EFX PCR BOBA FETT - COSMETIC AND PAINT UPGRADE

[jhfagan]

Hell with it...I'm doing it.
I held off for a while, but, it's just time.
eFX........you were SOOOO close with this one, and dropped the ball big time, forcing me to finish it right, right?
Well, ok, starting with sealing up the outward visible gaps in the plastic pieces with thin bead of clear silicone.
When silicone is dry, will lightly sand smooth and paint over with some minor dark weathering and some brown wash.
Complete all remaining missing paint blurbs, add missing silvers scratches, enhance existing major silver areas ( dent, visor, thumb prints, tape lines below the killstripes....etc.) then a thin layer of blackwash to pull everything together.
Let's see how this goes

 

[jhfagan]

Silicone solution didn't really hold up as well as I was hoping, although it did make a nice seal over the right earpiece, which I 'll leave intact.
The seal between the band and dome "did" work, but I removed pretty much all of it, since it was just breaking off in little rubbery granules when I tried to detail it. It did, however fill most of the smaller gaps, and won't come out.
I proceeded to clean it up, and added layer of Light Aircraft Gray on top rim of band around the helmet, then after dried, carefully applied some brown-wash to emulate rusting.
Letting sit until tomorrow, and completion paint detailing begins.

 

[BudaFett]

Interesting. I've never seen the seams sealed in such a way.

 

[jhfagan]

Interesting. I've never seen the seams sealed in such a way.

I figured it's more flexible than putty or epoxy, and wouldn't crack later.
It's just that you have to the the silicone IN the seams and not laying on the surface.
That's where it'll crumble and string off.
Epoxy would have been a quicker more immediate result...but hey...I've got a disorder or something that I routinely come up with s**t to make my life more difficult. lol

 

[jhfagan]

All "busy" silver scratch and scuff painting is done, thanks to RafalFett's stencils, and more close examination of the 4k film.
The triangles are weathered, the seam of the dome and visor head band is weathered, and even only with that, it's looking league's better already.
This is the potential that eFX had with this piece even just up to here. ( sigh )
Closeups show more detail what was added ( the silver scrapes on the front forehead area, filling in the forward silver dongle at the dent, the grey strip behind the right ear, the yellow smudging on the side of the helmet, the black splattering on dome behind range stalk ).
I've yet to do the white thumb smudges, or the fade strip under the kill stripes, and lastly, correct the orientation of the lines under the right ear piece, and some little gray smatterings here and there.
Will come at those things, and possibly final blackwashing fresh tomorrow.
I've done enough for today.

 

[jhfagan]

Updated carbon scoring marks from dent.
Old school art grade compressed charcoal and rub a qtip end on it, then lightly and randomly dab the area that needs more scoring.

 

[jhfagan]

Ok ok ok...I know....pics!!!! lol
So, to the best of my knowledge, all painting for ESB is done.
As many single dots, scrapes, smudges, etc, as I could find pics and/or references for.
I even corrected the reversed design under the right ear piece.
Going to let everything dry and set for 24 hours, then tomorrow, the blackwash and final weathering.
Thanks for bearing with me! : )

 

[jhfagan]

DONE and DONE!

Ok...got the final bits of weathering, blackwashing, and light satin clear coat on last night, dried thoroughly, and using 1000g sandpaper, took the granule edge of the clear coat smooth and it now finishes in the light perfectly.
Last couple shots close ups of most of the updated paint elements, and finally a side by side from original form, to upgraded.
Like I said, just takes some love, and a skilled hand, and the eFX helm has everything else going for it!

Final eFX Boba Fett PCR upgrade finished!

 

[BudaFett]

That came out really well!

 

[jhfagan]

That came out really well!

Thanks!
I still have to give all credit to our illustrious member Fett 4 Real for the amazing paint job he provided eFX with, or this thing wouldn't have been what it became.
I humbly stand on his shoulders as I only completed what eFX removed of his work, and I stand on the physical direct lineage that eFX's version is.
Suffice to say, I am completely happy to have what is to me, the best and closest accuracy ESB - proper helm for the original $399 price tag to buy the helmet, and a few hours of my time.

 

[miller330i]

Would the eFX collectibles helmet Boba fett PCR helmet pass inspection for the 501st to troop with using found parts to make it more authentic? Thanks for your input!

 

[miller330i]

Can this helmet be upgraded with found parts like the Casio board in back or the rangefinder part from the Polaroid?

 

[jhfagan]

It already has that detail.

 

[miller330i]

Has anyone taken apart the rangefinder ear to see if you could put put a servo in there?

 

[miller330i]

In your updated paint did you happen to correct there issues?

For those hoping to get approved in 501st with ESB EFX helmet... buyer beware. It will need A LOT of work. This is a preliminary list and there may be more. Hope this is helpful folks.

• Heavy glue residue stains all over the helmet are not ESB.
• Th white thumb print and the smudge in the kill stripes is missing.
• Back left panel check mark is missing.
• It's missing the tape pull up below the kill stripes/kill stripe overspray.
• Many are missing and/or the silver damage doesn’t line up with the physical damage.
• • Splattering is overly done.
  • And the major item is the seam all the way around the brim of the helmet is a big no no.

Additional items after review...

• Borden connector protrudes too far out.
• Right earcap too far extended off sides of helmet. In other words, the spacer base is too thick.
• Left earcap same issue, with a seam visible the length of cap that should not be there.
• Damage on back of dome above band is incorrect.
• Damage below keyslots missing.
• Splattering on bottom black square of RF stalk too much.
• Killstripe colors are off. Not yellow enough at the front of helmet.

This helmet looks to me like one of those "Snap-together" model kits. There are seams all over it if you look very closely. It would need a lot of filling, and other things to be approvable...

Also, the paint under one side of the ear cap has been mirrored accidentally and it's painted on "backwards". I believe you did I am re-watching your You Tube vid. I subbed and liked btw!

 

[Lemorseaplumes]

Very nicely done. I would like to follow your example on mine. Did you remove the T visor during the operation ?

 

[BudaFett]

Very nicely done. I would like to follow your example on mine. Did you remove the T visor during the operation ?

I would highly suggest not removing the visor.

 

[Lemorseaplumes]

I would highly suggest not removing the visor.

Why ? Is it too weak ?

 

[BudaFett]

Why ? Is it too weak ?

The visor itself is very strong but it's held into the helmet by multiple screws. The screws on mine, some of them seem to have glue or something over them to prevent removal.

 

[Fett 4 Real]

Get some tint to tape into the helmet if you want it darker....