Searching for Rebel trooper helmet variations

Almost as soon as I finished my ‘fleet trooper’ helmet back in 2017, I started planning a ‘donut’ helmet build, which I hoped would remedy all the complaints I had of the ‘swoop’ helmet: it would be smaller, more mobile, quieter, and much better at blending in with woodland scenery. However, on the off chance that I ever feel like busting out my ol’ swoop again, I’ve still kept my eyes open for examples of documented swoop helmet variations that might be a little more woodland guerilla-friendly. Sure, it would be easy to say, ‘Ehh, I’m sure a Rebel cell somewhere must have painted their helmets to blend in better, just make something up!’ But for accurate reenacting and living history, the bar is a little higher, and we can’t settle for fan creations on DeviantArt—we need examples from the visual record! Therefore, I wanted to share the examples of non-standard Rebel ‘swoop’ helmets that I’ve been able to dig up in hopes that they might be of use to someone else in the same boat. Enjoy!

These swoop-less helmets (art by Brian Schonburg) appear in Rules of Engagement, the Rebel SpecForces Handbook (1997).

The Rebel heavy weapon specialist ‘vanguards’ in BattlefrontII!2005 also wore a swoopless helmet this time in a cream color.

These swoop-esque helmets appear on the Empire at War: Forces of Corruption box art (2006). I think the tan/silver look is a little better than the standard light gray, but not by much.

Agent of the Empire: Hard Targets (2012) featured a visit to Alderaan, where planet security forces wear swoop helmets in shades of dark gray.

These guys show up in the Essential Guide to Warfare (2012), and have the notable variation that the front shield section only appears to cover the center of the helmet instead of going fully from side to side.

Dark Horse’s From the Ruins of Alderaan arc (2013) included beige-helmeted troopers serving aboard ships in the Rebel Fleet. Note how this helmet is just as big as one with a swoop, but is all one piece (plus the front shield).

Finally, the holy grail: hiding near the back of FFG’s Age of Rebellion Core Rulebook (2014), a lovely vignette of Rebel fighters with forest-colored swoop helmets—dark gray with green accents.

(If you want to look at post-Disney sources, one of the background Partisan characters of RougeOne, ‘Euwood Gor’ wears a dark-painted swoop helmet, likely reused by a background bounty hunter in The Mandalorian S01E01 and 03 (more of that double-dipping by the costume department I keep mentioning).

Valued commenter S.C. alerted me to two variants – one seen in RougeOne, and a teal topped-RFT (would probably look a lot better if the white was toned down to a light gray) from BattlefrontII!2017:

Is there a source I’ve missed somewhere? Let me know in the comments and I’ll happily add it to the references above!

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