Cheapie Rubie's First Order Stormtrooper mods - FINISHED!
- Thread starter StephenMG
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StephenMG
Active Member
Re: Cheapie Rubie's First Order Stormtrooper mods
Thanks all for the kind words! :thumbsup
The next step is the section of armour over the 'nose'. That's going to be crucial as it's a subtle shape and could spoil the whole look of the thing.
I was lucky with this as I came across a company here in the UK called "The Mesh Company" (a logical, if unimaginative, name for a company that makes mesh!) who sold exactly what I was looking for http://www.themeshcompany.com/cgi-bin/sh000001.pl?WD=hex&PN=2mm%2dHexagonal%2dHole%2d%2d%2d2%2e5mm%2dTriangular%2dPitch%2d%2d1mm%2dThickness%2d%2d%2d%2dPerforated%2dMetal%2dMesh%2d%2d%2dMild%2dSteel%2d442%2ehtml#SID=96.
Thanks all for the kind words! :thumbsup
The next step is the section of armour over the 'nose'. That's going to be crucial as it's a subtle shape and could spoil the whole look of the thing.
I was lucky with this as I came across a company here in the UK called "The Mesh Company" (a logical, if unimaginative, name for a company that makes mesh!) who sold exactly what I was looking for http://www.themeshcompany.com/cgi-bin/sh000001.pl?WD=hex&PN=2mm%2dHexagonal%2dHole%2d%2d%2d2%2e5mm%2dTriangular%2dPitch%2d%2d1mm%2dThickness%2d%2d%2d%2dPerforated%2dMetal%2dMesh%2d%2d%2dMild%2dSteel%2d442%2ehtml#SID=96.
malskelton
New Member
Re: Cheapie Rubie's First Order Stormtrooper mods
Just wanted to add my appreciation for your work - I too picked up the Black Series lid and used it for signatures, I'm also looking for a TFA helmet for a similar project .... this has given me some food for thought
Mal Skelton
Just wanted to add my appreciation for your work - I too picked up the Black Series lid and used it for signatures, I'm also looking for a TFA helmet for a similar project .... this has given me some food for thought
Mal Skelton
StephenMG
Active Member
Re: Cheapie Rubie's First Order Stormtrooper mods
Thank you Mal!
I went the full works with mine because it looked undersized compared to the Black Series. However, if you're not too fussy about the size difference, the look of the Rubie's First Order helmet can be massively improved just be cutting out the black hex mesh area and replacing it with proper mesh, replacing the netting eyes with tinted acrylic and giving the whole thing a decent paint job. So if you don't want to go too crazy you can make something pretty decent for signatures out of the basic Rubie's helmet without too much drama.
Thank you Mal!
I went the full works with mine because it looked undersized compared to the Black Series. However, if you're not too fussy about the size difference, the look of the Rubie's First Order helmet can be massively improved just be cutting out the black hex mesh area and replacing it with proper mesh, replacing the netting eyes with tinted acrylic and giving the whole thing a decent paint job. So if you don't want to go too crazy you can make something pretty decent for signatures out of the basic Rubie's helmet without too much drama.
Re: Cheapie Rubie's First Order Stormtrooper mods
Might there be any chance you'd be willing to snag another of those sample sheets and send it my way here in the US...? I'm working on one of these and Rubies' even worse "deluxe" two-piece Phasma helmet of the same scale. I have a crap-ton of mesh from another UK firm (that would only sell by the full sheet) of the right size for a full-scale First Order Stormtrooper, but looks noticeably too big on these buckets.
It's nice to see we generally take the same approach with our mods. I, too, filled the cheek boxes. I, too, am templating and scratch-building correct latches. I keep hoping someone will put scaled "mic tips" up on Shapeways so I don't have to try to recreate that in ~85% scale. I can. I'm a bit of a hot hand with brass and plastic tubing. It'd just be nice to have one less thing, you know? *chuckle* About the only thing I did differently was to use masking and striping tape to keep my line-scribing where I wanted it.
Keep this up. It's inspiring me to not give up on mine.
