Shepperton Designs 2008 Catalogue

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Thanks for the update Jez, the revelation of a model definitely throws his claims about being the original sculpture to the wind. I agree with your comments about the molds however and what GH said. I really didn't think we'd see too much more come out, but it looks like more and more pieces of our beloved movie and prop history will keep trickling out as this goes along (which to me is a great thing).
 
Now that it seems the truth has come out about the authenticity of AA, it seems that some people are owed apologies bor constantly being bashed when they spoke the truth.
 
Nothing has yet been proven as fact and the original molds question is still wide open.

As for apologies, I always said that if it came out he did not have the original molds or was not the original sculpture I would admit I was wrong, but I'm not going to apoligize for putting forth my viewpoint especially with the bashing that others gave out for just having a difference of opinion based on what was known.
 
Now that it seems the truth has come out about the authenticity of AA, it seems that some people are owed apologies bor constantly being bashed when they spoke the truth.

:lol Don't hold your breath! :lol
 
I'm just glad that we're all finally on the same page.
It just sucks that some relationships I had with some people were damaged due to the wars over this issue.
Except that I still maintain the belief that he never had anything original in terms of molds, only some vac formed skins that he had leftover (which is something he told me early on, long before his business).
For those that disagree, I have faith that in time they will join me on this side of the fence on that issue as well.
 
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I'm not going to apoligize for putting forth my viewpoint especially with the bashing that others gave out for just having a difference of opinion based on what was known.

Uh, the bashings started coming AT people who had the difference of opinion. AA was taken as FACT by the general and desperate masses, and people in the know disagreed. They got bashed. They still get bashed, did just the other day. By you.
"bias!"
"Jealousy!"
"bitter!"
RIGHT.

No such luck, Brandon.
 
Uh, the bashings started coming AT people who had the difference of opinion. AA was taken as FACT by the general and desperate masses, and people in the know disagreed. They got bashed. They still get bashed, did just the other day. By you.
"bias!"
"Jealousy!"
"bitter!"
RIGHT.

No such luck, Brandon.

Uh no. Jez was accused of shilling. I was accused of being a friend of AA. Others who felt that AA was the real deal were blasted as ignorant, of not knowing what they were talking about, being blind, etc. and so on just because we liked his stuff and felt he was the real deal.

And the fact still stands that several of those taking part either make and sell armor or are close friends with those who do. So there is bias. Also that some tried to get in on selling SDS armor and were rejected outright and were bitter and jealous (and even said so).

There are those still (lots of people in these threads!) who just didn't like the look or make of the helmets and/or felt that there were too many questions out there. They didn't get slanderous, nasty, or snarky when discussions came up about AA.

I admit I got pretty pissed off at times just for saying I liked his stuff and felt he was the real thing and then having shoved down my throat every nasty comment possible, so I'm not supposed to comment back? Sorry...doesn't work that way.

Hey, I still like his stuff, no matter what he still did work on the film (something no one else can or will ever say without a time machine), and even if he pulled the helmets he had more to do with their production than anybody else at the time.

Now beyond all this, Jez and Gino mentioned "vac formed skins" and AA talks about them for the armor. Knowing only the basics of molding such large things...what are the skins as compared to molds?
 
Uh no. Jez was accused of shilling. I was accused of being a friend of AA. Others who felt that AA was the real deal were blasted as ignorant, of not knowing what they were talking about, being blind, etc. and so on just because we liked his stuff and felt he was the real deal.

Since he blindly believed everything AA told him and dismissed all the innacurracies people were complaining about, how else do you think he would be seen if not a shill? Yep many of the believers were accused of being ignorant and not knowing of what they were taking about and ya know what?? They were ignorant and if they still believe, still are.

And the fact still stands that several of those taking part either make and sell armor or are close friends with those who do. So there is bias. Also that some tried to get in on selling SDS armor and were rejected outright and were bitter and jealous (and even said so).

There's bias everywhere but it doesn't automatically make everyone who has made armor a liar or someone not to be listened to. There were also many who were knowledgeable that had no vested interest and they were ignored or accused of being connected with those that made armor and attacked as such. A tactic you used repeatedly.

I admit I got pretty pissed off at times just for saying I liked his stuff and felt he was the real thing and then having shoved down my throat every nasty comment possible, so I'm not supposed to comment back? Sorry...doesn't work that way.

