Superjedi's SgtFang helmet

You've had it for over 24 hours and you're not halfway done yet?

Hooray for another Superjedi tutorial

SJ, do a ROTJ for me! I need to see one.

PROGRESS--Sep 30th:
OK, priming is done. And I have sprayed the light color on the back panels of the helmet. This was a custom color I mixed using Polly S "Doped Linen" as a base, then added some generic acrylic gray and brown to get it to more of a sandy tone. It looks light, but once all painting is complete and I give it a wash, it will darken up a little.
Here are two shots, with and without flash.





Next up will be outlining the areas for the dark blue-green on the back.

Lookin good superjedi, keep up the good work man! Looking forward to more progress pics.

Originally Posted by superjedi

Matt,
. . . *sigh*. . . sorry I'm going so slowly. I shall double my efforts!

I hope so, superjedi, for your sake. The Emperor is not as forgiving as I am.

Spoken like a true Sith.

What are the colors that you are using for the back of the helmet. Is it Euro Dark Green that what I used in the past.

For the back, I'm using a custom color. It's based on the MM Euro I Dk Green, but I add some Floquil blue (I think it's BAR Blue) until I get it to a shade that matches the reference pics as close as possible.
I'll be painting that part tomorrow!

Originally Posted by superjedi

For the back, I'm using a custom color. It's based on the MM Euro I Dk Green, but I add some Floquil blue (I think it's BAR Blue) until I get it to a shade that matches the reference pics as close as possible.
I'll be painting that part tomorrow!

How much of the Bar Blue did you use?

Originally Posted by texasfett

How much of the Bar Blue did you use?

I just added a couple drops at a time until it looked close to the reference pics. I usually mix my custom colors by eye. A lot of painting on scrap plastic, waiting for it to dry, and holding it up next to my monitor.

PROGRESS--Oct 1st:
OK, the back of the helmet is well under way. I traced all the damage and scrapes, transferred them to the helmet, and applied masking fluid. I use Winsor & Newton's. It's really easy to work with! Below, the shiny areas are covered with the fluid.



Once the liquid mask was dry (only about 20 to 30 minutes), I sprayed on my blue-green mix. I waited several hours for that to dry, then rubbed the liquid mask off, leaving my sandy color exposed. I just rub over the surface with a piece of tracing paper, and the masking fluid just rolls right off! Here's the back of the helmet now.





Next up is tracing the silver and gray damage.

Wow you make it look to easy,thanks for the info.

You are just pouring the paint on this one man! Great work!

Originally Posted by DonnieDarko688

You are just pouring the paint on this one man! Great work!

I have to use my weekend time as much as possible. Don't have a lot of free time during the week!

MORE PROGRESS--Oct 1st:
Whew! OK, enough for one day I think. . .
I've traced and painted all the gray and silver damage on the rear panels. The colors are Polly S Lark Dark Gray, and Floquil Bright Silver. In the ref shots, there's a secondary silver shade. . . almost like a pale blue, and I may go back later to add this. But for now, it's supper time!
Here's where she stands until tomorrow.

As before, my MS1 is jealous, and has to be in the pictures.







More to come. . .

jeez, looks great!

WOW! That's coming out great!

Talk about doin' an outstanding job with the weathering! The weathering on your new helmet looks IDENTICAL to the weathering on your MS1 helmet. Absolutely amazing ... way to go!

Man, I have never seen an ESB helmet back, come together so quick and look so good. Your MS1 is amazing by the way, but I believe you are working on a rival to it. Great job

DUDE!! ....you're just Flying through that thing...Freakin AWESOME ....
Looks Fantastic SJedi.....

Glad everyone's enjoying the progress! I'm having fun doing the painting.

PROGRESS--Oct 2nd:
OK, not too exciting today. Got the MM Panzerolivgrun on the dome and lower cheeks, and the Polly S PRR Brunswick Green on the upper cheeks. The upper cheeks were hand painted with a 1/2" sable brush. Those Polly S paints go on smoooooooooth!
If I remember right, the upper cheeks on the original were hand painted as well.

It's funny, but seeing it side by side really shows how much the weathering darkens up the green!





Much more to come. . . but slowly (until the weekend!)

Originally Posted by DonnieDarko688

Spoken like a true Sith.

Dang straight.

Truly amazing!

Looking good!!

...WOW...Just...WOW, great work bro!

WOW! That is amazing! You gots talent bud!

PROGRESS--Oct 3rd:
Well, no pics today. All I had time to do was put on a coat of Testors Dullcoat. This will seal all the work I've done already in preparation for the next step; painting the mandibles. I'm lucky enough to have a great hobby shop nearby that carries the whole Floquil/Polly S paint line, and they stock Floquil Boxcar Red in spray cans!
So tomorrow I'll mask everything off, and paint the mandibles and band around the helmet.

