iconoclasta_88

So... I opened the eyes a bit and the teeth too. I ended up opening the teeth much more than I thought but it felt right to do it, so... Also, extended the frown a bit to the right and made it more round on the end. What do you think? I am still not 100% happy with the frown, so I might correct some stuff, specially at both ends. They look too narrow... just a bit off.

Thx Luis, Joe, Mark and Caleb for your help and nice words! I know this build is far from perfect (and far from finished) but I am working hard to achieve the ROTJ look together with the signature messy work the art department add to all OT SW costumes and props. I will trim the eyes to make them bigger... getting rid of the extra plastic. Also, will try to do the same for the teeth and paint the frown´s to extend the right end and make it rounder, but I have a question... Mark, I saw your endor TK replica helmet and the teeth look way bigger than mine, but the helmets on starwarshelmets.com don't seem to have teeth so big. Also, this is a replica intended for a SE TD, and the very few references I could find, does not show good details of the teeth. So, do you think (and everybody) that I should open them as big as yours, or just keep them a bit bigger than what I have at the moment? Here are some ref shots of ANH SE... Any thoughts? The yellow glue is nothing but regular all purpose contact glue. Very popular over here in Mexico and I guess it should be available everywhere. Its the kind of glue shoemakers and leather artisans use... It is yellow from the can. The metalizing of the tips was made with rub-n-buff (silver leaf) with a dry brush technique over satin black testors paint. Thx for all your comments and input! It is much appreciated. Saludos Juan

Yeah! Thx... I do think that the eyes and teeth look a bit off! I actually trimmed a bit more the teeth last night before painting. I guess I should have trimmed the more. Will do. Also, the eyes... I will try to make them bigger. So many references and all, and still find it very difficult to replicate. This i a tuff job to tackle. ROTJ is not a walk in the park. Specially for me, after having done so many ANH TDs... I am used to other kind of details and moulds. But I will get this done! No doubt of it... Thx bro. What about the color? Does that black looks right in your opinion? Thx a lot Joe! Saludos.

Hey Caleb, Thx for the encouragement. As Mark already said it is a JoeR. And here is my own build in case you or anyone feels like checking it out. http://forum.whitearmor.net/index.php?showtopic=15273&hl=&fromsearch=1 And over that thread you can find a link to the whole build over the MEPD. THX. saludos. Juan.

After almost a year, i have been able to go back tothis project and hopefully will be finishing it very soon. I was never 100% happy with the frown so I re-painted the it with a mix of flat and satin black from humbrol. It went out awesome! At least the color. Hehehe. The shape is not that bad either. So, here are some pictures of the bucket in its current form, as a TK. And the metalizing job so that the mic tips look metal like the originals from ROTJ. And a little preview of the replica insides. Still to come, get new silkscreened decals and then into SE style Weathering. What do you think? Saludos.

I finally got the spine to work on the frown again and try to remove the paint. Went to the model train store and after a loooong talk to the owner, I decided to go directly to the paint with testors paint thinner (not before making several testing on plastic). This cause I could not find the paint stripper from testors. But it worked good enough. Just removed the paint from the edges, and now in my way to make it better. Also got two tones of humbrol back to follow your technique. I must say that I would probbaly never get to do ot if It was not for your build and encouragement. The helmet is still far from finished... And as I am attempting to do a replica (or as close to "replica forgery" as possible), there is still lots of work ahead of me. Dont want to kidnap your thread. Just wanted to come back and say thank you, and share a picture. Thx a lot bro.

Sad sad news! His work and art inspired so many things we now take for granted... Including of course the living universe of SW. May he RIP. Saludos.

Duct tape Black electricians tape Sticky Industrial strength velcro (white and black) Swiss army knife Batteries Hot glue gun and sticks And that's it. Saludos

If this was proven to be the very first fan made full Vader helmet, it would be worth a lot more. But, how can anyone prove that. Anyway, for a fair price, I am sure that someone like Steve Sansweet would actually go for it. Reminds me of my own 4th bday party Vader costume... Saludos

Yes! THX a lot bro... for all you have done (and will keep doing for sure) for us guys wanting to wear a white armor, even if it is dirty. Cheers for those 5 years as DL! Saludos!

