Rubies Darth Vader Helmet Mods - Modifications Part 2 Finished Nov 15

[Celtic007]

Hey guys. Thanks to this place, I was able to find some nice threads on modifying rubies vader helmets. I've been doing some work on my Rubies Vader helmet and figured I'd show you and see what you guys think.

Heres the original, untouched.

First thing I did was fix the helmet mount. I dremeled the sides and tried to bend it down but I broke it off. It actually worked out better because I could position it right where I wanted.

I put the foam inside of a skateboard helmet inside. Even though this is for display, it makes wearing it much more comfortable. The helmet sits on your head instead of pressing against your face. As it is now, the straps are all gone and its just taped into place temporarliy.

I finally got some Aves Apoxie sculpt (great stuff) and fixed up the areas I messed up doing the dremeling :$ and thickened the nose area and left(or in the pic, right) side of the grill.

I put a coat of testors primer on it to see how it looks. This is how it sits right now.

I still have a lot of work ahead of me, but I think its looking good so far

 

[Objetivotuning]

Re: Rubies Darth Vader Helmet Mods

I have the same helmet and i was thinking to start working on it, this tuturial is very helpful for me, thanks for sharing

 

[Celtic007]

Re: Rubies Darth Vader Helmet Mods

No problem.
I just got some motocross tinted goggle lenses. After fixing up the face, I'll just need to paint it, put in the lenses and put it back together, although I know its not going to be that easy.

 

[GeneralFROSTY]

Re: Rubies Darth Vader Helmet Mods

With just a little work, this helmet can really make a great prop replica! Thanks for sharing! I'm sure this will be a good alternative for those who won't be getting the eFX ANH helmet.

 

[Celtic007]

Re: Rubies Darth Vader Helmet Mods

I never found a spray paint I like for the grey in Vaders helmet, so I mixed up some paint myself. I always feel like its not dark enough, but then I see helmets that are pretty silvery looking. I tested the paint (brushed it on) on the cheapo standard Rubies Vader to see how the color looks. Does it look alright? Too light?

 

[Vince]

Re: Rubies Darth Vader Helmet Mods

I'm also in the middle of modifying this thing. You've done a great job so far! :thumbsup

The mount on mine also broke off, its being held in place with glue until I can find some apoxie sculpt to cement it in place.

Would you mind posting a pic of the lenses/ motocross goggles you bought? Finding lenses is the biggest challenge im having with this project.

 

[Celtic007]

Re: Rubies Darth Vader Helmet Mods

I just bought them on ebay the other day. It should be a few days before I get them.
This is the pic from the auction though. I got 5 sets for 10 bucks, so if I make a mistake I have spares.

I don't know how big they are or anything like that, but they should do the trick. Once I get them in hand I'll take a pic and post it here.

 

[darthgordon]

Re: Rubies Darth Vader Helmet Mods

I can't see from your pictures... have you made sure to correct the neck flare?

 

[Celtic007]

Re: Rubies Darth Vader Helmet Mods

I put it in some boiling water and used hair dryer to heat it up, but I didn't do much to it. It might be a tiny bit better, but I kinda gave up on it.

 

[darthgordon]

Re: Rubies Darth Vader Helmet Mods

I had to use a tiny butane torch and a towel. I quickly ran over the inside of it with the torch until I could move it a little. Then I used the towel to keep from burning my hands and bent it in until it looked better. From there I put it in a bowl of ice water to cool it. It's stayed ever since.

 

[SaberFreak]

Re: Rubies Darth Vader Helmet Mods

Good job. I had to mod a badly re-cast Rubies for a friend, which was a PITA. But thanks to that project I gain the confidence in making my own costumes, and have never look back.

 

[NWagstaff]

Re: Rubies Darth Vader Helmet Mods

I'm working on this exact project right now. If there is a Harbor Freight near your area, they have a heat gun for around fifteen to twenty bucks, it will help considerably with fixing a few issues with the Rubies Helmet. But you are off to a great start so far. When it comes to the paint, your silver seems a little too bright to me, Dupicolor makes a Gun Metal that seems to be very close.

 

[Celtic007]

Re: Rubies Darth Vader Helmet Mods

Im not finished with the painting, but I decided to spray a coat of krylon gloss black over just to see how it looked. I painted the nose silver. I don't know if its the paint or the surface, but it wasn't as smooth as I wanted it to be. My lenses came in as well. For now i just taped them in place. I'll eventually play around with them and find the best way to fit them.
The dome looks a tad bit high, but is not secured right now, just kinda sitting on top.

Lense taped in place for now

 

[darthgordon]

Re: Rubies Darth Vader Helmet Mods

You found the exact same lenses I was looking all over for last year! I tried cutting a tinted motorcycle visor... which laughed at me and my dremel. I finally gave up and had to go back to the bubbled.

 

[Celtic007]

Re: Rubies Darth Vader Helmet Mods

Since I have a few of those lenses, I might try to bubble them but I don't know how or if I can do it. The only thing I could think of was to heat up the lense and try to shape it. For now I'm sticking with the flat lenses though.

 

[Vince]

Re: Rubies Darth Vader Helmet Mods

Maybe find a spherical object, heat the lenses with a heat-gun and try to bend/shape it around that.

Other than that, your helmet is....Impressive, most impressive.

I hope I can make mine look half as good.

 

[Celtic007]

Re: Rubies Darth Vader Helmet Mods

I was just looking at the eyes on the helmet and I've noticed other helmets are set back a little more. Should I add a little more to the eye socket area? Also, whats good to use for the mesh in the grill. I've seen that some air filters have that similar diamond pattern.

 

[Celtic007]

Re: Rubies Darth Vader Helmet Mods

I don't have any pics of updates, but I took a leap and started to mod the dome. Im trying to redefine the sharpness of the lines by adding some apoxie sculpt. Also, Im building up the sides of the stripe down the middle to make it more pronounced and even.

The red areas are where I added the apoxie sculpt.

I'll be able to post some in progress pics later on this week. Anyone else attempt at modding the dom like this?

 

[n0regret5]

Re: Rubies Darth Vader Helmet Mods (started working on the dome)

goggle lenses...genius! i bought one of those toy kids ones with the voice-changer unit, pretty comfortable but the lenses are full of imperfections and i can barely see through them, and the helmet foam is such a damn good idea...once i get it delivered to my new home in aus i'll definitely start doing similar things to it. i plan on being darth vader for halloween this year

 

[clancampbell]

Re: Rubies Darth Vader Helmet Mods (started working on the dome)

Only Revenge of the Sith Vader had flat lenses, all PT Vader's had bubble lenses.

Regarding the mask, i would lengthen the teeth and deepen the eye sockets.

Which specific helmet are you trying to replicate? If you're going for a ROTS, then snad back your paint, give it a really good gloss black finish, don't worry about modding the dome, for ROTS it isn't too terrible!

Rich