R. S. helmet progress ** Update Today 10/01

Yep that's 6 helmets at once with 7th on the way. I am officially certfied a lunatic for tackling this the good part is 6 of these are going to be ESB! and I'll be making a 2nd attempt on a JEDI helmet. You know who you are but your helmet is getting ready for the green after I let the water dry on the back two helmets I just received. I take great pics too haha Brak's loves good pics like this.

Take Care

Lee

Holy ****, and I was just about to contact you about one... I think I'll let you enjoy your "retirement"... for now.

Whoo hoo! Cool pic, RS!

I love those production line photos! You're going to have to crank that photo up to 1200 dpi to make Braks happy

let's see - mine is the one with the dent.

Sheesh, that's quite an undertaking! All I can say is, the recipients will be more than pleased when they receive them.

Although it will likely be not possible, it would be cool to see the painted buckets all lined up for a family portrait. Regardless, have a good time painting, looks like fun to me.

Nope, I don't envy you one bit... :p Have fun doing them though!

It would be cool to see them all done in row like the one LFL archives pic though.

Lynn

Just looking at all those makes me cringe! Best of luck...

That is a very cool photo. I did two at once last October. I wish you the best of luck and please post some more photo's as you move along.
Darren

I did 4 recently and those weren't too bad except a few slow downs. We have had rough weather the past week in Florida making it bad to paint in so that has created mild delays.

Lee

Yup, I'd love to see more pics just like this along the way. Always nice to see progression.

Wow... good luck to you! I just have to paint one and am finding myself putting that off!

Man, you are on fire, thats a lot of work. I hope the second ROTJ helmet be easier on you. Ill post pics of mine as soon as I get a new USB cable for my digital cam.

What would be really cool, but may add extra time to your progress, would be to show the progression of your painting, having each of the 6 helmets portray a different step and level of completion

Man -O- man!!! That's a lot of work there! Will the real Boba Fett, please stand up! Good luck! Wish that one of those is mine....(*sigh*).....

Robert

SEEKER wrote:
let's see - mine is the one with the dent.

No Way! I thought that one was mine!!



Lee, you're a madman!! Best of Luck to you!!!

(I still don't see how you do it!!) I was going nutso trying to do one helmet!!

How about nominating Lee for TDH All-Pro Perservance Award!

-Rex

Rogue Studios wrote:
Yep that's 6 helmets at once with 7th on the way.

Take Care

Lee

Do you want to create a grand mandolorian army ? Can you send me a PM? Thanks

I have the green on them now I'll post a pic soon when I have the rest on.

Updates?

Wow, nice!

Roman

OMFG! Lovely!

I have two more on the table they couldn't fit in pic. This may prove something as well but if you look the helms they look a bit different but they aren't they are all MSH2's. Also the paint thrown was put on exactly the same time too and see diff hues?

Lee

You should post that at RPF to PROVE that camera angles can GREATLY affect the way a helmet looks.

Awesome work, as always.

Hmm, that is very interesting.

Cool!!! Yeah I've been working on my bucket too, and it is just crazy how much of a difference angle makes when taking pics!! I don't know if its just the shape of the bucket or how the flash hits the thing in a certain way. The cheeks especially seem to really act weird. I took a pic, then moved about 2 inches & took another one, & the the cheecks appear to be a totally different color!!! Light blue instead of green! Do you think it may have anything to do w/ the panzer color itself?? The red doesnt seem to change that much depending on angle, but the green sure does! Anyway, the buckets are looking super Lee!
Damian

No. 7 is now on its way

Got the word today kurty. I'll have the paint on it soon.

Lee

I received my ESB helmet today and its fantastic!

Keith

You're a freak RS ... truly, madly .. deeply

You Da Man !

FP

Rogue Studios wrote:
I have two more on the table they couldn't fit in pic. This may prove something as well but if you look the helms they look a bit different but they aren't they are all MSH2's. Also the paint thrown was put on exactly the same time too and see diff hues?

Lee

The camera lens made the one on the right look GIGANTIC!! It looks like they taper donw in size, just proves how screwy cameras and angles can be to things....
Lynn

Hey folks if I am doing a helmet for you please keep an eye on this post I will post updates of progress.

Lee

I can't help but wonder which one is mine...hmmm...