--Jonah
Might there be any chance you'd be willing to snag another of those sample sheets and send it my way here in the US...? I'm working on one of these and Rubies' even worse "deluxe" two-piece Phasma helmet of the same scale. I have a crap-ton of mesh from another UK firm (that would only sell by the full sheet) of the right size for a full-scale First Order Stormtrooper, but looks noticeably too big on these buckets.
It's nice to see we generally take the same approach with our mods. I, too, filled the cheek boxes. I, too, am templating and scratch-building correct latches. I keep hoping someone will put scaled "mic tips" up on Shapeways so I don't have to try to recreate that in ~85% scale. I can. I'm a bit of a hot hand with brass and plastic tubing. It'd just be nice to have one less thing, you know? *chuckle* About the only thing I did differently was to use masking and striping tape to keep my line-scribing where I wanted it.
Keep this up. It's inspiring me to not give up on mine.
--Jonah
StephenMG
Active Member
Re: Cheapie Rubie's First Order Stormtrooper mods
Jonah, you're braver than me taking on that Phasma helmet - it's an absolute shocker!
The Mesh Company ship to the US (but I don't know what their delivery charges are like) but I can certainly order another sample sheet and forward it on if you're stuck. Having increased the size of my Rubie's lid from the original 85% size to around 95% (I'd guess) the mesh holes are slightly too small (but look better than the next size up) but, as you say, should be ideal for an unmodified size helmet.
I'm undecided what to do about my 'mic tip' at present. I've tidied up the original Rubie's one a bit and might see how that looks once it's got some paint on it. I did consider turning an aluminium one myself but I'll see how a modified Rubie's part looks first I think.
Edit: Forgot say, Jonah - show us some pics!!!
Jonah, you're braver than me taking on that Phasma helmet - it's an absolute shocker!
The Mesh Company ship to the US (but I don't know what their delivery charges are like) but I can certainly order another sample sheet and forward it on if you're stuck. Having increased the size of my Rubie's lid from the original 85% size to around 95% (I'd guess) the mesh holes are slightly too small (but look better than the next size up) but, as you say, should be ideal for an unmodified size helmet.
I'm undecided what to do about my 'mic tip' at present. I've tidied up the original Rubie's one a bit and might see how that looks once it's got some paint on it. I did consider turning an aluminium one myself but I'll see how a modified Rubie's part looks first I think.
Edit: Forgot say, Jonah - show us some pics!!!
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CSMacLaren
Sr Member
Re: Cheapie Rubie's First Order Stormtrooper mods
Wow, what a brave and inspiring project! Keep it up!
Wow, what a brave and inspiring project! Keep it up!
Re: Cheapie Rubie's First Order Stormtrooper mods
Yeaaaaaahhh... I was a bit annoyed. I ordered it online, figuring it would be the same construction as the Stormtrooper I'd picked up in the store. Conveniently, it's so thin, I can overlay it on the Stormtrooper helmet to clean up where the separation lines should be, and I used some reaaaally thin strips of styrene to join front to back. When I finish getting set up to work with fiberglass, I'm going to reinforce the inside with a layer or two of fiberglass tape. Then the frown can get cut out and backed with screen. I just need to figure out the return edge underneath the helmet. *sigh*
I've gotten good at making silk purses out of pigs' ears over the years...
I will once I finish getting my Flickr set up. I hate how it doesn't physically move your images to the albums to set them to. So as you get more and more assigned, you have to take longer and longer to go through aaaaaaaaaalllllllll of the pictures on there to find the ones that you still need to put in an album. I've sent them an e-mail requesting that the already-assigned images at least get greyed out to indicate they've been put somewhere.
--Jonah
Yeaaaaaahhh... I was a bit annoyed. I ordered it online, figuring it would be the same construction as the Stormtrooper I'd picked up in the store. Conveniently, it's so thin, I can overlay it on the Stormtrooper helmet to clean up where the separation lines should be, and I used some reaaaally thin strips of styrene to join front to back. When I finish getting set up to work with fiberglass, I'm going to reinforce the inside with a layer or two of fiberglass tape. Then the frown can get cut out and backed with screen. I just need to figure out the return edge underneath the helmet. *sigh*
I've gotten good at making silk purses out of pigs' ears over the years...
