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.
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.
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Avatar
This is "Avatar" by Denise Vasquez.
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Lost
This is "Lost" creator J.J. Abrams' "The Lost Helmet."
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Jaguar
This is "Jaguar," by Tsuneo Sanda.
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Robot Chicken's Titan Maximus
This is Robot Chicken's "Titan Maximus."
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Cheshire Trooper
This is "Chesire Trooper," by Jamie Snell.
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501st Airborne
This is one of the most inventive of the TK helmets, "501st Airborne Trooper," by Joe Corroney.
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Ironman
This is Marc Wolfe's "TK Ironman."
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The Creature
This odd TK helmet is "The Creature" by Matt Busch.
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Celebration Helmet
This is "Celebration Helmet" by Steve Sansweet.
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Maori Trooper
This is "Maori Trooper" by Daniel Logan.
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Flaming Trooper
This is the West Coast Choppers' "Flaming Trooper."
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In the Meadow
This is Nina Yankovic's "TK in the meadow."
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TK Ewok
Amy Pronovost created this TK helmet, known as "TK Ewok."
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Doodle Helmet
This is the front of Katie Cook's "Doodle Helmet."
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Doodle back
This is the back of Katie Cook's "Doodle Helmet."
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TK 1957
Clearly reminiscent of a '57 Chevy, this is "TK 1957" by Russell Walk.
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Steamtrooper
One of two TK helmets done in the steampunk style, this is Brian Rood's "Steamtrooper."
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TK Steampunk
The second steampunk TK helmet, this is Lawrence Noble's "TK Steampunk."
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Darth TK
You knew it was coming: a TK helmet done in the style of Darth Maul. This is Ray Park's "Darth TK."
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Sith Empire
This is "Sith Empire" by "Star Wars" artist Jan Duuresema.
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TK Pharoah
This is "TK Pharoah" by William O'Neill.
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Lakers Tribute
Note the headband on "Lakers Tribute" by Randy Martinez.
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TK R2
An odd mixture of R2-D2 and stormtrooper, this is "TK R2" by Jerry Greene.
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Flaming Skulls front
This is the front of Nathan Hamill's "Flaming Skulls."
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Flaming Skulls back
This is the back of "Flaming Skulls" by Nathan Hamill.
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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.
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"Star Wars in Concert"
This is "Star Wars in Concert," seemingly a working musical instrument, by David Iskra.
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TK Plo Koon
This is Dave Filoni's "TK Plo Koon."
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Warrior through the Ages
This is "Warrior through the Ages" by Chase Gustafson.
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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."
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Red Tail
This is "Red Tail" by Arturo Delgado.
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