Eli Jinn's 3D Printed & Spray Painted ESB Helmet

[robotzo]

Hmm you might be better off trying to paint it topically by hand then trying to mask all that off. That will also be a massive waste of tape and masking fluid but to each their own.

 

[Eli Jinn]

Hmm you might be better off trying to paint it topically by hand then trying to mask all that off. That will also be a massive waste of tape and masking fluid but to each their own.

Ok, I was just worried about coverage because I haven't found a silver paint that covers the way I want with a brush

 

[robotzo]

I like Testors Metallic Silver a lot!

 

[PinkFlamingos6]

I agree with robotzo

Testors enamel is great for applying topically and can be found easily at hobby lobby or a local hobby shop and is very cheap! Maybe a buck or two a bottle... and a bottle goes a looongg way!

I used testors flat aluminum topically on my ROTJ gauntlets, helmet, and jetpack and still have some leftover from the 1 bottle.

 

[Eli Jinn]

So it turns out the Vallejo Model Air Silver I already had covers just fine. I guess I assumed it wouldn't because it's thinned out airbrush paint.
Anyway, I finished the dome and did the right mandible.

I still have to repaint that right cheek, but you can see I sanded it down.
I decided against stenciling the silver. I've lost the time and patience to stencil the silver with how detailed it is. Plus, (I think at least) it holds up from a few feet back. I'm actually having a lot of fun painting the silver.

 

[Eli Jinn]

Forgot to post a pic of the top

 

[BudaFett]

I've been loving this build! Helmet is coming along, can't wait to see it finished.

 

[Eli Jinn]

I've been loving this build! Helmet is coming along, can't wait to see it finished.

Thank you so much! I'm running out of time, so I'll save the primer spots and weathering for after Halloween, but all that's left to do is repaint the right cheek, add the accessories, and add the visor!

 

[BudaFett]

Let's see the Halloween fit!

 

[Eli Jinn]

Whoops, forgot to update this thread with the Halloween fit. Here's some pics.

I've got some photos of the helmet alone being edited atm by one of my photography friends from school. Hopefully I'll be able to post them by tonight.

 

[Eli Jinn]

-disregard-

 

[Eli Jinn]

Here's the helmet!

All that's left are a few touch ups, topically painting the spots of primer, and weathering! For the silver not being stenciled, I'm quite happy with the outcome!

 

[Eli Jinn]

Okay, well after a couple months working on and off on the helmet, mostly just weathering and adding those primer spots, I've thrown a clear coat on it and the helmet is done!

It's been a total of 15 months and over 80 hours of work. 90 percent of that I'd have to say was spent just stenciling. What a journey this has been. I can't wait to do it a few dozen more times. This will be the last Boba Fett helmet that I paint without the aid of my airbrush or my new collection of AX paints, so expect future buckets to be even higher quality.
During my talks with Jurassic_Fett as well as the process of reference gathering, I've noticed that the weathering on the ESB helmet is much more nuanced, subtle, and complex than I had originally thought, and I'd like to endeavor to create a visual weathering guide, similar to paint stencils, that details all the little spots and subtle areas of weathering that make up this complex paintjob.

 

[spicy fett]

Weathering is the key. The helmet looks great though especially for being spray painted and I’m surprised you didn’t get a reaction with the paints especially doing a layered paint job lol believe it or not weathering is the one thing that separates the good painters from the excellent painters so keep it up!

 

[spicy fett]

Also another tip would be to mask off your silver before adding a clear coat to anything you paint because it’s always going to dull out that silver and if you look at the reference pics the Floquil bright silver they used is definitely shiny

 

[Eli Jinn]

Also another tip would be to mask off your silver before adding a clear coat to anything you paint because it’s always going to dull out that silver and if you look at the reference pics the Floquil bright silver they used is definitely shiny

Maybe the silver doesn't show up well in the pictures. The silver looks plenty bright to me when I have it in hand, but I do see a noticeable drop in brightness after the clear coat. I will keep that in mind.