GMH Boba Fett helmet--ESB style

[superjedi]

Finally had time and good enough lighting to take some pics of the latest progress.

Killstripes are done! This shows a couple days worth of work on this section of
the helmet. The stripes were taped off, then the chips were masked with my
Winsor & Newton fluid. I airbrushed the stripes, adding the slightly darker shade
toward the back of the dome.



I then went back and added the remaining gray and silver damage on the dome.



The helmet is now ready for the red on the mandibles and "hat band." But before I
begin that stage, I wanted to prep the MQ-1 circuit board so that I can airbrush that
piece at the same time.

The circuit board on its own isn't wide enough to fully cover the keyslots on the back
of the helmet. Also, since only the upper half of the board is used, it definitely isn't
tall enough! This is the second real MQ-1 circuit board I've installed in a helmet, and
to make everything look nice, I build a styrene platform for the board.

I began with the circuit board itself.



I separated the upper and lower halves.



I cut a strip of .020" styrene to the width of the keyslot insert. Length doesn't
really matter at this stage. I'll trim it to length later.



I made some measurements on the styrene strip to accommodate the little
protruding screen on the circuit board. The screen won't allow the circuit board
to sit flush with the styrene.



Here's the slot cut out.



Now the circuit board fits nice and flush against the styrene.



The screen fits perfectly through the cutout.



I'll place the styrene strip inside the helmet and determine the best vertical position.
Then I'll trim it to the proper length. Once the strip is trimmed and painted, I'll use some
2-part epoxy putty to install it after all paint work is complete on the rest of the helmet.
More to come!

 

[superjedi]

Next major stage complete. . . red!



This involves the most complex masking of the whole project. I'm always terrified that
the tape will pull up my previous work. :lol But it hasn't happened yet!

I also got some of the detailing started on the keyslot area.



I'll start working my way around the band on the back half of the helmet next. I save
those crazy mandibles for last!

 

[PHArchivist]

Excellent work!

I agree with this...

 

[biggeekjr]

I think this looks great

 

[cthulhupunk]

A wonderful paint job. Thank you for the inspiring walk through

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 4

 

[superjedi]

Thanks, guys! It's coming along.

Got more done on the back half of the helmet. Lots of detail squeezed
into a relatively narrow strip.



I divide this "hat band" portion into thirds. The center is shown above,
and the right hand part is below.



The left hand section is up next, then it's on to the front!

 

[superjedi]

Continuing on with the damage on the red areas, I finished the last section
behind the left ear platform. This area will receive a bit of additional attention
when I add the white "thumbprints" after all the rest of the painting is complete.



Now I've moved on to the front of the helmet. I started with the area at the
left corner of the visor.



I then did the left half of the brow.



I'll work on the right half of the brow next, then the mandibles.

 

[superjedi]

Got the remainder of the brow done. Lots of nice little chips and flecks in this area.



This weekend, it's on to the mandibles!

 

[Psicorp7]

Beautiful, just beautiful! :thumbsup

 

[NugZilla81]

Nice work! I like it.

 

[superjedi]

Thanks! Little closer every day.

Got the left mandible done. This is much easier than the right one, which is next.

 

[OdiWan72]

you make it look almost too easy...great work Eric!

Markus

 

[rosskow]

I might be wrong, please correct if I am.

Did you air brush the base colours, like the green on the cheek, the black on the curve of the cheek, and the red of the mandible, and then the silvers/greys/different shades are added on top with a brush painting, with some masking involved where/when necessary.

By the way, you are right in thinking i was the same guy asking about "what a topical is" in post #10 of this thread, i ask again to help and try wrap my head around it because doing that with a base colour air brushed and the rest done by brush seems incredible.

Would be interesting to see a time lapse video of it being created (hint hint )

Anyway, amazing work, still enjoying watching this come together piece by piece.

 

[superjedi]

Markus, it's just practice! I have lost count of the ESB helmets I've painted.
Maybe around 15 or so?

Rosskow, that's it precisely. The base colors are sprayed on, then the details are
added with a fine brush. That's the key concept of the "topical" method.

The only portion of the helmet where I do not do this is on the rear panels. On those
parts, I airbrush on the lighter beige shade, then apply some liquid masking agent to
the parts that will remain beige. Then I airbrush the darker green over it. When I remove
the masking fluid after the dark green is dry, it reveals those beige shapes.
That's what the "layered" method is. There are guys who do entire helmets using the
layered method, and they come out looking amazing! But I like the results I get
with topical painting.

 

[Canobi]

That's a very neat paint job I must say, and it's looking incredible, kudos good sir :thumbsup

I have used topical and layered for years, didn't know they were called that though. I mostly use layere as it lends itself to the illusion that its a real world item up close, but it's not without it's drawbacks, like getting silver to stay decently shiny after being coated is one that springs to mind...

 

[superjedi]

Thanks, Canobi. It's true that the layered method holds up under very close examination.
I have always felt that I get better control of the fine shapes by going topical.

Finished the right mandible! With the completion of this section, all of the "basic" painting
is done. I'll begin with the weathering steps next.



I'll focus now on the contrasting pale gray chips and the fade under the killstripes.

 

[superjedi]

Another step closer.
Got the contrasting gray on. It's a subtle detail, and hopefully it shows in
the following pairs of pictures. The gray almost disappears into the silver
in certain light. But when the helmet is rotated or the light catches it from
a different angle, the gray shows up.

Here's the dent.



From another angle.



The right rear panel has a decent amount of the gray as well.



Second angle.



There's a bit more of this gray scattered over other portions of the helmet, but
this just shows some highlights.

 

[tictoc]

I never tire of these details. The silver and shades of weathering is just Baffling.

I really need to try those paints.

Nicely done -as is all your work.

 

[superjedi]

Thanks, tictoc!

Finally had some time/light to take some decent pics. I've gotten the fade under the
killstripes done, as well as the thumbprints.





Also been working on the ears here and there. The left one is complete except for the
final weathering. Here it is in place (temporarily).



The white arch was masked and airbrushed. The small markings were done with
dry transfer letters. Two capital Es and two tiny ends of another couple of letters.
The RF ear parts are already base coated so I'll be working on the detailing next.

 

[superjedi]

Smallish update today. I've been working on the RF ear parts and have gotten
the damage complete on the lower part, and the arches airbrushed onto the
upper part.



These parts will get a light pastel weathering, then a pass of dull coat (with the bare
metal sections masked off). Then I'll detail the upper part and apply the small markings.

I've also gotten the Borden done. I applied a 2 layer wash over the raw brass. The first
wash was just a very light beige, then I put on a pale green over that. Kind of gives a
nice patina while allowing some of the brass to show thru. I finished with some small
silver chips.



Final stages are fast approaching!