I often wonder which one I am working on ..I have name tapes on the inside it definitely gets confusing. I have to say I am very pleased at how persistent I have been on these I have treated each one as if it's the only one I have. I repainted some bad areas that I missed on a few. I even repainted one completely because I didn't like how it turned out. I should have a pretty cool update pic for everyone this weekend.

Lee

I have only one thing to say about this...


SWEEEEEETTTTT!!!!

Man, I am ....


<font size="10">Jealous

'm/



{drooling}

I'm moving along it's getting to the really tedious slow part but I appreciate your patience everyone. Yeah someone talked me into a Jedi scheme. You'll notice a slight scratch on each rangefinder side mandible that is a test scratch. Also the silver one just arrived the other day so I have all 8 now. Also don't worry about the silver scratches looking diff on each helm I only go so far with it and I just found a good stopping point.

Lee

Eeenie, Meenie, Miney, Moe...

Going to post a picture today I have most of the helmets masked for the kill stripes which to quit a bit of time but once I spry them it will be a major progress hurdle cleared. I have had one of those weeks where I have very little free time to devote to the helmet group but I did manage to get the rangefinder ears cleaned up and chrome painted. I also had to label everyones parts so that everyone's stuff matched up to their own helmet. Stay tuned and I'll have a picture up today.
Oh yeah all of the mandibles are at various stages but most have some basic scratches started. Also in the coming weeks I'll have a post that'll explain and show why I have had such a draining week.

Lee

Here's 6 of them 2 are being painted to catch them up top these (Deano yours is almost there) the other is a an ROTJ and I ran out of the light tack tape for the stripes. Also the colors vary but that is due to flash the back of the helmets will look like the one on the left. Almost forgot you'll notice a slight sheen to the helmets that is a sealer to prenvent the paint from ripping off I'll dull them don't worry. And thanks for your patience I realize it has taken almost 6-8 weeks for some of you at this point.

Unbelieveable......truely awesome Lee......and to apologize for a 6-8 week interval ......you are THE MAN! I'm reading to catch up as much as you're probably painting

Steve

Wow,

Thanks for the updates Lee. Simply and amazing job. I can't wait; while I must, I still can't wait.

Shawn

Wow That is beautiful. You are doing a great job

Thanks for the compliments and I hope the helmet owners as happy with them when they arrive. I suffer from the same excitement and thrill of getting stuff back in a timely manor so I try to treat everyone with the same respect. remeber when it took a year for someone to get one helmet back? Yeesh just noticed my avatar died oh well time for a new one.

Lee

Do my eyes deceive me is that a Pre-pro helmet on the far right? Lookin good there

Any updates for the next vision of the masterpieces in progress? Some of us need that fix to get us along.

Shawn

Hey I'll have a pic up tomorrow no problem.

Lee

YAAAAAAAY.

Shawn

Some colors are going to look bright don't worry about it at all. This is just how they look before I ruin them LOL. The back of the helmet is where I am at right now I tend to only mess with the mands when I'm in the mood since the detail is mind numbing to be honest if you see missing scratches or details don't sweat it folks I gotcha covered .

Ahhh, there now I feel better. I truly was absent the day God handed out patients.

Shawn

Oh man this is awesome!!
Sorry for being retarded, but which helmets are these? (Mystery, MSH, MLC, Something else?)

They are either MSH2 or MSH1 easiest way to tell is by the dents. I'm also so grateful for the patience all of these folks have displayed it has been very hard to find time to work on these I usually only get about 5 hours a week to work on them since I have two little ones and they can keep one very very busy the rest of the time. It has taken longer than expected to complete them but they are coming along well so far no SNAFU's. I had a friend come over and observe me working on these and he said he could never find the patience I told him you have to enjoy it first the patience is second.

By the way TK409 do the decals look familiar?

Lee

Oohh! Which one's mine?

SWEET!

The green one...LOL. I couldn't resist.

Lee

Hey, I spent my half day on the helmets today. most of the gray scratches for he domes are done I have to trim around the cat scratch above the rangefinder side eye slit. The back of the helmets is almost all done and I'm doing the mandible details for last. My buddy Mike(Photon Magic) made a stop by today to check on me I think he thinks I'm nuts for doing so many of these I'm starting to believe him. I have set a personal goal of having these all completed this month and if I don't please don't shoot me although I realize most of you must be drained of patience I still appreciate it. It all pays off in the end for your helmet.

