Superjedi's GMH as ESB for Seven

superjedi

Sr Hunter
Merry Christmas, TDH! :D Got a new project going a few days ago. This is an
ESB commission for Seven. He had originally contacted me over on the RPF, so
I began a progress thread over there. I looked thru the member list here, and he's
listed, so I'll post a thread here, too.

I received the helmet kit several days ago along with some very nice accessories.
This is a GMH resin Fett helmet, and Seven sent along a set of machined aluminum
ear parts, including the RF stalk, a real Borden dental tool connector, and a real MQ-1
circuit board for the keyslot insert.

I began prepping the helmet by cutting out the visor area, trimming along the bottom
of the helmet, opening up the keyslots, and drilling out the ear attachment holes.
I used some Bondo to fill the molded-in PrePro 2 damage and hit the helmet with a
couple of coats of primer. I didn't take any pics during the prep, but here's the helmet
post-primer.

IMG_0785_zpse0fb30fe.jpg


IMG_0786_zpsca4aefa3.jpg


I have also put the first color coat on the back panels.

IMG_0787_zpscc7856f2.jpg


I cut down the Borden connector, and Dremeled out the detail that's molded in on
the helmet's right cheek. After all the paint work is complete, I'll epoxy the metal
Borden in place.

IMG_0788_zpse932c3cd.jpg


Continued below.

- - - Updated - - -

UPDATE: December 25, 2013

Merry Christmas! :D

Got the base green laid down over the Concrete on the rear panels. The panels
were stenciled, then masked with some Winsor & Newton masking fluid. This is
great stuff! I've had the same bottle for over 5 years at least, and it's still going
strong. Once the panels had the W&N applied, I airbrushed the green on in a light
to medium coat. I try to keep it just a little translucent at first, then go back and
darken certain areas to try and match the reference pics as much as possible.

IMG_0790_zps70041e3f.jpg


After airbrushing, I go back with the same color and add the small darker splotches with
the same base green using a fine brush. My favorite size detail brush is a size 000 Model
Master brush. If you take care of these brushes, they'll last for a long time!
Adding the base color with a brush makes the color appear more dense, and it stands out
just enough over the airbrushed base to give it some contrast.

IMG_0789_zpsd4783d20.jpg


Now that this stage is complete I'll move on to the gray damage sections. These will be
stenciled and transferred onto the helmet, too. Hope everyone has a great Christmas! More to come.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Thanks, syllander. That's exactly the reason I like adding these marks, it brings
some extra dimension into those relatively large green areas.

UPDATE: December 28, 2013

Weekend! Now I'll really get to make some progress. :)
I have completed the left rear panel. I added in the gray and silver areas, then went
back with my compass point to do the really fine scratches.

IMG_0792_zps85706aa8.jpg


If you look beyond the keyslot area, you can see that I've already placed many of the gray
chips that will be contained within that large silver area. I do this to give myself some
"landmarks" when I apply the silver. Once the silver is on there, I'll go back and finish detailing
all those tiny gray chips and marks. There's some of the base green that shows thru in certain
spots and I'll add those as well.
 
UPDATE: December 29, 2013

Whew! Right panel complete. That big silver area always makes me go cross-eyed! :lol:
After I did the silver, I went back and finished detailing the gray chips.
Then I added the gray and silver to the other areas on the right panel. I finished by
adding the really fine scratches with my compass point.

IMG_0793_zpsd17dc3b3.jpg


I'm saving the contrasting pale gray color until the rest of the helmet is painted.
There's not that much of it and it's easier to do it all in one session.
Next up will be to lay down the base color on the dome and inner cheeks!
 
Thanks fellas!

Happy New Year to all you TDHers! :) Can't wait to see what 2014 has in store.

UPDATE: January 1, 2014

We're into a new year, and I'm into the next part of this helmet project.
This update will show several stages. I got the base color down on the dome and inner cheeks.
Since the screen-used helmet has such a worn, mottled, oxidized appearance, I mixed a lightened
shade of the base color and airbrushed some diffuse patterns onto the dome and cheeks. These
patterns are pretty subtle on the reference pics and I try to match them as closely as I can.

I began the detailing work on the back of the dome. Back to my trusty silver and gray, and my
compass point for the very fine scratches.

IMG_0795_zps6cf9be5f.jpg


I'll continue working my way around the dome counter clockwise until I've applied almost all of
the damage areas. There are a couple of areas on the left side that I don't paint until after the
killstripes are on.
Much more to come!
 
Garrett, thanks! But I'm more machine than man now. . . twisted and evil. :lol:
JimmyC, I'll send you a PM with some info.

UPDATE #2: January 1, 2014


Whew! Moving right along today. Got the area behind the RF ear complete. Next up
will be the "cat scratch" region in front of the RF ear cap. I probably won't hit that
area until tomorrow. Have some real life stuff to do this afternoon.

IMG_0799_zpsf32ca45e.jpg


This pic is an interesting study of how much the silver changes appearance depending
on the angle of the light. Lighting can play an important part in determining the shapes
of damage areas, as well as the colors to use. Having a BIG batch of reference shots
that show the same areas from different angles is a plus!
 
