Helmet Prices

I am one of those people who don't have the skill, patience or time to do it myself. I have 4 kids, a house I am saving for, work pilling up, a girlfriend I almost never see, school, plus no talent what-so-ever when it comes to painting. I have tried many, many, MANY times to paint my bucket. It never looks the way I want it to. So I have to go the route of having someone do it for me. If I don't like the price, I tell them it's not in my budget and look for someone else. I decide how much I want to pay, nobody does that for me. I do believe you get what you pay for. But you also have to sometimes settle for less until you can do it yourself or the funds become available to get it done better. If it's great work I have no problem paying for it. But again, it's all about budget for me right now.
 
Okay I feel the need to chime in. :) I 've been watching this and can see both sides. I just don't like the "air" where this is. There are many "levels" of skill and financial status here on the boards. Yes some things cost more than others. I agree you get what you pay for (or want). There are some individuals that want a "totally accurate/ as close to the original" Fett that they can get. If they have a resource to get that, albeit armor and paintscheme, then they may need to have someone paint it for them. And yes highly-skilled labor/talent will cost more. If you can't afford it, save up like I'm doing and don't begrudge someone willing to pay that.
I've been trying to get my Fett costume "off the ground" for some time now. I don't have the "expendable" cash like I would like, but pinch where I can. I've been saving up for quite a while for a fiberglass armor and jet pack set. Until I get FG I'll have Sintra. Yes it's expensive but I feel it's worth itOn the opposite side, don't begrudge someone who can't afford it either.
This forum was started by Fett fans for Fett fans, we're here to help each other (at whatever your budget) and NOT bitch at each other and complain. Yes there should always be "reasonable prices" but somethings do cost more. Heck, I've paid anywhere from $30 to $100 just for a freakin 95 DP helmet. Were they worth it? To me yes. I've also bought a Marrow Sun helmet and a couple of kids size from Judz. They in my opinion were well worth the cost, Judz even threw in a defect helmet for free! (Thanks again for that Judz!) All in all we need to help each other no matter what you budget. I feel this forum offers All ranges!

Keep it up!

Geo
 

DarthBish wrote:


It ain't worth it........and if you don't pay it.......they won't charge it......

Actually, the truth is if you don't pay it they won't DO it. I can guarentee you it will not cause prices to drop. People providing these sevices are not doing it because this is their livelyhood, they're doing it as a favor to those who can't.
 
Another additional not....

I DO have the skill, but NO time. So in some things I may have to pay more to get what I want. I'm fine with that, accept it, and have to save $$$ until I CAN get it. :)

"Budget, Speed, High Quality"...Pick two because you can't have ALL three.
A good quote from the Multimedia/Print/Advertising business.

Geo
 
Ok i'm not a regular poster here, but I am an avid collecter of props, having my own Luke ANH x-wing Helmet and a custom painted one done in my own design which is being painted as we speak by a professional that I trust, why did i go to a professional because I can't paint, I have no skills in this area what so ever, I may be able to build my own props , but painting is quite an involved and delicate thing to do right.

How much is he chargeing me for this helmet ?

$315.00 is for the complete job

but i'll break it down to the quote he sent me

kit assembled. $150
paint job--------------$100
Ear cups mic------- $ 25
Shipping to UK-----$ 40
Total-------------------$ 315.00


$100 is nothing for a high quality paint job

But lets term this a little differently

Your car has a big nasty scratch on it, you can't fix it your self so it goes to the auto shop for a respray

now do you choose

A) The professional sprayer who, know's what to do, how to mix the paints ,get the right colour match and blend in the paint layers so you wont see the scratch anymore

or

B) Choose the little apprentice fresh from college who's only read how to do thing's in a text book and never faced the practical problems that will be thrown at him . i.e paint reacting to something, we've all been there


you would choose the "A" option, no one would go for the apprentice, apprentice's are nothing but tea boys and floor sweepers.

this same theory can be applied to the world of props and costumes

In the prop world it's all about Accuracy,you wan't the closest you can get to the movie seen prop, some people are lucky enough to own the real versions those who don't often build there own, striving for the minutest of detail, it's the same with the costume world, Accuracy is everything to some people and there willing to pay the prices for it, other's are happy just with something less accurate but more appealing to the pocket

The moral of both the prop and costuming world is that in the end you get what you pay for, some people won't pay it some people will.

I know $100 is cheap for a pro paint job, i'm happy with that price cause I know that helmet will kick ass once it's done, i'd of been willing to pay more for it .
A screen accurate correctly painted Vader helmet will set you back a nice $1-1500 looking at that makes me think that $4 -600 for a dented helmet with correct paint job is a steal, I myself just purchased a screen acurate AA/SDS Stormtrooper helmet that set me back $800, I think it's worth it, other's won't think so.
 
Well It all depends on what you want and what your willing to pay. There's a bucket at every price point.

