Stormtrooper Helmet Replica Build

[RoCKo]

A few weeks ago i started building a Stormtrooper helmet replica based on one of the original screenused helmets known as the Dave M helmet.
The Dave M. helmet is my favorite original helmet so i decided to do a replica for my personal collection.

It started with my # 3of8 "TE/TE2 Commemorative Paradise" helmet.
Thats what he looked like when i received it...

First i filled up the front damages to get it even more accurate...
i used a two-parts filler from Pattex followed by a lot of sanding with 800-1200 grit sand paper and some liquid filler from a rattle can again followed by sand paper...

as we don´t have Krylon paint in germany i tried to get a paint close to the original HDPE color and spraypainted the helmet with this color. i think the color looks quite right...

ears attached as plane white styrene reference

and next to one of my GINO Version1 Stunt helmets

i tried to copy the original paint chips of the Dave M. helmet sketching them with a lead pencil...

 

[GINO]

Doh!
Rocko, the guy's name is Brian R.
Brian Muir is the guy who sculpted vader and the troopers in ANH.

The reference pic you posted is of the Dave M. helmet.

 

[RoCKo]

I masked the paintchips with "Windsor Liquid Latex Fluid"
*HIGHLY RECOMMENDED* for masking

after these areas dried i spraypainted the helmet using Rustoleum Gloss White SKU# 7592. I took quite long for the paint to cure but the result after removing the Liquid Latex was well worth it i think...

pre-attached "Hovi-Mix Pa2" mic tips from Keith Version1...

yesterday i painted the grey areas using Humbrol Enamel paint ad-grey #5
that was definatly the hardest part untill now. i was scared to mess it all up because you need a very steady hand to get it right. (yeah i know all original helmets looked like crap but it´s very hard to make it look like crap intentionally.)

all grey parts done and mic tips still attached...

today i painted the "mouth" section... pics to follow soon...

i hope you enjoyed this build up so far?! STAY TUNED!

 

[RoCKo]

Doh!
Rocko, the guy's name is Brian R.
Brian Muir is the guy who sculpted vader and the troopers in ANH.

The reference pic you posted is of the Dave M. helmet.

AHHHHH!!!! of course you´re right!
SORRY GANG! EDITED and blushing in my living room corner with face to the wall... :$

:redface

 

[JBReplicas]

Looks amazing great work my friend!!! :thumbsup

 

[defstartrooper]

Nice work Rocko thumbsup

 

[RoCKo]

thanks guys, it is my first time painting a helmet like this.

right now i have a nice collection of Trooper helmets, but almost all of them came painted or with attached stickers.
my very first helmet, a AP from one of the first runs after GF sold his molds,
was the first helmet i painted, but back then i was quite new to screenaccuracy... to make it short: wrong colors, cheap mic tips and it still has the tube stickers on it... LOL

right now i´m uploading some new pictures...

 

[Butters]

Loving it so far!! That's a VERY nice bucket

 

[RoCKo]

thanks for all your comments!

UPDATE

i painted the mouth section and the left tube stripes...
first the mouth section.
i wanted to recreate the look of the Dave M. helmet but for the mouth section i changed the plan. i don´t like the "roundish" look of the original helmet. so i decided to stick with the Brian R. paint pattern...

now, the hardest part and the part i thought about for month now.
i tried to copy the tube stripes from stickers i bought some time ago on another sticker to get a negative copy with the actual stripes cutted out with a skalpell...

attached the negative sticker and painted over it with Humbrol Enamel Paint midnight blue #15

unfortunatly i´m not that happy with how it came out. maybe i will repaint it by hand one day...

so far so good, that´s what the helmet looks right now...

i hope i will find some more time to finish this helmet soon.
untill then i will think of another, saver method to paint the remaining black outlines for the grey areas... :confused??:

 

[Fizbin]

i tried to copy the tube stripes from stickers i bought some time ago on another sticker to get a negative copy with the actual stripes cutted out with a skalpell...

attached the negative sticker and painted over it with Humbrol Enamel Paint midnight blue #15 unfortunatly i´m not that happy with how it came out.

The best way to do that is by using an old modeler's trick. Lay some masking tape on the helmet and burnish the 'tube stripe' pattern onto it. Now lightly cut out each piece with an X-acto knife (or the like) without cutting the surface of the helmet. Then paint really thin coats until you build up the correct color saturation.

Hope this helps.

 

[HDPE]

Nice work.

hey Rocko I like the paint you used to simulate the HDPE color, is that a German (only) brand or something available within Europe?
Could it be found online?

 

[RoCKo]

thanks...

the color i used is from "CAPAROL" i don´t know, it is a german manufacturer but they also have an adress in belgium and the netherlands.

http://www.caparol.de/

the color is called "Kieselgrau - RAL 7032 seidenmatt"
which should be something like "stone-grey matt" in english. actually it has a greenish touch too...

 

[jman28146]

Good Help