Star Wars Canada wrote:

Hello, i have the original 1st issue Don Post Helmet 1977 bottom portion and need the helmet top. Is the 1st issue helmet top identical to the 2nd issue?
Thanks
Star Wars Canada

Hi there,

I own a first issue and a second issue Vader and ourchickenshack is right they are not the same. They are made from different materials, different manufacturing processes, and I suspect that the second issue is at the very least a revised, or possibly a totally new, sculpt.

But for a display piece a second issue top piece will work.

Dave

ourchickenshack wrote:

Star Wars Canada wrote:

Hello, I have the original 1st issue Don Post Helmet 1977 bottom portion and need the helmet top. Is the 1st issue helmet top identical to the 2nd issue?
Thanks
Star Wars Canada

I am far from a expert on these helmets but I would say no , they are not identical :

starwarsdan wrote:

The very first production run seems to have been largely hand-made, or perhaps it simply looks hand-made.  It's a bit sloppy. There is glue spillage in many places, including the front on the face around the eyes.  The eyes don't always perfectly line up to the sockets either.  
The plastic of the helmet itself is uneven, with thin spots, and as a result the helmets are often found racked or misshapen, like this-


You will notice also the Velcro is placed farther back than the later examples.   The thin and thick areas of the plastic are more obvious in this pic-

For a display piece only I am sure that a later "helmet" release would look just fine , but , if you want your mask to be "Technically" correct , you will need to find a early release helmet to use with your mask   

hope this answers your question  

Thanks for the reply and clarifying of all this. I don't have the 1st issue but a 2nd issue with rounded tips...so i'm guessing just after the 1st white sticker release. I think i will search out a rounded tip 2nd issue to display my helmet-less Vintage 1978? Don Post Vader.....thanks for all the help......and yes i do agree the Vintage Helmet is the 1st and THe Best ...IMO.

Hi guys first of all I am happy to have registered here!!
I might say the same as: "How funny that I just discovered this thread completely by accident while googling the first issue Don Post helmet!  "
Same for me. I have as one pointed the idea of making a good helmet for the Hasbro mask. Meanwhile I have met the chance of acquiring a DP original full pack. I wonder if some of the fellow member can provide with dimensions of helmet, such as
contour round the dom base (where the wings meet), length of the wing at centerline at the rear, length of the spine of the top (curved dimension) and also distance between the wings front corners.
To make yourself an idea, my project´s measures are 80cm for round contour and 30cm between corners.
I'd like to know to which extent is the DP standard helmet (top) undersized and if at least it's in same scale as mask or maybe related to the HAsbro. I started a self made helmet but looks oversized compared to the Hasbro mask. Besides, I am just a six feeter!! ;-)
Thanks in advance, more later!!
Ed: Ahem, BTW already have nade the introdcution post where I should! hehe.
Soon I might start a thread with the helmet making off. Momentarily not as I cannot post pics yet.
Things go well, but I see it too big for the Hasbro. Maybe a switch when I have the DP...

Jimbo, I just saw in here that Larry also has a don post helmet (or did). I would pm him as well as bud to see if either of them can help. Larry is a regular around here so he would likely see it within a day. Bud still comes on from time to time, but not daily that I have noticed. Both are good guys and would likely be willing to help. Larry is also a member of the 501st so might be able to help you with your build in some way.

Thanks Bryan!
Mabe I'll pm them, but nevertheless I think I am gonna take the plunge and buy the DP anyway.
After all, it's an original 1978 unit and is some 35 bucks put at home (easy, it's local delivery) so unless I am very mistaken, it'd be really hard to get anything close to that deal on Ebay or Amazon, right?
Yes it's a bit cracked at the back of helmet, but fixable.
So it's probably me who will post the measurements and thus contribute to the forum instead of asking
I'll drop a line to the boys anyway to see what they think of what I'm brewing!
best regards
J