cinderellaboy

Josh, Vern, Mathias. Thank you for humouring me. And special thanks for the new angle...was the armourer who approached AA with regard to producing replicas the same person whose suit AA is said to have copied? Can you name names?

Thank you Mathias. I have read that AA openly admits to using skins and resculpting. As we know, the original moulds didn't even survive the original casting run for ANH. They were falling apart and repaired on the fly in a desperate attempt to finish the run. Given this fact, no-one would believe that these same bucks were in any fit state to be used to make the current SDS armour 35 years on. I don't believe that AA has claimed or would claim this as it is beyond belief.

Thank you, Luis. I seem to have touched a nerve. It's easier to write me off as a troll or AA plant than debate the issue calmly in a respectful manner. For the record, I'm no more than a spectator and have no connection to AA other than being a customer as I stated openly. I appear to be the only impartial one here.... If I've come over as arrogant, I apologise unreservedly. Isn't it the ultimate arrogance to belittle me as a novice and tell me to accept the "fact" that AA is a liar, rather than address the issues I raised and present me with answers? I wanted more than BM's word against AA's ad infinitum. I am well aware of BM's wealth of talent and take nothing away from the quality of the pieces he is proven to have sculpted. I have seen many superb examples from his portfolio. Sadly, he is probably the only person who can answer my questions. I will have to wait and hope he returns and is willing to offer an explanation. If you remember, it was he himself who encouraged me to find the facts for myself. I've raised a few awkward questions and I'm sorry if some people are uncomfortable with them. In the meantime, I'll reserve my judgement, as I have done all along.

Hi Josh, As I said, I am also on no-one's side...I am here to be convinced. At the end of the day, the original armour bucks are long gone. AA readily admits he reworked/sculpted the armour bucks anew, whichever point of reference he may or may not have used to do so. All subsequent original (ESB/ROTJ) and fan made armour derives from HIS originals. Worst case scenario: He made the originals. They were copied. He copied the copies, or the new sculpts of those trying to emulate his work. I'm surprised AA's detractors haven't done something more scientific than comparison photos to prove their plagiarism claims. Strikes me as funny that people don't believe that the man who made the originals would not have kept them or their skins...More likely he had them than didn't. Is that such a leap of faith? And to those who say he didn't sculpt the originals...even Brian Muir readily admits that there is no evidence to disprove his claims. I invited Mr Muir to comment on the "facts" I listed on a previous page of this thread, to no avail. I was particularly keen to hear his views on the point I made about the convenience of GL crediting a tragically deceased sculptress with sculpting the stormtrooper helmet and learn how he managed to remain ignorant of its authorship until just before the court LFL/AA courtcase... Furthermore, no-one has explained away the inferior prototypes that AA sold at Christies. Why did he make those if he had the perfectly formed "terracotta" sculpt to copy?...regardless of its author. Could it be that it was accidentally destroyed as he has claimed? Likewise, why are NP and AA mentioned over 100 times in JM's sketchbook while BM and LM are not mentioned once? Anyone....? Regardless of how he arrived at his new bucks, he has the ultimate USP...the original maker, making them in the very place the originals were made. Certainly carries a lot of sway. No argument there, then...

Hi Josh Congrats on your purchase ...regards the hand/blaster...don't know if this will work for you but mine has a black jubilee/hose clip bolted to the hand with a "paddle" to make it easy to adjust...the paddle gets hidden between the fingers...just an idea Enjoy the mannie. Regards Damian

As stated, I'm a novice replica prop collector and here to learn...I wanted a CONVINCING suit of armour and helmet...More screen accurate than fancy dress hire shop. I appreciate all your comments. It seems that it is easier for people to believe that SDS is a recast of an adulterated recast than to believe that the original fabricator kept tools/skins and retooled. Not even litigation by Lucas resulted in any kind of scientific attempt to prove the recasting claims. I respect your opinions as experienced collectors/troopers but remain unconvinced.

And the expert from the LFL archive who had no qualms with it?

The man who pulled the originals couldn't get his hands on a screen used ANH and thought that he could fool people into thinking a recast of a reworked recast recast was the genuine article?

If he cast anything, why didn't he just source an original ANH suit and recast that?

How do you work backwards from an ROTJ/ESB MKII to arrive at an ANH?

A much more likely scenario than suggesting that he recast an ROTJ suit. A blind man can see that both the original ANH and SDS have absolutely nothing to do with the ROTJ or anything cast from it. The ROTJ is a complete reworking. You only need to look at the overall width, the lines/angles of the crutch, the cods etc etc. The best you can say is that they are both stormtrooper armour.

I would suggest that centralising the line to the cod and removing the divot were things AA did when retooling from the skins...

Thanks again Mathias. Going back to the first pic you posted... The fact that the line down to the cod is central is the only thing that the ROTJ and SDS DO have in common in this pic....how on earth can people claim that the SDS on the right is derived from the ROTJ on the left???

Thanks Frank/Mathias for the tips on how to spot an ANH ab...any other differences between the SDS and ANH armour people have picked up on?

Btw In the second pic, from the shadow, the cod seems to be a separate piece which is being held off centre whilst in the first pic the ab and cod seem to be one piece and the line seems to be central....