Superjedi's GMH--Pre-Pro 2

[KaanE]

Take a look at the RotJ and Sandy rears because they have the same paint techniques, this will give you a better idea about if it's white or silver.

 

[superjedi]

Hmm, I looked at some ROTJ pics and those areas do appear to be physically scratched down to the white surface.
I'll check some more pics, but I'm leaning toward white for now.

 

[Spideyfett]

First post it sometime for me... this should be good...good luck SJ.. cant wait.

 

[CSK225]

It seems silver to me. I hate when people use flash on photos. I see what you mean about looking white because it matches the machete marks which are definitely white. It could be white, but I suspect silver heavily affected by the flash at close distance. Look at this photo... it doesn't look any whiter than any other areas.
Boba Fett Second Prototype Costume - The Dented Helmet Gallery

 

[superjedi]

Hi, Alex. This will be some new territory for me, combining the layering with some topical damage. *Gulp!* Should be fun though.

CSK, yes I know what you mean about flash photos. It's frustrating because there isn't nearly as much documentation on this bucket as there are on the screen used helmets. But like I said, I'm still looking at photos and trying to determine the best way to go.

 

[terminal fettler]

I think the White is the gel coat showing through. The detail of damage seen in the pictures above can only be achieved by scratching/sanding through to the helmet surface below the paint layers...

 

[KaanE]

Red is White Gelcoat/Primer (I think they used white primer), green is silver paint. The keyholes are was weathered the same the ears were, silver, then weathering using diferent colours but specially grey, and then hand sanded. Anyway, the white damage was added post DP mould, almost 100% sure.

 

[Dahone]

I think that it is the helmet surface. However I subscribe to the idea that this was damage sustained to the helmet after it's original heyday. It all is up to the individual to what your preference is.

 

[Art Andrews]

Tough call but I think it is white.

 

[Fett 4 Real]

IMHO its the gelcoat white...but was it like that when it was first painted I dont think so...ur looking at pics of a damaged helmet after it was MOLESTED

 

[superjedi]

Thanks for the insight and photo manips. I'm still leaning toward exposed white gelcoat.
Obviously there was a great deal of damage to this poor helmet after it had long been painted. The horrible demolding scar being the most visible.
My observations earlier fell pretty much along the lines of the pic that KaanE posted, showing what is "probably" white versus silver. I still have time to decide though.

JUNE 5, 2011

OK! No more glistening white GMH. Primer is on.
I chose to use Duplicolor gray primer this time around. I've used their products before and the primer is nice and tough once it's dry. Should give some really good tooth to the base coats to come. It appears to have just the slightest lean toward the blue side of the gray spectrum, and the photos exaggerate this a bit. It's really a nice smooth neutral gray.
Before I primed, I taped off the entire inside of the helmet. I just don't like a bunch of overspray on the interiors of my buckets. Personal preference. The tape will stay on pretty much throughout the entire paint job just to keep things neat.

So that does it for prep! Here's where the fun begins.

 

[Fett 4 Real]

May consider getting ur visor installed and taping the visor up that way u get no overspray into the helmet in the first place and dont have to worry about installing srews and screwing up the paint in the process

 

[Lufo1138]

If you compare the damage on the backside of the ROTJ helmet, there is also a fair amount of white showing through there in the same areas. As both helmets were done by the same person, it is unlikely all of that is post filming damage but was probably mostly original to the weathering and does indeed get down into the material of the helmet in scattered areas, mixed in with the silver.

 

[BGHunter]

Most of the helmets were painted white , and the gel coat is also white , Im certin its the white paint/ Gel coat

 

[Fett 4 Real]

But what Im getting at is when it was painted it wasnt left white. When it got abused while being molded it got beat up alot....your not going to take a dremel to it and have the gouges in it also are you? I would leave those areas silver that look like they were silver, and green that should be green....you have to use some sort of logic when doing this its not paint by #s

 

[Lufo1138]

But what Im getting at is when it was painted it wasnt left white.

yes, but it was weathered down into the helmet in places, >after paint< bearing out some of the white. Again, IMHO, this was not all post film damage. I could easily be wrong, but there is not much *clear* pre-filming photographic evidence to make a strong case the other way either. Not that I have seen at any rate.

 

[Spideyfett]

Hi, Alex. This will be some new territory for me, combining the layering with some topical damage. *Gulp!* Should be fun though.

I would say definately chipped down to the helmet White.

 

[Fett 4 Real]

Its for sure white in the pics but, logically it wouldnt have been white, as a artist it doesnt make sense. If Im painting something thats supposed to be metal Im not going to "damage" the helmet and make the damage white....its just not logical. It would be silver damage...just like the dent is silver any other damage would be silver NOT white.

 

[Dahone]

Way to go, superjedi. I think I may go the Duplicolor route as well. I've been using Rusto's filler primer for the armor since I've been bondoing old dents and adding new ones. But I dare not use a filler primer on the "beauty marks" of a GMH!

 

[CSK225]

You're absolutely correct, F4R. I thought at first it was silver heavily affect by flash up close, but upon studying old images I've come to the conclusion that it IS white but only as a result of damages. It looks as if it's been rolling around on it's back for a while. And, no, it doesn't make sense that it would have been white originally. I have to agree.