Madmartigan's FPH Prototype ESB Helmet

[superjedi]

Hi everyone!
Well, it's been quite a while since I've started a painting thread, but I'm happy to say that I'm back in the game so to speak.
I'm doing an ESB paintjob for our own Madmartigan (and how come Willow doesn't get as much love as it should? I love that movie! ) and this particular helmet has an interesting pedigree.
It's FP's 'prototype' FPH helmet. Pretty cool! I'll let Madmartigan explain how he came to possess this beautiful helmet if he chooses, but suffice to say it's an extremely high quality, sharp helmet, just like anything else Chris produces!
When I talk about FettPride or Madmartigan in this thread, I'll probably refer to them by their TDH names, cuz both of them are named Chris.

Anyhoo. . . I received Madmartigan's helmet today, and it arrived all the way over here in Korea in great shape. We had discussed prep issues before he sent it, and we agreed that he would do the prep work on the helmet. He trimmed the keyslots and visor, as well as installed T-nuts for installing the visor and MQ-1 insert. He also drilled the sides for the screws which mount the GORGEOUS metal ears!!! I had seen pics of these before, and a completed set that Spidey had painted for Jeremy Bulloch's helmet, but wow. . . these things are an amazing piece of workmanship! Now that several sets are available again, I would highly recommend them.

Here's a couple of shots of MM's helmet next to my own FPH.

I began this paintjob like I usually do; by masking and airbrushing some Polly S Concrete onto the back panels.

This is the only section of the helmet that I paint with a layered technique.

Tomorrow, I'll stencil on the outlines of the damage areas and airbrush the dark blue-green.

I also sprayed a base coat of Reefer Gray onto the left ear. This will serve as a 'primer' before I paint the green color.

Much more to come!

 

[KaanE]

Another superjedi's paint thread... Another fettpride's helmet... Another ESB...


This will be great 8)

 

[mmgraphics]

Great to see another paint job done by you SJ!

This FP Helmet looks amazing. What are the dimensions of this helmet? It looks larger than other helmets ... Could you PM me with those measures? Thanks buddy!

And keep up these fantastic paint jobs! You know ... we love pictures of progress. ;-)

Best,
Manuel

 

[HeadlessHunter]

well I know where to send my next helmet now, whats your mailing address Eric?

 

[superjedi]

Thanks, guys!
Manuel, I'll try to get some measurements when I have more time. Maybe this weekend.

UPDATE #2: September 10th

Well, can't let my free time go to waste! I went ahead and painted the base coats on the ear pieces. Now while I'm letting the base coats dry on the helmet, I can work on the ear details.
Not much to show, but here they are.

I used Polly S Earth on the RF ear, and Testors RLM 83 on the left ear. A lot of people use the same Panzerolivgrun as on the dome/lower cheeks, but I've always thought it's a slightly different color. I've used this color on every ESB helmet I've painted so far.

All these pics are under fluorescent light in my kitchen. It's the brightest place in my dorm room to take photos, so the colors may appear a little "off." Nothing I can do about it, though. :wacko

 

[Madmartigan]

Sweet Jesus, man! You must have opened the box with your airbrush in hand! I thought you said you just got it and you already got the Concrete on the back? You are a man possessed.

Glad I got it to you in advance of your long weekend. Do us a favor and try to stop and eat at some point.

-Chris

AMENDED 8:57 EDT --

HOLY ****!! You posted an update while I was writing this post. You are Hell on wheels, Eric. I better hit the reply button before you finish the frackin mandibles or something.....

 

[KaanE]

An update the same day hum.... That's the way to go SJ

 

[mmgraphics]

Yes SJ, ok.
Please don´t stop painting the helmet just because I need some measurements ... LOL

I don´t wanna madmartigan going mad on me ... ;-)

BTW: Madmartigan, a wise decision to let SJ paint it. He´s killer for that!

 

[superjedi]

UPDATE: September 11th

OK, moving along at a pretty good clip here. I managed to get further along today than I anticipated. Our shift schedule changed a bit, so I had some time this morning as well as this evening to get some paintin' done!

I began by stenciling on the damage areas on the back panels, then filling the areas to remain Concrete with Winsor & Newton's masking fluid. This stuff is a little more expensive than some of the other liquid masks available, but it lasts forever! I've had the same bottle for almost 3 years now, and it's still more than half full.
Once the liquid mask was dry, I airbrushed on the darker blue-green shade. This is one of two custom colors I use on the whole helmet. The second will come later when I do the gray damage on the dome and lower cheeks.
Here are a couple of shots of the back panels.

