Mandalorian Mercs, Mand'alor helmet.

Well, I've been working on this for a good month now. Wow, this has probably been the hardest piece of armor to paint and mask that I've ever worked with. It's coming together really nice though, been keeping a WIP on the Mercs forums and figured I would toss some pics up here so that everyone who hasn't seen it yet can.

http://mercs.firespray.net/downloada...t/weather1.jpg

http://mercs.firespray.net/downloada...t/weather2.jpg

http://mercs.firespray.net/downloada...t/weather3.jpg

http://mercs.firespray.net/downloada...t/weather4.jpg

Still working on getting all the masking off the bronze domes ontop. I had to use multiple layers because tape didn't work. There are a couple really small blemishes that I gotta sponge some white over...there almost unnoticeable. Anyhow, it's coming together nicely...I think future Mand'alors of Mercs will enjoy wearing it =)

is this a custom thing or based on something? either way it looks great! i just don't know EU stuff well at all.

This is one of Marrow Sun's custom helmets he pulled a while back. This is the helmet of the elected leader of the Mandalorian Mercs group. It's not something from EU, just an organizational perk of being elected to lead. It's supposed to be passed from leader to leader just like the traditional mask of Mand'alor was done.

Thank you for the compliment! It's a testament to Marrow Sun's sculpting ability and one pain in the whazoo to paint =D

Are my eyes playing tricks on me? It looks like the pics are reversed. I've been following this on the Mercs site and I guess I must have missed these. I'm assuming the reversed ears are on purpose.

David.

These pics are in the Mand'alor helmet thread on the helmet board =) Yes, the ears are reversed. Thats how MS molded it.

Oh.:o I got told...

:lol

David.

Thats a sweet bucket dude!!!

is the helmet made of metal or is that all paint? cause it looks darn good. awesome job!

It's the paint. The bottom layer is aluminum and then above that is a darkleaf bronze. It's supposed to be 2 separate layers of Beskar (Mandalorian Iron). The aluminum is the hard layer for absorption, and the bronze is a softer layer for dissipation.

That's truly sweet, great job Novall!

Looks fantastic! Keep up the great work.

Novall,

Great job on the painting so far!!

Keep up the great work.

I appreciate all the great comments guys, I'll probably get a chance to work more on it this weekend.

That is an amazing job so far. I really like the scaring you have done to it.

Updates! They are always good right?

Anyhow, here we have the helmet with the visor in.

http://mercs.firespray.net/downloada...t/helmet10.jpg

And with the tubes on the back.

http://mercs.firespray.net/downloada...et/helmet9.jpg

I like those hoses. *steals idea*
That visor is a bit hard to see against the black highlights, it may be the lighting though.

What kind of visor did you use?

I had an extra Bobamaker visor sitting around. I gotta wipe the smudges off.

Yes, after alot of consideration...I decided to keep all black around the visor. When you look at the helmet straight on, or even from the side...it takes on a very mysterious and menacing look. I had thought about painting the inside of the distended mandibles white, but ruled it out for the look I'm trying to produce.

The hoses are awesome, and will be providing me with air via battery run silent air pumps. I used soft drink bottle lids on the helmet, and soft drink bottle necks in the hoses. The connect seamlessly =)

Looks like I need to get a couple of sodas before the helmet gets here... I'm stealing that idea. Now I just need a backpack. XD

Wow! looks great! I'm not so sure about the red and white flak vest with ducks on it though. Little duckis don't necessarily scream, "I demand respect!" The fringe is a nice touch though.;)

It's looking great, Tom! I can't wait to see what you do to the inside of that bucket. THe last one had what, 50 volts worth of battery power? This is going to have 75 maybe?

There will be alot =D Luckly the visor optics are run by their own small rechargable pack. I'm sure there will be 70+ volts in this helmet...there's plenty of room for it.

What kind of electronics are you putting inside?

This helmet will have day/night optics on inside of the visor, the RF also has working day/night optics. Voice amp as well as limited channel comms, an RF servo with remote board. There will also be fresh air pumped up into the helmet via the rubber hoses and 2 silent battery operated pumps in the jet pack as this helmet will have a leather seal around the bottom.

That enough =D I don't think I'll be able to squeeze much else inside.

this is going to be the greatest thing since gold bond medicated powder!

What your not going to stuff in a camara in there some where for pictures? Shame on you. ;)

Lol, camera sounds like a good idea. :-P Be cool to integrate a camera into your RF. That's an idea I toyed around with.