As my kids would say "boing flip"

Hey, I still like his stuff, no matter what he still did work on the film (something no one else can or will ever say without a time machine), and even if he pulled the helmets he had more to do with their production than anybody else at the time.

Yep thats all he did is "pull helmets".

Now beyond all this, Jez and Gino mentioned "vac formed skins" and AA talks about them for the armor. Knowing only the basics of molding such large things...what are the skins as compared to molds?

Vac skins are vacformed parts pulled off the molds. Those are the items AA used to remold the faceplates and everything else.

If you don't know this simple fact then you should understand the frustration of those that knew what he was doing and having people such as yourself, that don't understand the process, arguing that what he was making was the real deal.
 
Since he blindly believed everything AA told him and dismissed all the innacurracies people were complaining about, how else do you think he would be seen if not a shill? Yep many of the believers were accused of being ignorant and not knowing of what they were taking about and ya know what?? They were ignorant and if they still believe, still are.

Bingo. See, still nothing proven and yet anyone who believes is "ignorant." No further comment necessary.
 
Bingo. See, still nothing proven and yet anyone who believes is "ignorant." No further comment necessary.

So there will be none, then? I'll take odds on that. :lol Nothing is proven, yet what was claimed is essentially DISproven by completely conflicting information. But hey, good luck with your beliefs :)
Any half-wit lawyer will tell you; when a guy's story changes from one day to another, he's lying. But hey, "whatever way the wind blows" is rock-solid stance to take :thumbsup
 
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So many experts and so few answers.

Who created the first 3D sculpt of the Stormtrooper helmet and armor?
Who created the first full size sculpt?
Who created the molds?
Who assembled them?

So far, after 30 years still no answers. What is constantly being trashed about the "AA suporters" is the fact that so far AA is the only person so far that has come close to any of the above. Even if he just pulled the pieces and/or assembled them that puts him a hell of a lot closer to doing anything with ANH and the Stormtrooper than anybody from the RPF or any other armor maker out there. Fantasize about your trooper expertise until doomsday, but nobody knows these answers and trashing those who felt that AA might be that person, or close to that project, was and is wrong.
 
Considering that AA has never substantiated....oh yes
ANYTHING...
I'll just stick with the facts. Of which he has none and tells stories of materials that are wrong, claims all the helmets in SW were his work despite not being involved, and has never produced a single picture to prove anything he claimed. Not a thing. Never managed. Odd if he's the guy, YAthink? :love
No costuming history, hmm, that's a puzzler. But hey, the guy that vacforms birdbaths and fishponds truly must have been the guy to turn to when creating costumery for armored scifi soldiers. No really! It makes so much sense!!
Not Muir with a sculpting and costuming history. Nah.
Not another sculptor with..you know, talent...in sculpting.
Must have been the boats/cars/fishpond making dude. Simple math, really.

"Hey, you work on boats and paint cars, right? Yeah make me a set of moulds for a futuristic soldier suit of armor and oh yes, design it yourself but make it miraculously appear similar to the drawings of Ralph McQuarrie and Lucas combined!"
"No problem! Oh by the way, since I am the head of this line, I will not take any pictures of myself carving or take credit for this until about 25 years go by. I will want one OF me taking yet another picture in front of them though! That will prove it just fine. Well, I'll just get started!"

:)
 
And once again, no answers, no middle ground, just overall slander.

The theme goes on.

Actually that was mockery and satire.:cool
Slander means it's not true, not to mention spoken and not typed. In type it's libel:thumbsup
And it's 100% true that no claims of AA were even proven with a modicum of evidence. Not one picture. Prove me wrong.
 
LA, I don't understand your view on this. There is more proof that is contrary to AA's claims than there is proof that anything he has said, aside from doing the original pulls, is factual. Will it take Lucas himself coming to this board to prove this guy is not being entirely honest?

I'm sorry, but if I think I have a stake on one of the most recognizable pieces of film history, I am going to capitalize on it as soon as I can. He has had the shop for decades, if I read him right, so why wait til there are sculpts super close to what the originals were like? Oh, that's right, gotta make that money.

I can respect anyone trying to make money, but don't base it on lies. You know, if this guy would have stayed underground and NEVER said anything he has had come from the original molds, none of us would be having this discussion. So many people have pointed out the holes in his story, but some folks are sooooo set to think that someone they like had a stake in cinematic history, that they will never be open minded enough to think that said person is full of crap. It just isn't possible to that person.