If you have any questions please post or PM me..take care.

Lee

After stopping by Lee's house several times now and seeing just how much work is involved in these helmets, I am now certain - he is nuts for doing so many helmets at once. There is an unbelievable amount of work involved in this painting process.

I understand now why he is going to "retire" after painting these last few helmets. I can't imagine a price to make all this work worth it.

Mike

those are lookin fantastic lee!

Thanks! I am really trying to make them all look great and putting individual attention to each one has taken it's toll on getting them done in what I consider a timely manor which has been months not weeks as expected.



Look how weird this color can be, see all the diff hues as you get away from the flash. All of these were painted at the same time from the same paint.



Lee

They're looking really good, I'm sure no one will even care about the time frame when they see the work you are putting into their helmets.

I just want to say...especially in light of recent threads over at the RPF, THIS is how a project manager, if you will, stays in contact when time frames are over run!!!

Bravo on that account and on the buckets themselves. With every update, I get more and more excited!

Thanks,

Shawn

Shawn, thanks for understanding I sincerely appreciate that. I could easily slap them together and push them off but I don't work that way and I want everyone to know I work on them every available moment. I don't expect anyone that has sent me a helmet to get something back I wouldn't own myself and that is the main reason it has taken so long.


Lee

What color do you use for the purple scratches, Lee?

Hey I have to dbl check but I think it's MILW Road Maroon or PRR Maroon.

Lee

PRR Maroon.

No problem Lee.

When threads come up about artists, etc. They are usually complaint threads; unfortunately they are usually valid! Well, I find that when someone comes along that's doing it right...even in the face of overruns or simply life...that effort should be praised, as it's not done often enough! And there are good people out there!

These just simply look great.

Milw Maroon!!! Ahh that's great.

Shawn

Well folks I'm in the home stretch this is where I'm at on all of the helmets I just put 3 in picture becasue you can get a better look at 3 than 6 in a row. A few folks have been inquring how much longer and as you can see I'm very close and the wait will be worth it. Each helmet is in it's own stage of completion so not all helmets have all of the scratches and stuff applied so don't sweat it if you see some scratches on one that you don't see on another.

Lee

Jeeze, its overwhelming to see the hill you had to climb but man, lookin pretty **** amazing!

Looking good bud!!
I bet your not going to want to touch another Fett helmet for a couple years after this!

I'm burnt on my ESB bucket from all my ROTJ repaints and I got sick of it. :p
I'll pick it up again soon though after I finish my SS AT-AT and my SS TIE fighter.

Lynn

They look absolutely beautiful Lee!!! I can't believe how they all look almost identicle! Awesome!!
Damian

I am going to take a nice big fat long break at least up until and after Dragon con. For those of you that have a helmet with me the wait is almost over. Once I get them all painted I'll weather them up and they'll be good to go. Rest assured you'll have them very very soon.

Also getting the look consistent has delayed the process I wanted them all to look as close as possible.

Thanks for the words of encouragement I really need it right now it's getting tough.

Lee

Good lord those are some really hot looking helmets, every time I see these I want to change from pre-pro to ESB!

Awesome, Lee...

Like you...consitancy was my biggest concern. When I heard you were doing all these helmets at once...the first thought that entered my mind was, "oh, man...hope the quality doesn't suffer."

But that certainly doesn't appear to be the case. Those helmets all look fantastic. You'll certainly have earned a break after this project.

<image src=http://www.r2ro.com/images/wow.jpg>

Freakin awesome. My goal will be complete once I have that baby in my hands. Great freakin work man!!! You should be an Art teacher.

Turo

Turo, my goal is to have that in everyone's hot little hands real soon. Man I wish I was an Art Teacher but I wasted my degree in Business. LOL.

Lee

Lee - is never to late my friend.

Stunning work my friend, Absolutely Stunning! You deserve a break after all those domes!!!!

Great Job Lee ! Painting 6 or 8 helmets all at once is a HUGE task .. let alone keeping the continuity between them ..

I've always told you you're a talented guy ..

