Star Wars is always on the Xmas list for me, usually in the form of one of the many books issued every year, or occasionally a model. This year, I was very pleased to get two of the newest LEGO Star Wars busts, of The Mandalorian and Clone Commander Rex. I love the franchise attention to detail and design with the costumes, probably even more than the spaceships and the endless variety of helmets on display across the many films and series is fascinating.
The Lego sets are marvels of design, taking a simple toy to almost sculptural levels, just using standard parts. It does mean that the classic ‘studs’ are visible on the models, but the shape of the helmet is instantly recognisable. Both helmets are about 6” high, and sit on a stand. I haven’t started the large Clone Commander set, but the Mando helmet took a couple of hours to complete - mainly because I misread the instructions on a couple of steps and had to go back. My only concern now is if it gets knocked off the shelf, nearly 600 tiny parts will scatter!
In a similar vein, I have recently been picking up models from the Deagostini Star Wars Helmet partwork which was published a few years ago. At £9.99 a piece, on a regular basis, the magazine ran to 80 issues, plus specials, so at the time I didn’t bother due to the cost.
Now, having seen the quality and the breadth of the range, I wish I had done, as each helmet comes in a hard plastic display cube and is extremely well made and detailed.
The Rebel pilots helmets caught my eye, along with the stormtroopers, so I picked up a couple of items on eBay. Alas, due to the rarity of some issues, prices vary tremendously and a full set can fetch upwards of £300.
Still, the most I have paid so far has been £18 and the least, for the Bounty Hunter 4-LOM was a fiver.
The Rebel fighter helmets are only visible briefly in Return of the Jedi and it is hard to distinguish which one is which, so having a nice model for reference is a good thing.
The original Kenner line of Star Was figures famously mixed up the names of the two Bounty Hunters who appeared on the bridge of the Executor in Empire Strikes Back, naming the alien Gand Findsman ‘4-LOM’ and the robot battle droid ‘Zuckuss’. Later issues of the Power of the Force figures redressed the matter and got the names correct on the card.
The Gand Bounty Hunter Zuckuss is depicted as a full head, rather than a helmet, but is extremely well sculpted and detailed.
The battered droid 4-LOM with its faceted insectoid eyes, could also be mistaken for an alien and is again represented by a full head bust.
