"As You Wish" Make-A-Wish helmet; HRG Trooper

Good afternoon,


SW Celebration IV in Los Angeles saw the first SW helmet project in 2007;
http://farm1.staticflickr.com/231/51...9d8_z.jpg?zz=1
66 Artists used raw Masterpiece Replica Vader helmets as their canvas to create original interpretations of the theme.


SW Celebration V hosted the TK Project in Orlando, FL;
http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4041/4...e9d00d83_z.jpg
This tyme around Stormtrooper buckets were re-envisioned with proceeds benefitting the Make-A-Wish foundation.




At Star Wars Celebration VI, Orlando Florida, the project will be returning under the title; As You Wish.


The As You Wish project will be featuring Clonetrooper helmets donated by eFX.
http://www.jeditemplearchives.com/ne...rsShopSale.jpg


I am making a helmet for this show. My concept is a recreation of H.R. Giger's Alien, as made from the parts of Star Wars;
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7022/6...4e688090_z.jpg


I have made a maquette to help visualize the full sized helmet as I work;
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7189/6...51888b7a_z.jpg


The full sized helmet will be large;
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7041/6...2b311f7b_z.jpg


Please visit the As You Wish helmet project community on FB for updates;
As You Wish Helmet Project Community
To keep up on my progress visit;
HRG Trooer


Be well,
Thomas

I somehow missed the little intricacies before somehow Thomas but I love all the various components you've included. This will always be one of my favorite designs. Keep up the fantastic work.

Good afternoon,

And thank you for noticing the Star Wars elements that are to comprise this build. The working part comparison list is as follows;
1. Alien frontal skull = Vader helmet
2. Alien lower mouth features = Clone Trooper lower helmet
3. Alien spine ridge = Clone Trooper fin repeated
4. Alien ribs along side of head = Death Star hallway light features
5. Alien tubing bulge = Clone Trooper thermal detonator
6. Alien secondary mouth = Darth Vader lightsabre
7. Alien drool cable mount on jaw = Darth Tyranus lightsabre
8. Alien large ribbed tube = Darth Maul lightsabre

On the topic of project updates;
HRG Trooper Maquette, final master
The next image represents the progress of the maquette for my full scale contribution to the 501st and EFX's 2012 "As You Wish" Artist Charity Helmet Project at Star Wars Celebration VI. Proceeds will benefit the Make-A-Wish foundation.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7130/7...5cb56ae6_z.jpg

The full size helmet is progressing at a pace that is almost predictable. And though I have worked out much of the proportions and placement of elements with the maquette, new challenges arise in addressing the full scale.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7202/7...e927c9e4_z.jpg
My task at this stage of the project is two fold;
1. To make the audience believe the recognizable elements from different characters really were designed to go together.
2. To subtly tweak the form of each element to elevate a degree of fear when viewing.

I was mildly surprised and greatly delighted when artist Scott Zambelli requested reference images of the helmet in progress to include in his 501st Sketch Cards, part of a larger collection of SW artist work to be displayed at SW Celebration VI.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7118/6...c21a1a16_z.jpg
I love seeing artists work with and inspiring one another in chain reaction fashion.

HRG Trooper Build Photo Set on Flickr

Be well,
Thomas Spanos

Amazing work so far! Just keep the updates coming!

Thank you,
I have some additional progress images to share;

501st and EFX's 2012 "As You Wish" Artist Charity Helmet Project at Star Wars Celebration VI. Proceeds will benefit the Make-A-Wish foundation.

Progress images from the weekend;
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7226/7...a80fbeac_z.jpg
This will be big. But not this big. I estimate I will shave this block down to 40-30% of its current mass.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8017/7...9bb3f99c_z.jpg
Working at full scale afforded me an opportunity to try out the shop's Japanese Razorsaw.
I have concluded that I need a Japanese Razorsaw in my life.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7239/7...d9cf38e8_z.jpg
After several years of shaving away deli slices from my project, shop professional Jon Olimb took pity on me and offered the use of his cordless skill saw (with built-in project light and ammo counter.)

¿Who would have guessed that so many tools were missing from my life?

HRG Photo Set on Flickr

Be well,
Thomas Spanos

This is going to be awesome! I wish I could go to CVI and see it in person...

