MOC TK Helmet - Classic Stormtrooper Helmet with some modifications

[T-Jay[TK]]

Hello there

 

Thought it was about time to start another 'with some modifications' - thread.

As most people here, I simply love our Classic Stormtroopers:

 

 

Since starting my research back in 2012, I also came across some very interesting variants from video games, comics and so on:            (photos taken from the 501st CRLs)

 

 

While each alteration and/or addition helped giving the armor a special appearance, the idea of being unbound and free of any CRL always appealed to me.

With this MOC - helmet I will try to combine multiple modifications into a single helmet.

Recently I got a suitable kit for this project and collected a few add-ons, so let's see what this turns into...

Like with every other kit, my first step was a rough cut, before washing and drying it.

 

 

Was not sure at all, if I could ever add such a big and symmetrical 3D-printed item (made from sturdy PETG) onto a wonky classic helmet.

However, the top ends of the ears perfectly meet the Blast Shield with little gaps that I will later take care of.

 

List of modifications so far:

1 - Blast Shield

2 - Black Interior

 

Thank you for reading and stay tuned for the next updates.

Edited January 9, 2021 by T-Jay

[gmrhodes13[Staff]]

Looking forward to the progress, nice work

[Sly11[Admin]]

Wow Tino, this is a great thread!

[Bulldog44[TK]]

Very cool project Tino! Off to a great start.

Will this costume be more battle damage style or fresh from the armory?

 I love the blast shield part. 

[T-Jay[TK]]

Many thanks for your comments Glen @gmrhodes13 and Andrew @Sly11.  Great to see you interested in such an uncommon idea. 

 

On 1/13/2021 at 5:37 AM, Bulldog44 said:

(...)   Will this costume be more battle damage style or fresh from the armory?

 I love the blast shield part. 

Thanks Brian. This helmet is meant to later look like some kind of spec ops trooper and I definitely want to add some serious battle damages plus weathering.

 

Currently I am struggling with painting that thing and hope to update this thread soon...

[T-Jay[TK]]

Okay, the paint work is not yet completed, but at least I made some progress.

Started with the Blast Shield and unlike the Mimban Trooper, I wanted it to have a different color. Had a weird idea for this... 

 

 

I was pretty happy with the result but now had to make a plan for the rest of the helmet. So I closely inspected the 501st registered costumes above.

A classic white base seemed best but raised the question for a contrasting color. Blue and red are allocated to the Commander and the Incinerator.

Would a dark orange work? Or would that look like a Stormtrooper version of Clone Commander Cody?

 

Next I thought of green, which immediately brought up the idea for camouflage.

Although not being very common in the Star Wars Universe, there are some examples for it:

Kashyyyk Trooper, ARF Trooper, ARF Trooper Waxer, ARF Trooper Boil or the 41st Scout Battalion

 

The idea behind this helmet is to turn the look a bit more towards a special soldier, equipped with many infrequent extras for his secret missions.

A camouflage paint job would surely fit to that, so I researched the different types and considered, what I was able to do with the options I had.

 

 

Okay, that test piece simply looked poor. Sorry, no camouflage here.

Sticking to the special soldier theme, I then considered to go with NATO green only. The planned additions for this helmet will add a bit more colors later anyway.

 

But I really liked how a different color on the mouth piece (see Incinerator Trooper and Sky Trooper) cause the impression of this being a separate and removable part.

So I masked this area before spraying.

 

 

The helmet appears a bit dark on the last photos because of the lighting.

 

Thank you for reading.

Edited February 25, 2021 by T-Jay

[Cody42[TK]]

Looks great! Can't wait to see it in person

[gmrhodes13[Staff]]

You could also consider a yellow like the Mortar trooper which may tie in more with the army type coloring

 

[Bulldog44[TK]]

I love the green color for the helmet. Amazing rust effect on the blast shield. 
 

I am a huge fan of camouflage but think the solid NATO green for this project will certainly be better. Perhaps you could add camouflage to a weapon or some accessory pouch ,etc. 

[T-Jay[TK]]

On 1/20/2021 at 9:44 PM, Cody42 said:

Looks great! Can't wait to see it in person

Oh, you will.  Let's just wait until we can meet again in Leverkusen...   A 'Pfefferschnitzel' is highly overdue.

 

On 1/20/2021 at 9:54 PM, gmrhodes13 said:

You could also consider a yellow like the Mortar trooper which may tie in more with the army type coloring

Thanks for mentioning Glen.  Green and yellow sounds like a good combination, too. But to be honest, I already have something in mind for that last white spot on this helmet...

 

20 hours ago, Bulldog44 said:

(...)   I am a huge fan of camouflage but think the solid NATO green for this project will certainly be better. Perhaps you could add camouflage to a weapon or some accessory pouch ,etc. 

Sounds like a great idea but in this case I am only building a helmet, not a full costume. This fact is limiting when it comes to integrate paint schemes and colors.

However, I am still pretty confident...

[Bulldog44[TK]]

Sorry I thought you were doing the whole costume. Helmet is the best part anyway so this will be a beautiful display piece. 

[T-Jay[TK]]

I hope so, Brian...

