Daft Punk Interstella Helmet WIP

I tried tinting the visor with some Alclad clear tinting paint and while it did look clear with objects right behind it, it's impossible to see through.

Per Rabid Irish's suggestion and guidance, I will be performing experiments this weekend using Rit dye to tint the visor. I will definitely post my findings and hopefully a nice green visor by Monday!

Good luck mate!

IGNORANCE said:

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Any updates?

He has like three projects running at once, but he did attempt to tint the visor recently, you can always follow his work at his blogspot and twitter.

Last night I got to put on my Mad Scientist hat and ran some experiments on tinting PETG. Big thanks up front to Rabid Irish for the advice on this process!

Because of the size of the visor, I had to buy a 15 Qt pot so it could be completely immersed. I cut up some pieces of scrap PETG and bought some dark green RIT dye.



I got the water to 159ºF and dumped one pack of dye in the pot. I wasn't sure how much dye would be required to get the color right so I figured it was easier to add more than take it out. I dipped each scrap in the water, slowly increasing the amount of time and testing the color. Eventually I increased the dye to 3 packs and exposed the plastic for three five-minute sessions (dipping in cold water between to lock in the color).



The final visor is in front (predrilled for the trim), the one in back is a spare.



A quick test fit of the trim on the tinted visor. I'm beyond relieved that this actually worked! Visibility is really good too!



I'm almost finished painting the helmet so there should be some pics of that by week's end as well!

WOW! Thats an amazing process. Do you have to dye the sheet after forming? I'm imagining that dying, then heating to vacform it would disturb the color, right?

Thats a stunning piece you've got. Kudos as always.

you dye the viser after you have formed it. it is the same process for the odst or halo helmets.

you need to dip the viser in the dye a couple of times depending on how dark you want the tint. i melted some visers leaving them in too long.


awesome work, looks great.

Told ya it would work! Glad to see how well it turned out for you as well. I find the visibility to be pretty good with this method as well. you don't get those blurry waves and fish eyes like the spray tint or brush on style colored clear coats.

thanks for posting the process as well. This is a great method and it has yet to be documented very well. eventually I will do a nice write up on it, but even with your outline it can help others.

Keep up the good work!

Thanks a lot for posting those pics! I've read about this technique but never seen any photos besides the final products.

Is this technique only appropriate for semi translucent projects? I've seen some Halo helmets in the past that looks like they tried to go for complete darkness from the viewers perspective, but you could still sorta see the wearer's face. That and the visors looked brown, not black, but for all I know that was intentional.

I don't know how dark you can eventually go. Of the three 5-minute baths that I gave my visors, there was about a 20-30% increase in the color each time. The amount of dye you use definitely makes a difference as well.

Another brilliant craftsman at work. Very nicely done .

OK, first two colors done! I have touch ups to do as well as the yellow marks on the cheek pieces (I forgot to mask those off). I've masked off the areas for the red paint and should get that done tomorrow. So close to done, I can taste it!

it makes me wanna shout "WANT!"
great work!

wicked bucket buddy.

That is amazing, here's hoping you do a run

I don't post here very much, i don't like Daft Punk... but man, what a fantastic job you did here... it's quite inspiring to be honest.

M.

I really like how the yellow turned out there. I don't know why it just looks great. :] Also your blog has helped me a lot!

Well, I am finally done and ready to ship this baby off to the client! Woo + Hoo!

I painted the inside flat black and hot glued some of the original batting helmet padding back into it. It fits nicely now!

Also you can see the magnets in the crest (the trench at the center) that hold up the visor.



The visor attached.



and in the down position. You can see the green tint of the visor better in this one.



back view



This helmet was deceptively complicated…much harder than I ever thought. But I guess I learned a thing or two along the way.

I'll be doing a full write-up of the build on my blog in the next few days.

That is just perfect! WOW!

I'm sure it woulda been nice to get a greener green. Or it may just not show up as well in photos but the helmet and mechanics are just AWESOME!

Very nice work! I'm sure the client is gonna faint over this badboy! If you ever get pics of him in full costume please ask if you can share them here!

A++++

Thanks! The green looks pretty rich over a white background but also being transparent, it can't fight any dark color behind it.

I hope the client likes it. I got some snotty attitude this weekend over how long it's taken. If I get any more, I'll offer him his money back and sell it someone more appreciative.

BlindSquirrel said:

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Thanks! The green looks pretty rich over a white background but also being transparent, it can't fight any dark color behind it.

I hope the client likes it. I got some snotty attitude this weekend over how long it's taken. If I get any more, I'll offer him his money back and sell it someone more appreciative.

Umm... That is horrible.

There are plenty of people who would have cranked out a shoddy POS for him.

I coulda duct taped a visor to a batters helmet for him in like a day!

Seriously. If he gives you more crap. He doesn't deserve it.

This thing is seriously a work of art buddy. Sorry you are not being respected by your client.

WOAH, even better than imagined! Sucks the client is impatient, hopefully he will change his attitude when he sees how awesome it is.

Beautiful! Woops! Missed that post about the cast

How did you trim the PET so cleanly for the edges of the visor? Did you use a drum sander or something to clean up the trim?

I used a cutting wheel on the Dremel to the rough cut, belt sander where I could for rough sanding for shape and then smoothed it out with fine grit sand paper by hand.