I will once I finish getting my Flickr set up. I hate how it doesn't physically move your images to the albums to set them to. So as you get more and more assigned, you have to take longer and longer to go through aaaaaaaaaalllllllll of the pictures on there to find the ones that you still need to put in an album. I've sent them an e-mail requesting that the already-assigned images at least get greyed out to indicate they've been put somewhere.
--Jonah
StephenMG
Active Member
Re: Cheapie Rubie's First Order Stormtrooper mods
Hi all, back with a bit more progress to report - the armour panel on the front. This is a bit of a cheat if I'm honest. To my eye, this is a part which really has to look 'right' otherwise it spoils the whole character of the helmet. The problem is that, in order to make it conform to the original Rubies shell, I had to form the mesh section into a shape which wasn't going to be a perfect match for the armour section on top of it. I therefore made the armour section the shape I wanted by mounting it on little 'feet' of the appropriate height to sit on the mesh. It's made from styrene sheet heated and curved to shape. I built up the edges, to give the impression of thickness, by laminating thinly cut strips of styrene.There's a touch of filler thrown in for good measure too. You can see the 'feet in the rear view photo below,
This means the armour section doesn't fit tightly to the mesh all the way around but I've kept the gaps to a minimum and I think it looks OK on the whole. One side effect is that it provides for some airflow inside when wearing it! I'd rather keep the overall character of the helmet so it is a bit of a compromise for sure...but then so is almost everything else on this thing!
This is the effect when fitted and given a quick coat of primer,
Not sure I'll get much more done over the next couple of weeks so have a great Christmas everyone! :thumbsup
Hi all, back with a bit more progress to report - the armour panel on the front. This is a bit of a cheat if I'm honest. To my eye, this is a part which really has to look 'right' otherwise it spoils the whole character of the helmet. The problem is that, in order to make it conform to the original Rubies shell, I had to form the mesh section into a shape which wasn't going to be a perfect match for the armour section on top of it. I therefore made the armour section the shape I wanted by mounting it on little 'feet' of the appropriate height to sit on the mesh. It's made from styrene sheet heated and curved to shape. I built up the edges, to give the impression of thickness, by laminating thinly cut strips of styrene.There's a touch of filler thrown in for good measure too. You can see the 'feet in the rear view photo below,
This means the armour section doesn't fit tightly to the mesh all the way around but I've kept the gaps to a minimum and I think it looks OK on the whole. One side effect is that it provides for some airflow inside when wearing it! I'd rather keep the overall character of the helmet so it is a bit of a compromise for sure...but then so is almost everything else on this thing!
This is the effect when fitted and given a quick coat of primer,
Not sure I'll get much more done over the next couple of weeks so have a great Christmas everyone! :thumbsup
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StephenMG
Active Member
Re: Cheapie Rubie's First Order Stormtrooper mods
Thanks everyone!
Aww, that's the nicest thing anyone's ever said to me! :lol
But, I've been looking at that head-on photo and I reckon I need to raise the lower 'lip' a bit so that it's a bit more pointy. Here's a bit of Photoshop fakery to show what I mean.
Before...
(Simulated) After...
What do you think?
Thanks everyone!
Aww, that's the nicest thing anyone's ever said to me! :lol
But, I've been looking at that head-on photo and I reckon I need to raise the lower 'lip' a bit so that it's a bit more pointy. Here's a bit of Photoshop fakery to show what I mean.
Before...
(Simulated) After...
What do you think?
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OldKen
Master Member
Re: Cheapie Rubie's First Order Stormtrooper mods
The top lip has some changing curvature too. https://goo.gl/images/VBBrr4
I think the episode 8 mouth looks better though, and that piece is the same thickness and angle on all the edges. A simple piece of sintra cut to shape could do the job easily. https://goo.gl/images/wyD2N9
Other than a few slight changes the mouth area, this thing looks as close to perfect as I'd say anyone could make one of these rubies lids. Simply amazing work!
