Showoff: ESB FP Prem helmet paintup

**Roninson** · 10-18-2012, 11:04 PM

Wow, I've been working on this **** lid for so long now, I'm reluctant to actually call it done -- but as my progress is slowing, I'm finally calling time on it.

Below are pics of my "final" ESB helmet (FP Prem). I'm content with how it came out, but ****, there's a whole ton of mistakes made along the way. I'm hoping to apply what I learned here onto my 2nd helmet (hopefully a GMH or another FP Prem).

I followed the paints list from TF (nearly all are Humbrol), with some suggested swaps from Jayvee's thread. I also chose to paint on all the decals instead of use adhesive ones so they look closer to the orig Letraset (at least IMO). Again, I think they came out well - though I can improve upon them next time.

Anyway, any feedback is welcome. I'm not sure what I can fix at this point - but even if it's notes for my next build, it would be good to hear it. And of course, thanks to a ton of folks here who made getting to this point even possible -- superjedi, Spidey, Jayvee, welshwarrior, godaiking, TF and of course, Raf the man and FP!

Thanks, fellas.

(Note: my helmet image is slightly stretched here -- about 10% -- for comparison to the ESB hero shot).

**RafalFett** · 10-18-2012, 11:22 PM

WOW!!!

That helmet paint job is amazing! All the colors looks spot on and the scratches are in the right place! I think you missed some fine silver scratches on the front-left-lower part of the dome (between the left arrow and the first kill stripe - look at your comparison image). Amazing helmet, beautiful paint job and an excellent painter!

Edit
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Now go and change your avatar!

**Roninson** · 10-18-2012, 11:52 PM

Thanks, Raf! Yep, I see exactly the ones you're pointing out. I think I'll paint those in, in the morning (or over the weekend).

Thanks again for your help and your stencils! Couldn't have done it without ya, brother!

**sleepalot** · 10-19-2012, 01:12 AM

Awesome job on the lid. If you aren't satisfied with it.....I'll take it

**locitus** · 10-19-2012, 01:21 AM

Beautiful!

**Jayvee** · 10-19-2012, 01:45 AM

Sensational my good man, glad some of my ideas were helpful, but with those skills, I think you always would've done just fine

Wonderful work brother, you should be very pleased with this paint job! peace

**clonecollector** · 10-19-2012, 04:40 AM

Beautiful!

**SEEKER** · 10-19-2012, 06:22 AM

WOW!!!

Freaking amazing job!!

**RafalFett** · 10-19-2012, 08:14 AM

Originally Posted by SEEKER

WOW!!!

Freaking amazing job!!

He he! The famous Seeker Face!

**Kcr7pr** · 10-19-2012, 08:40 AM

Amazing job

Insert zeekers pic

**Darth Voorhees** · 10-19-2012, 08:40 AM

Wow man, that looks excellent! The colors are perfect. I hope i can do my scratch build paint up this good. Then after i do that, im going to repaint my Bobamaker.

**Roninson** · 10-19-2012, 10:30 AM

Thanks, brothers! Lots of inspiration here to help along the way -- plus meeting folks like Scott, Spidey, Seeker & SuperJedi at CVI was really helpful.

**superjedi** · 10-19-2012, 10:34 AM

Great work, Paul! That's a helmet you can be proud of.

Did you settle on a clear coat yet?

**Roninson** · 10-19-2012, 03:32 PM

Thanks, Eric! I purchased some Modelmaster acrylic semi-gloss and applied one coat of it - but I'm not very happy with the result (not sure if its the clearcoat, my paintup or my airbrushing it on). Someone suggested a polyurethane clearcoat, but I wasn't sure that would mix well with the paint either. Unless I come across a better brand (was looking for a lacquer-based one), I think I'm going to hold off on a satin finish for the time being.

**superjedi** · 10-19-2012, 04:13 PM

Yeah, clear coats are tricky. I need to find one that I'm happy with. Testors dull coat
gives a nice rugged protective finish, but it's dead flat.
I've seen other painters who give the finished helmet a light buffing with steel wool. I've tried
that on older test pieces, and it's hard to get an even finish all over the surface.

**Major** · 10-19-2012, 08:28 PM

Looks really really good...... Nice job

**Jayvee** · 10-19-2012, 09:25 PM

Yea, im with Eric here too - as ive yet to really find a clear coat with just that right amount of satin sheen required, I tend to just leave it alone. Particularly as I also don't troop in my lids, and they are more for display purposes. I do know Garrett (Terminal Fettler) uses the humbrol clear coats through the airbrush though, and he always has outstanding looking work. These are probably the best options, and have to be mixed with white spirit, but probably the nicest satin sheen. I've still just never been quite completely sold on the clear coats tho, even in my testing with these Humbrol versions...

**Fett 4 Real** · 10-19-2012, 10:09 PM

I like rusto flat clear its not dull coat dull but its flat ish...

**thebeans** · 10-20-2012, 02:23 AM

Sensational paint work !!!! awesome, be proud

**animefan** · 10-20-2012, 08:13 PM

Its about as perfect as you can get

**Roninson** · 10-22-2012, 07:29 AM

Thanks, guys - it took a LONG time (several months of on & off work).

Eric/Jayvee: I tried steel wool over the weekend and while it brought up the overall sheen of the helmet, I think anyone besides myself would be hard-pressed to see a difference. I think I'm going to hold off on until my next helmet -- maybe try a few tests along the way. I'm pretty convinced the base material of the ILM helmet is probably the main contributor to its surface quality (as opposed to any finish they may have applied).

**dinkydarth** · 10-22-2012, 05:26 PM

Very nice work, and so accurate! Inspiration to get me working on my own ESB!

**RobaFett** · 10-23-2012, 05:01 AM

that pretty well spot on paint job there man, awsome!

**superjedi** · 10-23-2012, 12:54 PM

Originally Posted by Roninson

. . .I tried steel wool over the weekend and while it brought up the overall sheen of the helmet, I think anyone besides myself would be hard-pressed to see a difference. . .

It is a very subtle effect. I did a steel wool rub-down on my PP3 once I got done with it.
I had used Polly Scale clear flat, which if you've never tried it, is just a touch "milky" when
it's airbrushed on. It's also dead flat, so that's why I used the steel wool.
But as I mentioned, it's really hard to get an even look all over the helmet. I wasn't so
worried about doing it on the PP3, as that has a really worn look overall.

**Archaster777** · 10-24-2012, 07:15 AM

man... I can only dream that my bucket will look as cool as that helmet. You did an awsome job man!

**Roninson** · 10-26-2012, 07:20 AM

Originally Posted by superjedi

It is a very subtle effect. I did a steel wool rub-down on my PP3 once I got done with it.
I had used Polly Scale clear flat, which if you've never tried it, is just a touch "milky" when
it's airbrushed on. It's also dead flat, so that's why I used the steel wool.
But as I mentioned, it's really hard to get an even look all over the helmet. I wasn't so
worried about doing it on the PP3, as that has a really worn look overall.

I tried some polyurethane satin clear on another resin model and it worked pretty well on that. I think it was the finish of the resin kit that helped (and whatever paints they used). I guess the scary part is sinking in so much time and money into a helmet build and paint-up -- and then to screw it over with a clearcoat -- its not exactly a trivial thing.

Thanks for the props, brothers. Finishing up the overall build this weekend (What? Halloween already? How'd that happen?). Hopefully more pix to follow.

**battleshipgrey** · 10-26-2012, 08:42 AM

If i could paint like that , you wouldnt be able to move for fett helmets in my house,, superb job

Showoff: ESB FP Prem helmet paintup

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