ID That Tusken!

[MarsVoyager]

I would like to summarize my findings when identifying the ANH Tuskens. I'm quite new in Krayt knowledge, please correct me if you find some errors in my findings. According to the recent Star Wars Costumes: The Original Trilogy, by Brandon Alinger, 2014, there were four Tusken masks made for ANH. I call them A, B, C and D. However only A, B, C were seen in the movie and D appeared later.

In summary I and others (recently jtechlove) have found this from reference photos:

A
ANH: Seen with a rifle aiming at Luke's landspeeder and attacking Luke with a long mace headed Totokia club.
B
ANH: Riding a bantha, seen with a mace headed Bovai Gadi.

Books: From Star Wars to Indiana Jones 1995.
Exhibitions: The Magic of Myth 1997-2003, Where Science Meets Imagination 2005-2014.
Photos from the LFL Archives.
C
ANH: Behind A when A has the rifle, seen with a mace headed Sali club.
Gus Lopez has this in his possession.
D
Not identified in ANH.
Books: Chronicles book 1997, Star Wars Visual dictionary 1998, Star Wars Costumes 2014.
Blu-ray still photos.

I have seen some different methods to identify a Tusken like comparing head and mouth wrapping patterns, some other methods may give a hint like robes, bandoliers and weapons. Note that very often, if not always, profile photos are mirrored, make sure to check bandoliers and how weapons are held to get right/left side right. The head wrapping of Tusken A has been summarized  by TrainWreck in this post:

http://www.kraytclan.com/forum/topic/3988-tusken-mask-wrapping-reference-photos/

But is there another way to identify a Tusken in a reference picture? What is the DNA of a Tusken? Lets look at the nose/tooth and I will use some maths to give a Tusken an ID, and a method to identify a Tusken.

Measure the width of five tooth parts and normalize to get the sum 100, think 100%, 100 mm, 100 pixels etc. side to side. This is a picture of the measurements:

Measuring for the ANH Tuskens I get the following IDs:
A: 31, 15, 10, 17, 27 (sum = 100)
B: 29, 18, 10, 15, 28 (sum = 100)
C: 31, 16, 15, 18, 20 (sum = 100)
D: 25, 17, 13, 16, 29 (sum = 100)

In a graph this looks like this:

Now for a new reference picture shot en face take the same measurements, normalize to 100 and calculate the least square distance to each of the known IDs. The unknown Tusken is likely to be identical to the Tusken which has the shortest/lowest distance.

Example: For Tusken A we have the measurements a1, a2, a3, a4, a5. For the unknown Tusken X we have x1, x2, x3, x4, x5. The least square distance for A is the Square root of [(a1 - x1)^2  + (a2 - x2)^2  + (a3 - x3)^2  + (a4 - x4)^2  + (a5 - x5)^2 ].

As a side note the ID of the Tusken may change if it undergoes a nose transplant;-)

[MarsVoyager]

Mirrored/flipped profile photos:

http://starwarsaficionado.blogspot.com/2012/06/star-wars-at-35-tusken-trio.html
Shall be the left side of Tuskens A, B, and C, compare the en face photo. Compare ground slope, tusken positions and weapons.

http://www.kraytclan.com/forum/topic/1272-reference-pictures-enclosed/#entry10758
Star Wars Chronicles book 1997.
Shall be the right side of Tusken D. Bandolier buckle should be on right shoulder and the pineapple end is usually in the right hand.

http://www.starwars.com/news/tusken-raiders-meet-tatooines-menacing-desert-dwellers
Shall be the right side of Tuskens B, C, and A, dragging Luke. Compare bandoliers on tusken A.

[jtechlove]

Good eye MV! I like the A,B,C,D identifying system,it makes it easier when explaining the different masks. It's due time that we all realize the differences of these 4 masks so we can start making them more screen accurate. I've looked at the reference photos for so long that I can tell each mask by just looking at the shape of the the mouth piece only, also like you've noticed the teeth are all different along with the head wrap pattern, overall shape of the mask, aluminum pieces etc. People have been focusing on D for a long time now. I've seen a couple people copy the A mask and one person copy the B mask so far. It would be neat to see people start making the A,B and C masks so we can get more variety in the Tusken world.

[garbz]

This looks like the start of the MEPD breakdown of the troopers!

[TrainWreck]

Thanks for the shout out!

So to over complicate things the mace head gaffi B is holding doesn't even appear in the film. It has three ridges on the fins while the screen used one has only two.

So in order to do this we would need to break down each outfit per scene since it is almost a given that they mixed and matched parts and outfits (just like Garbz said an MEPD style breakdown).

If my brain serves me well, and keep in mind it's just before 6am here, there are five main scenes/shots with Tuskens.

