sidheman
New Member
Hello again! Some of you may remember me from my (nearly complete) Terminus armor build (http://www.therpf.com/f24/mass-effect-terminus-armor-foam-build-214348/). I'm having a go at creating the helmet from Super Shredder, specifically the 1991 movie. I've tried to start it twice before: once using Volpin's pink foam carving method (which failed spectacularly since I don't have very many tools and even less work space) and sculpting it out of clay (which failed because I don't have enough money to get the amount of clay I would need).
So now I'm going with a method that, for me, is tried and true: EVA foam. This is going to be a test of everything I have learned with the stuff up until now, and any and all help would be very much appreciated as I go. I'll be freehanding pretty much all of it as best I can. I also intend to mold/cast everything when it is done, both for stability/cleaner looks of the final product, and to maybe offer a few up to anyone interested. We'll get to that when it comes, though.
First off, let me show you how things are starting. I made a foam head pattern, based off Evil Ted Smith's helmet tutorial videos on YouTube, which I'm using as a base.
The patterns work great, and I've gotten a lot of use out of them. With 1/2" thick foam, the helmet fits my 23" head perfectly.
Here it is assembled, on my nice dummy head. Got that originally for the sculpting attempt, but now it basically holds whatever I'm working on. (You can also see another personal project beside it. Might do a write-up on that once it's done, though it'll be with a full armor set.)
Now comes the debate. My original plan with this was to cut the bottom half off right at the visor line:
...and then use the cut piece to mark the upper curve onto more foam, which I would cut to shape and attach. Then I could do the detailing and start the mask, then the horns. Then I took a closer look at the pictures I was able to snag from the film:
Apparently the guy they used here was a huge linebacker, and even then, proportionally the helmet is still huge and the cowl floats out even further. This got me thinking that I should keep the base helmet as it is, and start work on the mask. If I do it that way, I can just permanently affix the mask to the helmet base, which would help a bit with balancing it, then use something else (like leather) on top of that. Of course, if I do that, that means more molds. I'm already expecting at least 2, maybe 3 with the horns given their size, and this would mean 2 more for the head (so I can cast the cowl in rubber so the wearer can move easier).
I'd love whatever input you guys can give, especially since I've only done a couple molds and they were small, 2 part static stuff (no slushing needed).
Also, fans and aficionados, some input if you please? On the cowl itself, the lower section from the side horns down looks to be rivets, which I can use pushpins to simulate:
But the upper half I can't get a clear shot of, and every shot I *can* get makes it look like it's not rivets, but a traditional cross-hatch pattern like the regular Shredder helmet earlier in the movie:
Thoughts? Suggestions? Better reference shots I can blatantly snag? Whatever help anyone can give would be greatly appreciated.
So now I'm going with a method that, for me, is tried and true: EVA foam. This is going to be a test of everything I have learned with the stuff up until now, and any and all help would be very much appreciated as I go. I'll be freehanding pretty much all of it as best I can. I also intend to mold/cast everything when it is done, both for stability/cleaner looks of the final product, and to maybe offer a few up to anyone interested. We'll get to that when it comes, though.
First off, let me show you how things are starting. I made a foam head pattern, based off Evil Ted Smith's helmet tutorial videos on YouTube, which I'm using as a base.
The patterns work great, and I've gotten a lot of use out of them. With 1/2" thick foam, the helmet fits my 23" head perfectly.
Here it is assembled, on my nice dummy head. Got that originally for the sculpting attempt, but now it basically holds whatever I'm working on. (You can also see another personal project beside it. Might do a write-up on that once it's done, though it'll be with a full armor set.)
Now comes the debate. My original plan with this was to cut the bottom half off right at the visor line:
...and then use the cut piece to mark the upper curve onto more foam, which I would cut to shape and attach. Then I could do the detailing and start the mask, then the horns. Then I took a closer look at the pictures I was able to snag from the film:
Apparently the guy they used here was a huge linebacker, and even then, proportionally the helmet is still huge and the cowl floats out even further. This got me thinking that I should keep the base helmet as it is, and start work on the mask. If I do it that way, I can just permanently affix the mask to the helmet base, which would help a bit with balancing it, then use something else (like leather) on top of that. Of course, if I do that, that means more molds. I'm already expecting at least 2, maybe 3 with the horns given their size, and this would mean 2 more for the head (so I can cast the cowl in rubber so the wearer can move easier).
I'd love whatever input you guys can give, especially since I've only done a couple molds and they were small, 2 part static stuff (no slushing needed).
Also, fans and aficionados, some input if you please? On the cowl itself, the lower section from the side horns down looks to be rivets, which I can use pushpins to simulate:
But the upper half I can't get a clear shot of, and every shot I *can* get makes it look like it's not rivets, but a traditional cross-hatch pattern like the regular Shredder helmet earlier in the movie:
Thoughts? Suggestions? Better reference shots I can blatantly snag? Whatever help anyone can give would be greatly appreciated.