FP

Hey folks get ready I'm almost done I'll post them all when finshed but I'm really darn close. So if you are waiting for one the pain will not be much longer. Please email me with your address if I have your helmet just to confirm. I do have it but it would save from having to dig through miles of PM's also contact me about shipping method I'll supply the box all I ask is that you cover me for return shipping to you.

Take Care

Lee

You've got mail...

oh baby...oh baby...oh baby...oh baby..oh baby....

Shawn

Ok folks here's where I am at. I had a real bad last few weeks but I did manage to some more painting. Overall of the 6 helmets left to send (ROTJ for Nikki completed and 1 other for DeanO total of eight) I have completed two and 4 just need that big scratch on top and the trim completed on the back. If you guys can hold out a little longer I can tweek the weathering and I'm all done (no helmet has been weathered yet).
I have two helmets waiting visor install (Seeker and Bounty's hunted) a few have cheek details to add and some folks want stalks and rangefinders installed this takes a
little extra time since you have to do it right. But trust me the wait has been worth it.
I will start sending helmets based on level of completiton thus no visor install those will go first, a few days (not weeks) later I will send out the additional work helmets. I want to thank everyone for their undying patience since I have a family and it keeps very busy and leaves very little time to paint.

Thank You,

Lee

Thanks for the updates Lee. no rush on mine, take your time. I want it to look good.

Got it covered and I thank you I appreciate that Arturo. The more time I spend on them the better they look.

Lee

Take your time my friend. Absolutely no worries here.



-Rex

Hey, glad everyone has been so understanding and patient..just a few more scratches and then I take them to war.

That's such a beautiful picture there. Lots of quality helmets all in a row.

Hell, I'll take'em all! Simply awesome Lee!!

WOW!

That is just really cool to see, and a hell of a lot of work there too!

I'm still dragging my arse getting through my helmet project.........it's still the last peice. I can't imagine what it must have been like to do 6 at once. You are a Helmet painting GOD

Thanks folks I was telling someone that it's hard to find a stopping point since you want to get all of the details etc. but on the other hand I hate making people wait. Lesser of two evils I guess but I really can't say enough how the positive support has helped thanks.

Lee

that is what makes this forum go around.

awesome work lee!!!

UNBELIEVABLE ABSOLUTELY PERFECT WORK!!!!

mike

Hurricane's suck! and I don't mean the football team either. Anyway I'm back on these.

Lee

Ok one helmet is boxed and going out Monday it's for Bountys Hunted (Rex). I called him up and asked if it was ok if he attached the rangefinder and stalk he said no problem so I boxed it. If anyone else is ok with this let me know I can ship yours as well. Looks like the next one ready except for some minor tweaks is Kurtyboys. They are all pretty much the same I'm just weathering them now one at a time.

Also one note. I have laid off the weathering a tad, this will prevent what some may consider over weathering and if you want more etc all you have to do is tweak it. Can't backoff overweathering if that makes sense. And I want everyone to be please so if you have any problems contact me directly and right away so I can alleviate any concerns.

I'll be working on these prior to leaving for DC on Weds so if you want yours before I leave please contact me so I can fill you in on your status.

I also want to appologize for this taking 8 months to complete I'm a pretty quick turn around guy but this helmet stuff doesn't allow for corner cutting and I don't want you guys to get a helmet I wouldn't own myself.

*Dragon con attendees*
Almost forgot but if you go to Dragcon con and you have any sort of helmet questions that you feel I can help you with etc. please stop me and ask me I would be happy to help. I might be able to do some minor fixups paintwise if needed.

Lee

WOOOOOOOOO-HOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

Cool - If your driving to DC I could save you some cash by bringing mine with you. . But no worries I could wait. I want the full RS treatment. with visor and all.

Lee can you wear a shirt that says, "Hey I am Rouge Studios" so that those of us who have talked to you, and want to talk to you, know who you are.

WHAT, No Finished Pics...????
Don't Tease..

I'll take some as soon as I can.


Lee

You are a Fett god!

Well although not a true update but you folks can rest assured my house didn't blow away again and no Fett helmets scattered across the state. Right now we have no power and I'm a few miles down the road typing this from in-laws. Truly sorry about the delays but these darn storms just won't let up.


Lee

Quote:these darn storms just won't let up.

Ya, and you've got another headed your way!!!

Shawn