definitely work on some more.

I figured I'd directly compare to some movie shots to get a better idea what's off, and came up with the below. The reference shots are all slightly different angles of course, but the red lines do clearly show how off my chest armor, belt, and crotch guard placements are.
So my next steps will be to change that up, bring in the shoulder bells some more to silm his silhouette a bit, and tilt the dome back a bit more. I also never realized how much lower his lightsaber should hang, will have to do something about that. Still lots of work ahead of me!

 

[The Autistic Asexual]

Thanks for the feedback, guys.
My main inspirations and favorite ANH Vaders on here are by McHaley, OhHellNo, matrix69, and Sturtrup. Joost's Vader is great, but not entirely accurate IMO. He did nail the weathering, though, which I'll definitely work on some more.

I figured I'd directly compare to some movie shots to get a better idea what's off, and came up with the below. The reference shots are all slightly different angles of course, but the red lines do clearly show how off my chest armor, belt, and crotch guard placements are.
So my next steps will be to change that up, bring in the shoulder bells some more to silm his silhouette a bit, and tilt the dome back a bit more. I also never realized how much lower his lightsaber should hang, will have to do something about that. Still lots of work ahead of me!

View attachment 440753

Yeah the shoulder bells on the Hot Toys Rogue One Darth Vader sticks out too much as well and I'm guessing that's how it is on a lot of Vader figures. I changed the shoulder armor on my MMS388 to an MMS434 shoulder armor and it looks so much better now.

 

[agonistes86]

Found some free time, so I went to work straight away.

I further worked on the body, slimming down the sides, armpits and shoulders to bring the arms closer inside. Also removed some material underneath his crotch so the pants can ride a bit higher, increasing the length of the legs.
The dome sits a bit lower in the back now, and I moved the shoulder bells in some more. I also removed some material from the chest armor where it meets the neck, so it can sit a bit higher. I think I need to remove a bit more so it can sit even a bit higher.
Here's an updated shot for today. Already looking much better if I may say so myself.

 

[heon123]

 

[D.R.37]

Looking good

 

[ZE_501]

Looks excellent, those recent tweaks have accomplished a lot.


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[The Autistic Asexual]

Found some free time, so I went to work straight away.

I further worked on the body, slimming down the sides, armpits and shoulders to bring the arms closer inside. Also removed some material underneath his crotch so the pants can ride a bit higher, increasing the length of the legs.
The dome sits a bit lower in the back now, and I moved the shoulder bells in some more. I also removed some material from the chest armor where it meets the neck, so it can sit a bit higher. I think I need to remove a bit more so it can sit even a bit higher.
Here's an updated shot for today. Already looking much better if I may say so myself.

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Yep, that looks really good. You can even take the shoulder bells off if you wanted to seeing as how the cape hides that area anyway.

 

[agonistes86]

Thanks, guys!

I had a day off today, so I worked more on Vader. I further moved up the crotch armor, belt, chest box and shoulder armor, and weathered the mask some more.
If you look closely in the first shot, you can see that the inner robe and cape are made of two different fabrics, so I'll probably remake one of them. But for now, I'm already quite happy.

 

[paulcarson]

Bravo, you have captured the ANH look . Very happy to see this, your work has really paid off. It really is amazing what the little tweaks will do to make a good figure a blooming amazing figure.

 

[drjedisith]

looks sick man

 

[Waste Time Continuum]

Thanks, guys!

I had a day off today, so I worked more on Vader. I further moved up the crotch armor, belt, chest box and shoulder armor, and weathered the mask some more.
If you look closely in the first shot, you can see that the inner robe and cape are made of two different fabrics, so I'll probably remake one of them. But for now, I'm already quite happy.

View attachment 440916

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View attachment 440918

Looks awesome!

If it are worried about how the shoulder bells stick out, try using some ultra low profile industrial strength Velcro, to hold down the shoulder bells so it looks like they have more weight.

Also if you add some wire to the bottom of the inner robe, you can shape it so that the extra material that makes it bow out, is in the back. You can shape the wired inner robe so it sort of wraps around the back of the crotch grabber, then shape the front so it looks natural.


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[agonistes86]

Thanks guys, much appreciated.

@WTC: I usually find wires in capes are hard to pull off for a relaxed pose. I'll remake the inner robe anyway, and then experiment some more with stitches here and there to create some natural looking folds.