Hot Toys Darth Vader : tips , tricks and any other mods

[agonistes86]

Here's what I've been up to.
I made my own wire mesh for the small vent on the chin using copper wire and styrene.
For the mouth, I used the mesh of the DX Sideshow Vader, cut to size. I then made a grill out of styrene and attached it with a bit of super sculpey.
I also did the nose plug mod, adding a new one made out of super sculpey while also thickening up the black ridges slightly.

All in all I'm quite happy with the outcome.

 

[Waste Time Continuum]

That looks awesome, WTS! What mesh did you end up using? That's not the contour wire mesh, right?

Thanks!

No, it’s not the contour mesh. It’s from a “Lost in Space” “Chariot” upgrade kit that has enough of the mesh to upgrade all the Vader’s in your collection. It’s made of super thin, laser cut brass. The scale is about 98-99% accurate, so it’s very marginally over scaled, but by just a hairs breath.


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[Waste Time Continuum]

Here's what I've been up to.
I made my own wire mesh for the small vent on the chin using copper wire and styrene.
For the mouth, I used the mesh of the DX Sideshow Vader, cut to size. I then made a grill out of styrene and attached it with a bit of super sculpey.
I also did the nose plug mod, adding a new one made out of super sculpey while also thickening up the black ridges slightly.

All in all I'm quite happy with the outcome.

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Wow, that really looks fantastic. Nice work.


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[agonistes86]

Wow, that really looks fantastic. Nice work.


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Thanks!

 

[paulcarson]

Very nicely done.

 

[paulcarson]

I've decided due to a severe lack of free time to stop working on my Vader mask resculpt. If anyone can make use of it as well as the modified dome drop me a PM. It is a lot more accurate than the HT helmet and as the chin triangle hasn't been cut out can be modded for any of the OT looks.

 

[noisyrobot]

I'm so sorry to ask what is probably obvious to most of you guys... but how much of the fins inside the ANH helmet do you cut down to get it sit lower?
I've sanded the disc on the top of the mask, but it's not having a noticeable effect yet.

 

[McHaleyArt]

I'm so sorry to ask what is probably obvious to most of you guys... but how much of the fins inside the ANH helmet do you cut down to get it sit lower?
I've sanded the disc on the top of the mask, but it's not having a noticeable effect yet.

It’s the square support, inside the top of the helmet, that has to be sanded down. Do a little at a time until the helmet sits were you want.

 

[heon123]

Hey agonistes86,

Sorry if this has been asked before but what kind of fabric/material is the custom cape and tabards made out of? I'd love a push in the right direction.

 

[Xeno Junkie]

Can someone tell me how the Hot Toys Vader belt comes off? I have the ANH version that came with GMT. I want to futz around with him but I’m not sure how everything is held together and don’t want to risk pulling apart anything that shouldn’t be pulled apart. Thanks in advance!

 

[abake]

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Hey agonistes86,

Sorry if this has been asked before but what kind of fabric/material is the custom cape and tabards made out of? I'd love a push in the right direction.

Whoa, that looks amazing!


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[The Autistic Asexual]

That's a really good look on the boots.
I like the HT ANH Vader for what it is, and I like the Sideshow ESB/ROTJ DX Vader for what it is; I have both...
But comparing the two, the Sideshow boots look like oversized clown shoes. I might have to trade them out for some HT boots.

Something else:
I bought the Vader/Tarkin set, not the stand-alone Vader. Eventually I found out that the shoulder/chest armors have different paint apps between the HT ANH stand-alone figure, and the ANH Vader that comes with Tarkin. The stand-alone Vader has the correct metallic-painted shoulder bells, but the Vader with Tarkin has black unpainted bells. (the bright silver color is totally wrong on both of course) but at least the stand-alone Vader HAS some paint where it should be.

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The shoulder armor on the MMS434 Darth Vader is by far the best shoulder armor on any Vader action figure and I absolutely love how the back is closed! I put it on my MMS388 Rogue One Vader and it looks so much better now! I'll post pictures soon.

 

[TaliBane]

The shoulder armor on the MMS434 Darth Vader is by far the best shoulder armor on any Vader action figure and I absolutely love how the back is closed! I put it on my MMS388 Rogue One Vader and it looks so much better now! I'll post pictures soon.

Your username takes identity politics groupings to a new level.

 

[agonistes86]

View attachment 438613

Hey agonistes86,

Sorry if this has been asked before but what kind of fabric/material is the custom cape and tabards made out of? I'd love a push in the right direction.

I bought the fabric about 8 years ago, originally for a custom batman cape, so I don't remember what it was called.
I did get some new fabric recently that's very similar in drape, but a bit blacker and less shiny. This time I took picture of the name! Hope this helps (zwart means black).

Whoa, that looks amazing!


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Thanks!

 

[heon123]

Cheers! Will look into it.

 

[agonistes86]

Cheers! Will look into it.

No problem.
Here's a (crappy cellphone) shot of my WIP ANH Vader using this new fabric, to give you a feel for the drape.

 

[Waste Time Continuum]

Looks great!


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[D.R.37]

Very nice

 

[canofhumdingers]

The shoulder armor on the MMS434 Darth Vader is by far the best shoulder armor on any Vader action figure and I absolutely love how the back is closed! I put it on my MMS388 Rogue One Vader and it looks so much better now! I'll post pictures soon.

I'm glad you like it, but "best" is subjective. Being closed in the back is not screen accurate, for those who want screen accuracy. And the shape of the shoulder bells is inncorrect (specifically the ribbed detail), not to mention being all black is innacurate for ANH.

 

[The Autistic Asexual]

I'm glad you like it, but "best" is subjective. Being closed in the back is not screen accurate, for those who want screen accuracy. And the shape of the shoulder bells is inncorrect (specifically the ribbed detail), not to mention being all black is innacurate for ANH.

Yeah the closed-back is not screen-accurate but it is in-universe accurate, according to the Marvel Darth Vader comic #8 from 2017. Plus the closed-back gives the shoulder armor more structure to it. I'll post some pictures of my modified Hot Toys Rogue One Vader soon.