My GH ANH Vader Helmet - A Progress Thread

[Darth Kahnt]

My GH ANH Vader helmet arrived in the mail today, I am really excited about it. I am going to be taking my time working on this lovely piece and I will be updating this thread as I make progress.

The purpose of this thread is two-fold:

1). To provide examples of my progress on this piece
2). To give other the opportunity to provide constructive feedback and suggestions on how I can improve the things I have already done or to tel me what I have done well. I want to do this helmet justice and with the help of the membership I am sure it will turn out to be a piece fitting of the center of my ANH Vader.

Please feel free to post pics of your own GH helmets at any time and to comment on anything in regards to this piece. Here are the pics taken as soon as I took it out of the box. I will begin trimming and sanding in the next couple of days:

Again, feedback is always welcomed and appreciated as well as any other tips you feel may help me out along the way.

 

[SithLord]

Sweet. Congrats. I'm sure that was not easy to get a hold of.

Throw the dome on that faceplate and take some pics.

What I did with my own GH for a temporary mount is use 1.5 inch squares of industrial velcro and piled about 3 or four layers of that (for spacing) to fit the dome for photos....on the top is enough and maybe a little tape to keep the widow's peak flush against the forehead of the faceplate.

 

[Darth Kahnt]

You're right Thomas, it certainly was not easy to get a hold of but I managed to get it because of my reputation and dedication to this particular helmet, Darth Vader and this hobby.

I will mount it up later on and take pics.

 

[vader71]

Congrats getting the new helmet.

Be sure to cover your skin when you start sanding the fiberglass.....
(I have been there.)

 

[vaderdarth]

Congrats on the helmet..........I know you will love yours as much as I have mine.

Dave

 

[KevVader]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(vaderdarth @ Jan 11 2007, 03:26 PM) [snapback]1395345[/snapback]</div>

Congrats on the helmet..........I know you will love yours as much as I have mine.

Dave
[/b]

Just don't love your helmet too much....you'll chafe.

Sorry...had to...

 

[Darth Kahnt]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(KevVader @ Jan 11 2007, 07:21 PM) [snapback]1395400[/snapback]</div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(vaderdarth @ Jan 11 2007, 03:26 PM) [snapback]1395345[/snapback]

Congrats on the helmet..........I know you will love yours as much as I have mine.

Dave
[/b]

Just don't love your helmet too much....you'll chafe.

Sorry...had to...
[/b][/quote]

:lol

Going to be getting the dome sanded and trimmed tonight if all goes well.

 

[Fatherless One]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Darth Kahnt @ Jan 11 2007, 11:08 PM) [snapback]1395410[/snapback]</div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(KevVader @ Jan 11 2007, 07:21 PM) [snapback]1395400[/snapback]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(vaderdarth @ Jan 11 2007, 03:26 PM) [snapback]1395345[/snapback]

Congrats on the helmet..........I know you will love yours as much as I have mine.

Dave
[/b]

Just don't love your helmet too much....you'll chafe.

Sorry...had to...
[/b][/quote]

:lol

Going to be getting the dome saned and trimmed tonight if all goes well.
[/b][/quote]

Why are you gonna trim your dome?

 

[Thrawn]

Beautiful.

PS: Ill trade you my soul for it?

 

[Darth Kahnt]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Fatherless One @ Jan 11 2007, 10:42 PM) [snapback]1395560[/snapback]</div>

Why are you gonna trim your dome?
[/b]

Trim is the wrong term to use, I meant get all the little bits of flashing off it.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Thrawn @ Jan 11 2007, 11:53 PM) [snapback]1395597[/snapback]</div>

Beautiful.

PS: Ill trade you my soul for it?
[/b]

How about your soul and your DPCA? I'll need another helmet of some sort to replace this with. :lol

 

[DARKSIDE72]

Love and treasure mine, I'd never let it out of my possession.

 

[Thrawn]

Done deal, but ive misplaced my soul transferrence papers

 

[Darth Kahnt]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DARKSIDE72 @ Jan 12 2007, 03:13 AM) [snapback]1395670[/snapback]</div>

Love and treasure mine, I'd never let it out of my possession.
[/b]

Mine ain't goin' nowhere unless I have an earth shattering crisis.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Thrawn @ Jan 12 2007, 03:25 AM) [snapback]1395674[/snapback]</div>

Done deal, but ive misplaced my soul transferrence papers
[/b]

Well you'd better hurry up and find them, this is a limited time offer.

 

[Ghost Host]

Congrats on the helmet. Looks like it's in good condition.

 

[yakcam]

Congrats on getting the most impressive and rarest available ANH Vader helmets :thumbsup I'm glad you managed to get one DK, knowing you're an ANH fan, it will be more special to you than it would be to a general Vader fan.

Cheers,

Kraig

 

[Darth Kahnt]

Thanks Kraig, that means a lot.

I hope to have progress pics tomorrow or Sunday with the sanding of the dome and maybe the eyes done. I just can't seem to find a block of time to put aside to start it. I've been busy painting my dining room.

 

[Darth Kahnt]

I finally got around to starting this project tonight after being busy with my dining room (and a little procrastination).

I dusted off the old Dremel and cut out the eyes and both chin vents. I got them to a point where I need to go in with a small file and do all the fine work.

I learned a couple of things tonight. One, that I should always have a couple of spare grinding bits laying about as they dont last too long. Secondly, this stuff STINKS when you put the dremel to it. This is the first time I have had to do major Dremel work on a big piece like this, the most I did prior was to do little bits on a chestbox kit I had. My Rubies was plastic so it didnt stink like this, nor did it make the mess.

I'm going out tomorrow and investing in a good mask. My workshop is a corner in my laundry room so the space is pretty confined.

I hope to do some work on it tomorrow with the hand files. In the meantime enjoy the latest pics:

 

[TK-2067]

looks good man, i think its ready to wear.... :lol

 

[Fatherless One]

Grind from the back (inside the mask), not sure if your doing so, but if you're not ...

Alan.

 

[Darth Kahnt]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Fatherless One @ Jan 18 2007, 08:17 AM) [snapback]1399712[/snapback]</div>

Grind from the back (inside the mask), not sure if your doing so, but if you're not ...

Alan.
[/b]

Someone else gave me that tip. Sounds like it is a good idea but can you explain the reason behind it (just so that I know)?