BKBT Helmet Buildup

Just got home from work and found me a package! (y) This thing's beautiful... Pics just don't do it justice. Thanks, Vince! :D :D
 
Well I just finished spraying on chrome Alclad II on my helmet & I must say this is awesome paint to work with! My finish is not nearly as good as Jonathan's but I am going to dull it down a bit with fine steel wool so that won't matter. I handled it immediately after painting & didn't leave any finger prints on the finish. I am going to experiment & see how it looks after sealing it with Future floor wax before I paint the other colors. That should keep the paint from lifting when I mask off.
 
Well the Future floor wax worked like a charm. I airbrushed it on without thinning & with it's self levelling properties it produced a smoother finish than what I had to start with. It also did nothing reduce the sheen of the original finish.

Modellers have been using this stuff for years & it just seems to have no negatives about it. It is: non-toxic, self levelling for a smooth finish, can be applied by brush or spray, will not yellow over time, provides a tough finish (it is used on floors after all) & the optical clarity is better than anything I've used. Modellers dip aircraft canopys in it to make the plastic seem thinner when it dries.
 
Hello,

I am impressed and inspired by all the pic in this thread so far. All show excellent craftsmanship.

I am new to bucket building, and am working my nerve up to cuting into my BKBT helmet.

One question is what are you using for the T-visor material. I want it dark, but still to be able to see through it.

And can some one show how the T-visor is attached from the inside, or how you have attached it. It seems that a firm attachment is necessary once the fiberglass connecting the front is gone.
 
I am using a tinted acrylic for my visor. It can easily be heated in the oven & formed into the right shape. You can reheat it if you screw it up the first time. To secure it, I lke to use a low tech method & glue it in with hotmelt glue. This enables the visor to go in quickly & it can be easily removed if need be by spraying in some methyl hydrate. The methyl hydrate will break the glue bond without harming the helmet, visor or paint. Works great(y)
 
Another quick question, is why use the chrome Alclad II , instead of the stainless, or one of the other finishes listed?


Seems like the chrome is very, almost too shinny. But does look good after the brushing with steel wool.
 
Here some update pics. I used smal screws & epoxy to secure the RF top to the post. This is the same way the screen used piece was done. The helmet colors are painted, just need to finish the weathering & seal everything with a final clearcoat. You can see that the finish has been toned down quite a bit & looks more like the C II ref pic posted above. That is a pretty crappy pic but it does show off shinier & looks like metal. I have bolted the ears on because I like to build things that I can take apart if need be. I countersunk & epoxied a metal bolt in the resin pieces, drilled a hole through the helmet, & used a finishing washer on the inside for a nice, clean look. More pics to follow.

helmet 003 TDH.jpg


helmet 007 TDH.jpg


helmet 005 TDH.jpg


helmet 006 TDH.jpg


helmet 008 TDH.jpg
 
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Here are a couple more pics. I didn't want to glue the RF cap in place so I devised a method of attaching it with some low profile magnets & countersunk magnets in the corresponding piece on the helmet. The Rf cap just clicks neatly ijnto place & there is no danger of it coming off or loose.

helmet 010 TDH.jpg


helmet 011 TDH.jpg


helmet 012 TDH.jpg


helmet 013 TDH.jpg
 
Wow, most impressive. That magnet idea is awesome!

Something that I've been wondering though, is it just me, or are the eye slits in the visor area a bit too squinty? The movie helmet's visor seemed to be slightly more open... It seems like it would be an easy fix, but if nobody else sees it, then it's probably just my imagination. :)
 
Its not your imagination Rammage! I too felt the same way and opened mine up to match the C2 photos closer.Just used a nice big flat file and slowly got worked it into where I was satisfied with it!
shunned/bh-8899



Rammage said:
Wow, most impressive. That magnet idea is awesome!

Something that I've been wondering though, is it just me, or are the eye slits in the visor area a bit too squinty? The movie helmet's visor seemed to be slightly more open... It seems like it would be an easy fix, but if nobody else sees it, then it's probably just my imagination. :)
 
Wow, I believe once you get your pinstripe on this will be the nicest Jango helmet I've ever seen! Great work. I know it can be tough to choose your colours with all the reference material apperaring to by diferent shades. Lighting and flash photography can play a nightmare when trying to match colours using images we find on the computer and magazines. As for the magnets....well now your just showing off! Seriously though great Idea! "Yoink! Marrow Sun runs of with BKBT's Ear Cap :)
 
I countersunk a bolt on the cap side, made a small aluminum bushing & it all attaches from inside with a screw. It can be tightned so it will stay in place permanently or loosened slightly so you can tilt it manually. I'm not going to bother with any electronics to make it move, I'll probably never use it.
 
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