boomer75[TK] Posted February 26, 2015 Report Posted February 26, 2015 ok, well after getting the helmet kit in the mail a few months ago I mustered up the courage to start cutting it up. I'm building two; one for me, one for my wife. So the wife gets the one that is better (I'm guessing that will be the second one). Since i don't want to screw up two, i'm building one first and then will follow up with the second one with mad skillz. I screwed the helmet halves together to test the fit and get the brow where i like it. (I like the lower brow - I think it looks meaner). I didn't fasten the lower part yet since I don't quite know where the ears will cover and the ear screw will need to go. I'm really happy ATA provides an extra set of ears. While i was watching the cutting end, I ignored where the rest of the dremel was. This happened about 30 seconds into the VOYAGE OF THE EARS. So.. on to the second right ear.... After trimming on the ear for quite a while- This is where I have some questions. About how "thick" should the ear be off the temple? I think what I have here might need some more trimming to basically pull the whole thing in maybe 1/16 to 1/8". Any opinions? Also, I welcome any feedback on the teeth and eye cutouts. This is fun! -Mark Quote
boomer75[TK] Posted February 26, 2015 Author Report Posted February 26, 2015 Oh, and a huge THANKS for all the contributors here! I would be completely lost without all the helpful tutorials, tips, advice I've spent hours (and possibly the past two years ) reading here. Hope my future contributions will eventually help others in the same way. -Mark Quote
The5thHorseman[501st] Posted February 26, 2015 Report Posted February 26, 2015 You seem to have a nice fit right now, but you're right the ear is a little thick. On the original helmets you can see that they were quite thin: The eyes look good. And the teeth seem in good way too. Perhaps they could be some more squared at the corners rather than rounded though, even if it's hard to tell on the picture. Keep up the great work! Quote
gmrhodes13[Staff] Posted February 26, 2015 Report Posted February 26, 2015 Coming along nicely, just a couple of tweaks Quote
boomer75[TK] Posted February 26, 2015 Author Report Posted February 26, 2015 Thanks guys. looks like i need to position the ear somewhat lower as well. Quote
boomer75[TK] Posted March 17, 2015 Author Report Posted March 17, 2015 I trimmed down the ear thickness, and finished the other side too. Second ear went much faster. I also trimmed out the opening flash, test fit the lens, and gave the whole thing a good polish. Of course once I got it all together, I couldn't help but put it on for a quick test drive! Next I will begin the painting process, and in between coats work on my wife's helmet, which so far only has the face trimmed out. question: vocoder- gloss, satin, or flat black? 1 Quote
bpoodoo Posted March 21, 2015 Report Posted March 21, 2015 I believe satin black. Definitely for ESB and preferred for ANH. See http://www.whitearmor.net/forum/topic/29696-vocoder-paint/ Quote
boomer75[TK] Posted March 25, 2015 Author Report Posted March 25, 2015 Painting under way. i went with gloss black on the vocorder, but can recoat in satin. Next step is to cut in the second coat of 1138 gray on the traps, etc. I'm still on the fence if my ears stick out too far in general. Quote
illusionz_09[TK] Posted March 26, 2015 Report Posted March 26, 2015 its coming along. Looks great Quote
Mutter Posted March 26, 2015 Report Posted March 26, 2015 Gloss is ok, it all depends on how accurate you want to be. Helmet looks great so far! Quote
boomer75[TK] Posted March 27, 2015 Author Report Posted March 27, 2015 Progress so far. cutting in the gray. 1 Quote
illusionz_09[TK] Posted March 27, 2015 Report Posted March 27, 2015 Remember, the ears have black outline too... everything is looking great though, keep up the good work. Quote
boomer75[TK] Posted March 28, 2015 Author Report Posted March 28, 2015 outlined the ears and painted the ear stripe each side, traps and tears vent lines. I don't have templates so I eyeballed it as best I could using resources here on the forum as references. tube stripes are next! Quote
boomer75[TK] Posted March 28, 2015 Author Report Posted March 28, 2015 Gloss is ok, it all depends on how accurate you want to be. Helmet looks great so far! Thanks! I recoated the vocorder with semi-gloss and now it has a better "matte-ish" finish to it. Quote
Zarlon[TK] Posted March 28, 2015 Report Posted March 28, 2015 Looks great! Hope mine turns out that well! Quote
bpoodoo Posted March 29, 2015 Report Posted March 29, 2015 Nice job on the detailing. You definitely have a steady hand. The black outlines and lines within the tears and traps are superb and especially impressive if done freehand. Do you recall what size paintbrush you used for them? Quote
boomer75[TK] Posted March 29, 2015 Author Report Posted March 29, 2015 I used a 5/0 size brush for the details. For traps and tears interior lines, I used the technique gazmosis showed in his ATA helmet howto thread. Basically use a fine point sharpie to lightly dot the lines in place. When I brushed the paint on, it was just connecting the dots. I used masking tape on the top and bottom for the clean cutoff. I dragged the paint from the masking tape first, then onto the line to minimize bleed under the tape. To get the fine outlines on the tears and traps, i first painted the black, with only really minding where i was toward the outside edge. Once that was dry, I cut in the gray with a wide brush as well, again, just minding the outer edge. really made it easy to get a fine outline, since you have a few chances to go over again (but with a slightly thinner outline each time) if you get an unsteady bump. Quote
bpoodoo Posted March 29, 2015 Report Posted March 29, 2015 Ah hah thanks for describing your technique. I had been painting the gray area first then the black outline. But I had some trouble keeping the outline thickness consistent. I now get it why painting the rough black outline first makes it easier. You only have to pay attention to the outside path of the paint stroke for both the gray and black. Thanks! Quote
boomer75[TK] Posted March 30, 2015 Author Report Posted March 30, 2015 sure thing. glad to be of help! Quote
boomer75[TK] Posted April 2, 2015 Author Report Posted April 2, 2015 Got started on the tube stripes. I used the templates from Pandatrooper (thanks mucho!) I used the "hand painted" template http://www.whitearmor.net/forum/topic/14867-tube-stripe-masking-templates/ I printed them out, verified the scale, laid masking tape on a plastic cutting board and clear taped the paper to the top of the masking tape. you can't see the clear tape covering the whole thing here, but after I cut out the template holes, I was able to lift the tape off the top and peel the masking tape away from the cutting board to then attach to the side of the helmet. I don't have an air brush rig, and was concerned about bleed under the mask, so I opted for tracing with pencil to hand paint the stripes. using the 'ol 5/0 size brush, I went to town with le French blue. although i finished this side with one coat (I will need two), the paint did start to "gum" up as I worked. I'm using the Testor's Model Master paint. I have read that Humbrol takes considerably longer to set up which in this case is an advantage. Are there others who use the Testor's paint with this method, and if so, how have you dealt with the rapidity of the paint drying? I ended up recapping the paint and shaking it again every three stripes or so, which got me through it, but I have some slight brush stroke texture on the stripes. mark Quote
boomer75[TK] Posted April 6, 2015 Author Report Posted April 6, 2015 here's the finished* product *never really going to be finished, interior, fans, microphones, tweaks etc... 1 Quote
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