 

Meanwhile the work continued:

 

 

The last photo got posted to discuss the best color option for the ear screws.

They could be painted in matte black, NATO green, Humbrol grey or I could leave them brass as they are now. What do you think?

Thank you for reading and commenting.

[Cheeseballs]

The brass looks kinda cool, I think. Gives the already colorful helmet some more colors 

[gmrhodes13[Staff]]

Nice work with the painting 

[Bulldog44[TK]]

Great job! Lovin it. Ｗell done fixing the paint that bled on the tube stripes. 
On my ATA helmet build I considered using the tube stripe stencils but i had a bad experience using stencils on another project. Instead I decided to try the original method and brush the stripes on. With the right brush it made the job easier than I expected. 
 

I am stumped on the ear screw colors. Perhaps matte black but I agree with Iza, the brass looks interesting in the scheme of things.

[T-Jay[TK]]

Okay, today we will finally see the color on that last unpainted piece of the helmet.

But first to the teeth...

 

 

Before painting the teeth, I first had to do the lower face.

The two-toned paint job on this helmet helps to make it look like the lower section is a removable part that can be changed if damaged.

I wanted this to have a metal-like appearance to give the impression of a new unpainted part and that these helmets are being made from Durasteel.

A simple silver paint was not sufficient, so I checked my cans of Humbrol Metal Cote but 27001 was too bright and the rest was too dark.

 

 

More weathering (later) will help to darken the silver.

Hard to see on these photos but the brush strokes and the 2 layers of polished Humbrol Metal Cote really worked good.

 

List of modifications so far:
1 - Blast Shield
2 - Black Interior
3 - Two-tone paint job

 

Have a nice weekend Troopers and Cadets

Edited February 24, 2021 by T-Jay

[Bulldog44[TK]]

Sweet! The paint color on the lower half really pulls the whole thing together. And the black wash gives it that real world weathered look. As always, fantastic work Tino. 

Its fun trying to imagine what the rest of the armor would look like. 

[T-Jay[TK]]

More work done, here is the progress.

 

 

And then things got weird...

 

 

Next update probably comes next Friday.

 

List of modifications so far:
1 - Blast Shield
2 - Black Interior
3 - Two-tone paint job
4 - Antenna and radio
5 - Utility belt
6 - Universal supply box

 

Have a nice weekend.

Edited February 24, 2021 by T-Jay

[TKSpartan[Staff]]

Looking great!!  

[Bulldog44[TK]]

Oh man. The antenna/module detail is crazy cool. Great use of all the little parts, it looks like an authentic part of the Star Wars universe.
Happy to see you used the Muji box too I sent you way back.  

 

Plans to add lots more details or close to finishing? 
looks fantastic so far!

[T-Jay[TK]]

Thanks Mario and Brian.

 

On 2/19/2021 at 3:50 PM, Bulldog44 said:

(...)   Great use of all the little parts, it looks like an authentic part of the Star Wars universe.   (...)

Many thanks, that is what I indeed hoped for. And after these years your MUJI box made it onto that helmet and soon into my collection.

 

On 2/19/2021 at 3:50 PM, Bulldog44 said:

(...)   Plans to add lots more details or close to finishing?   (...)

Closer to the finish line but the aim is to put the maximum possible additions / alterations onto a single helmet, so yes, there is still something more to come...

[T-Jay[TK]]

In the last update the brown MUJI box got added to the 'utility belt' and I thought about what it could be for.

A red cross came in my mind but we all know there is no 'First Aid' in the Star Wars Universe – there is Bacta.

That made me think of something else - and that belt looked so empty with nothing else attached to it…

 

 

Looks okay, maybe I change it later because the canister wobbles a little and the wires can be seen...

 

In the opening post I mentioned gaps between face plate and blast shield. These needed to get filled.

Did that with some black foam - plus something to hide the foam…

 

 

The original plan was to have cable ties also on the rear ends of the flashlights.

But they perfectly fit between the ear caps and the blast shield, additional cable ties aren't needed for that display piece.

 

List of modifications so far:

1 - Blast Shield

2 - Black Interior

3 - Two-tone paint job

4 - Antenna and radio

5 - Utility belt

6 - Universal supply box

7 - Bacta canister

8 - Helmet flashlights

 

Next update comes in one week.

Thank you for reading.

[Bulldog44[TK]]

Just when I thought you were winding down on this helmet you go and add more amazing things to it. The flashlights take the cake. This gives the helmet a more search & rescue/First aid/special Op feel. If you add lights to props you have my full attention. As a kid I loved any toys that lit up. 

The mini bacta tube idea is super. I think a small addition of some aurebesh text on the tank or box would look cool too. Just an idea.

[T-Jay[TK]]

Many thanks for your kind comments, Brian. Glad to hear you like it so far.

 

2 hours ago, Bulldog44 said:

(...)   I think a small addition of some aurebesh text on the tank or box would look cool too.   (...)

Ha what a funny coincidence, because I am working on aurebesh letterings right now. You will see the result in the next update, coming on Friday.

[gmrhodes13[Staff]]

Loving the canister, nice work