Congrats bro! Saludos.

Those are great tips! I will try to go to the store this weekend and get all what I need. There ia a model train store just a few blocks grom here, they should have everything there. I am not building the whole SE armor, not yet. Just the bucket... But every time I workon it (its been a year now) I am very tempted to do it. Lets see... First the helmet, the. The rest of it. Thanks foryour help. Saludos.

Yeah, just move it back and forth and not keep it in the same place for more than a fraction of a second. It is slower, but will prevent the plastic to melt and stick to the iron. Saludos.

Really awesome helmet! I myself am building (still) a CFO bucket. First as a ROTJ and then turning it into a SE TD. I really did a bad job on the frown... yours is inspiring. You masked it and spray painted, right? I am on my way to sand it off and repaint it. First time used a satin black and brush. Next will be flat satin black and a thin layer of flat black over it. Both sprayed... and masking the frown for sure. Do you think that would work? Thx Saludos

It has pretty much been all said about LEDs and other add-ons, and I thought I had a good idea of what Centurion required, however I am surprised with two things: And... What brings me to this question: Is a weathered armor, chipped helmet, crappy painted boots and white gaffers tape in ankles a No go for centurion... Cuase even though I have no TK amor, I am planning to build one this year and my ultimate goal is to make it as screen used accurate as possible and go for EIB and Centurion. Don't mean to kidnap the thread, but I guess it still keeps inside the "Centurion and Mods" topic. Saludos.

Where I come from we think T-21's are really cool BFGs!! One thing is for sure, it is not the most practical and comfortable thing to carry around. Saludos.

Here are a couple pictures showing the inside of the helmet. There is much work still to be done, but you get the idea. I will be replacing the green material for lighting filter acetate used in film production. Will also weather and age the inside and the foam and elastic strap and snaps. And, will be using new more accurate hovi's. Still need to decide which maker, have a few different ones already. And will probably add some sort of shinny finish to the white paint. Any suggestions? Thx a lot. Saludos.

I will be revisiting and finishing this bucket soon... So, if anyone has any comments or can see details I am missing, I would appreciate it. Still to come are the pictures of the inside. Saludos.

Congrats bluey. Now go back to your SWAT project!!! Saludos.

Awesome! Saludos

Sorry to hear the sad news my friend. All my best vibes for you and your family. Saludos

The more I look at the pictures, the more I think it is like this: Both the guy on the left on the two shot reference and the one putting off the helmet. What do you think? Saludos

Yeah! I know sis. You are right with not wanting to assume. Assuming is not going to take us closer to accuracy ever. I just mean, do you want to be accurate to THAT reference??? Honestly, and this is not meaning to discourage you in any way, but I don't. I rather be accurate to other references where the neck seal looks better and more "standard" to other troopers along the saga. Just an opinion. Still, I would love to see this prototype done too! Saludos

mmmm Here is a thought. And this probably everyone has already though about at some point, but... My experience in the hobby is mostly with TDs, and over there, things do not match at all from one guy to the next one. Different ways to strap stuff, different parts for the same function/look, different solutions to specific one person problems... I have learned to take one reference from one trooper as what it is, one reference. And understand that there are many other ways thing might have been done in the same scene, at the same moment for the same "character" (being it TDs). So... It would not surprise me if there were lots of different stuff used for neckseals... from scuba seals, to turtle neck sweaters to scarfs... latex, cloth, rubber, leather or whatever. Specially for the background guys. Anyway... all this you all know. Just wanted to say it again. I am veeeeeeeeery interested in this thread. Been waiting for an accurate stunt neckseal for years. Keep it going Karin!! There is a lot of interest in this project for sure! Saludos Juan

Thats the beauty of it! Saludos