Superjedi's FPH2 for Refugee

[Refugee]

I love the fine detail and the scratch work. The back looks great!

 

[superjedi]

Thanks! Time for the first weekend update.

I've jumped across the ear arch and started working the front of the dome. I started with the "hump" and cat scratch, plus the
area above it. This is one of my favorite features to paint. There's a lot of detail and it's challenging but fun to do!
Different areas of the silver pop depending on the viewing angle. Here are a couple of shots.

I also finished the smallish area around the turn signals. I'll be adding a few physical scratches after I do the dent and the big scrape
across the top of the dome.

Speaking of the dent. . . it's up next!

 

[Refugee]

Wow! That looks sooooo good! The cat scratch is one of my favorite parts and you really nailed it!

 

[superjedi]

Thanks. I love the cat scratch, too. That and the dent are probably my favorite features on the ESB.
The dent is finished now! Here are a couple of views from different angles.

I also got the giant scrape on top of the dome done but the light went before I could get decent pics.
With the majority of the dome damage complete, this sets me up to do the killstripes. Since I work topically, I mask and paint
the killstripes first, then go back and "fill in" the remaining silver and gray damage on the left side of the dome.

 

[BudaFett]

Pictures can't do your dent justice! So many small details!

 

[MinuteFett]

Amazing work!!!! Your skills with painting are incredible!

 

[superjedi]

Thanks very much!

Boba now has 14 little friends to liven up the paint job. Here they are being born.

That was before masking fluid. Once I airbrushed the stripes on and allowed everything to dry, it looked like this. . .

My cell phone camera really isn't quite getting the subtle shift from yellow to yellow-orange. It's visible in the pics, but it's
a little more pronounced by eye. Hopefully in the final pics, with better lighting, it will be more apparent. Here are 2 more shots.

With the stripes complete, I can do the remaining damage on the left side of the dome.

 

[Refugee]

Those kill stripes look great! I can see the subtle shift in the color just fine with the cell phone pics. The dent looks so detailed and crisp. I love it!

 

[superjedi]

Thanks, glad you're enjoying it so far.
I got the remainder of the dome damage finished up. Now those stripes don't look so stark.
I also blocked in the dark outer cheeks and I'll begin the gray and silver on those later.

A different angle.

The cheeks.

 

[superjedi]

Been slow going the past couple of days but I got the right cheek finished this afternoon.
There isn't nearly as much detail as on the left cheek, and that's up next.

 

[the_man_with_the_ee3]

Incredible, as always. As I've been working on my own bucket for what seems like a ridiculous amount of time, it really gives me even more appreciation of your fantastic (and quick) work.

What silver are you using? Edit - nevermind, found it earlier in the thread.

Thanks again for sharing.

 

[superjedi]

Thanks! My silver is Bright Silver by Floquil.

Now Fett's looking really cheeky. LOL Got the left cheek finished up now.
In these shots, you can see how lighting can really impact the appearance of the colors.

Now that the cheeks are finished, this sets me up for masking everything and laying down the red. It's probably the longest masking job
of the entire project for a relatively small amount of airbrushing, but I have to protect all the work I've done so far.

 

[superjedi]

Red! Got all that tedious masking done this morning and airbrushed the base layer.
Once it's dry I'll start working on the damage areas.

The red kind of ties the other colors together. These helmets always look a little weird in the intermediate stages.
The colors really have to play off of each other to make things look "right."

Now that the red is down it definitely takes on more of a proper look.

 

[Refugee]

Wow! Great work on the cheeks! I really like how the red really pops and brings everything together

 

[superjedi]

Thanks. It does tend to change the look.

The keyslot damage is done now. The red portions of the helmet have an additional weathering color: a maroon/purple shade.
I mix some up using Polly Scale PRR Maroon and BAR Blue. I add the blue to the maroon until it just kicks over into the purple range.

During the week I'll work on the "hat band" on the rear half of the helmet.

 

[superjedi]

Got the band started yesterday and finished up the center section this afternoon.
Lots of juicy detail crammed into such a narrow space!

I'll work on the left section over the next couple of days.

 

[Refugee]

The back looks so good with all of that intricate hat band and key slot damage! I can't believe you're accomplishing all this work so quickly!

 

[superjedi]

Thanks!

The band is still in work. I got the left section done earlier. Here's a mid-process pic with the gray blocked in.

And fully detailed.

I'll work on the right section next, and that will complete the entire back of the helmet.

 

[superjedi]

The rear part of the band is finished. I got the right section done a little while ago.

Now I can begin working on the front half this weekend.

 

[superjedi]

Moving on to the front of the helmet. . .
I got the area at the corner of the visor finished. Since this is a screen used version, I study the reference pics to determine
what to leave out around that "crack repair."

Now I'll begin working across the band above the visor opening. Then it's on to the mandibles!