The top lip has some changing curvature too. https://goo.gl/images/VBBrr4
I think the episode 8 mouth looks better though, and that piece is the same thickness and angle on all the edges. A simple piece of sintra cut to shape could do the job easily. https://goo.gl/images/wyD2N9
Other than a few slight changes the mouth area, this thing looks as close to perfect as I'd say anyone could make one of these rubies lids. Simply amazing work!
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StephenMG
Active Member
Re: Cheapie Rubie's First Order Stormtrooper mods
Thanks OldKen.:thumbsup
To be honest this thing is only ever going to be an approximation of the real thing as there are some fundamental issues with the original Rubie's helmet that I just have to live with and work around. For example the cheek boxes are too far back so the face armour is wider than it should be which affects the shape and contours of it. So long as I can capture the 'character' of the thing I'll be happy though.
I'm certainly going to tweak it where I can though. It's funny, it's easier to notice things when looking at photos rather than the real thing sometimes!!!
Thanks OldKen.:thumbsup
To be honest this thing is only ever going to be an approximation of the real thing as there are some fundamental issues with the original Rubie's helmet that I just have to live with and work around. For example the cheek boxes are too far back so the face armour is wider than it should be which affects the shape and contours of it. So long as I can capture the 'character' of the thing I'll be happy though.
I'm certainly going to tweak it where I can though. It's funny, it's easier to notice things when looking at photos rather than the real thing sometimes!!!
Re: Cheapie Rubie's First Order Stormtrooper mods
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Thank you so much for your post. Inspired me to work on a bucket myself. I cut out the plastic and using metal mesh from a laptop cooler and modded a motorcycle visor to fit the bucket. Hopefully some paint soon.Thanks OldKen.:thumbsup
To be honest this thing is only ever going to be an approximation of the real thing as there are some fundamental issues with the original Rubie's helmet that I just have to live with and work around. For example the cheek boxes are too far back so the face armour is wider than it should be which affects the shape and contours of it. So long as I can capture the 'character' of the thing I'll be happy though.
I'm certainly going to tweak it where I can though. It's funny, it's easier to notice things when looking at photos rather than the real thing sometimes!!!
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Re: Cheapie Rubie's First Order Stormtrooper mods
https://www.shopdisney.com/first-or...0766!&ef_id=Wa0VpgAAAPb2fMf-:20171220083132:s
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Also for the "Mic tip" have you considered using one from a Disney store stormtrooper mask?
https://www.shopdisney.com/first-or...0766!&ef_id=Wa0VpgAAAPb2fMf-:20171220083132:s
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StephenMG
Active Member
Re: Cheapie Rubie's First Order Stormtrooper mods
That's a lovely job KyloRenz. Just goes to show that the basic Rubie's helmet can be made into something very nice looking with some proper mesh, lenses and a re-paint. Great work Sir!
I'm going to be using a cut-down motorcycle visor too. Mine's not quite as bulbous as yours but has enough curvature to give a good convex impression while fitting tightly against the edges of my eye holes. I just hope I don't knacker it when when I'm cutting it out! I've embedded threaded brass inserts in Milliput around the edge of my visor area so I can fit the visor with screws.
I don't think the Rubie's mic tip looks too bad actually. I plan to use mine with a bit of a mod.
That's a lovely job KyloRenz. Just goes to show that the basic Rubie's helmet can be made into something very nice looking with some proper mesh, lenses and a re-paint. Great work Sir!
I'm going to be using a cut-down motorcycle visor too. Mine's not quite as bulbous as yours but has enough curvature to give a good convex impression while fitting tightly against the edges of my eye holes. I just hope I don't knacker it when when I'm cutting it out! I've embedded threaded brass inserts in Milliput around the edge of my visor area so I can fit the visor with screws.
I don't think the Rubie's mic tip looks too bad actually. I plan to use mine with a bit of a mod.
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