Rebel Pilot Helmet Maker(s)?
- Thread starter wannab
- Start date
Darth Lars
Master Member
Unfortunately, there isn't one that is both reliable and accurate.
There are only two makers of the X-wing helmet right now: Richies Armor and Dreadnaught Industries.
The guys behind them are also on the board. ("richiesarmor" and "Wakal").
RA's helmet is more accurate, but the quality is flaky. Some people have received great items, but others have not.
DI is less accurate, but is generally of better quality. However, they have been known to need more time before they can deliver.
There is a guy on Rebel Legion's msgboard: "Jedi Mickey", who is planning to do a run of his own sculpt. The accuracy has been somewhere in-between RI and DA, but he has yet to proove himself as a viable source.
Btw, I wish MR Laws would make them. The TIE-fighter helmet is like the X-wing helmet with additional pieces, and the X-wing pieces on MR Laws' TIE helmet are more accurate and of better quality than anything from any X-wing helmet maker that I have seen, except maybe SDS.
I also suggest that you check out Bingo Bongo's site: http://www.starwarshelmets.com.
There you can also see images of the officially licensed helmets.
There are only two makers of the X-wing helmet right now: Richies Armor and Dreadnaught Industries.
The guys behind them are also on the board. ("richiesarmor" and "Wakal").
RA's helmet is more accurate, but the quality is flaky. Some people have received great items, but others have not.
DI is less accurate, but is generally of better quality. However, they have been known to need more time before they can deliver.
There is a guy on Rebel Legion's msgboard: "Jedi Mickey", who is planning to do a run of his own sculpt. The accuracy has been somewhere in-between RI and DA, but he has yet to proove himself as a viable source.
Btw, I wish MR Laws would make them. The TIE-fighter helmet is like the X-wing helmet with additional pieces, and the X-wing pieces on MR Laws' TIE helmet are more accurate and of better quality than anything from any X-wing helmet maker that I have seen, except maybe SDS.
I also suggest that you check out Bingo Bongo's site: http://www.starwarshelmets.com.
There you can also see images of the officially licensed helmets.
stephen210
Sr Member
Flaky and crunchy.....
I have the molds about half way finished .... but don't know when they'll be done :unsure I was working off of one the original APH helmets I got from bothanspy a while back. It's one of the "old" projects I've been trying to get done for what seems like forever. I think I'll get close to catching up and be able to get back to it and perhaps could have them done by the end of October ... perhaps sooner. Feel free to pm me with progress updates if you are interested.
thanks
thanks
boushhfan
New Member
Hello All,
I have had both Richies and Altmanns Helmets, but have discovered a new maker, TPE, that I am more than happy with.
Richies was pretty accurate, but not the best quality. Altmann's was awesome quality, but not very accurate.
But my new helmet is both awesome accuracy and excellent build quality. As far as I know it was scratch built off a real flight helmet. He's worried about recasting so doesn't sell kits, he sells blanks (raw helmet) ready for painting. You get to choose if you want amber or smoke visors.... Here are a couple of photos of my helmet as I received it. (Sorry for the bad photos)
Kind regards
Boushhfan
I have had both Richies and Altmanns Helmets, but have discovered a new maker, TPE, that I am more than happy with.
Richies was pretty accurate, but not the best quality. Altmann's was awesome quality, but not very accurate.
But my new helmet is both awesome accuracy and excellent build quality. As far as I know it was scratch built off a real flight helmet. He's worried about recasting so doesn't sell kits, he sells blanks (raw helmet) ready for painting. You get to choose if you want amber or smoke visors.... Here are a couple of photos of my helmet as I received it. (Sorry for the bad photos)
Kind regards
Boushhfan
Darth Lars
Master Member
Hehe. Stephen210 is known to be associated with Richies Armor.
I don't mean to disrespect, I am just saying that I see both happy and unhappy customers out there on the message boards. RA is using ABS plastic, which is more difficult to vacu-form than HIPS plastic, which is what DI uses. ABS is the accurate material.
TPE's helmet looks very good, but I think that a hypothetical helmet from MR Laws would still be more accurate ...
I see that most makers (small runs, large runs and APH conversions) tend to oversize the mohawk and not fill enough under the rams horns.
I don't mean to disrespect, I am just saying that I see both happy and unhappy customers out there on the message boards. RA is using ABS plastic, which is more difficult to vacu-form than HIPS plastic, which is what DI uses. ABS is the accurate material.
TPE's helmet looks very good, but I think that a hypothetical helmet from MR Laws would still be more accurate ...
I see that most makers (small runs, large runs and APH conversions) tend to oversize the mohawk and not fill enough under the rams horns.
Last edited:
stephen210
Sr Member
It's all good. It is good to have options. 
JHVanOphem
Well-Known Member
I love my Richie's bucket, painted by the above Mr Stephen210, but yes I will admit the quality tends to vary.
I have seen RA helmets that are really thin, badly warped, and a bunch in California got a set of helmets with the visors having a weak tea like tint instead of the amber they expected.
I know Richie can do a great job, which is why I am disappointed to see those wonky helmets from him. Hopefully he'll be doing higher quality pulls again in the near future.
In the meantime I'd be interested in seeing some new kits with a bit closer accuracy. Always good to have choice.
I have seen RA helmets that are really thin, badly warped, and a bunch in California got a set of helmets with the visors having a weak tea like tint instead of the amber they expected.
I know Richie can do a great job, which is why I am disappointed to see those wonky helmets from him. Hopefully he'll be doing higher quality pulls again in the near future.
In the meantime I'd be interested in seeing some new kits with a bit closer accuracy. Always good to have choice.
Miana
Well-Known Member
They were pink, actually. :lol
maboot38
Well-Known Member
I've been stuck in the helmet rut for a while as well. I have been trying to get a new bucket, and was interested in ordering from Richie's, as I've seen some great work come from there, but I've also heard some horror stories, and have yet to hear any response from Richie about this.
(I'm not calling anyone out here, and mean no disrespect, but I am just wondering if Richie has addressed his quality issues)
I will probably order a kit from Jedi Mickey on the Rebel Legion, but that would mean I would have to do the painting myself, and I REALLY like Richie's painting skills. I'm torn. I guess if i could get Richie's explanation, and his word that I'd be happy with my helmet, I would get the whole unit from him, but until I hear otherwise, I feel more comfortable assembling my own.
Does anyone know if Richie has addressed these concerns?
(I'm not calling anyone out here, and mean no disrespect, but I am just wondering if Richie has addressed his quality issues)
I will probably order a kit from Jedi Mickey on the Rebel Legion, but that would mean I would have to do the painting myself, and I REALLY like Richie's painting skills. I'm torn. I guess if i could get Richie's explanation, and his word that I'd be happy with my helmet, I would get the whole unit from him, but until I hear otherwise, I feel more comfortable assembling my own.
Does anyone know if Richie has addressed these concerns?
InVerbiusVerum
New Member
How would I contact this TPE?
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