By you taking your position, you are also admitting there is no middle ground and AA is dead on right in what he is doing. I will admit my position and it is the same as it was when I first got wind of this fella...he is full of it. People here have presented proof beyond a reasonable doubt in my eyes, but hey, if you don't want to believe, God speed. It's a great sales pitch he uses, and some folks bought into it, hook, line and sinker.

P.T. Barnum was right.
 
And it's also 100% true that no claims against AA have yet been proven with a modicum of evidence. Everything has been subjective and personally based on his current items by the local "experts" of which we've also had many "experts" on the other side say he is what he says he is.

But it's a moot point. It's in the courts now and will be proven or disproven using factual information from 1976/77 a time when all the "experts" were mostly in grade school.
 
LA, I don't understand your view on this. There is more proof that is contrary to AA's claims than there is proof that anything he has said, aside from doing the original pulls, is factual. Will it take Lucas himself coming to this board to prove this guy is not being entirely honest?

SNIP

By you taking your position, you are also admitting there is no middle ground and AA is dead on right in what he is doing.

SNIP

Then let me make it clear since I guess the many threads haven't. My view is that he is innocent until proven guilty. Beyond personal opinion from both sides there has been no proof finding him guilty of anything. He has done nothing more than nearly any other seller of armor has done in the past or present and yet they are constantly forgiven for their sales pitches, delays, early mistakes, etc. He has presented pictures, information, and details about the armor, the shop, and other films that nobody had even the smallest clue about prior to his coming forward. Sales pitch? Sure, he's making money, like some others here (and not). I've seen a lot of crap on this forum, and others, that frankly nobody said a word about, but because he is who he claims to be he's been declared a fraud BEFORE anything changed in his stories, descriptions or anything else. Plus he has, as others have, amended his statements. We here know each other and have time to present our reasons and statements on a constant basis, this forum, he doesn't.

And as I've already pointed out to date nobody at all has come forward with any proof about who did what for 30+ years and even now, so far, LFL only has five possible pictures to show. If that's the "proof" then AA's multiple pictures of him with the helmets, working at his site, the Alien, and others at least should be "proof" he has worked on the films in some capacity beyond "pulling." Plus it is very well known that to be "on the cheap" US filmmakers do things in England to save money, including using third parties to do odd things (and they did a lot of odd things for Star Wars...heck Dykstra never built a camera before and look what he did!).

Am I dead set to the point of just slamming people for their opinion? No. I greatly respect Gino for his work, in fact he and have talked through PM about some of this. I even (believe it or not) respect Trooperexpert for a lot of what he's done. But I do NOT appreciate having the fact that I and others believe him being slammed and insulted and derogatory or false statements ONLY BECAUSE we think he is who he says and/or like his products. That is where I have a problem. Heck, there was one thread that lasted a LONG LONG time talking about Trooper armor, histories, AA, etc. and it lasted so long because nobody insulted anyone about their personal opinions.

Now I have always said and still say that if he's proven to be a liar I'll admit I was wrong, but the last time I checked people are innocent until proven guilty. That's why I said, some long time ago before he even got sued, that the only way the truth will come out will be when he does get sued and the courts take it over. We might not even then learn everything, but I can still bet we'll learn enough to know the truth either way and also get some more information on the film and outfit we all love so much.
 
And it's also 100% true that no claims against AA have yet been proven with a modicum of evidence. Everything has been subjective and personally based on his current items by the local "experts" of which we've also had many "experts" on the other side say he is what he says he is.

Uh huh, those against him showed evidence in the inconsistent shapes of helmets and armor, quoted ACTUAL makers of the armor, and the AA gang said Liar liar pants on fire :lol
What a balance:cool
 
Uh huh, those against him showed evidence in the inconsistent shapes of helmets and armor, quoted ACTUAL makers of the armor, and the AA gang said Liar liar pants on fire :lol
What a balance:cool

No "evidence" was shown. What was shown was the opinion of some about the helmets and their differences to other helmets. And there are no "ACTUAL" makers of the helmets anywhere, the only actual maker(s) was someone from 1976 that nobody knows about yet one way or the other. Everyone else is an expert in only that they have found or own a very few of the helmets made and copied them and/or created their own from scratch.

And should I remind you that other experts, as experienced or more than some of the helmet/armor experts, said that the discrepancies were explainable due to both the materials used at that time, age, etc.

So there is doubt, on both sides. Neither is sacrosanct and neither has yet been determined as truth.
 
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