As you've probably noticed, the Panzerolivgrun is on the dome and lower cheeks. Like I said, I had some extra time. In fact, I had enough time to do the PRR Brunswick Green on the upper cheeks as well!

Not enough progress for today??? Well, you're right! I also did some work to the left ear.
I masked off the white arch, then marked the damage with more masking fluid. Then I airbrushed it with Tamiya Flat White. After it was dry I peeled off the masking fluid, revealing the damage.
I also began painting the damage on the remainder of the ear using Testors Camoflage Gray. Tomorrow I'll go back and add the red bits.

The small black markings on the white arch are dry transfer letters from Woodland Scenics.
These are really easy to use, and they're much thinner than vinyl decals.

More to come!

 

[KaanE]

Do you wanna paint my bucket for free?

This is a Boba helmet as it should be

 

[Madmartigan]

Just wanted to point out that Eric has had my helmet for less than two days. It makes me feel the need to resurrect this photo from his own FPH thread some time back of him taking a brief musical interlude while the paint dries....

I can't wait to see what you can do with a weekend....

-Chris

 

[Mojo Fett]

You must be like a kid at xmas Mad?
Awesome work as always Eric...

 

[AncientFett]

I'm really jealous. It makes me want to paint another bucket.

Looking good - can't wait to see more.

 

[mmgraphics]

I must say I am deeply impressed!

SJ you are killer on painting helmets! Great job! I love you sense for sharp and clean lines, even at the smallest chips. Absolutely fantastic!

cheers,
Manuel

 

[superjedi]

Glad you guys are enjoying the progress! FP's stuff is really clean and nice to paint.

UPDATE: September 13th

Painting marathon, woo hoo! I love having free time on the weekends.
I didn't post an update last night, but the following was done from last night to tonight.

First I painted the mandibles/band/keyslots to complete the "basic" colors. I used Floquil Boxcar Red.

Chris had mounted his MQ-1 insert onto a thick piece of styrene with holes for the mounting screws that he epoxied into the helmet.
It also got the same color airbrushed on.

Today began the detail painting. I started with the back panels (like I always do. . . don't ask me why, I just do )
I'm using Floquil Bright Silver and Polly S SP Lark Dark Gray for the damage detailing.

That large area on the right side is a bear to detail! *Whew!*
You may have noticed I've begun some of the really fine scratches as well.
I use a compass point to actually scratch these through the paint to the raw surface of the helmet.
After that was done, I began on the red areas. I started with the keyslots and the area just above them, then began working my way around.

I use the same silver and gray, and add the darker reddish shade with Polly Scale PRR Maroon. Once I had worked around to the area behind the right ear, I went back and finished the left hand side as well.

So that's where we sit for tonight! Tomorrow I'll begin the mandibles. . . lots of small detail on those. :wacko

 

[Madmartigan]

It's so much more fun watching these progress threads when you know it's going to end up on your head.

Fantastic work so far, E!

-Chris

 

[mmgraphics]

you must be very excited, Mad!

And we all can see why .... You´re lucky!

cheers,
mm

 

[KaanE]

I love these progress threads, specially if are superjedi's threads, because he always does the best paintjob and he post 1000 progress pics in the thread.

If I was you, I would be really... without words Chris

:cheers

 

[superjedi]

UPDATE: September 14th

Been using my weekend time to full advantage. It's a Korean holiday this weekend so I'll have time tomorrow to keep working, too.

I started on the front side of the mandible sections. Same colors as I've been using as I make my way around.
When I do these sections, I go in the order of 1) silver, 2) gray, 3) maroon. I just find it's easier to use the silver sections as "landmarks" to provide a better guide for the colors which follow.
Here's the left "eyebrow" in work.

After that, I worked down the left mandible.

The right side was next. This is really a detail-rich section of the helmet. The shapes of the damaged portions are so close together that they all play off each other to make up the overall look of the mandible. This section always takes me a while. I had to take a few breaks cuz the hand that was holding the helmet kept falling asleep!

In the above pics, you can see I've begun detailing the dark upper cheeks. I just have a bit left on the right cheek, then I'll complete the lower cheeks and move on to the dome!

Getting there, Chris.

 

[KaanE]

It looks really awesome, but... I can do it better :facepalm

Nah just kidding! Seriously, you're "The Painter"

:cheers