What!?!? This bucket ain't done yet?? Come on, it's been almost a week already! j/k bud

Is there any way you could post a link to Batninja's thread covering the clean-up of this particular helmet? I can't find it. I just received my SgtFang helmet and could use some schooling on doing so as I'm still pretty much a novice at all this. Any help you could give would be greatly appreciated.

Originally Posted by superjedi

THE BEGINNING--Sep 28th
Hi all! Well, got my new SgtFang resin helmet about 45 minutes ago. Looks great overall! There will be some clean-up/dremeling/filling before I can get to the paint job, and I won't go into much detail where that's concerned.
Batninja already covered the clean-up of this helmet in his thread.

I'll update with pics of the painting process once I get it ready.
Oh yeah, this will be my 2nd ESB paintjob.

Dha Syntir,
No problem, check here:
http://www.thedentedhelmet.com/showt...ghlight=helmet

PROGRESS--Oct 4th:
OK, almost done with all major color application! I got the Boxcar Red sprayed on today. Man. . . even the Floquil spray paints are amazing! They go on really well, and dry pretty quickly, too!
Here's where I stand as of tonight.





Tomorrow, I'll mask and paint the killstripes! Woo hoo!

Originally Posted by Dha_Syntir

Is there any way you could post a link to Batninja's thread covering the clean-up of this particular helmet? I can't find it. I just received my SgtFang helmet and could use some schooling on doing so as I'm still pretty much a novice at all this. Any help you could give would be greatly appreciated.

Here ya go: http://www.thedentedhelmet.com/f23/sgtfang-mystery-helmet-review-progress-thread-14317/

Lookin GREAT SJ!

Thats really awesome!

incredible work so far!!

Ya know.. I was just teasing.. You didn't really have to double your efforts..

I dunno how you do such a good job so quickly, but it looks great so far.. When does the bidding start? Friday?

Kinda funny ... just by looking at the front of the helmet, it almost looks like what 's helmet looked like right when he started bounty hunting ... before it sustained the battle damage.

Keep up the good work!

Thanks for all the comments, guys! I did my MS helmet over a year ago, and that's long enough to enjoy doing another one all over again.

PROGRESS--Oct 5th:
Killstripes are on. I masked them all individually with blue painters tape, then painted the "chips" on with masking fluid. I then sponged on Polly S UP Armour Yellow in several light applications until none of the green on the dome showed thru. This is exactly the same technique I used on my MS1. I like to use those really dense makeup sponges. They leave no brush strokes or "dab" marks, and it's a heckuva lot easier than masking everything to airbrush!
Here she be:







The next step will be to start mapping/stenciling all the damage on upper cheeks and mandibles. (*gulp*)

Looks great! I love how both helms are nearly identical.

Dude this is lookin freakin amazing!

Originally Posted by Hammer of Might

Looks great! I love how both helms are nearly identical.

Agreed on that ... superjedi, you are really talented to be able to do something like that. Kudos to you!

Where can I buy a Sgt.Fang helmet?

Looks awesome. I was sure tempted to get one of these helmets to do a Boba. Wish I had a bit more spare change laying around.

Originally Posted by Aaron

Where can I buy a Sgt.Fang helmet?

he has a thread in the cargo hold.

PROGRESS--Oct 6th:
Whew! So it begins. . . the tracing/mapping/transferring portion. Lots of detail to do for the damage. I started on the keyhole rectangle on the back, and I'm moving around the "hatband" toward the ear areas.
For this damage, I'm using my Floquil Bright Silver, Polly S Lark Dark Gray, and Polly S PRR Maroon for the darker reddish areas.
This is where I really have to make myself go slowly and check my references often!







Thanks again for everyone who's sticking with my progress.
More to come over the weekend!

Awesome job...

Thanks for posting the link to Batninja's thread, it was very helpful, as is this one. Both have really answered many questions about how a professional weathering job looks like. And after comparing my weathering techniques with those I've seen here, I'm gonna have to start from scratch all over again I think. For a time I even thought about going for the unscathed, non-weathered kit but now I'm not so sure. I'll have to see if I can recreate a similar effect as you've done with this particular helmet. Minesa custom Mandalorian anyway so at least I don't have to worry about making sure every scratch and blemish is recreated on their helmet to mimic the movie models. I'd never be able to pull that off I don't think...Thanks again!

Dha Syntir, glad I can be of some help! The key to this is patience. Work in small sections at a time, and don't expect it to be a "weekend project," cuz it definitely takes some time!

