1/6 Hot Toys - MMS 279 - Star Wars Episode IV: 1/6th scale Darth Vader

[cking]

Wor-Gar - if you are talking about the BLACK border that Hot Toys put onto their chestbox. You are correct when you say that this should not be there. The original prop did not have any black borders around the buttons. The "border" was actually part of the button itself as you can clearly see in the photos of the real part that the prop makers used when building the original prop.

Here's a photo of my HT V1 ANH chestbox which shows the black borders that shouldn't have been included on the sculpt.

Incidentally, HT also added a black border at the base of the square green belt box lights and this is also incorrect. The ANH belt box did not have any black border at the base of the green lights.

View attachment 399943

 

[cking]

Looks like Hot Toys didn't get their dome mounting high enough up to match this screen shot. LOL

When it comes to on-screen views of the chest box, I'm thinking that the destruction of Alderaan would provide the best material when there are close-ups of Leia with Vader right behind her. I couldn't find a definitive view through image searches, but this grainy pic leads me to believe that someone who can get hi-def screen captures of that scene from the Blu-Ray would be able to provide the ultimate view of the chest box. I don't have that capability, though. Sorry.

View attachment 399918

 

[TaliBane]

This is an on-set pic seemingly taken during the DS war-room filming (a war-room wall segment is visible in background.) Ridges visible on the red/green buttons.

Really great stuff these last few pages.

 

[cking]

Yes, but the ridges you're seeing are actually part of the button itself. They are not separate black ridges at the base of the buttons like Hot Toys did on the V1. If that pic was in color, you would see that the ridges are the same color as the button.

This is an on-set pic seemingly taken during the DS war-room filming (a war-room wall segment is visible in background.) Ridges visible on the red/green buttons.

Really great stuff these last few pages.

 

[Wor-Gar]

Wor-Gar - if you are talking about the BLACK border that Hot Toys put onto their chestbox. You are correct when you say that this should not be there.

YES, YES, YES!!!

That's what I've been trying to express. That's what I've been looking for. OK, so its the same color as each badge button and not a black border like the HT ANH box.

Thank god... I thought I was taking crazy pills.

Thank you... but cking your last picture didn't show up. I am curious to see it if you can re-paste it.




Good find too, Talibane. That shows them there pretty clearly. But I see now that the confusion was about the color, not the presence.

 

[cking]

Glad we got there in the end. I was getting frustrated that you couldn't see what I meant and you were frustrated that I couldn't see what you meant but actually, we were both talking about the same thing. Great stuff. Glad it made me dig out some of those old photos. Haven't looked at them in a while.

YES, YES, YES!!!

That's what I've been trying to express. That's what I've been looking for. OK, so its the same color as each badge button and not a black border like the HT ANH box.

Thank god... I thought I was taking crazy pills.

Thank you... but cking your last picture didn't show up. I am curious to see it if you can re-paste it.




Good find too, Talibane. That shows them there pretty clearly. But I see now that the confusion was about the color, not the presence.

 

[SilverStar17]

Damn, Vader’s chestbox is serious biz.

 

[Wor-Gar]

I should have known better...

Thanks for sharing all those old pictures. Very cool to see.

 

[agonistes86]

Just chiming in as well to express my thanks for all those shots.

 

[TaliBane]

Yes, but the ridges you're seeing are actually part of the button itself. They are not separate black ridges at the base of the buttons like Hot Toys did on the V1. If that pic was in color, you would see that the ridges are the same color as the button.

Yeah, sorry that's what I meant. It's clear they aren't black like HT did.

One other thing that I find odd about those buttons is how in small handful of pics (and screenshots,) the green one seems blue. I thought it was just a color timing thing, but I did see the Hollywood walk of fame pics seem to have a blue button, and those pics are clearer and in daylight.

Good find too, Talibane. That shows them there pretty clearly. But I see now that the confusion was about the color, not the presence.

It's amazing how hard it is to find a pic that shows it somewhat clearly. I have hundreds of Vader ref pics, but couldn't find any other clearer pics that showed the buttons with decent clarity. And it seems like they photographed the hell out of everything starting with ESB, but with ANH there doesn't seem to be anywhere near as many pics, and what there is tends to be less quality/resolution.

 

[Matt S]

I don't mean to interrupt the flow of the conversation, but I have a question for the experienced customizers:

How do you get Vader's headsculpt off without damaging it?

I'm afraid of applying too much pressure and cracking the plastic...

Are you talking just removing the dome? If so, light pressure side to side will do it very quickly - esp if on the tarkin vader.

Check out Jazzinc’s YouTube tutorial. It’s a step-by-step to making a more screen accurate Vader. Sorry I can’t post the link right now but I think it’s an easy search.

here you go for those that missed it:






thanks for all the chest box pics, all. Awesome stuff

 

[Wor-Gar]

Does anyone here have an opinion on which Vader CAPE is best -- ANH v1, RO or ANH v2?

Robe/tunic as well?

 

[echo1126]

Does anyone here have an opinion on which Vader CAPE is best -- ANH v1, RO or ANH v2?

Robe/tunic as well?

I have all 3 capes. I believe V1 and V2 are the same. (I still haven’t removed V2 from the plastic bag it came in) I personally like the RO cape. It’s heavier and drapes better. For the robes I only have V1 and V2 and they are the same.

Still working on my Vader. Got the bare metal foil in today and just finished applying it.

 

[Wor-Gar]

I have all 3 capes. I believe V1 and V2 are the same. (I still haven’t removed V2 from the plastic bag it came in) I personally like the RO cape. It’s heavier and drapes better. For the robes I only have V1 and V2 and they are the same.

That's all good to know. I don't have the v2 stuff, but I like the feel of the RO cape. Haven't tried it on Vader yet though.

 

[D.R.37]

Wow his thread dropped some knowledge on the chest box! Hmm... so another inaccuracy to notice on my Vaders :/
Thanks for all those classic pics everyone.

I love the drape and weight of the RO but the only thing that I noticed which I originally did not like was the cut of it. The RO is longer in the front than the back unlike the ANH. It looks fine since I only display him facing forward.
I imagine if put on the ANH Vader there might be too much fabric at his feet since he is a bit shorter than the RO.

 

[Wor-Gar]

I imagine if put on the ANH Vader there might be too much fabric at his feet since he is a bit shorter than the RO.

I do have that concern. But the original v1 cape seemed a bit long too, bunched a bit on the floor so it was tolerable... but now the v2 cape seems to be cut for the ANH body height. I just don't know about the material.

Also, I'm not certain if ANH cape had the silk lining like the ESB cape famously does. v1 and v2 capes have a "silk" lining edge inside the cape. I do not believe the RO cape does.

 

[D.R.37]

That is true. Had mine posed with hands on his belt boxes so the cape has been sitting slightly off the shelf. I would think if he had the RO cape on in that pose it’d bunch up. So any other pose not elevating his cape would add to the excess fabric.

 

[TaliBane]

That's all good to know. I don't have the v2 stuff, but I like the feel of the RO cape. Haven't tried it on Vader yet though.

The RO cape is more of a spandex that weighs more but doesn't have the lining. The issue I had is all the HT Vaders need to be about 1/4" shorter, but if you do that the cape lays on the floor.

 

[Wor-Gar]

Yeah, from what I've seen all the capes lay on the floor anyway... I guess its a matter of how much you want on the floor.






That said, ANH Vader had a pretty long cape that bunched up on the floor...








Realistic or not, I don't care for it bunching up... the hands on belt pose (which is my fav) sounds like a good fix to keep the cape a little raised.

 

[earthdog]

How does the original SS Deluxe cape stack up? That had a nice weight and hang to it.