Predator 2 Bio Helmet - My Interpretation

[philippes]

Over the years I've done a ton of research on weapons seen in Predator 2 and their finishes. The hero helmet is always represented as being very coppery, but a lot of the hero weapons I've seen have a golden appearance. The hero spear in the Times Square Planet Hollywood, for example, is decidedly gold-plated.

Of course, the Stan Winston photos of the hero helmet in the shop make the piece look almost copper-plated, but not quite. Could the light be giving a false and overly-copper appearance?

On the other hand, the laser cannon and the gauntlets appear to be very coppery. The cutting disc appears this way as well. But a recent photo of a hero disc that appears on the Stan Winston School website shows a golden disc with a heat tempered effect.

Also, a lot of production stills showing the helmet make it appear more golden as well.

Anyway, this is my current interpretation of the Predator 2 helmet. I still need to install the visor screen, which I believe was originally made out of diamond pattern sculpting mesh (makes sense, no?) and finish a few other details, but here's what I have so far.

Any opinions and/or comments would be welcome.

Phil

 

[wonko]

I always thought it had more of a copper hue than gold, but it's hard to tell. I've been looking at the P2 allot lately, as I'm hoping to add one to my P2 mask soon. As far as the bio goes, it looks fantastic. Who's bio is it?

Brian

 

[alphademonic]

i recently bought a raw p2 stunt bio and in my research i had the dielmma as to what paint job to go with i found that alot of people went with a coppery bronze type finish but any screen shots i came across it was more of a gold copper and some times mostley gold dependant on the lighting i went with a dark weathered copper but after seeing yours i wish i had gone to the gold end of the scale i really like it alot

 

[philippes]

I always thought it had more of a copper hue than gold, but it's hard to tell. I've been looking at the P2 allot lately, as I'm hoping to add one to my P2 mask soon. As far as the bio goes, it looks fantastic. Who's bio is it?

Brian

I bought this particular bio from a guy named Keith in the UK who advertised it on the RPF. Here are photos of the raw casting:

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/194/dscf7361s.jpg/

Phil

 

[TriLaser]

I to also went for a more gold look to mine, but added some copper and bronze as well to have more of a blend of the colours in the light. Having seen so many pictures of the p2 bio it is kinda hard to gauge what the real colour is.

 

[TriLaser]

I kind of based mine on this bit of footage from the making of P2. Seems like the right light for the colours. What do you think? 2:25 sec in.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GijKpkeNegc

 

[Okami Skullcrusher]

Very nice paint-job on this P2-bio!
Will you use LEDs or lasers?
How about adding air-hoses like in the concept of Stan Winston's book?

 

[hez1]

Very nice, Phil. I've always thought the hero bio was much more of a gold colour than people think. The only critique I'd make (and it's about the sculpt more than anything) is that the hero bio has a much larger and rounder opening for the laser housing than the stunt does. When you look at the stunt, it makes sense, because the lasers actually have to point way out to the side in order to make it out. Otherwise, great job!

 

[philippes]

I kind of based mine on this bit of footage from the making of P2. Seems like the right light for the colours. What do you think? 2:25 sec in.

Yes. I see what you mean. I’ve taken stills of that scene myself. I based my helmet on that sort of color as well.

I used Sculpt Nouveau's metal coating type ‘C’ in brass, which polishes up quite nicely with steel wool and then jeweler’s rouge. I then strategically applied their black stain and patina (verde) stain. I used their Age-It product on the verdigris afterwards so it wasn’t such a bright green.

I have copper and bronze metal coatings from Sculpt Nouveau as well. I’m going to try the copper, or a copper/bronze mix, on a P2 laser cannon casting (from the original) and a P2 disc casting (from the Latta/Icons stunt I own) at some point as well.

Down the road I may try a copper/brass mix on another P2 helmet to see what that looks like.

Having seen T2 pieces that came from Winston’s shop as well, I have a feeling they had some kind of in-house chroming capability. I saw a leather T2 holster that had been plated silver.

Also, a stunt P2 laser cannon I owned had the remnants of what looked like an aged copper plating on its hard rubber parts.

Phil

 

[philippes]

Very nice paint-job on this P2-bio!
Will you use LEDs or lasers?
How about adding air-hoses like in the concept of Stan Winston's book?

I’ve actually already installed real lasers in this helmet, which align in the famous equilateral triangle pattern. I was also able to position the lasers so they’re in alignment with the eyes in the helmet despite the fact the opening on this stunt helmet version is smaller than the original hero, as The Doctor pointed out. It was tough, as the laser area is very recessed and tiny, but I was able to do it after a lot of frustration.

No air hoses for this helmet. Maybe I’ll do them on another helmet someday.

Phil

 

[Okami Skullcrusher]

I ike the idea of red-iluminated holes among the tri-lasers on the P2 bio.
Not multi-color LEDs like on that P2 bio sculpted by Narin.

 

[Robillicus]

You are correct, sir! Now, I can't speak for the painting process, but I do know that the base coat was gold. Notice immediately to the right of the Boar helmet.

I have my theories about how they achieved that metallic effect used on all the helmets and weapons, and I think it might have been "Vacuum-Metallized." I don't know if ALL of the helmets in Predator 2 were done this way, but I am positive that the Hero P2 Helmet and a few of the Lost Hunters' bio's were done this way. I thought at first that they were plated, but that is expensive. So, it makes sense that SWS would've wanted to keep it "In-House" to keep costs down, and be more in control of the process. I've read, and seen on Facebook people talking about the Endoskeletons from T2 being Vacuum-Metallized as well.