Need help choosing a Stormtrooper helmet

[bighead5]

Hello all,

As you can tell I'm a noob around here. Until recently I knew absolutely nothing about Stormtrooper helmets and it wasn't until I bought an eFX ESB CE Stormtrooper helmet and wasn't happy with it that I decided to look into other Stormtrooper buckets more which brings me to my question. What is the best (most screen accurate) Stormtrooper bucket out there? I've been looking at the SDS stunt helmet and the Gino V2 (I tried posting on that for sale thread and it won't let me post there yet) and I wanted to get everyone's opinion as to which one of those is better in there opinion and why, if you don't mind sharing that is. Also, if there is another one out there to consider please let me know that as well.

I've looked at starwarshelmets.com and that's helped a lot but, I've never seen any of these in person and I'm hoping that those of you in the know can offer their first hand opinions and help me choose wisely.

I don't have a ton of money to spend, which is why the Gino V2 kit is very appealing to me, but at the same time I feel like if I'm going for screen accuracy (shape of the bucket and paint apps) I'm going to have to shell out a good amount of cash with the only savings being by me getting a kit and painting it myself.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Amish Trooper]

Stay away from the SDS. If you are patient I would wait for The SiMan helmet that is currently being cast from an original ANH suit and will not come from a modified mold unlike the Gino helmets.

If you want ROTJ nothing beats CFO which are available now and are also cast from an original ROTJ helmet and suit.

 

[bighead5]

I really want an ANH helmet since that was the first film and what started this whole rollercoaster of collecting that I have. I personally don't like the look of the ROTJ paint scheme for some reason so...

Just out of curiousity, why stay away from the SDS? I live in the US, as you can see, so it would be quite a bit more for me to get one and have it shipped since I would have to have an overseas friend send it to me but, I'm just curious.

Thanks for the help so far! :thumbsup

 

[Darkturbo04]

have a look at First Imperial Stormtrooper Detachment

There's a ton of info there as well. So, you are comfortable with assembling a helmet kit? As you stated, yes, getting a helmet kit would be cheaper than purchasing a finished/assembled one.

 

[bighead5]

have a look at First Imperial Stormtrooper Detachment

There's a ton of info there as well. So, you are comfortable with assembling a helmet kit? As you stated, yes, getting a helmet kit would be cheaper than purchasing a finished/assembled one.

I'll check that out. I just perused through it briefly and it seems like they are very stringent over there!:lol

As for getting a kit, I think I'm comfortable doing it. I've never put one together before but, I've built tons of models over the years (I'm no expert painter, but looking at the original buckets it doesn't seem as though they were either:love), I work on cars, fix things around the house so, I think I can do it. Is it that difficult?

 

[Amish Trooper]

Helmets are a breeze. When I'm not posting from my phn. I'll post some more detail.

 

[bighead5]

Helmets are a breeze. When I'm not posting from my phn. I'll post some more detail.

Thanks, that would be greatly appreciated. :thumbsup

So, does that mean that you think a kit, in this case the Gino, is the way to go?!

 

[Amish Trooper]

If you get a Gino I would go with the v3 it has the added tube kink but is still has missing details and is costly.

 

[bighead5]

Is the V3 white or will it need to be painted white? I couldn't quite tell from the pictures but, it did appear to be kakhi like the original stunt helmets were. If it's not white, what's the best type of paint to use for that or is that something I can get from TK4510? I guess I should go look there for the answer to that last question, huh?! :$

 

[Amish Trooper]

I think Gino pulled it in HDPE(khaki) version but I think he pulls them in gloss white too. I know he pulled the V2 in gloss white. I don't know If Mike(TK-4510) has decals to fit a Gino helmet but he does for a TE2 which is very close in size. If not the humbrol paint is easy to get plus you can get the trim from Mike. I would suggest mic tips from sskunky since he has accurate ones with screen accurate mesh or Keith same name on this forum.

Helmet assembly tutorial:
http://www.applingmedia.com/TK-4510_Helm_Inst_LR.pdf

 

[bighead5]

I think Gino pulled it in HDPE(khaki) version but I think he pulls them in gloss white too. I know he pulled the V2 in gloss white. I don't know If Mike(TK-4510) has decals to fit a Gino helmet but he does for a TE2 which is very close in size. If not the humbrol paint is easy to get plus you can get the trim from Mike. I would suggest mic tips from sskunky since he has accurate ones with screen accurate mesh or Keith same name on this forum.

Helmet assembly tutorial:
http://www.applingmedia.com/TK-4510_Helm_Inst_LR.pdf

Ah, that's good to know... just like the original stunts. I may have to get one of those one day but, I may have to get an AP as well.

As for decals... I don't want to use decals and would MUCH rather paint it myself. I did see and will likely buy the templates that TK4510 has. That would be a big help but, outside of that I think it would be fairly easy to paint up.

Thanks for the tutorial link too. I've watched a couple of assembly videos but, that certainly helps too. They're all just a little different in the way they do things so, it's nice to see each style and use the one I'm most comfortable with. :thumbsup

 

[gcngamer128]

I have an AP in the Empire Strikes Back style. If I were to get a new suit, I'd get an ATA.

 

[pandatrooper]

The new ATA ABS lids are quite awesome, accurate and affordable. Heres my build tutorial:

HOW to: assembling ATA ABS helmet #1 - First Imperial Stormtrooper Detachment

 

[bighead5]

The new ATA ABS lids are quite awesome, accurate and affordable. Heres my build tutorial:

HOW to: assembling ATA ABS helmet #1 - First Imperial Stormtrooper Detachment

That's an awesome tutorial and very helpful! Looks like you put a lot of time into putting that together so thank you for sharing your work and your ideas! :thumbsup

Where does one go about getting an ATA helmet and what do they cost? You can PM me an answer if you can't/don't want to disclose that publicly. Not sure how things like that work around here, so...

Thanks again, pandatrooper!!!