Rubies/Don Post TIE Pilot helmet

I know, they're seperate companies.

I'm more concerned about the Rubies, but are either or both of them any good, quality and accuracy-wise? The Rubies are easier to find, hence why I'm more interested in them.

Also, as far as repainting and modifying helmets for better accuracy, wearability, and to add the hoses that go to the chestbox, is there a way to make the hoses interchangable? As in, slide-in or screw-in caps that go over the area where the hoses go in, incase you wanna wear the helmet but don't wanna mess with the hoses and chestbox, but don't want empty holes?

 

From what I remember on Star Wars Helmets most Rubies helmets are suspected to be from the same moulds as the DP ones. I dont' specifically recall anything being mentioned about the Rubies one for this though.

 

Rubies, as I understand it, tend to be vinyl, softer than the more rigid plastic used by Don Post.

Go here - http://www.tiepilot.org/ - and all your questions will be answered.

 

I know on the stormtrooper helmet the rubies deluxe was about the same as the Don Post detail wise, but it was VERY soft and just the right size for my 11 year old son.

 

As a "flyboy" myself, I went with the DP. It's much sturdier than the Rubies. But both are about 3" smaller in height than the originals used in the films. It also makes one look less like a bobble head doll if you're under 6'. DP had the "Classic Action" size that was the same as the films, but those are getting harder to find on ebay. I'm not sure about something to cover up the holes on the helmet. I just disconnect the hoses at the chest box, with them hanging out of the helmet.

 

I swear by Don Post and my TIE Pilot almost didn't make it for its premiere at the 2nd last day of the Singapore Art Of Star Wars Exhibition.

But my friend did get a Rubies (and later Don Post) and he re-enforced its inside with Putty or something, other than screwing in the Screws and Washers.

As for removable hose, well, some the the Pilot here glued a kind of Tap Hose adapter onto the part of the helmet that the hose goes into. For those who gotten the Chest Box and told to get a Sellery Tap Adapter 1/2", the tap hose that can go onto the helmet is similar to that but I guess smaller. You then add a system of Closed Wires Holder & Foam Tapes to make the part of the Hose that gonna get screwed into the Tap Adapter smaller and fit the Tap Hose Adapter.