Let me illustrate.


Well Under 100$

rubies.jpg



Well Over 100$

mybucket2.jpg


Time and detail equals big $$$$
 
DarthBish wrote:
_____________________________________________________________

They're only "luxury items" as you so quaintly put it coz some people choose to charge that much for their work...
_____________________________________________________________

Actually, "luxury item" has nothing to do with price. It is simply a term for any good or service that is not a necessity.
 
Back to point/ original question asked...

How much for a mystery helmet painted?...

How much for unpainted?...

Ballpark for the guys/gals, no rants. :)
 
WOW ... this thread has deviated quite a bit since the last time I checked it (about post 4).

I see both sides of the, but would have to agree with what I believe the majority is saying. I'm a part supplier, but am well known (and griped at) by those that know me, when it comes to charging for my time. When I designed the FettLights, I asked other engineers I knew what THEY would charge. The suggestions I had ranged from $200 - 300, based on typical mark-ups for time, investment, skill, etc. I came back to TDH, and had a few people say they'd be willing to pay it. When it all came down to it, I was more than happy charging $100, because I knew more people could afford it, and now there are alot of people proudly displaying my work on their suits. At the time, there were few options for chest lights. Could I have charged more, sure (based on supply/demand). But could I have charged less? Sure again ... I just wouldn't have, because my time/skill IS worth something.

With that said, I know people who repair electronics and charge $40+ PER HOUR. Personally, I can't see charging that myself, but wouldn't fault someone who does. If that's what his time is worth, great. If no one pays that, will he be out of business? Not likely. I've had customers damage circuits made by me (they acknowledged the fact that it was their fault, not a defect). What did I do? I repaired the circuits for free, or for the cost of parts, depending on the extent of damage. One of these repairs took me a couple of hours due to the extent of the damage, but I didn't charge for my time. Point? The guy that paid what I asked (which I didn't think was too much) put his faith not only in my work, but in my services. Because of this, I've done free repair jobs,as well as being approached about fixing the work of others.

Personally, I believe that if you can do something yourself, go for it. If you can't, and can afford it, pay someone to help you out. But if you can't afford someone's work AND don't have the skill to do it yourself, you shouldn't insult them ... people charge what THEY feel they deserve for the work. They have a skill/talent/part that others don't. And if people are paying for the services/product, then there are others who agree.

Thanks for letting me be long-winded. ;)

EDIT: Just wanted to say thanks for posting the prices as requested in the original post. I have a painted "Mystery" helmet that I hope to keep, but may *have* to sell ... and had NO idea what they were running for these days.


ATM
ShackMan
 
[qoute]Your car has a big nasty scratch on it, you can't fix it your self so it goes to the auto shop for a respray

now do you choose

A) The professional sprayer who, know's what to do, how to mix the paints ,get the right colour match and blend in the paint layers so you wont see the scratch anymore

or

B) Choose the little apprentice fresh from college who's only read how to do thing's in a text book and never faced the practical problems that will be thrown at him . i.e paint reacting to something, we've all been there


you would choose the "A" option, no one would go for the apprentice, apprentice's are nothing but tea boys and floor sweepers.


[/quote]

and they will fork over $800 to fix that scratch with a smile on their face
i worked in autobody for just over 10 years, took the college classes (funny thing is i remember doing more work than reading)and started as the tea boy and floor sweeper, worked my way up and am now manager/painter in a custom shop. i can see the point as 99% of the college kids cant make the transition from doing a job in 2 semesters to now do it in 2 days. now i feel i have more knowledge in this subject than 99% of the people here. I have given my advice in several threads here with quite abrasive feedback mostly to what kinda filler, primer, paint. anyways, as to could i paint a helmet, most definatly, would i do my own, nope. The painting i do to the layering on a helmet is totally backwards like inside out compared to inside in (if that makes sense) i would probably drive myself to the nut house trying to paint a helemt. i will convert an old construction saying here "dont let a car painter work on your helmet and dont let ahelmet painter paint your car. but if you feel the need od some ghost flames on your helmet ;) lol

back to the topic i seen some real good lookin painted mystery helmets on ebay for around 400
 
I can't help but ask myself why some of these "fantabulous" fee-charging painters don't put up a few detailed tutorials saying what paint/colour/technique they use and how to achieve various effects??
 
i have a fiberglass mystery helmet , and i painted it myself to match my armor.......i have under 3 bills in it ( 300 ).........and its NOT for sale.....you can see it on the 501st web site.....i'm BH4889 !!.......or on the ohio garrison web site......www.ohio501st.com.......again, bh4889
 

DarthBish wrote:

I can't help but ask myself why some of these "fantabulous" fee-charging painters don't put up a few detailed tutorials saying what paint/colour/technique they use and how to achieve various effects??

