Extremis Iron Man helmet.

[FrogmanStudio]

Hello all!

With all the amazing Iron Man sculpts that I see regularly here, I felt I wanted to take a stab at them myself. Though while I love the movie version, I've always been more of a lover of the comic book versions myself.

So after alot of thought, I think for my first one, I'll be doing a sculpt of the version that came out during the Extremis series. Not too much of a fan of the story itself, but I do love that suit, to me it seems like a design with alot of elements of the older suits, and getting away from the 'bulkier' designs.

I've started doing alot of preparation drawings, but unfortunately, lacking a good scanner right now but I'll be posting them later. I've also started collecting images in a folder for reference.

Currently unsure if I should bother with the faceplate being able to move, or come off completely. For sculpting, I plan on just sculpting it in one piece, and perhaps looking into that later on, but I am more than willing to listen to advice and any suggestions.

Hope to post some pictures in the next few days of early progress.

[edit] Heres a decent shot for those that may not know which one this is

 

[Cosmic Ash]

nice nice i like this version i dont think with this you should bother with the whole faceplate movement.

i too started to sculpt a helmet but the one im doing is the iron patriot.
do you know how you plan to start off the sculpting process?

 

[FrogmanStudio]

I have a head armature I'm going to be putting it on, to save on clay, which will be oil based. Going to work out some measurements too, so everything stays symmetrical and keeps with the design.

Since its a very 'organic' shape, as well as being very minimalist in design, smoothing it down will be fairly easy while its still in clay, but since this will be my first actual 'prop' build, I'll be going to fiberglass/resin and bondo route once the sculpt is done, to keep everything smooth and details crisp.

My only concern when looking at the design of the helmet, it has a very weird cut off from helmet, to neck section, and not sure if I should use my artistic license so that its not such a weird shape as a finished product.

 

[Cosmic Ash]

which weird cut off are you talking about? and what will you be bondoing?

and what i need i got from a tut on a different website a put a plastic bag over my head..(with a few rubberbanded straws to breathe) and had my girlfriend duct tape around my head and snipped it off from the back and had a perfect 4 minute reproduction off head size and fiberglass the inside and plastered the outside.

 

[FrogmanStudio]

This is basically how I see the separation of the helmet, and the neck pieces. I've looked at a few of the comics at Borders to see how various artists go about drawing this particular armor, but it looks like they all stick to the same design.

 

[Cosmic Ash]

ooh ok i see now. comicvine.com is a goodplace for comic reference pictures
but what do you bondo and fiberglass in a sculpt?

 

[dreaminspired]

i'm sure that there is a work in progress thread of a sculpt of this helmet somewhere on here. it's good stuff, try searching it out.

 

[dreaminspired]

nevermind, found it for you.
gah! what a great sculpt. can't wait to see yours too!!!
http://www.therpf.com/f9/comic-based-iron-man-extremis-helmet-90965/

 

[FrogmanStudio]

The usual process that is seen out there, is finishing up your sculpt in whatever material you're using, then make a mold, usually out of plaster or utracal, then cast it in a fiberglass or resin, then start to work on it with bondo to start working out any imperfections in the sculpt, and to make it more smooth and crisp.

 

[Cosmic Ash]

wow that looks pretty i think i should keep going on mine
but im still curious as to what needs to be bondoed or fiberglassed on a sculpt is there a step im missing?

 

[FrogmanStudio]

Thanks dreaminspired, thats good reference as well!

 

[FrogmanStudio]

wow that looks pretty i think i should keep going on mine
but im still curious as to what needs to be bondoed or fiberglassed on a sculpt is there a step im missing?

Take a look at some of the various helmet sculpt threads here, especially any Iron Man or Halo ones, they explain it pretty well, its a process I've not done myself yet.

 

[Cosmic Ash]

huh ill look into that.
but im pretty stoked to see your progress

 

[FrogmanStudio]

I'll be getting started in a little bit actually, after a dinner of delicious ramen!

 

[Fizbin]

Good to finally see some comic Iron Man projects pop up here... the movie version is getting old already. :rolleyes Looking forward to seeing your progress!

I myself am working on a Silver Centurian version of the armor, since I already have the classic "red & gold".

 

[FrogmanStudio]

Good to finally see some comic Iron Man projects pop up here... the movie version is getting old already. :rolleyes Looking forward to seeing your progress!

I myself am working on a Silver Centurian version of the armor, since I already have the classic "red & gold".

I plan on doing a few of the Iron Man helmets, with 'modern' influences on them, as well as straight copies of the comic versions. Silver Centurian, and the 'New Classic' versions are on my top list.

 

[FrogmanStudio]

Heres just the start so far.

Just working out the basic shape before I do anything else. Not much to look at, but hey, gotta start somewhere.

 

[MooCriket]

Looking forward to seeing more! Def. one of my favorite comic versions of his helmet. I really enjoyed this motion comic on Itunes

 

[Bullitt]

Good luck with your sculpt! Looks like you're heading off to a good start. I've got the Extremis book, but haven't read it yet. Seeing your thread makes me wanna pick it up.

 

[quovadis0920]

nice start.. Ill be watching this thread's progress