Adding hoses to a Don Post Classic Action TIE Pilot helmet

[Mara Jade's Father]

I have a Don Post Classic Action TIE Pilot helmet. I've done some upgrades on it like a fabric interior liner, rubber edging, and metal greebles on the sides. Now I want to add hoses.

I am looking at utilizing these connector parts designed by guabe:

https://www.shapeways.com/product/2...ect-for-helmet-or-chest-box?optionId=56664234

and

https://www.shapeways.com/product/7...k-disconnect-male-connector?optionId=57583781

Has anyone used them? If so, what hose did you use.

Also:

I would like to hear advice from others who connected hoses to a TIE helmet (any design) in any other way.

 

[Inquisitor Peregrinus]

I've custom-fabricated bayonet fittings for my Stormtrooper and pilot helmets. I need to double-check sizes, but it's in the 5/8" range of K&S brass tubing, with some small socket-head machine screws as the bayonet "nubs" epoxied in place. Quick and dirty, yes, but I can swap between Hovi-Mix aerators, ribbed gas mask hose, or a single 90-degree elbow and smooth hose for my take on the ANH "Spacetrooper". Just take a look at any standard bayonet light bulb socket and you'll see how straightforward it is to scratch-build. A little finesse with Dremel and files is all you need.

I've seen the pieces on Shapeways and find them good for what they are, but preferred the approach I ended up taking. *shrug* I's the old equation of how much time you want to spend on it versus what you want the end result to be. I'm after functionality. If you just want something that'll hold the hoses on, you can just snag a couple of reduction couplings from your local hardware store's plumbing aisle.

[ETA: Oh, and as far as hoses, I went with Cold War-vintage gas mask hoses that match the originals in size and appearance, bought from the UK. I don't know how fiddly you want to be with yours. I can PM you the link, if you like...]

--Jonah

 

[Mara Jade's Father]

I've custom-fabricated bayonet fittings for my Stormtrooper and pilot helmets. I need to double-check sizes, but it's in the 5/8" range of K&S brass tubing, with some small socket-head machine screws as the bayonet "nubs" epoxied in place. Quick and dirty, yes, but I can swap between Hovi-Mix aerators, ribbed gas mask hose, or a single 90-degree elbow and smooth hose for my take on the ANH "Spacetrooper". Just take a look at any standard bayonet light bulb socket and you'll see how straightforward it is to scratch-build. A little finesse with Dremel and files is all you need.

I've seen the pieces on Shapeways and find them good for what they are, but preferred the approach I ended up taking. *shrug* I's the old equation of how much time you want to spend on it versus what you want the end result to be. I'm after functionality. If you just want something that'll hold the hoses on, you can just snag a couple of reduction couplings from your local hardware store's plumbing aisle.

[ETA: Oh, and as far as hoses, I went with Cold War-vintage gas mask hoses that match the originals in size and appearance, bought from the UK. I don't know how fiddly you want to be with yours. I can PM you the link, if you like...]

--Jonah

I'll take that link and if you got any good images of you helmet and the way you fit them, that would be appreciated too.

 

[Inquisitor Peregrinus]

PM sent for the hose.

As far as the connectors, I'll have to look in my camera to see if I actually took any pics of them when I made them. I've held of on mounting them permanently, as I'm still doing other work on the helmets, and epoxying the mounts in place is going to be one of my last steps for the exterior, after all painting and trim work. Somewhere in the next couple days, I'll take some pictures of one taped in place, and show the various attachments separated and locked on.

I like what gucabe did for what they are, but he has the male end on the hose fitting and the female end to go into the helmet or chest box, which is the opposite way of how I feel it should be done. *shrug*

--Jonah

 

[guabe]

I have a Don Post Classic Action TIE Pilot helmet. I've done some upgrades on it like a fabric interior liner, rubber edging, and metal greebles on the sides. Now I want to add hoses.

I am looking at utilizing these connector parts designed by @<i><a href="http://www.therpf.com/member.php?u=7690" target="_blank">guabe</a></i>:

https://www.shapeways.com/product/2...ect-for-helmet-or-chest-box?optionId=56664234

and

https://www.shapeways.com/product/7...k-disconnect-male-connector?optionId=57583781

Has anyone used them? If so, what hose did you use.

Also:

I would like to hear advice from others who connected hoses to a TIE helmet (any design) in any other way.

I made these for Vern TK bondsrvnt for the gas mask rubber hose like these:

it can be used in both the chest box or helmet. I used them on mine but I sold my tie pilot

and here is a video of an early prototype I did