1. Two Tuskens on the ridge with the rifle. 2. Two bantha riders running toward a bantha. 3. Two bantha riders one one the bantha turning it and one running up behind it. 4. Peter Diamond's Tusken attacking Luke. 5. Three Tuskens picking through the speeder.

I don't have time right now but a good start would be to go to Star Wars screen caps and start getting good shots of each of the five scenes to do a breakdown.

http://starwarsscreencaps.com/

Great job so far!

Edited February 7, 2020 by navarre1095

[TrainWreck]

Funny, looking back over your photos I have the wrappings of A but the shape of B. The more you know!

[MarsVoyager]

I'm uncertain if there are three ridges on the mace head of the gaffi carried by B, it does however look like there are eight flanges in the photo. The flanges overlap somewhat to make impression of three or even more ridges. In the profile photo of ABC it looks like in the movie. But all flanges are perhaps not the same?

[TrainWreck]

Well geeze, you might be right.  There are only two ridges per fin on that mace head.  As far as 6 vs 4 fins it's almost impossible to tell from the screen shots as well as almost impossible to tell if that ring on the shaft in the promo is present on the film version.  That ring might make or break the deal:

 

 

 

 

 

Edited February 7, 2020 by navarre1095

[TrainWreck]

This is possibly the ring but is also possibly an artifact of the image:

 

 

 

 

 

Edited February 7, 2020 by navarre1095

[MarsVoyager]

My findings on the gaffi held by tusken B:

The proportions (lengths of handle, tube, flanges, and peak) are the same on:

[1] Photos of tuskens ABC (earlier posts front and side)
http://www.starwars.com/databank/tusken-raiders
http://starwarsaficionado.blogspot.se/2012/06/star-wars-at-35-tusken-trio.html

[2] The reference photo in http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Gaderffii
of three gaffi sticks (possibly based on Fijian clubs I Ula Kobo, Bovai Gadi, and Sali; compare http://www.new-guinea-tribal-art.com/wp/index.php/2011/09/29/fijian-war-club/)

[3] The film A New Hope, compare snaps by TrainWreck above.

Details on parts, base to tip:

• handle, circular cross section [1]. Possibly based on a Bovai Gadi.
• tube, circular cross section [1].
• ring, circular. In the film snap by TrainWreck above you actually see the ring in the left picture just above the right hand [3]. I overlayed photo [2] and scaled based on flanges and peak. The rings came out aligned for [1][2][3]. The rings are also perfectly aligned for the right picture [3].
• flanges, has eight (8.) flanges [1], each with two main ridges [1][2][3]. I made a 3D model based on photo [2] rotated it and compared with [1]. I attached a picture below and you can see that the eight flanges give impression of more than two ridges.
• peak, has a square cross section [1]. Edit 2017-07-25: It has been proposed that the peak has three sides, and I think that would match better. Compare the discussion started by Ahdeska here:
  http://www.kraytclan.com/forum/topic/5324-secondary-mace-head-question/

Edit 2015-02-02: Added picture.

As a side note: the gaffi held by tusken C, the mace headed Sali club, looks right length wise as compared with picture [2] but the stock horn and butt looks different. I'm not sure if this can be explained by different perspectives.

[MarsVoyager]

For the scenes I would like to add Two banthas and one tusken seen in binoculars. I think the scenes 1, 6, 7 (picture below) were shot in Tunisia and scenes 2, 3, 4, 5 were shot later in Death Valley, US, probably without head A.

The scenes, now in order, I took the liberty of renumbering the scenes identified by TrainWreck:

1. Two Tuskens (C&A) on the ridge, (A) with the rifle.
2. One bantha rider on the bantha (B.) and one (?) running up behind it.
3. Two bantha riders (B&C) running toward a bantha.
4. Two bantha riders on a bantha turning it (B in front & ?).
5. Two banthas and one Tusken (?) with rifle seen in binoculars.
6. Peter Diamond's Tusken (A) attacking Luke.
7. Three Tuskens (ABC) picking through the speeder.

Has anyone tried to identify the bantha riders?

Edit 2015-02-03: Added a picture of the scenes.
Edit 2015-02-06: Changed to a new picture of the scenes (one added), identification of Tusken B.
I think we have Tusken B on the bantha, judging from head wrapping. But the resolution is quite bad.
Edit 2015-02-10: Consistent numbering of scenes, and C added in scene 3.

Most probably we have Tusken C in scenes 2 and 4 as well.

[MarsVoyager]

I summarized the scenes in the post above, also I think we have the Tusken B head on the bantha.

[jtechlove]

I summarized the scenes in the post above, also I think we have the Tusken B head on the bantha.

Yes...B and C are the Bantha riders. Look at the High Definition shots available on line at

http://starwarsscreencaps.com/star-wars-episode-iv-a-new-hope-1977/18/

Magnify the HD photos and compare them to these two photos of B and C.

