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The Lost Vader Concept Designs (Likely Un-approvable) - Printable Version +- Redback Garrison (https://www.501st.com.au/forum) +-- Forum: Garrison Armourers & Mentors (https://www.501st.com.au/forum/forum-3.html) +--- Forum: Armoury (https://www.501st.com.au/forum/forum-51.html) +--- Thread: The Lost Vader Concept Designs (Likely Un-approvable) (/thread-10928.html) |
The Lost Vader Concept Designs (Likely Un-approvable) - Studio 49 - Tuesday 1-Dec-2015 So since I'm posting my progress (as slow as is may be ![]() ![]() //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// So through my time researching the Ralph McQuarrie (RMQ) Vader I have come across all sorts of other concepts that were drawn up for Darth Vader in A New Hope. Regardless of whether it was RMQ or some else they are still interesting to look at and think "What if?" It is very likely these will never become Legion Approved due to the significant lack of references and details for some but I wanted to post my research regardless. //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// To start with I have some images that I found accompanied by information from "The Secret History of Star Wars" Quote:The Visual Development of Darth Vader ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Quote:It appears that McQuarrie began such sketches while Lucas was in the midst of writing the second draft, because the character is described in that script as wearing the respirator mask that McQuarrie first sketched here. Following this, McQuarrie made a number of alterations at Lucas' request. The robes became more exaggerated, and the character was requested to have a wide-brimmed samurai helmet, which McQuarrie combined with his respirator to create a fearsome face-mask which completely obscured the character's face. ![]() ![]() ![]() //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Quote:McQuarrie thought that Vader would look more menacing if he was robed and armored, and so his next sketches reflected this more futuristic design. Lucas also provided McQuarrie with comic books and 1930s pulp fiction material to help steer the visual design. One of his earliest designs in this new version had Vader linked more directly to the stormtroopers, wearing a prototype stormtrooper helmet. ![]() //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Quote:With the more angular and science-fiction-based military look of the new armored version of Vader, McQuarrie also made reforms to the mask, extending the face-grill into a longer "snout" and exagerating the eyes. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() And the final quote that is relevant from "The Secret History of Star Wars." This time regarding what Vader looked like beneath the dome Quote:Finally, the world was given a brief glimpse of the man underneath the helmet. "I shot this scene very carefully," director Irvin Kershner says. "When the captain comes in and Vader is sitting in his capsule with his back towards us, all you see are scars on the back of his neck for a second. I didn't want the audience to see anything else. I imagined that beneath the mask Vader was hideous; his mouth was cut away and he had one eye hanging low." (iv) Production art would be produced for Vader's hideous face during the making of Return of the Jedi that reflects this depiction, but as Kershner describes above, it was decided that "less is more" and the character is seen only from behind. ![]() //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Ok so that concludes the section in which I have found some what reliable info and pictures for. Now this is where it gets a bit hazy as we head into other less referenced concepts on which I will try and provide some background. //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// This is a concept of Vader aboard Tantine IV. Now this is interesting because many people misjudge this to be a McQuarrie or other official drawing. Well in fact it is a fan piece, not the inscription in the bottom corner "With apologies to R.M" ![]() //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// A set of storyboard panels that I know nothing about. ![]() //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// To me this is one of the strangest sets of drawings that I found. At that this moment in time someone was lobbying to add some sort of horns to the side of Vaders helmet and this is what they came up with. This is the only info I could find anywhere and it was on a forum posted a few years ago with no official refences Quote:Additionally, one of the things John Mollo proposed as a modification to Ralph McQuarrie's Vader design was the addition of small horns to the sides of his helmet. This was presumably inspired by the kabuto of Japanese samurai, which frequently had horns attached. ![]() Quote:Back when the other Sith Lords were still present in the third-draft script, Mollo intended this detail to carry over to their helmets as well, which greatly resembled Vader's. (Check out the figure on the right in the image below.) ![]() Quote:Vader's horned helmet as envisioned by Mollo even made it into Ivor Beddoes' storyboards of his duel with Obi-Wan Kenobi aboard the Death Star. ![]() //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Now these next couple I find very interesting and I will explain why in a minute: The first is this one. It bears a very close resemblance to the fully rendered iconic wide landscape shot of Vader VS Starkiller that my Vader Build is based on and is drawn by RMQ. However this a portrait shot rendered differently in less detailed way and, from what I can see is a variation on the designs seen in the rendered done picture. I have no idea as to when it was drawn, whether before or after the rendered iconic art but in my own personal opinion this looks to be closer to the ANH Vader that we know today. I say that mainly due to a couple of reasons. - The design of the chest box since it looks like RMQ is toying with the possibility of adding grebbles/lights - The snout of the face mask isn't so dramatic - The helmet does have as much of large slope/flange going out toward the bottom back - The buckle seems to have become narrower ![]() //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Now onto the second one that really grabs my attention, simply because it is a physical entity. I have found very limited