What about X-ray vision? Not that you really need it at D*Con though, with how little is worn there.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ShatirLavan

What about X-ray vision? Not that you really need it at D*Con though, with how little is worn there.

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:lol:lol:lol:lol:lol

Trying to keep this practical and as close to what an "in universe" helmet would have in it based on what we know from the movies, books, and comics. There are some down sides though. The visor optics unfortunately only show a small amount of viewing area, so I still have to look out the sides of the visor to get a full picture of who is around me. I thought about making it show a rear view, but I didn't think it would be a good idea if my eyes were looking at what was behind me all the time =) Might get pretty confusing actually.

LOL, yeah you don't need much x-ray vision at DCon.

I think rear view cameras would be totally amazing. If your worried about getting confused then you could have it on a switch so that you can alternate between forward and rear view in your helmet.

Perhaps in the next version. Right now I'm perfecting one direction before worrying about another =)

How some of the things running around at D*Con look like....I think I'd pass on the X-ray vision anyway. :lol

I'm gonna go for the rear-vision cam... stick it into the middle slot on the back. I'll let you try it out if we ever meet up, so you can see if you want to incorporate it.

Wow! Your helmet looks awesome! I got one of these from M_S as well. Having never seen yours before here's what I did with mine. Still a long way from being done, you're right though, it's a nightmare to mask...that's why it's taking so long to do, I have to be in a very patient mood to work on it!:) Great color choices too!:lol

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f3...arrowsun01.jpg

That's looking great, Darcy! Wow, that helmet really lends itself to the black and white, doesn't it?

Yours looks great! I'd really like to be able to use it to figure out what I'm gonna do for paint for mine... PM on its way!

Great work! Both of you!!!!!

Hey Novall, Although that is not the first time I have seen hoses on a mando helmet...I must say, that looks great!

Visor optics have been installed, and work great!

http://mercs.firespray.net/downloada...t/DSCF0432.jpg

The bright spot on here is just the camera. It is color vision, with low light enhancement for night time.

http://mercs.firespray.net/downloada...t/DSCF0430.jpg

I've walked around with it on, and the biggest problem is just getting used to the distortion. Once thats worked through then there shouldn't be any issues.

3 Thumbs up!!! That is so **** awesome. Where did you get the optics?

That seems like it would give you a headache. Does it?

Nope, doesn't bother your eyes at all. The actual screens are in the back of the housing with magnifier lenses that enhance the picture. Your eyes don't have to focus on anything at all, just look ahead.

I still have normal vision out of the side of the visor as well as below the optics, so it's not like you can't see unless the optics are on.

The optics themselves are the guts of an EZVision glasses set.

Novall...

That just rocks!!!!


Great job on it...

Incredible! I need to read up some more on these optic kits.

Wow...absolutely incredible.

Novall, Naas hungers for updates.


Updates?

:P

-Naas

Lookin' good!
I love the shape.

thats bad-ahseness. fuzzy likey.

Finally got around to finishing most of this up. Still need to add a few more circuits.

http://mercs.firespray.net/downloada...t/DSCF0576.jpg

http://mercs.firespray.net/downloada...t/DSCF0577.jpg

http://mercs.firespray.net/downloada...t/DSCF0578.jpg

Yes, this helmet has real working optics with limited Night Vision. Also an improved comms system with much better low=profile speaker.

All thats left is the ventilation system and circuit board for the keyslot holes. Also have some other ideas that I map put in if time permits.

now that I'm taking more time to really look at the helmet, what strikes me (aside from the awesome weathering) is how clean the surface of the interior is. That must have made installing all those sick electronics a heck of a lot easier. Great job, sir!

Mainly hot-glue. The rechargeable battery for the visor optics is on velcro.

Yeah, a cleaner surface does make it much easier.

What no laser cutter or fusion welder?
You weren't kidding on the tons of electronics you were going to stuff in there.

I never kid....about armor! ;P

And I thought adding a small clock on the inside of my bucket would make it technologically advanced. :lol

That looks sweet! So you've got the night vision, rangefinder lights, and microphone. What else is in there?

Tom, I continue to be impressed with your work. I wish I could make it to D*Con this year to see it. Perhaps at Celebration V.

If CV is in Indy, you betcha!

I am constantly trying to push the envelope on what we can put in our helmets and it still be comfortable, fun, and affordable. I let our local 501st Garrison give it a try at StellarCon a couple weeks ago, and they were all just floored at everything it does. I think over the next couple years I'm going to dive deep into getting the viewplate to actually work as a display instead of having to install optics. That however is for another post one day!