[MarsVoyager]

Yes indeed, the overall shape of the heads give it away, at least for scene 3. A new summary in table form:

Can we assume that it is head B in scene 5 from the large waist pouches? Or C from the rifle?
I included findings on 7B waist pouches by Gobsmacked, see http://www.kraytclan.com/forum/topic/4129-possible-new-belt-pouches/
And 7C bandoliers by TrainWreck, see http://www.kraytclan.com/forum/topic/4447-tusken-behind-the-scenes-screencaps/

I would be happy to add more references here.

The elements and their different designations:

Bandoliers

• Ottoman: WWI Ottoman/Turkish Army Infantryman's Bandolier
• Martin-Henry: Martin Henry 577/.450
• .303: Lee Metford/Lee Enfield .303
• 1903: British P-1903 Enfield
• Swiss K31: Swiss Schmidt Rubin 1911 K31 Ammo Pouch Bandolier / Luke waist pouches
• large pouches: Custom waist pouches

Weapons

• mace headed Totokia: Pineapple gaffi
• mace headed Sali: Gun stock gaffi
• mace headed Bovai Gadi: Mace head gaffi

Edit 2015-02-14: Added different designations for bandoliers and weapons, as TrainWreck pointed out below.
Updated the table with the 7C bandoliers, thanks TrainWreck (post below).
I also added Tusken D in the table.

[MarsVoyager]

Thanks jtechlove, that is a good photo of C and it is new for me. Where is is cut from?

[jtechlove]

Yea no prob! I think It's from The Making Of Star Wars 1977 documentary. At one point I picked over every documentary I could find and took screen shots of the Tusken parts. That photo is a shot of the Tusken's standing around while being directed by George Lucas.

[TrainWreck]

OK.  Here is a bandoleer breakdown from my behind the scenes screencap thread.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Great breakdown btw.  For the gaffi section you might want to add the names we use on here to eliminate confusion for people doing research.  Pineapple gaffi, gun stock gaffi, mace head gaffi.  Just my 2 cents though.

 

Edited February 7, 2020 by navarre1095
fixed the pic

[TrainWreck]

OK!  Here is the updated one with Luke replaced with Swiss K31.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited February 7, 2020 by navarre1095
fixed the pic

[garbz]

You can see a double tang buckle on the shoulder of the tusken NOT carrying Luke!

[TrainWreck]

You can see a double tang buckle on the shoulder of the tusken NOT carrying Luke!

 

 

I think the Martini Henrys had a double tang  Though I know in order to get the 1903s to mirror each other they would have to be flipped with the buckle on the shoulder (in the example in the Star Wars Costume book they show 2 pattern 1903's on the model though it says that particular setup wasn't used in the movie but rather for touring shows).  I assume the same could go with the martini henry.  Does anyone know if the ottoman had a double tang buckle?

[MarsVoyager]

Yes, garbz that buckle implies a Martin-Henry bandolier on 7B right (sic) shoulder as the side photo is flipped. I've updated the table in my previous post, thanks for all input.

Edit: The Ottoman bandolier does not have the double-tongued Sam-Browne buckle.

Edited February 14, 2015 by MarsVoyager

[garbz]

We're gonna get this down!!! Future Tuskens will have it easy!

[MarsVoyager]

Respirator/moist collector/neck breather
By resorting to reference photos I got the following on the respirators.

The one worn by Tusken B is from the Magic of Myth exhibition because I could not find a sharp picture of it from any other place, the respirator worn by C is from the picture above (jtechlove).

An interesting conclusion is that the D respirator might be the same as A. Only the seam is not facing forward.

MoM B is quite different, compare the possibly found part by garbz in http://www.kraytclan.com/forum/topic/4407-respirator-end/

The C respirator is possibly different from A/D, but I think it has the flared nuts.

 

Edit: Up is left for A, C and D, and right for B. Does that overlapping end seam lip of the leather wrap really face upwards for A as stated in the 501 CRL?

[wingnut65]

Great info on the bandoliers and respirators.  Now we can identify these as well by letter.

 

I agree with you on the wrap.  From the overlap on the lip of the can, it looks like it the wrap faces downward.

[wingnut65]

While searching for info on the leather mouth wraps, I made an observation and posted on one of TW's threads.  Since this thread is for identifying the different masks, I'll post here as well...

All three masks have different amounts of leather wrapping above the tooth. This makes it fairly easy to identify them quickly.

'A' appears to have two layers of leather above the tooth

'B' has just one layer of leather above the tooth.

'C' has possibly three layers. Also, the nose strip is curling up on 'C', but not on the others. AKA: Gus Lopez

'D' also has two layers of leather

Here's my quick comparison of the three:

And just to confirm, I have this picture saved in my research calling 'C' as the Gus Lopez Movie Mask. It has three layers of leather over the tooth and the nose is curling up.

 

Edited February 7, 2020 by wingnut65