Author Topic: Death Star Troopers  (Read 8770 times)

Offline Scott

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Death Star Troopers
« on: August 28, 2003, 04:44 PM »
Is the Vintage Figure an error or are there documented shots of Death Star Troopers in a grey tunic type uniform?


Offline Jesse James

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Re: Death Star Troopers
« Reply #1 on: August 29, 2003, 12:52 AM »
The grey tuniced figure on the card shot used for the vintage figure seems to indicate it's accurate.

That shot is pulled from the scene where Leia's brought before Tarkin prior to the order to destry Alderaan being given.  In the shot, the trooper is in a computer console port thing that are common in several places within the Death Stars, and the trooper APPEARS to be wearing a grey tunic.

I consider him canon for that reason.  This may be an Imperial Naval Trooper CO of sorts.  Someone below officer level, but higher than the average DST in rank.  There were also DST's in black jumpsuits I believe, ala the POTJ Imperial Officer figure.  They were seen in ROTJ.  Possibly they are the raw grunts of the Naval Trooper ranks, and the black tuniced chaps are a step above, and grey tuniced fellows are a step above them?

Food for t hought, as they say.

Many of the uniform types are more consistent in ANH and ESB because by the time of ROTJ Lucas did not keep a military expert on-set whereas in ANH and ESB he had the same person there to keep a uniform/rank structure to both sides that made sense and gave a strong sense of military realism.

Why this person wasn't on board in ROTJ is anyone's guess, but the lack of their being there is noticeable in the generic Imperial 4 square rank plaquards, and the noticeable uniform changes between ANH and ROTJ.  There's still explainable structure to it, but it did make things pretty complicated, and the Imperial plaquard thing has always just been brushed off as an error for the most part with no attempt at "explaining it away".  

Perhaps the Death Star Troopers in black jumpsuits fell prey to that same way of thinking?  Though I seem to recall many in the black tunics as well though.  Hell, there were even differences in Death Star Gunners too, with some only wearing the top portion of the helmet and whatnot.
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Offline Darth Broem

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Re: Death Star Troopers
« Reply #2 on: August 29, 2003, 12:15 PM »
Perhaps Hasbro can remake the grey guy and add in the console (or whatever that is)!!!

Offline Scott

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Re: Death Star Troopers
« Reply #3 on: August 29, 2003, 02:58 PM »
I cannot say this for certain because I didn't watch that closely but I am around 75% sure I did not see any grey tuniced troopers in that scene.  I will have to watch that part over again.  I think the grey in the picture above is a lighting thing ala Brown coat Han and 4 Eyed Aqualishes :-*

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Re: Death Star Troopers
« Reply #4 on: August 31, 2003, 07:37 PM »
Looking at the image from the cardback, and knowing something about color-correction technique, it appears as through the setup level and chroma level of the image were increased.  That's done to add greater contrast to the image.  However, it has the added effect of making objects that are black appear more like gray.

Speaking for myself, I've never seen an Imperial Naval Trooper with a grey tunic.  I'll go back and look, but I don't know that I'll find one.

I HAVE seen a grey uniformed Death Star gunner, as one is preparing to fire the Death Star's main weapon.  It's definitely an interesting question that bears some looking into.
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Offline Jesse James

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Re: Death Star Troopers
« Reply #5 on: August 31, 2003, 09:28 PM »
The shot in question of the grey tuniced DST is when Leia's brought before Tarkin, Motti, and Vader...  It's tough to see, only is there for a second, but if you look to the right the trooper is there.  His helmet's clearly black yet his tunic appears noticeably lighter.  Having the black helmet, and other black items in the shot though does help (to me) confirm the uniform itself is grey.  

This will likely forever be one of those things that answering 100% would be tough.  It's like the grey pauldron Sandtrooper debate...  There's white ones where the white is completely clear to see.  There's black ones as well, but there's also shots of troopers that their pauldron does not match the black we see on the Stormtrooper armor (though limited), and where the outline around the pauldron is blacker than the center, and yet the pauldron color isn't white either because the pauldron doesn't match the color of the armor clearly like white pauldroned Sandtroopers do in every other shot.

I'm sticking by my idea that a grey tuniced Naval Trooper is in there though.  I feel that the contrast of other clearly black objects like the helmet and such, and then the uniform being noticeably lighter (Much lighter to me) confirms it for me.  But of course, this is like the Hoth Han Solo coat thing, or the Jedi Luke cloak...  It's tough to confirm 100% without us actually having our hands on the movie-used prop.
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Offline Jesse James

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Re: Death Star Troopers
« Reply #6 on: September 2, 2003, 05:21 PM »
Hey guys,

I have an update to this topic for those interested.  I have an image of the Death Star Trooper in the grey tunic...  It's the same image used for the vintage figure's card, but it's much clearer.

This image is bogarted from one of the Fan Club Magazines put out recently...  Issue 65 on page 62 specifically, lower left corner.  I find this image to be proof that the tunic's grey...  Proof enough for me of course, it's still sort of the Han Hoth coat debate type of a thing where proving it beyond a shadow of a doubt is tough.

The image is much clearer than the vintage cardback image though, and the light's much more natural in it, and not so dark/subdued.  The contrast of the helmet, and more importantly the cord to the communication gear laying on the chest of the tunic help to clarify the tunic's color.

If anyone wants the picture I scanned it but do not know how to post images that aren't hosted so I can send it your way if you'd want me to email it.
2011 Rebel Fleet Trooper Gets My Seal Of Approval!  But Where's The Friggin' Holster On Him!?
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Offline Scott

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Re: Death Star Troopers
« Reply #7 on: September 2, 2003, 05:41 PM »
Jesse,

e-mail it to me and I'll host it on our website...

spearson@jedidefender.com

:-*

Offline Scott

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Re: Death Star Troopers
« Reply #8 on: September 5, 2003, 09:02 AM »


This one is pretty much a slam dunk...looks gray to me.  Cool pic, thanks Jesse ;)

BTW, which Insider was this from?

Offline Jesse James

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Re: Death Star Troopers
« Reply #9 on: September 5, 2003, 03:40 PM »
Issue 65 on Page 62...

Of interest to this guy too, is that he's wearing the headset which I believe NO other Death Star Trooper is wearing, or if they are it's not noticeable at all.  I just called them Deathstar Trooper Officers I guess...  Could be specialists but I like the officer idea better personally.
2011 Rebel Fleet Trooper Gets My Seal Of Approval!  But Where's The Friggin' Holster On Him!?
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Re: Death Star Troopers
« Reply #10 on: September 9, 2003, 10:55 AM »


This one is pretty much a slam dunk...looks gray to me.  Cool pic, thanks Jesse ;)

BTW, which Insider was this from?

Looking at this image, I can say one thing definitively:  this guy is just BATHED in light!  There's an overhead light source behind him that's illuminating his shoulders and arms, and there's another light source in front of him with a red tint that's coloring his face.  

All of this light will make any dark garment or fabric appear lighter.  Is it possible that the uniform is darkl grey?  Sure.  But the way this shot is lit, it's hard to tell definitively what the true color is.  The only way to be certain would be if there was an evenly lit photo of this guy from some sort of production archive.
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Offline Paul

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Re: Death Star Troopers
« Reply #11 on: November 5, 2003, 09:19 AM »
Not to add another dimension, but I always thought the guy was wearing Green in that Leia, Vader and Tarkin Scene.

Of course, the Imperials seem to stay in the Black, white and Gray tones so the Green uni would of course stand out.

I think the only reason I had this idea was because of Tarkin's Olive Uni.