Its coming along Thomas, You left out the Boba Fett helmets its not JUST clone helmets but both Clone and Boba Helmets! ;)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by The Clone Emperor

At Star Wars Celebration VI, Orlando Florida, the project will be returning under the title; As You Wish.


The As You Wish project will be featuring Clonetrooper helmets donated by eFX.
http://www.jeditemplearchives.com/ne...rsShopSale.jpg

---

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7036/7...ce92e281_z.jpg
Making pink snow.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7097/7...9248e52d_z.jpg
Over and over I reshaped the main body of the helmet. It is now one foot shorter than when I started. I suppose I could have taken measurement from my maquette and scales up, but I prefer to feel the shape arrive. There is a long way to go yet. I look forward to it.

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5335/7...be39108a_z.jpg
In preparation for colour scheme options, I have the maquette in a uniform white. I very much appreciate the way the uniform colour brings out the piece's details.

More soon.

HRG Photo Set on Flickr

Amazing work! I can't to see this!

Thank you,

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7226/7...1103d2b6_z.jpg
I have cut a fairly expensive collectible to shreds. This is not something I do lightly. Over half of my production tyme on this project has gone into planning. I do believe that effort is paying off.

I like to take a page from my native brother's philosophy of using every part of the kill. I am using as much of the original helmet as possible in this design. The viewer of the final piece may not immediately know this for fact, but it is my hope that they feel it.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7077/7...dc182017_z.jpg
Layers; Grey lacquer based primer, microfil bondo, and resin jacket over a shaped foam core. The developement of the full-sized helmet follows the maquette in a manner satisfying to me. Very much a "I love it when a plan comes together" moment.

Today, I am making a pattern in preparation for reproducing the horn for the “spine” on the top of the skull.

Be well,
Thomas

HRG Photo Set on Flickr

Progress from last week;

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7097/7...416f681e_z.jpg
Here I use tape and a circle template to layout hours more work for myself. I had too because the Voice told me so. (There are tymes that I question the nature of the Voice's intent.)

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7220/7...239d8474_z.jpg
Round two. My first attempt to rout out the “Death Star” lighting was unsatisfactory. For this attempt I filled in the previous attempt, and prepared the area a new with the elipses in 1/16" of craft foam.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7243/7...09c9d11c_z.jpg
Here I have added a new layer of Microlite filler and sanded it smooth to the same thickness as the elipses.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7092/7...0d47062d_z.jpg
”Death Star hallway lighting" patterning solved and clone trooper "horn" reproduced to mimic spine. I have learned much by arriving at this point.

Be well,
Thomas

HRG Photo Set on Flickr

Awesome project! This gets better and better with each post!

Thank you RafalFett.

Progress from third week June 2012;

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7266/7...8b807580_z.jpg
I had wanted to use a fan-made kit for the thermal detonators on the full-sized helmet to reference the 501st costuming community. However, as tyme wore on without response from various boards I realized I would simply need to make them myself. They were fun to make after all.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7268/7...e7ae1d52_z.jpg
Despite having to fabricate the majority of this helmet, I am striving to use as much of the original clone trooper lid as possible. Here I used a heat gun to reshape the vent on the back of the original helmet and affix it to the original helmet's forehead. Together these become the bottom of the back of the HRG Trooper helmet.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7264/7...3caa7dc6_z.jpg
If it is not apparent already, I have purposely been shooting the same side and angle of the piece so as to best demonstrate progress.

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5326/7...d42f1979_z.jpg
It is moments like this that I can envision having my weekends back. I do love the process.

Be well,
Thomas

HRG Photo Set on Flickr

Progress from first week July 2012;

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7270/7...1c5b141d_z.jpg
HRG Trooper; Full scale work in progress, late June 2012

This weekend I began to shape the torso display piece.
Thus combined, the piece’s final presence can be visualized.
I think it prudent to mention at this stage that I still have all ten fingers.

Be well,
Thomas

HRG Photo Set on Flickr

WOW! Thomas, you never cease to amaze me with your work! This is awesome! Being a huge Alien fan as well as Star Wars fan, im REALLY loving this! I want one! lol