Problem is Lucas is blackmailing us and has gone on record as saying if the 3D re-release prequels are not successful ($$$), than they will not do the OT.
The answer is as simple or as complex as you make it or how accurate you want your helmet to be.
If you want it to be "close enough", than yes, by all means you can paint an ESB helmet without an airbrush and get decent results.
*BUT*
If you lack the "artistic" skill/dedication/experience...
Actually I think the gray ("Reefer Gray") is spot-on, I think it's the green on the dome/cheeks that is a little dark that makes the gray seem light. I'd definitely like to hear more people's opinion on it though :)
I'll dig through my notes and post what color I used. But no, I didn't use the same color as the dome on the left year. I'm 95% sure they are different.
Range-finder.... this isn't the one that came with the helmet, but is more of a hybrid, put together from several different kits
Visor, trimmed and mounted...
Range-finder installed and weathered
And... DONE... Not shown, but the helmet was given a liberal black-wash and touched up in a...
Grey and silver dome damage... I think I may have placed this a little bit too forward, it's really hard to tell from the reference pics though
DENT... painted
airbrushed the "scorched" burn around the edge of the dent
Silver on the right ear...
Decals applied to the right ear
Decals...
Working my way around the helmet, filling in the "damage" on the red band
And that finishes up the chipped detail/damage on the red areas. At this point I was going cross-eyed
Now onto the dome... grey and silver
working the details around the kill-stripes. A little heavy-handed in some...
Masking off the right-ear.
Airbrushed the gold/tan on the right ear.
Started drawing out the chipped-damage on the rear-panel.
hand-painted the tannish color
On to the grey battle-damage
Than the silver paint. Also note I am painting the weathering in a "topical" fashion to *try* and get...
I recently finished painting this helmet for a fellow 501st member (I’ll let him speak up if he wants). It’s one of the FettPride “proto” castings. All in all it’s a great helmet with very little clean up. I’m always impressed with FP’s fiberglass work. The paint colors are loosely based on...