information regarding these pictures and they conflict one another. So first of all here's the pictures, so far I have only found two images. ![]() The only certainty I can determine is that it was around during the filming/production of ANH since if you look in the background you can actually see some of the tiles that were used for the surface of the Death Star. ![]() I just found an un-cropped and clear version of the picture above: ![]() ![]() ![]() So here is all the information I was able to find: SOURCE 1: http://boards.theforce.net/threads/classic-trilogy-rare-and-behind-the-scenes-pics-and-footage.50017733/page-3 Quote:Yep, that's John Dykstra with the McQuarrie concept suit. SOURCE 2: http://www.therpf.com/showthread.php?t=68319 Quote:There is a little info about the helmet over at Jez's site (I borrowed the pic, which is a scan from the ILM book, from there thanks Jez!). The helmet/costume apparently were a one-off and rumor is that it met its end at a rather rambunctious party (there appears to be some possible damage in the pic above--notice the left side of the dome). SOURCE 3: (Google Translated, ignore bad grammar ![]() Quote:The point is this outfit was made following the designs of ralph mc quarrie and was built by johnston exclusively for this event , was never taken into account by Lucas , the creator of vader suit we all know is the work of John Mollo . After the party costume was kept in a box and never was used , then shortly before the move to marin county johnston put a heavy box which was the case of the suit and it was destroyed , so q was to stop away , could only recover the hull (as shown above on your desktop) but after a while and since it was not the iconic image of Vader q knew all also decided that the town would go to a trash can . That is the true story of Vader armor that never was. SOURCE 4: (Google Translated, ignore bad grammar ![]() Quote:http://www.galaxie-starwars.com/t3482p210-darth-vader-sous-toutes-ses-coutures So even if it was never an official costume and only a fun Halloween costume, I still find it very fascinating an I wanted to share it! ![]() //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// So you know how with The Force Awakens they have been pulling a lot from the Ralph McQurrie Art? Well I have just come across a new drawing of a Vader concept... That particular drawing has gotten me thinking, although my little theory Isn't complete or detailed enough to post yet, I will say I think I have found some drawings that may have served as some inspiration for Captain Phasma!!! I will try and get the pictures uploaded with whatever info I can find soon! Ok so here is my little theory, now this may be completely wrong but here we go anyway... As we know, The Force Awakens have been pulling inspiration from the Ralph McQurrie Art. Well this morning I happen across a new drawing of a Vader concept... That drawing has got me thinking that it may have served as some inspiration for Captain Phasma!!! So first of all here are the 2 images that I found. ![]() ![]() And here is best info I could find regarding these drawings: http://boards.theforce.net/xentemp/index.php?threads/anh-pre-production-art-mcquarrie-mollo-tavoularis.1117/ Quote:A circa-1975 drawing by Ralph McQuarrie of a "dark knight," presumably a Sith Lord. This concept design later wound up influencing the armor of Boba Fett in ESB. And now some side by side photos comparing the RMQ drawings for Vader to the TFA Stormtrooper Armour ![]() ![]() So with all that in mind there are a couple of things that stand out to me and make me think of the possibility that the might have influenced the design of Phasma: - Obviously there is the cape and I have a couple of reasons why: [indent=1]- It is only swung over a single shoulder (but could be worn over two[/indent] [indent=1]- And the simple fact that it is only knee length[/indent] - I can't quite put my finger on it but the shape of the RMQ Stormtrooper helmets just remind me of the TFA Helmets - Also just the idea that higher ranking soldiers/officers receive a slight variation on uniform instead of a completely different costume (this was also the case in the early RMQ drawings of Boba Fett who was originally going to be e high ranking Stormtrooper. So clearly I don't have any solid evidence to suggest my theory of early Vader designs influencing Captain Phasma, but hey its fun to speculate! And well it is just a theory! I would also love to know your thoughts if you have any on this little theory I put together and I hope that you found at least interesting to read! ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Yes yes yes I know you may also be thinking this... but I'm sure you would be too if you have been crazy enough to bury your head in RMQ drawings so much you begin to see the RMQ helmet that you are working as normal and sometimes forget it is so different to the final helmet! ![]() ![]() RE: The Lost Vader Concept Designs (Likely Un-approvable) - Scotty33 - Tuesday 1-Dec-2015 Love reading your posts mate, I see what you mean with Phasma as well! RE: The Lost Vader Concept Designs (Likely Un-approvable) - Studio 49 - Wednesday 2-Dec-2015 (Tuesday 1-Dec-2015, 10:23 PM)Scotty33 Wrote: Love reading your posts mate, I see what you mean with Phasma as well! Thanks man, doing my RMQ Vader has been a great excuse to dig into the other concepts as well for a bit fun since it's not really something many look into! I love that I can post stuff like this and it's something that people are interested in ![]() The Lost Vader Concept Designs (Likely Un-approvable) - Sly - Wednesday 2-Dec-2015 More time building, less time writing!!................only kidding, great read. RE: The Lost Vader Concept Designs (Likely Un-approvable) - Studio 49 - Wednesday 2-Dec-2015 (Wednesday 2-Dec-2015, 01:52 PM)Sly Wrote: More time building, less time writing!!................only kidding, great read. Ha ha ha! You guys make me laugh! Isn't it always a sage piece of advice to always do research, more research, followed by research with a side of research when building any 501st costume ![]() But yes I'm hoping that this next weekend I'll be able to get access to the 3D printers and have three printers going at once churning out my RMQ parts! Then progress will pick up again! As for the shins I'm just waiting on one last reference picture from a US Vader, then I can start that challenge, that'll be a fun mess! |