Eh?
I've only been on the boards for around 8 months and in that time I have seen several threads listing everything from which paints to use, what colors and what techniques are best. Could we do with more, of course, you can never have to much information. But to gripe about them not providing information seems to me not only unfair but also unjustifiable.
 

DarthBish wrote:

I can't help but ask myself why some of these "fantabulous" fee-charging painters don't put up a few detailed tutorials saying what paint/colour/technique they use and how to achieve various effects??

I have, ask Jedi-Bob.... His bucket came out awesome using my guides!! I remeber others saying my guides have helped in the past as well and asking me how I do it.

I have posted many times in threads in past in several threads wether it be being in my own threads, or others.

Others have too, I have used Rouges Studios techneques he has freely posted here several times to show to do it.

So don't go saying there arn't tutorials floating around when they are. Sure, they may not be on "one localized place" but they may be mixed in with other thread topics, but they are there none the less.

Lynn
 

DarthBish wrote:

Ohhhhhhhh don't be such a freakin' "drama queen". I never said give your service away for free.
I just suggested that everyone should be more reasonable with what they charge.

I never said you did, but if I charged less then what I feel is worth my time and effort I may as well as do it for free and thus is not worth my time to do the project.
It is that pure and simple, I name my price the people say yes or no and it is that simple, I have never been turned down because my price was too high.

Lynn
 

DarthBish wrote:

I can't help but ask myself why some of these "fantabulous" fee-charging painters don't put up a few detailed tutorials saying what paint/colour/technique they use and how to achieve various effects??
Lynn has, on SEVERAL occasions posted very detailed info about how he does his helmets. Lynn's a super guy, with incredible talent. Finding those two traits in such a combination is rare. It seems to me that you've come to expect something for nothing. Another product of our country's latest times. :(

Making a Fett costume is within ANYONE's grasp. Having a top-notch, almost perfectly accurate paint job that looks as good at one inch away as it does from 30 feet, is NOT in everyone's grasp. Some can do it themselves if they have the time and talent. Some can afford to have a pro do it for them. Some can do neither. Simple as that. (And believe me, I'm a person who has spent PLENTY of time in the "neither" category, so I speak from experience.)

What kind of car do you drive? We drive a Ford Ranger (me) and a Dodge Grand Caravan (my wife). They do the job for us. Can we afford something bigger/better? Not really. Does that mean that instead of settling for what we can afford, we should bitch and moan for the car manufacturers to lower there prices on the luxury cars so that we can get those? No. Heck no. That's ludicrous. (By the way, your definition of what constitutes a "luxury" item was vastly incorrect, as already pointed out.)

The bottom line:
<UL>
<LI>If you think the price is outrageous, don't pay it.
<LI>If you think the price is fair, but can't afford it, start saving your pennies or bartering services/goods.
<LI>If you want to do it yourself, there are PLENTY of threads here with EXTREME detail on how to do it yourself. Use the search feature or start reading through the threads. It's that simple. Really.
[/list]
Bitching about prices and demanding that prices be lowered so that "it can be within the reach of anyone that shares the same love of the character that we do" reeks of socialism and turns my stomach. Instead of bitching, do something. Or ask for help instead of demanding it.

And you still haven't answered the question about what you think "fair" prices are for the helmet and the paint job.
 
Thanks Wayne!

I too am still waiting to hear on "Mr. Bish" as to what he thinks is a fair price as he has been asked.

Lets talk a Vader helmet, if you took it to a autobody shop to do it, as some have, you will pay any where from $100-$300+ for it depending on your area and the body shop.

Would they guilty of "ovecharging" you for painting your bucket, NO, because they will becharging you what it would be like to paint a car.

Is that a fair price to paint a Vader bucket? HECK YES!! Black has got to be one of the most bitch colors to paint because if it is not done right, every little defect will show on it when finished.

Sure you can do it yourself and have it come out great, but it still will take alot of work to do it right and if you take it to someone else to do it, you'll pay for it.

Lynn
 

DarthBish wrote:

I can't help but ask myself why some of these "fantabulous" fee-charging painters don't put up a few detailed tutorials saying what paint/colour/technique they use and how to achieve various effects??

My friend, I give you one of the most comprehensive color list and technique threads on painting an ESB Boba helmet that is on this site:

http://tdh.prop-planet.com/viewtopic.php?topic=6556&forum=2

This is but one of the many tutorial threads on this site. Oh and Rogue Studios does paint helmets as well. Is it worth the price he charges for the paint job? Well, I have seen many people that have been his customers and no complaints as of yet.

All you need to do is jump on the search feature of the site and look through the painting threads. THere is a wealth of tutorials on here.
www.starwarshelmets.com has a pretty darned good one as well.
I hope this helps you in your search Bish. Helping each other out is what it is all about on this board. Just don't begrudge the man/woman that charges for their time and services. If it is too expensive for you, don't buy it. If you can't do it yourself, give it your best shot till you can afford what you deem reasonable.
 
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