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TK helmets from the Galactic Empire (photos)

Road Trip 2010: At Celebration V, the "Star Wars" fan convention, a fantastic exhibit of custom-painted TK helmets wows.

Daniel Terdiman
Daniel Terdiman is a senior writer at CNET News covering Twitter, Net culture, and everything in between.
Daniel Terdiman
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1 of 33 Daniel Terdiman/CNET

Road Trip

ORLANDO, Fla.--If there's one thing that just about everyone can agree on, it's that the "Star Wars" universe is one of the best collections of stories, characters, costumes, movies, books, comics, and cartoons of all time. And that's why thousands of people have flocked here for Celebration V, the fifth U.S.-based major "Star Wars" fan convention.

After six weeks traveling around the U.S. Northeast and a very brief return to California, CNET reporter Daniel Terdiman has hit Orlando for the last leg of Road Trip 2010--he was here at the very beginning of Road Trip 2008--to check in on Celebration V and see what the latest and greatest is in the "Star Wars" milieu. And without a doubt, one thing that everyone here seems excited about is the exhibit of custom-painted TK helmets that's on display.

A follow-up to the hugely successful Darth Vader collection shown at Celebration V in 2007, the TK helmets--so-called because of the stormtrooper TK 421 from "Star Wars"--are based on a series of helmets belonging to different characters from the Galactic Empire and were painted by a series of celebrities, "Star Wars" artists, and others.

Each of the helmets is being auctioned off, with the proceeds going to the Make a Wish Foundation.

And in keeping with the Road Trip theme, it made sense to start this photo gallery with this image, of "Fanboys," by Kyle Newman and Jaime King.

Click here to read the related story on the 501st Legion, and click here to check out the entire Road Trip 2010 package.

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2 of 33 Daniel Terdiman/CNET

Avatar

This is "Avatar" by Denise Vasquez.

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3 of 33 Daniel Terdiman/CNET

Lost

This is "Lost" creator J.J. Abrams' "The Lost Helmet."

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Jaguar_1.jpg
4 of 33 Daniel Terdiman/CNET

Jaguar

This is "Jaguar," by Tsuneo Sanda.

Click here to read the related story on the 501st Legion, and click here to check out the entire Road Trip 2010 package.

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5 of 33 Daniel Terdiman/CNET

Robot Chicken's Titan Maximus

This is Robot Chicken's "Titan Maximus."

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Cheshire_Trooper_1.jpg
6 of 33 Daniel Terdiman/CNET

Cheshire Trooper

This is "Chesire Trooper," by Jamie Snell.

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7 of 33 Daniel Terdiman/CNET

501st Airborne

This is one of the most inventive of the TK helmets, "501st Airborne Trooper," by Joe Corroney.

Click here to read the related story on the 501st Legion, and click here to check out the entire Road Trip 2010 package.

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8 of 33 Daniel Terdiman/CNET

Ironman

This is Marc Wolfe's "TK Ironman."

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9 of 33 Daniel Terdiman/CNET

The Creature

This odd TK helmet is "The Creature" by Matt Busch.

Click here to read the related story on the 501st Legion, and click here to check out the entire Road Trip 2010 package.

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10 of 33 Daniel Terdiman/CNET

Celebration Helmet

This is "Celebration Helmet" by Steve Sansweet.

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11 of 33 Daniel Terdiman/CNET

Maori Trooper

This is "Maori Trooper" by Daniel Logan.

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12 of 33 Daniel Terdiman/CNET

Flaming Trooper

This is the West Coast Choppers' "Flaming Trooper."

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13 of 33 Daniel Terdiman/CNET

In the Meadow

This is Nina Yankovic's "TK in the meadow."

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14 of 33 Daniel Terdiman/CNET

TK Ewok

Amy Pronovost created this TK helmet, known as "TK Ewok."

Click here to read the related story on the 501st Legion, and click here to check out the entire Road Trip 2010 package.

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15 of 33 Daniel Terdiman/CNET

Doodle Helmet

This is the front of Katie Cook's "Doodle Helmet."

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16 of 33 Daniel Terdiman/CNET

Doodle back

This is the back of Katie Cook's "Doodle Helmet."

Click here to read the related story on the 501st Legion, and click here to check out the entire Road Trip 2010 package.

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17 of 33 Daniel Terdiman/CNET

TK 1957

Clearly reminiscent of a '57 Chevy, this is "TK 1957" by Russell Walk.

Click here to read the related story on the 501st Legion, and click here to check out the entire Road Trip 2010 package.

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18 of 33 Daniel Terdiman/CNET

Steamtrooper

One of two TK helmets done in the steampunk style, this is Brian Rood's "Steamtrooper."

Click here to read the related story on the 501st Legion, and click here to check out the entire Road Trip 2010 package.

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19 of 33 Daniel Terdiman/CNET

TK Steampunk

The second steampunk TK helmet, this is Lawrence Noble's "TK Steampunk."

Click here to read the related story on the 501st Legion, and click here to check out the entire Road Trip 2010 package.

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20 of 33 Daniel Terdiman/CNET

Darth TK

You knew it was coming: a TK helmet done in the style of Darth Maul. This is Ray Park's "Darth TK."

Click here to read the related story on the 501st Legion, and click here to check out the entire Road Trip 2010 package.

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21 of 33 Daniel Terdiman/CNET

Sith Empire

This is "Sith Empire" by "Star Wars" artist Jan Duuresema.

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22 of 33 Daniel Terdiman/CNET

TK Pharoah

This is "TK Pharoah" by William O'Neill.

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23 of 33 Daniel Terdiman/CNET

Lakers Tribute

Note the headband on "Lakers Tribute" by Randy Martinez.

Click here to read the related story on the 501st Legion, and click here to check out the entire Road Trip 2010 package.

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24 of 33 Daniel Terdiman/CNET

TK R2

An odd mixture of R2-D2 and stormtrooper, this is "TK R2" by Jerry Greene.

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25 of 33 Daniel Terdiman/CNET

Flaming Skulls front

This is the front of Nathan Hamill's "Flaming Skulls."

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26 of 33 Daniel Terdiman/CNET

Flaming Skulls back

This is the back of "Flaming Skulls" by Nathan Hamill.

Click here to read the related story on the 501st Legion, and click here to check out the entire Road Trip 2010 package.

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27 of 33 Daniel Terdiman/CNET

Taken by Chewbacca

Note the large claw marks on the front of this stormtrooper helmet. This is "Taken by Chewbacca" by Peter Mayhew and family. Mayhew, of course, is the actor who played the Wookie Chewbacca in the "Star Wars" movies.

Click here to read the related story on the 501st Legion, and click here to check out the entire Road Trip 2010 package.

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28 of 33 Daniel Terdiman/CNET

"Star Wars in Concert"

This is "Star Wars in Concert," seemingly a working musical instrument, by David Iskra.

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29 of 33 Daniel Terdiman/CNET

TK Plo Koon

This is Dave Filoni's "TK Plo Koon."

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30 of 33 Daniel Terdiman/CNET

Warrior through the Ages

This is "Warrior through the Ages" by Chase Gustafson.

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31 of 33 Daniel Terdiman/CNET

TK Slimer

A "Ghostbusters" tribute? This is "TK Slimer" by Nicole Falk.

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Demon Helmet

This is Melita Curphy's "Demon Helmet."

Click here to read the related story on the 501st Legion, and click here to check out the entire Road Trip 2010 package.

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Red Tail

This is "Red Tail" by Arturo Delgado.

Click here to read the related story on the 501st Legion, and click here to check out the entire Road Trip 2010 package.

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