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"Move Along" Original ANH
Sandtrooper Helmet
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Remember this guy?
He's the squad Sergeant who stops and questions Luke, Obi Wan and the Droids
as they enter Mos Eisley. Of all the Stormtroopers in ANH, he's the
one who got the most lines. |
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Well I'm pleased to say that he's still safe and well (or
at least nearly well!) |
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A couple of days ago I had the opportunity of getting my
hands on this and a number of other helmets which will I am sure be the
centrepiece of Christies Film and Memorabilia
auction on 14th December 2005, in South Kensington, London. It
really is an exciting time for helmet-fans as FOUR original screen-used
helmets will go under the hammer, two Sandtroopers and two X/Y-Wings. All
these helmets have been put up for auction by a single owner, a Gentleman
who's father worked on Star Wars at Elstree back in 1976. All were rescued
out of a waste skip during filming!
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Of the 60 or so Stormtrooper helmets
made by Shepperton Design Studios for Star Wars in 1976, just SIX were Sandtroopers.
Therefore to have two show up really is quite a find. Both of them are missing the ears, but it does not look
like they fell off and more likely were removed by the prop guys before
ditching (spares for the other helmets)/ The fact was that these helmets had
already been through an entire shoot in Tunisia lot by the time filming at
Elstree started so it was easier to get SDS to make some more than to clean
up/repaint and paint these ones.
In the photo below we've raised the brow
to simulate the on-screen shot. I'm not entirely sure as to why the brow has
dropped (its not due to the missing ears btw) but may be that for some
reason it was stuck in that position while shooting that scene (maybe on
purpose to make it look different so it appeared there were more troopers?).
The same trooper is seen on location with his brow in a lowered position so
we do know that it wasn't always raised that way. |
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Below, an initial side by side comparison of the new found
helmet and the original, with arrows indicating the areas of similarity.
Working with Braks Buddy and Brandon Alinger we've researched and located
the original helmets and produced the following great comparisons. |
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There are a number of tell-tale signs that prove its the
original "Move Along" helmet. But if you look at specific areas such as the
shape of the frown, and the second tooth on the right it matches exactly the
line of the original top and bottom. Similarly the "gap" where the fourth
and fifth tooth on the same side (the fifth tooth is actually just a dent).
Also the painting of the chin and the steps is precisely the same, including
where the line waves on the right hand side
NEW- For the
Rotating 3D Photo of this helmet please click here |
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Above, A comparison with the Christies shot
showing the helmet with a lowered brow. Among other things the crack near
the base of the jaw is a giveaway.
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We know the two Sandtrooper helmets were used its on
location in Tunisia for the Tatooine shooting, and then brought back to
Elstree for the Studio shots as the troopers are seen in a number of scenes
including Cantina internal, the conversation with informant Garinden and
the fire-fight with Han Solo as the Millennium Falcon escapes from Mos
Eisley. |
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Apart from the missing ears (where you can see the
unpainted and oily khaki HDPE "fishpond" material showing through), the helmet is in
good condition. It has not been restored in any way so (the affects of age aside) will look
the same as it did when it left the set. Again the lack of damage around the
ear areas inside and out suggests ears
were removed before the helmet was ditched so they could be used for another
helmet. |
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When you see original helmet like this up front what
surprises you is how rough some of the detailing is. The trapezoids are all
hand painted i grey with black detailing. The Sandtrooper helmets are
detailed slightly different from the Stormtroopers as they do not have the
have the black vertical lines in the rear and cheek trapezoids. |
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Above, a nice side on shot with that give-away crack in the
side tube which matches the "Move Along" trooper seen questioning Luke and
Obi-Wan as they enter Mos Eisley. |
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Below some comparison shots. This time showing the "Move
Along" trooper on the left and the "Stop That Ship /Garinden/Lewis Gun" trooper on the
right. |
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Side by side it just goes to show how different the helmets
can look and its all down to assembly. The right helmet (Stop that Ship) looks slightly taller
in this shot. |
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Stop That Ship (right) has lost more paint on the cap. Could this
possibly be due to some of the final stunt work at Elstree as the
Stormtroopers try to srop Han and the Falcon leaving Mos Eisley? The
troopers in that scene did take a hell of a beating. |
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From side on, the right helmet no longer looks the taller of
the two which shows how deceptive 2D photos of 3d objects can be |
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Above, lifting the frown on "Move Along" to match the look of the helmet as
its seen on-screen. |
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And from behind showing the wonderful warped asymmetry of
these helmets. Below three more shots provided by Jeremy/Gonk from this last
weekends viewing day |
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Cant get enough of these pics - thanks Jeremy!
Below a couple more detail shots showing the khaki HDPE under where the ear
would have been |
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mouth area. |
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Click Here for
more shots of Stop that Ship Sandtrooper |
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To go Back to the
Stormtrooper Menu Click here |
