DARTH VADER

Episode IV: A New Hope

Measurements given are intended to be approximate and generalized; not criteria for approval.

All costumes for The Dark Empire are required to be proportional to the wearer in fit, scale and size.

Text descriptions are only one part of the guideline. Costume Inquisitors and costumers must consider both text and pictures (CRL and references) when reviewing the costume.

Required:

Dome

• The dome is a polished satin black, but doesn’t have an overall dull or high gloss appearance.
• There is a ‘Y’ shaped indentation in the front center of the dome brow above where it comes to a sharp point between the eyes of the mask.

Face Mask

• The face mask is painted in an alternating pattern of polished satin black (not having an overall dull or high gloss appearance) and non-gloss gunmetal/dark grey (the blueish tint in both the face mask and dome pictures is due to the lighting only and is not present on the actual mask).
• The face mask is asymmetrical.
• The lenses are slightly bubbled and tinted amber/dark grey (eyes are not visible behind lenses).
• The lower mouth vent is triangular with sharp corners, and is roughly half the size of the upper mouth vent.
• Large, black, diamond-shaped mesh is inset in both vents; additional black screen backing may be used to conceal the wearer’s face further.
• The tusks are metal, silver, and have rounded (hemispherical) tips.
• There is not a substantial gap between the neck of the face mask and the top of the chest armour.
• No skin is visible from any angle (under or through the mask).
• No neck brace is worn with the face mask.

Balaclava

• A balaclava is a black head sock/hood that is worn under the helmet and is used primarily to hide the following features: the wearer’s mouth which could be seen through the mouth and chin vents, the wearer’s neck which could be seen under and around the neck of the mask (especially during movement of the head), and the back of the wearer’s neck/head which could be seen from the back at a low angle underneath the dome.
• While the balaclava is labeled as “required” merely because it is the simplest way to ensure that none of the features listed above are visible when the wearer is in full costume as well as to keep the wearer’s head cool, any other items or methods that achieve the same result may be used instead of an actual balaclava.

Cape

• The cape is made of black wool (or wool equivalent), three-quarters circle, floor length, and lined with black satin.
• The cape collar is black leather (or leather-like material), and is one inch to one and a quarter inches in width.
• The cape is held closed with a chain, or fastened/positioned to give the same effect as being held closed with a chain.
• The front of the cape collar is pulled under the neck of the mask so that the cape chain is not visible.
• Optional: The cape chain may rest across the bottom of the neck of the mask with 4 chain links showing. If this option is chosen, the chain must be a plastic rectangular/oblong linked dark grey chain, which is attached to the underside of the collar with no visible attachment device showing on the collar when in full costume.

Chest Armour

• The chest armour is painted in satin black and non-gloss gunmetal/dark grey.
• The center most raised section is grey, and the two adjacent raised sections are black.
• The rest of the chest armour is grey.
• The shoulder bells are gunmetal grey with black raised sections, and are each attached to the chest armour by two straps.
• There is no visible cape hook.
• Optional: The two raised sections towards the sides of the chest armor may be painted black.

Inner Robe

• The inner robe is made of the same material as the outside of the cape.
• It is ankle length, and worn over the chest armour and codpiece, but under the belt, and the front sides are almost touching or no more than an inch away from the chestbox.
• The side seams are open from the belt down.
• There are no pleats/darts on the sides of the inner robe.
• Optional: The side seams may be sewn from the belt down.

Chest Box

• The chestbox is square, satin black, and worn right below the chest armour.
• The black leather (or leather-like material) one inch wide straps are worn over the bodysuit, but under the chest armour and inner robe, and attach to the top and sides of the chestbox as shown.
• The face of the chestbox consists of:
  • Two metal silver rods on each side that are machined as shown. They are not bracketed by anything on the top and bottom.
  • Three vertically stacked metal silver coin slots on the wearer’s right.
  • A faded/translucent green coloured panel (upper) and a red coloured panel (lower) are on the wearer’s left.
  • Along the bottom are four rocker switches which are mounted individually and are, from wearer’s right to left, white and three grey.
  • There are no small metal silver switches or any text anywhere on the chestbox.
  • There are no lighting effects.
• Optional: There may be a silver rivet no more than one-half inch from the chestbox on each strap.

Bodysuit

• The body suit is made of black leather (or leather-like material), fitted to the wearer, and quilted in lines spaced one inch apart down the torso, arms, and legs.
• A one, two, or three piece suit is acceptable.
• An open mesh back is also acceptable for comfort and heat dispersal.

Gloves

• The gloves are black leather (or leather-like material) and mid-forearm length.
• The upper surface is quilted in lines spaced approximately one inch apart which run perpendicular to the arm and start just behind the knuckles.
• The palm side has no quilted lines.

Belt

• The belt is made of black leather (or leather-like material) and is approximately two and a quarter inches wide.
• The lightsaber hook is silver, metal, and held to the backside of the belt by two silver rivets (which are located towards the bottom of the belt). The lightsaber hook is mounted slightly forward of the wearer’s left hip.
• The buckle is metal, and is slightly larger than the belt boxes in terms of height (buckle size is the same as ESB and ROTJ).
• The base layer of the buckle is black and rectangular.
• The second layer is silver and in the shape of a ‘D’.
• There are five thin progressively smaller squared edge cutouts (the smallest is a square) in a triangular formation on the wearer’s right.
• The top layer of the buckle consists of a silver circle located on the center of the arc of the ‘D’.
• Optional: The cutouts on the second layer of the buckle may have rounded edges. The smallest cutout may also be a circle.

Belt Boxes

• The belt boxes are black and centered vertically on the belt one-half to one inch from the buckle, and mirror image one another.
• From the center outwards each box has:
  • two green square light panels above a rectangular inset containing silverrectangular-shaped metal screen
  • a domed red pilot light set in a chrome ring
  • and six silver posts with smooth sides (in two vertical columns of three) set atop of red washers.
• All lights are constantly lit.

Codpiece

• The codpiece is a padded-construction and faced in black leather (or leather-like material).
• It is worn over the bodysuit, directly below the belt, and under the inner robe.
• It covers the front of the groin area and extends to the hips.
• In its center, there is a slight rectangular inset with rounded corners that is edged with rolled piping.

Shin Guards

• The shin guards are satin black.
• Each shin guard covers the leg from the ankle to the knee, and at least one half the leg when viewed from the side.
• The knee is shaped like a cut diamond.
• Below the knee are six small square protrusions in a horizontal line (three on each side).
• On both sides of the raised area along the center, a long ‘U’ shaped cutout starts at mid-armour height, and gradually increases in depth.
• The shin guards are attached by two straps that go around the boot.
• Allowed (but not recommended): The shin guards may be gloss black.

Boots

• The boots are made of black leather (or leather-like material) with a medium gloss shine and are lace-less.
• They come to just below knee height, have a rounded toe, and a smooth textured appearance.
• There is no noticeable zipper in full costume.
• The sole of the front does not exceed one inch in thickness and the heel does not exceed two inches in thickness.
• Note: The strap/buckle at the top is not required; this area is covered in full costume and may or may not be there based on the style of boot.

Lightsaber

• The lightsaber is based on the MPP Microflash or the Heiland Synchronar 3- Cell flash handle to match the hilt used in ANH.
• The metal has a chrome appearance.
• The grips do not extend all the way to the middle section.
• A lever is present on the box on the middle section.
• The side bars of the box have a chrome appearance.
• There are no connecting wires towards the top of the lightsaber.
• The lightsaber is only included as long as it’s in compliance with the applicant’s local laws.

Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back

Episode VI: Return of the Jedi