PROGRESS--Oct 7th:
Ow! My back. . .
I've continued on, adding more damage to the Boxcar Red areas. I've pretty much completed most of the main areas on the back, and have started sneaking around onto the left mandible.
Technique is same as described previously. I'm saving the right mand for last, cuz it has the most detail.









*sigh*. . . more of the same tomorrow.

Dude, this is awesome! I can't believe you're getting it done this fast. I took over a month to get this far. Keep up the great work!

Originally Posted by superjedi

*sigh*. . . more of the same tomorrow.

No rush dude ... it's better that you take your time. You are doing a really amazing job so far!

Are you spraying the Floquil bright silver with a stencil or using a brush? I have never been able to brush paint Floquil enamels because they dry so fast and was wondering how you are achieving such a smooth finish with them without any brush strokes?

Cripes, I've had my new Sarge Bucket for about 3 weeks now and I'm not even done with the cutting/bondo/sanding prep yet! This thread has been an inspiration, man!

I have to agree this thread will make me get moving on my bucket forSURE!!! Great work and Great thread SJ...

I don't know how you do it but Holy Cow! You are not human,you are just flying through like nothing.I gotta give up to your work its great.

Geez, thanks all! :o When I get into a project, I tend to lose track of how much time I'm spending on it. A lot of times, I'll just go until I realize I'm starving, or my wife kicks me off the computer!

Originally Posted by SD68

Are you spraying the Floquil bright silver with a stencil or using a brush? I have never been able to brush paint Floquil enamels because they dry so fast and was wondering how you are achieving such a smooth finish with them without any brush strokes?

SD, I'm brush painting the silver. You're right, it does dry pretty fast, but when I'm painting a section where I have to dip my brush more than once, I try to "feather" the edge. Then when I add more paint, it's easier to blend the areas together. Also, once I put on the first coat, I'll go back over it with more of a stippling action, and that helps to disguise any brush strokes as well.

PROGRESS--Oct 8th:
OK, something a little different as far as pics go. I wanted to show a section of the helmet, and how it progresses as I add the different colors.
I'll show the right mandible, seeing how I needed a break between each color!
First is the Floquil Bright Silver. I traced the damage areas, then painted them in. I try to leave any small chips within the larger areas unpainted. It gives me a much better visual on where to line up the next color.



While the silver is drying, I trace out my next color application. In this case, Polly S Lark Dark Gray, just as with my last couple of updates. After I lay down the gray, this is what it looks like.



The third step is to add the darker reddish damage. Again, for this I'm using Polly S PRR Maroon. This was one alteration Rogue Studios made to his famous color list. And it's much easier than mixing a custom color! I'll also use this step to go back and touch up any silver that got covered over, or needs to be reshaped due to painting the other 2 colors. Here's the mandible with the maroon added.



*Whew!!* Lots of work for a small section of the bucket. This represents probably around 4 hours of work.
Hope everyone's enjoying the tutorial!

Thanks for the info SJ. The bucket looks absolutely incredible!!!

PROGRESS--Oct 9th:
OK, the face is pretty much done. I still have to go back with my sharp little implement of destruction (compass) and put in the really fine scratches, but the painting is finished.
For the gray on the lower cheeks, I darkened up the Lark Dark Gray using some PRR Brunswick Green. The Lark by itself just kind of blends into the Panzerolivgrun. There's not enough contrast. I just added a few drops at a time until it provided enough of a difference to see. (This isn't my idea. . . I can't remember who recommended it. I thought it was Rogue Studios in his color thread, but I can't find the reference for it. Nevertheless, it works great! )





Next up is starting the damage on the dome!

I think Superjedi should change his name to Superpainter

Good thing I never did a Boba helmet, cause the painting to too difficult for me. Good thing I stuck to the simplicity of Jango's pait job, despite the rub and buff.

-tubachris

that is amazing.

That paint job is stellar. Thanks for the mini tutorial on the silver also.
Now I need to get a move on....thanks for the motivation

-Tim-

Glad you guys are enjoying this! I'm using my weekend time as much as I can.

MORE PROGRESS--Oct 9th:
Alright, the dome is getting beat up! I started at the back, and I'm working my way around. So far I'm about 1/4 of the way around. Here's where it stands:



Everything you see here is silver and gray paint. I haven't added any of the really fine scratches yet. I mapped out the medium/small ones so I could have a good reference point for doing the really tiny ones.





Next, it's onward toward the right temple and "cat scratch." Then continuing to the dent and killstripe area. Lots more detail on the left side.

SJ,

After the dull cote, does the silver turn kind of a "lead" color and get just a little, like streakyish ?

