Holiday Special: Realistic Deluxe ESB

Hey Guys,
After following some amazing paint up threads, and even commissioning a few guys to paint helmets for my own collection, I decided to try my hand at painting one myself. With so many paint schemes to choose from and this being my first time, I wanted to go with an idea that left me a margin for error...The Holiday Special.
November marks the anniversary of the first broadcast, so I thought it would be pretty cool to attempt to paint a realistic version in a Deluxe ESB paint scheme. (I figured ESB was the next time Boba Fett was seen on screen so it kind of made sense.) I started with a Cold Cast Lid from Asok. Not enough good things can be said about dealing with him and he's a ridiculously nice guy as well. I painted the helmet using a combination of Floquil and Humbrol paints, using a layered, airbrushed method with small details added topically. I also used Raf's ESB stencils which were completely awesome. I cant even imagine how many countless hours of work went into creating those stencils. I was able to resize them myself using Photoshop in order to make them fit the Asok lid. A huge 'Thank you' goes out to Dynamic1. I bounced so many ideas off of him and asked his advice on dozens of occasions. His advice made this easier and a hell of a lot of fun. Once again, this was my very first paint up so if anyone has any advice, Id love to hear it. Here it is...

That is one beautiful helmet with a beautiful paint job! Just one regret... This would have been an awesome ESB helmet.

Thanks Raf!! couldnt have done it without your stencils!

Beautiful mate, I actually like the fact its not ESB completely, and you went with the Holiday Special colours. Maybe its because I've seen so many ESB's, that something a little differrent is refreshing, but I think it looks outstanding! I like the fact you included some of the fine details Raf and I went over, such as the other colour interacting with the normal grey damage on the lower cheek, the yellow stains on the dome near the dent, and the extra marks on the back panel. Good to see there are others as pedantic as us! Wonderful work again my friend

Thanks Jayvee. Your paint ups are completely inspirational.

Far too kind my friend, particularly when your own skills look pretty smick from here! Many thanks

Diggin the realistic look

You now NEED to paint an ESB! Awesome job!

that is one choice lid!

I'm loving this! Great concept Wait, we need a holiday special bucket emoticon!!! lol

Excellent work

WOW, I can't come up with the words!!

Yes! Really great work, 3rdE3. Awesome idea & beautiful execution!

Thanks for all the positive feedback, guys. Much appreciated.
Asok, once again, a fantastic lid to work on.

That is one awesome lid!

Oh wow. This is unbelievable. Great job!

Totally gorgeous !!! special work of art, worthy of the as you wish project ,IMHO.

That looks awesome!

Years ago, another member approached me about doing this very idea.
It never happened, but I always wondered how it would look.

Now I know.

This one looks perfect; great job !

I can't say thank you enough for the great compliments.
I'm humbled to have the guys I've admired for their own paint skills recognizing this project.
I'm ridiculously flattered.

Nice job, man! The holiday paint scheme looks great on a realistic lid, and the painting job is top notch. It'd be pretty cool to see a whole suit done like this...

Very nice work...Love the colours!

Aww man... I guess I have to get back to work. Lol.
Nice job on the recoloring!!

Originally Posted by thirdEthree

Aww man... I guess I have to get back to work. Lol.
Nice job on the recoloring!!

Ha ha ha! I'm glad I opened your appetite for a realistic ESB paint job.

Love those colors and very impressive for a first time. We could use more painters!

I think this helmet really reads well. Not many people attempt the Holiday special from what I've seen so it definitely adds to it's uniqueness. I like that you also did include kill stripes, the ESB yellow ear, and darken the cheeks on the helmet. This was a smart move in that the holiday special helmet doesn't have a lot of detail (most part for being a cartoon, thus needs to be redrawn countless times).

One thing, if you ever decide to tweak it, the blue where there is no damage, looks awfully clean and bright for going towards the realistic look. This could be as easy as just scratching on some detail or painting a light dirt/grey color with a sponge around those areas to give it variance. But this is just being nit-picky.

You should be proud bud! That is one stellar helmet!

Archaster777, Youre absolutely right. I contemplated an over all weathering of the helmet many times. If you look, you can see that I actually dirtied up the RF with some 'Earth' and 'Flat Brown' speckling and misting. I guess I still wanted to hang on to some of that cartoony aspect. I definitely appreciate the Nit Pickiness, its the only way we become better painter/replicators!!

Be careful when trying to implement both realism and cartoonish features into one object. It's sort of like mixing 2D animation and 3D animation into one film. It can work if done right but it can be very easy to make it seem wonky.

However, you could always make the weathering more blocked in to make the weathering itself cartoonish as well if you still want that kind of flare but I feel your helmet will benefit from picking one or the other. My opinion would be to keep pushing the realism. It's looking so good. adding a base weathering will only push it further.

Try using earth tones. the brown weathering blue with accentuate it making a nice pop in colors. If you have any specific questions let me know! I'm more of a 3D artist than a painter, but I took classes and have classmates who are painters I can ask tougher questions if need be!

That's a first time try at painting?!?! I'd buy one of those in a heartbeat, great work

Love the color on the helm. May I ask what colors were used on the dome specifically? It is more bluish/gray than the ESB Panzer Olivgrun.

Eric Dude holy cow man that is one fricking sweet lid man. You did an excellent job on the paint work and all the details I love the blues that you used and i will have to get those colors from you as I plan to do a custom paint up for my son and those colors just rock!!! Well done Bro.

INSANE looking bucket, it deserves an entire Holiday special set of armour to go with it...

Thank you guys again for the compliments.
Rob, major respect for you, and the influence you provide with your paint skills.

That looks amazing......

WOW!....This thing is gorgeous!!!!! Keep up the phenominal work man!!!! Thanks buddy...too kind!

Sorry I'm late to this party

Brother ... that is nothing short of STUNNING !

Easily likely the BEST signature detailing I've ever seen

You're going to KILL an ESB


I think this was terrific to see. I'd had the inclination to do this years ago and
never got around to it as well lol

There seems to be another angle no one has caught onto yet ...

The over all bluish tinge to the entire helmet reminds me of the ESB
hero helmet that Joe Johnston is holding in his arms taking a scotch
bright pad to. Because of the old photo and it's color degradation, it
appears bluish just like this. A little more red on those mandibles and
it would be a dead ringer for that classic pic !

Great Job man

Chris

Never in a million years did I ever think I would ever get a response like that.
All I can say is Thank You, Chris.
I have a new helmet that will be finished in the next couple of days. Hopefully, I can maintain the standard.

This is just PHENOMINAL!!!!

Originally Posted by fettpride

The over all bluish tinge to the entire helmet reminds me of the ESB
hero helmet that Joe Johnston is holding in his arms taking a scotch
bright pad to. Because of the old photo and it's color degradation, it
appears bluish just like this. A little more red on those mandibles and
it would be a dead ringer for that classic pic !
Chris

That helmet is not the ESB Hero, it is the Pre-Pro #3 before the ears got painted.

All these years, I never noticed there was even a "spartan" feel to the helmet until I just saw that pic.

BRAVO !!!!

Alfredo

I'm commenting on this because i think everyone should see this again
it's just so good looking.

I would agree

Fantastic work! It'd be awesome to see a full armor set to go along with it.

Beautiful! Great detailing, and I absolutely love the Holiday Special colors... It's definitely a unique and stunning bucket. I really can't wait to see what you would do with an ESB standard. This makes me want to paint another helmet, it's just so dang inspirational. Great work!