New batting helmet bucket

Haven't been able to work on it for a couple of weeks. Had my honey do list to take of before the kids got back in school. I have to keep the wife happy.;) I hope things will slow down so I can get the metallic undercoat applied and then get started on the back of the helmet. I was hoping all the paint templates from evan and count dookie would be complete but I'm sure they are just as busy as I am. I will keep you posted. I thought about casting the helmet and TF said it was possible even after I painted it so I might hold off on the casting. It sure would be nice to be able to have a ROTJ to go with the ESB.
 
It's been way too long since my last post. I finally got around to starting the ESB paintjob. I looked at the date of the original post of June of last year and said I need to finish this thing. I started back by reinforcing the inside with a layer of fiberglass cloth. I really seemed to stiffen up the mandible portion. Went with spray in bedliner to finish off the inside. This stuff is awesome. Fast drying and little overspray. After final painting I will coat it with flat black to cover the overspray from the finish colors. Went with RS list for paints and using Floquil enamels and Testors Model Master. Went with lighter primer/filler coat by duplicolor. Added signature scratch damage to mandibles and added custom borden connector made of 3/8" brass rod.

Helmet 75.jpg


Helmet 73.jpg


Helmet 76.jpg
 
The POG I lightened with 10% flat gull gray. This toned it down to allow weathering washes later. Lightly sprayed full POG at edges to create a slight multitoned effect and also a lighter spray with more gull gray added in a mottled effect to replicate the reference photos. Using the high def ESB reference images posted here. Used brunswick green for upper cheek area and will add lighter oversprays later to tone it down. Used Floquil Aged Concrete for the back panels mixed 70/30 with gull gray. It was just what I was hoping for: not too gray, not too yellow.(y) Used old fashioned killstripe thread for the killstripes. Took a while to get spacing correct but it was worth it. Used Windsor and Newton masking fluid for the first time. This must be the divine gift to painting. It works incredible!(y)

Helmet 72.jpg


Helmet 71.jpg


Helmet 70.jpg


Helmet 69.jpg


Helmet 67.jpg


Helmet 68.jpg
 
After gaining confidence with the masking fluid I decided to tackle the back. I want to get the green on to make masking for the boxcar red easier. I used Count Dookie's templates for the back left and am creating my own for the back right side. Hope to have initial green on so I can paint the boxcar red this weekend. I went with Euro dark green straight from the bottle for the main color. After this I lightened it 10% with Aged concrete and overspray the center of the green damage to give the mottled effect again. Finally I emptied Wal Mart Color Place royal blue into a container thinned 50% with thinner and oversprayed the green areas lightly with heavier concentration towards the outer edges to replicate the reference photos. This has been a long time coming and the master painters here at TDH are my inspiration as well as instructors. I hope to just come close to their creations with this helmet.

Helmet 74.jpg


Helmet 66.jpg
 
Once again EXCELLENT work !!!!
Looking very sharp -

I like the use of the bedliner material as well - very interesting !!!
 
Dude, you should mold that bad boy and sell them. I would be in for one. The paintjob is looking as excellent as the helmet itself. Great job(y)
 
Thanks for all the kind words. I couldn't have done it without WOF's templates. According to TF I should be able to cast the helmet post painting but I haven't decided yet if I want to risk destroying it during the casting process. I should have more updates later this weekend or early next week.
 
This is going to be a great one, I can tell already!
It's just amazing how 3 or 4 years ago hardly anyone was scratchbuilding their own helmets, with most people using DPs as the least expensive option. This is yet another example of the ingenuity of TDHers (and WOF's templates ;))
 
:eek: Amazing! This is one of the best scratch built helmets i've seen up to date. Not many people can say that they built theirs from A to Z. You should be very proud. Can't wait to see the end result.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
This thread is more than 9 years old.

Your message may be considered spam for the following reasons:

  1. This thread hasn't been active in some time. A new post in this thread might not contribute constructively to this discussion after so long.
If you wish to reply despite these issues, check the box below before replying.
Be aware that malicious compliance may result in more severe penalties.
Back
Top