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Imperial Stormtrooper: Choosing your brow height


CableGuy

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Hi all,

 

Firstly, I’d like to say that Low and higher brow heights are perfectly acceptable and all members are welcome in the legion. I would just highlight that some appear to reflect Stunt or Hero/Promo troopers.

 

The intention of this post is to share educational reference photos with new and aspiring troopers.

 

Based on watching ANH, viewing the many reference photos and additions behind the scenes and historic photos, there is a clear direction regarding various brow heights in ANH. In the spirit of the CRL, this guide would help improve uniformity across the legion.

 

For those that favour a low brow, I would highly recommend checking out the Hero* or Promo Trooper as an ideal option.

 

*please note that not all Hero helmets had a low brow.

 

Below is the Promo Trooper. This features a hero helmet (this is different to the Stunt helmet) and is an iconic look, featuring a low brow (brow trim essentially ‘on’ the top of the eye sockets). There is essentially zero gap between the bubble lenses and the brow trim. There were just six hero helmets made for ANH, made in gloss ABS, intended for close up shots;

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Luke has a very similar look;

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Han, on the other hand, had a clear gap (seen here left of shot)

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50 Stunt helmets were made for ANH. These were made from green HDPE plastic, then primed and painted. The majority of TKs seen in action and group shots in ANH were Stunt helmets and had a visibly different appearance, including a longer painted ‘frown’ with (for the most part) 4 ‘teeth’ either side, 3 screws per ear rather than 2, flat lenses rather than bubble and (for the majority seen on screen) had a consistent gap between the top of the eyes and the brow.

 

First up is a photo taken outside Shepperton Design Studios and shows approximately half of the 50 Stunt helmets primed and ready to send to the studio. The brow height is consistent across these helmets, each having a clear gap between the eyes and the brow.

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Note below that perhaps 2 or 3 of 26 helmets have a slightly lower brow.

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On to screen used, there are a few lower brow stunts featured through ANH, however they are certainly outnumbered by the conventional look.

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Note the same scenario from ESB (re-using ANH Stunt helmets for the most part);

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Even quite a few Hero helmets, including Han’s, had the usual gap.

 

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I hope that these reference photos help to show the difference with various helmets. This post,and the information included, comes from a passion for the wonderful character that is the Stormtrooper and is not intended as a negative view on those that choose the low brow. Both have their place in our character lineup. I would simply suggest considering the hero or Promo Trooper as an option for those that prefer the low brow.

 

Best wishes

 

Dan

 

NB - credit to StarWarsHelmets.com for a lot of this information. I’ve learned a lot from there over the last couple of years.

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  • 2 weeks later...
  • 2 weeks later...

Excellent post...I have seen some of these helmets and can tell you first hand there is no benchmark for brow height...they slapped these together quickly and they for the most part ended up the way they ended up...being background stunt that's the way it was...ironically these were the suits that survived and from where we all have ours derived from...

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Excellent post...I have seen some of these helmets and can tell you first hand there is no benchmark for brow height...they slapped these together quickly and they for the most part ended up the way they ended up...being background stunt that's the way it was...ironically these were the suits that survived and from where we all have ours derived from...

Interesting insight, Jeff; however, the above references really do show that the majority were constructed in a similar and quite consistent fashion. Especially the shots outside Shepperton Design Studios.
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I think it's important just to mention in regards to basic approval and CRL's (costume reference library) these are made up of consistent information in other words what the majority seen had, this is why "Mr No Stripes" is not approvable, he was a one off.

 

So there may be someone you see in a scene which goes against the norm and you may replicate that look, then it would be entirely up to your GML if they decided they would be approved as is. 

 

Now whether the DO's approved that same look for the higher levels then that's really another question ;) 

 

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  • 3 months later...

Fascinating thread and excellent info! Funny this was bumped recently, as I just posted a somewhat relevant pondering on the FISD FB group, but about R1/Anthology style helmets and the brow height/thickness. If you get bored, @CableGuy, or if anyone else has knowledge/reference material to drop regarding R1/Anthology helmet brows, I sure would love to hear it!

 

----------------

 

Centurion Anovos ANH-S on the left, Hasbro Black Series (being modified) in the middle, and a Jimmiroquai fiberglass helmet on the right. If you (especially DO's @shashachu and @justjoseph63) have thoughts on which is most correct or needs to be modified for Centurion approval, post up! :) 

Edited by gmrhodes13
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Fascinating thread and excellent info! Funny this was bumped recently, as I just posted a somewhat relevant pondering on the FISD FB group, but about R1/Anthology style helmets and the brow height/thickness. If you get bored, [mention=31976]CableGuy[/mention], or if anyone else has knowledge/reference material to drop regarding R1/Anthology helmet brows, I sure would love to hear it!
 
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Centurion Anovos ANH-S on the left, Hasbro Black Series (being modified) in the middle, and a Jimmiroquai fiberglass helmet on the right. If you (especially DO's [mention=31604]shashachu[/mention] and [mention=22112]justjoseph63[/mention]) have thoughts on which is most correct or needs to be modified for Centurion approval, post up!  

Hehe. I’m the guy that posted this... ;-)

9ab0f80898f49589294a9706157c4e10.jpg

The middle brow looks more accurate for thickness.
Frown looks better on the right.

Although, it’s original trilogy all the way for me. ;-) lol
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3 minutes ago, CableGuy said:


Hehe. I’m the guy that posted this... ;-)

The middle brow looks more accurate for thickness.
Frown looks better on the right.

Although, it’s original trilogy all the way for me. ;-) lol

HA! You have no idea how many times things like that have happened (it's worse trying to keep everyone straight between IRL in/out of costume, FB, and on forums hahaha).

 

So far I'm thinking about trying to shave/file down the brow trim on the Jimmi, but maybe a DO will have something to say if it's necessary or not...

Edited by TheRascalKing
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Although there are no current hard and fast rules as to brow height for OT TKs mentioned in the CRLs, in my Reference Guide I show at least 3 screen shots of each OT style.  R1 is another animal, since the brow trim is often molded into the cap.  At present, the CRL for L2 requires that it be"..positioned 1/4" above the eyes".

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I LOVE the fact that Dan has latched onto this subject and has such a passion for it!  (Makes life as a DO much easier)!!  :D You 'da MAN, Dan!

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  • 4 months later...

bump

 

Haha, jk Dan. :smiley-sw013: I'm writing to include a link to a PDF version of this thread which I just completed. I thought some old-school print type folks might appreciate it. I hope you'll excuse my format of the date in the PDF file name; I would have flipped the date and month just for you UK folks, but then it would have been inconsistent with the other PDF files I've made. I also compiled your helmet alignment (PDF link) thread a while back, and all my PDF compilations can be found on my All-In-One thread.

 

Thanks for all the helpful insights you've provided aspiring Troopers!

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bump
 
Haha, jk Dan. :smiley-sw013: I'm writing to include a link to a PDF version of this thread which I just completed. I thought some old-school print type folks might appreciate it. I hope you'll excuse my format of the date in the PDF file name; I would have flipped the date and month just for you UK folks, but then it would have been inconsistent with the other PDF files I've made. I also compiled your helmet alignment (PDF link) thread a while back, and all my PDF compilations can be found on my All-In-One thread.
 
Thanks for all the helpful insights you've provided aspiring Troopers!

Looks great, Caleb. Keep up the good work. :-)


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