Originally Posted by psberetta

SJ,

After the dull cote, does the silver turn kind of a "lead" color and get just a little, like streakyish ?

Well, so far the only part I've dull coated is the back section.
It does make the silver a shade darker, and if I look very closely,
there's kind of a very fine "mottled" effect.
But it's not noticeable unless you're looking reeeeeally close.
Kind of like oxidized metal.

Originally Posted by superjedi

Well, so far the only part I've dull coated is the back section.
It does make the silver a shade darker, and if I look very closely,
there's kind of a very fine "mottled" effect.
But it's not noticeable unless you're looking reeeeeally close.
Kind of like oxidized metal.

Mottled....Exactly !!!!

Ok, thanks

Another great thread SJ! Fantastic work my friend. I can't wait to see this dude finished.

I........can't.............believe..........how... ........great......it............is. You make me feel like a putz. Great work!

Originally Posted by MandalorFett

I........can't.............believe..........how... ........great......it............is. You make me feel like a putz. Great work!

Oh man. . . I'm sorry.
I'll stop immediately and toss the helmet out the window.

Thanks!

Well SJ, after seeing your work on this project these past few days has shown me how artistically inadequate my "skill" really is...Wow is about all I can say after seeing how easy you make it seem to create a flawless buy'ce. Hopefully I'll get better at this sooner rather than later...

:thumbup

Absolutely amazing how you've got the weathering accurate down to the tenth of a millimeter! Most impressive.

Originally Posted by MandalorFett

I........can't.............believe..........how... ........great......it............is. You make me feel like a putz. Great work!

Originally Posted by superjedi

Oh man. . . I'm sorry.
I'll stop immediately and toss the helmet out the window.

Thanks!

MF ... please tell me you were there to catch the helmet he just threw out the window!

absolutely amazing paint job!! :thumbup

PROGRESS--Oct 11th:
OK, I was lazy yesterday and took a day off.
But I'm trying to keep up some momentum during the week! I made it past the "cat scratch," around the front of the dome, and started on the main part of the dent. Again, still have all the fine detail to go, but I wanted to get the main part laid in to keep myself motivated.
So here it is as of today.

not to much more to go there. Looking Fett-abulous

Amazing work! I am truly humbled :thumbup

Fantastic work! Very inspiring...

Man! I may have to send you a freebie sometime to paint one of these up for me!

These are still quite available BTW- My thread in the Cargo hold evidently fell off while I was out sick. PM me for details.

-Sarge

Incredible painting, such percision!
The pace is unbelievable

Originally Posted by SgtFang

Man! I may have to send you a freebie sometime to paint one of these up for me!

These are still quite available BTW- My thread in the Cargo hold evidently fell off while I was out sick. PM me for details.

-Sarge

Sarge! Thanks for checking out my thread. I'm having fun with the paintjob, and the helmet was a heckuva deal! I'd recommend one of your casts to anybody.
I dunno about doing another one too soon after this. . . it'll probably take my eyes a couple of months to uncross once I'm done with this one.

PROGRESS--Oct 12th:
Well, still at my slow "during the week" pace today. Finished up the big scrape trailing back from the dent, and a lot of the silver/gray around the killstripe area. Not much left, and it's driving me crazy! Come on, weekend!





The only major areas left to paint are the areas above the "cat scratch," and the crown of the dome. Hopefully I'll get to those tomorrow.
Enjoy!

You could always just go out and get yourself a cat! Ha ha ha ... anways, great job again with the painting ... the weekend is right around the corner!

Nice paint job! I'm not a big fan of topical paints, but it looks great!!

Well, I had been trolling around these forums for some time as a Guest, but I had to sign-up and start posting. I picked this thread, because I am simply amazed at the work you have done on this "bucket" (as they are called here). I'm totally new to the "costume" world, but not Star Wars and certainly not Star Wars collecting. Anyways, love your work and a lot of the work done here by others. I hope some day to at least have a "bucket" for if nothing else to display.

Wow, nice paint job. Your work makes for great inspiration!

Noir Fett and Tunnel Rat,
Welcome to TDH! It's fun around here. Thanks for viewing my pics. I'm enjoying the feedback from everyone.

PROGRESS--Oct 14th:
Well, the main body of the helmet is done. Except for the washing of course. But all the color application and damage is finished.
I used my trusty compass point to do all the really fine scratches, and I used some Citadel black ink to do the "scuffs" around the killstripe section.





Soooooooo much detail on the left side!
Oh yeah, I'm still going to do the "thumbprints." But I want to clear coat the helmet first.



Next will be the ears. Honestly, I haven't even sanded them yet! Not that there's a lot of prep needed, but I want to sand the backs down smooth, and even up the edges just a bit.
More to come!

