Scratch build or buy?

I'd like to completely scratch build my armor, including the helmet. I need some templates (which I can't find anywhere) and a couple of tips on the material to use for the bucket and visor.

Could be that (as this will be my first try at armor building) I'll just buy a helmet and repaint it. What's a good company to buy from?

Ok, I tried to assemble the WOF templates and it didn't work for me. How come it wotks for everyone else? The sides won't stay straight, they bend under. The triangles for the dome didn't match up at the ends. Tips? Who can I just buy a decent looking helmet (I'm gonna repaint because I'm doing a custom Mandalorian) from?

Btw,
I can't figure out how to shape the plastic to my shape. How do I bend it (without getting burnt) so it doesn't look flat?

Do a search for threads by wizardofflight and you should find templates for almost everything. As for shaping the plastic, some people just cut their armor out of an oval shaped trash-can so they don't need to bend it. For the visor try checking at local welding shops for dark face-shields or go to t-visor.com

Try using a kerosene space heater to heat the plastic so you can bend it. It works great

Go to this thread here
http://www.thedentedhelmet.com/showt...highlight=sd68

or watch also my scratch build tutorial, I also have other ways to bend material ;)

http://www.thedentedhelmet.com/f23/building-boba-bucket-detailed-scratch-build-tutorial-using-wof-templates-20752/

Chris

I built my armour, bought my helmet. I wouldn't feel comfortable wearing a stratchbuilt bucket.

I've done a scratchbuild helmet.
http://www.thedentedhelmet.com/f23/scratchbuilt-helmet-suggestions-welcome-17079/
however if youre hoping to get this done by halloween id suggest buying one because its taken me about 10 months to do my helmet. but then again my work ethic is pretty bad so people here have probably done it in like 2 months or so.

Thanks for the tips, guys.
Those scratch built helmets you all built are great. Scratch building your stuff has a different feel about it. More tlc or something.
Would I take a template from paper and trace it onto my plastic and glue it all together with bondo or something? I don't know how to convert the paper template helmet to an actual plastic helmet. I'm gonna assemble my paper template tonight to convince my Dad this will be easier than we thought. Then I'll do the helmet in the perfect size and do some plastic shopping. Haven't figured out what to do for the dome, though. The batting helmet thing doesn't quite make sense. I'll read over it again. I'm really excited to get working on this. I'll try to post progress if anyone is interested.
:albino

I made mine using plastic, with cardboard covered in first drywall compound then poly eurethane for the dome.

http://www.thedentedhelmet.com/f23/another-scratch-made-bucket-20460/

To transfer the templates to the plastic, all you really need to do is use something like tacky glue or rubber cement to temporarily fix them to the plastic. Then just cut it out, and start assembly.