Dark Lord of the Sky: Homemade Darth Vader balloon

Craft & Design
Dark Lord of the Sky: Homemade Darth Vader balloon

20070417B 1 Bg

This a rad, a Belgian Star Wards fan, Benoît Lambert got permission (and made) a Darth Vader hot air balloon!

Lucasfilm gave its approval for Lambert to have the balloon built with his own funds, using one of the most recognizable characters in cinema, as long as the balloon was not used for commercial pursuits. “We contacted Cameron — the world’s largest manufacturer of hot air balloons — and a Darth Vader helmet replica was sent to their engineers to help them recreate every detail,” Lambert recalls. “A vector file representing the Vader helmet in 3-D was also sent to the engineers. Once the first draft was in our hands, several shape and color modifications were discussed and made in order to be sure that the balloon would look as much as possible like the real Darth Vader helmet. Colors were chosen to optimize 3-D effects once the balloon is in flight. For aesthetic reasons, grey shades around the face are slightly different from the official shape.”

Dark Lord of the Sky: Homemade Darth Vader balloon – [via] Link.

12 thoughts on “Dark Lord of the Sky: Homemade Darth Vader balloon

  1. Unomi says:

    And when you open up the burner, does it make a sound like: “Fffoooooogh…Shhh…Ffffoooooogh….”???? I mean, Darth Vader has to breath no?

    – Unomi –

  2. C00kie says:

    According to the website, this balloon will fly on a balloon meeting in Zwijndrecht, Belgium, in july. I hope I can make it there and take lots and lots of pictures! Now if only someone made a stormtrooper or Yoda balloon!

  3. fstedie says:

    Now, if you had the world’s largest balloon manufacturer make it for you then it’s not home made is it?

  4. slackfactory says:

    There can only be one…

  5. slackfactory says:

    oops, the link didn’t work… Here it is:

    http://farm1.static.flickr.com/208/471584543_e0cd1508be.jpg?v=0

  6. dkblanar says:

    “You down there, in the garden. Your flowerbed is insignificant next to the power of the Force.”

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