Jayvee is really on point on this. For the last few months, in particular, it seems like you're banging these out one after another after another, etc.

To maintain your level of quality and craftsmanship CONSISTENTLY is really, really impressive.
 
Geez. . . thanks guys. I really appreciate the comments!

UPDATE: January 4, 2014


Cat scratch fever!! :lol: This is one of the most detail packed little damage areas on
the helmet. The three damage sections in this part of the helmet (the cat scratch, the
humped area to its right, and the area above it) are closely related and the negative space
in between them is important to get right, so I do these parts together.

IMG_0800_zps305a06ae.jpg


I've moved around the dome a bit and completed the smaller area above the turn signals.
The very fine scratches are once again courtesy of my compass point.

IMG_0803_zps7c1aaeee.jpg


What's next??. . . . . The dent! (y)
 
UPDATE: January 5, 2014

Dentage! :) Got the dent and streak finished. This is one of my favorite
features to paint. I'll add some additional detailing during final weathering
by adding the contrasting pale gray and some pastel "burns."

IMG_0805_zps4ce5227b.jpg


Another angle showing how the silver shifts brightness.

IMG_0806_zpsf4e03acf.jpg


The next area will be the big scrape across the top of the dome!
 
UPDATE 2: January 5, 2014

Got the big scrape on. :)

IMG_0807_zpsf1074ea6.jpg


I won't do the remaining gray and silver on the dome until after the killstripes have been added.
Those gray/silver areas are closely aligned with the stripes, so I save them for last.
But before I do the killstripes, I'll do the gray and silver on the cheeks.
 
UPDATE: January 9, 2014

Sigh. . . real life. . .

:lol:

Got the cheeks started. I have painted the outer cheeks and begun the detail painting.
I started on the right cheek. The little white nicks on the mandibles in this picture are
where I carved in the physical damage. I did the big gouge in the outside of the left
cheek, but it doesn't show from this angle.

IMG_0810_zpsc3404ed4.jpg


I've stenciled the left side and have already laid down the silver. I'll finish up the gray
tomorrow and then this weekend I'll do the killstripes! (y)
 
UPDATE: January 11, 2014

Left cheek complete. :)

IMG_0812_zps73a943e1.jpg


This part of the helmet features another of the few custom colors I use. The damage
on the outer part of the inner cheek is slightly darker and greener than the gray used
elsewhere on the dome and cheeks. I've looked thru reference pics many times and this
appears to be the only place where this other shade is used. Just another cool detail
of the ESB helmet!

Next up will be the killstripes. (y)
 
Hope so, Mathias! :)

UPDATE: January 15, 2014

Finally had time and good enough lighting to take some pics of the latest progress.

Killstripes are done! This shows a couple days worth of work on this section of
the helmet. The stripes were taped off, then the chips were masked with my
Winsor & Newton fluid. I airbrushed the stripes, adding the slightly darker shade
toward the back of the dome.

IMG_0813_zpsa38b4032.jpg


I then went back and added the remaining gray and silver damage on the dome.

IMG_0814_zpsd8c9dabf.jpg


The helmet is now ready for the red on the mandibles and "hat band." But before I
begin that stage, I wanted to prep the MQ-1 circuit board so that I can airbrush that
piece at the same time.

The circuit board on its own isn't wide enough to fully cover the keyslots on the back
of the helmet. Also, since only the upper half of the board is used, it definitely isn't
tall enough! This is the second real MQ-1 circuit board I've installed in a helmet, and
to make everything look nice, I build a styrene platform for the board.

I began with the circuit board itself.

IMG_0816_zpsaad75311.jpg


I separated the upper and lower halves.

IMG_0817_zpseafc7226.jpg


I cut a strip of .020" styrene to the width of the keyslot insert. Length doesn't
really matter at this stage. I'll trim it to length later.

IMG_0818_zps2c01542f.jpg


I made some measurements on the styrene strip to accommodate the little
protruding screen on the circuit board. The screen won't allow the circuit board
to sit flush with the styrene.

IMG_0819_zps8bcc4127.jpg


Here's the slot cut out.

IMG_0820_zps4897a0d0.jpg


Now the circuit board fits nice and flush against the styrene.

IMG_0821_zps3257e85c.jpg


The screen fits perfectly through the cutout.

IMG_0822_zpsf6c55588.jpg


I'll place the styrene strip inside the helmet and determine the best vertical position.
Then I'll trim it to the proper length. Once the strip is trimmed and painted, I'll use some
2-part epoxy putty to install it after all paint work is complete on the rest of the helmet.
More to come!
 
UPDATE: January 18, 2014

Got the red on! This stage has the most involved masking of the entire project.
Everything that is not red has to be masked off. I'm always terrified that when I
remove the tape during any stage that it will pull up my previous work. :lol:
But it hasn't happened yet!

IMG_0824_zpsa9313cc0.jpg


As usual, I started the detailing on the back. I don't know why I start on the back. . . I just do.
Detailing the red portions of helmet introduces the darker maroon shade.

IMG_0826_zpsa7c24dc6.jpg


Next I'll begin detailing the band around the back of the helmet. The mandibles will be the
last areas I do. I try to preserve my poor eyes for as long as I can before starting those. :p
 
This thread is more than 3 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