ROTS Vader helmet

[pisani]

Anyone try modding a regular OT helmet like a Don Post Classic Action vader or a rubies Vader helmet into a ROTS Vader helmet. I was wondering how you would change the dome of either of those helmets. Also has anyone tried changing that horrible ridge on a rubies supreme.

Thanks

Jango Fett

 

[CSMacLaren]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Jango Fett @ Mar 10 2007, 06:17 PM) [snapback]1436988[/snapback]</div>

Anyone try modding a regular OT helmet like a Don Post Classic Action vader or a rubies Vader helmet into a ROTS Vader helmet. I was wondering how you would change the dome of either of those helmets. Also has anyone tried changing that horrible ridge on a rubies supreme.

Thanks

Jango Fett
[/b]

Oooh-oooh, I get to answer this one.

Yes, I have.

Modification of a Rubie's Supreme Helmet's facemask
http://www.aokforums.com/thepropden/thepropden-about346.html

Go to about Page 4 for the dome. This is a work in progress. I'm contemplating a more drastic change.

 

[Darth Kahnt]

The face of a CA or Rubies supreme would be very difficult to make into a ROTS face. Those faces are ESB and ROTJ faces and asymmetrical. The ROTS face is symmetrical. That would require a lot of work to change.

 

[pisani]

CSMacLaren

Have you tried making the ridge thinner on a rubies helmet. I was also wondered if you cut the ridge to make the eyebrow parts on the dome flatter instead of curvey. I'm talking about making the ridge come down less and not as much in between the eyes

Thank you very much for the link

Jango Fett

 

[CSMacLaren]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Jango Fett @ Mar 11 2007, 07:51 AM) [snapback]1437298[/snapback]</div>

CSMacLaren

Have you tried making the ridge thinner on a rubies helmet. I was also wondered if you cut the ridge to make the eyebrow parts on the dome flatter instead of curvey. I'm talking about making the ridge come down less and not as much in between the eyes

Thank you very much for the link

Jango Fett
[/b]

Did I make the eyebrows flatter instead of curvey? I'm not sure I follow.

The Rubie's is a tough call because while with Fiberglass kits I could totally rebuild the middle ridge and make it whatever shape I need it to be, I have certain adhesion problems with my epoxy putty of choice. The original idea was to reinforce the ridge or bump from underneath on the inside of the helmet. Theoretically, if this area was extremely strong then if you removed too much plastic such that in normal circumstances the helmet would be structurally compromised, the putty reinforcement would make up for it.

Unfortunately the putties are having some trouble with the plastic of the Rubie's. I've used QuikPlastic and PC Plumbing, PC-7, etc. and finally removed it all, and went with AquaMend. While AquaMend has been the superior choice (it's worked wonders for me in my fiberglass projects) it still isn't the best choice for something as drastic as holding two halves of a helmet together.

So unless I can solve this, I'm stuck with accenting the Rubie's helmet's own ridge rather than replacing and rebuilding it.

Now the eyebrows actually have been changed. In the stock state, the frown is straight across. Here, I've gotten them to angle downwards and form a slight "V". It took a lot of sanding and putty application.

In the end, is it worth it? Mmmm... no. :lol I'm finding that the Rubie's plastic is more difficult to work with than urethane or fiberglass.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Jango Fett @ Mar 10 2007, 07:17 PM) [snapback]1436988[/snapback]</div>

Anyone try modding a regular OT helmet like a Don Post Classic Action vader or a rubies Vader helmet into a ROTS Vader helmet. I was wondering how you would change the dome of either of those helmets. Also has anyone tried changing that horrible ridge on a rubies supreme.

Thanks

Jango Fett
[/b]

When you say helmet, are you referring to the dome, or are you referring also (colletively) to the facemask as well?

The facemask is a different story. There is enough asymmetry to the Rubie's facemask to make it a nightmare job to conver to a perfect ROTS look. You can address the basics (as I've shown in my Modification Diary) and then approximately the ROTS look by:

1. Narrowing the sides of the face as much as possible

2. Use flat lenses

3. Shoot it gloss black all over.

4. Hope nobody notices.

Some people have made passable ROTS themed Vaders out of Rubie's. Purists and experts will still be able to spot what you've done. But again, it's only an approximation.

 

[Lan-Ed-Tul]

the reason the rubies is so hard to work on putty wise or glue wise, is everyone forgets that the plastic has a release agent in it, so it will release from the molds.

its imbedded in the plastic. and the only way to get rid of it is to SWEAT it out.

which means heating it just enough to sweat the release agent out of the plastic.

once thats done, the putties like pc-7, and such will work just fine, as it WILL stick good to it then.

i personally havent tried it on my rubies lid, as i only done a few mods to it, not the whole shabang.

but i know a few others that did, and this is the results they discovered.

sweat the release agent out, first, then you can do what you need to, with lil troubles.