Compass point!! I've never thought of that!! I'll have to try that out when I paint my 3rd ESB bucket

Awesome job with the scratches and for posting how ya did it ... I was wondering how it is possible to get them so narrow.

PROGRESS--Oct 15th:
Got the ears in work. I sanded and washed them yesterday, and did some minor putty work.
Today I primed and painted them. For the RF ear, I used Model Master Panzerdunkelgelb. For the left ear, I used Model Master Lichtgrun RLM 83. I think it provides just enough difference from the dome/cheeks to look good. Both of these are the same colors I used on my MS helmet.
I used VashDStampede's excellent vinyl decals for the arches and details. On the left ear, I traced the damaged part of the white arch and cut this using a swivel X-acto knife. I did this before applying the decal.



The glossiness of the decals will disappear once I dullcoat the helmet after weathering.



I'll work on the ear damage during the week! Not too much more to go.

Incredible. You've given me inspiration to get my butt in gear with a couple of helmets I'm painting for friends. Thank you!

PROGRESS--Oct 16th:
Ugh. . . I've had such a tremendously annoying head cold the last 2 days. . . but the lengths we go to for Boba-ness!
I've painted left ear piece. I used Model Master Lichtblau RLM 76 for the gray chips, and Polly S Rock Island Maroon for the red.
Man, I forgot how intricate the bottom of this piece is! Anyway, here it is.



The only part that remains is the RF ear. . . well, 2 parts I guess.
More to follow. . . if my stuffy head doesn't fall off!

Sorry ya caught that head cold, dude. I'm guessin' the recent temperature drop has played a role in that. Anyway, nice job with the ear pieces ... looks like everythin' is coming together!

Great job How long until you finish it?

Jimmy B,
Yeah, the temps have been getting down there lately! I almost considered wearing a jacket to work this morning! *gasp*

GCN,
As far as finishing, I'm hoping to detail the RF ear tomorrow, and then start on my pastel weathering. Hopefully I'll be all done by the end of the week, including clearcoat/drying time.

I have been watching this from the beging and I have to say this is a great looking helmet. I can barely tell it is topical it looks fantastic.

wow, you do amazing work! i'm about to start painting my bucket with a custom job tomorrow, and this is great inspiration.

Originally Posted by Predatormv

I have been watching this from the beging and I have to say this is a great looking helmet. I can barely tell it is topical it looks fantastic.

I don't think I could ever paint topical, I like to paint really thick It would be obvious if I painted topical rather than layered. I can't wait until I get to work on my 3rd helmet!!

Oh I am with you GCNgamer128 I can't paint topical either, and usually you can tell when people do. Everytime I paint topical you can see the brush strokes and the little dabs and what not.

Originally Posted by Predatormv

Oh I am with you GCNgamer128 I can't paint topical either, and usually you can tell when people do. Everytime I paint topical you can see the brush strokes and the little dabs and what not.

I've been interested in trying out those stencils. A really evil thought in the back of my mind is that I could take the stencils made by AFFO$ and Count Dookie and have them put on vinyl decals. I could have them laser cut for the extreme deteail needed on the back of the helmet, but the dome would be next to impossible to do that.

Who needs painting when I can lay down a waterproof decals on different layers? Maybe I'll buy a Rubies to practice on.

The only problem with that is that the vinyl decals might pull off the silver undercoat or any other coats over it. Unless you have a source for low adheaison vinyl stickers. If you do let me know as I would be very interested in a set myself.

Originally Posted by Predatormv

The only problem with that is that the vinyl decals might pull off the silver undercoat or any other coats over it. Unless you have a source for low adheaison vinyl stickers. If you do let me know as I would be very interested in a set myself.

My CO can make decals, but the stencils aren't my property, so I couldn't sell them. The vinyl decals could be printed on one layer as shown, and laid on the helmet, but the dome would be impossible. Think about it... no priming, no painting, just put a sticker on your helmet and it's done! I'll just have to play with it, if I do follow through with trying to make decals for my entire helmet, I'll post a tread on it

This is an amazing tutorial! Your painting skills are incredible.
Can't wait to get my SgtFang helmet!

(NO) PROGRESS--Oct 17th:
Amazing Killer Head Cold -- 1
Superjedi -- 0

Geez. . . I still feel like warmed over death. I took some Benadryl right after I got home from work, and when it kicked in I thought "OK, I'll just lie down for a few minutes till my sinuses feel better."
11 hours later, I wake up and it's time to go to work again! Sheesh.

I'm so close to being done with this helmet! Grrrrrr. Hopefully more progress soon.