ILboba\'s DP 97

ILboba's DP 97

I just got this from a costume place in town, i am working with a budget and am having to skimp on every thing (plan on gettin a fiberglass helm later but now this DP will have to do). Here are some pics, they gave it to me at a discounted price and they didnt even know they had one till the owner overheard the conversation (he had three in the back he found a couple of days ago cleaning stuff out).

Looks a little warped (squeezed in from the sides --> <--)

I have heard of using a heating gun but i dont have one of those (would a hairdryer do?). I have looked in the database and figured if i got some situational feedback that would help me out more. No really concerned with painting, I am confident that i will do well with that, just stuck on best way to correct shape, or am i crazy and is it fine how it is?

Any comments?

*//* NOTE: I plan on making an ESB outfit w/ helm to match.

well, it definitly isnt fine like it is. A hair dryier should do, and it looks like you got one of the better 97's usualy the front is warped almost beyond fixable.

It looks like all you need to do is pull the sides out to give it flare. Getting it to hold shape is another story, you can do this on of two ways. A metal piece of coathanger formed around the inside of the helmet to make it stay in place and glued in, or fiberglass the inside.

It all depends on how accurate you want it to look after that. there is alot to it.

Yeah, if i push the front (the black part below the viewable window) and the back part by the keyholes with the palms of my hand the sides flare out near perfect (squares it up from the side profile and the front looks nice).

So how would i go about fiberglassing the inside? Or who would i contact to do that? (i am not goin for 100% accuracy, just want it to look better than it does now).

The other two he had, according to him, were "more squished from the sides" than the one i have, so he must of had a good batch kinda glad i found it local.

ILboba wrote:
Yeah, if i push the front (the black part below the viewable window) and the back part by the keyholes with the palms of my hand the sides flare out near perfect (squares it up from the side profile and the front looks nice).

So how would i go about fiberglassing the inside? Or who would i contact to do that? (i am not goin for 100% accuracy, just want it to look better than it does now).

The other two he had, according to him, were "more squished from the sides" than the one i have, so he must of had a good batch kinda glad i found it local.

Click to expand...

Thats about the state my 97 was in when I got it. They can be seriously improved with a little hard work. ( my avatar is of my 97 which I would hope looks better than it did when I bought it ).

I wouldn't recommend fiberglassing it.
Better to leave it in a hot car,soak in hot water,hairdryer,or whatever,then,straight into cold water to 'temper',or 'set' it,as it were,and then hot glue a strip of bent aluminum,or a metal ring,(bought at craft stores,for needlework)to the helmet.
My son had a dp97,but his was more warped than yours,but we fixed it,and now it looks pretty damn good!
We cut the visor area out completely,and re-shaping was a lot easier to do without the 'visor area 'plastic cut away.
You'll find that the visor,once hot-glued in place,has a lot to do with keeping the lid 'in shape'.
You might have to have several tries at heating and re-shaping,but,believe me,the buzz your gonna get when it's done will be worth it.
Folks are gonna say,"that's a dp 97 dude?...no way......."
A re-shape and a paint job,and you'll be fine.......

good luck and all the best.........jonny.........