Sylgian's Sith Stalker (501st approved!)

[fotofixer72]

Re: Sylgian's Sith Stalker Helmet (WIP)

So cool! This is one of my favorites!
I would like to make one, one of these days!
Great Job so far!
~J

 

[Sylgian]

Re: Sylgian's Sith Stalker Helmet (WIP)

Anyone have any suggestions for mounting the outer shell to the inner one? A thick adhesive that sets up really strong would be great.

The yellow shell has the slightest twist to it. The twist does right itself if i tape it down, its not extreme. But the adhesive will need to be strong to sort that out.


Side note: I have come to the conclusion that, though I like the hinge idea, it really doesn't NEED to be hinged. I could permanently mount one to the other, or even do it as one piece. As long as the cheek pieces remain flexible I will have no trouble getting my head in and out.

Anyhow, any advice on how, or product recommendations to join the pieces together would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Prince NEO]

Re: Sylgian's Sith Stalker Helmet (WIP)

Very good, I would defiantly want a casting.

:thumbsup

 

[Kommissar]

Re: Sylgian's Sith Stalker Helmet (WIP)

I will be making my file available for download, probably sometime this week. I wont be able to do too much work on the helmet, so maybe I'll concentrate on getting that available.

thats awesome! some people are pretty possessive of their peps they have crafted, thank you for being so generous

 

[Sylgian]

Re: Sylgian's Sith Stalker Helmet (WIP)

So here is the pep file for any who are interested:

Disclaimer:
-I am far from professional, there are a few missing tabs on the base helm and few on the breather thingy. Not sure why.
-I am sure this could be printed out in a more efficient layout.
-The rings on the ear-cup things of my project are not included in the pep, I custom made those.
-Much credit to Juice for the original file. This is a pretty heavy modification of his original.

Sylgians Sith Stalker (updated link 7-17-12)

I expect a cast if yours kicks mine's ass in awesomeness.

 

[Kommissar]

Re: Sylgian's Sith Stalker Helmet (WIP)

Anyone have any suggestions for mounting the outer shell to the inner one? A thick adhesive that sets up really strong would be great.

The yellow shell has the slightest twist to it. The twist does right itself if i tape it down, its not extreme. But the adhesive will need to be strong to sort that out.


Side note: I have come to the conclusion that, though I like the hinge idea, it really doesn't NEED to be hinged. I could permanently mount one to the other, or even do it as one piece. As long as the cheek pieces remain flexible I will have no trouble getting my head in and out.

Anyhow, any advice on how, or product recommendations to join the pieces together would be greatly appreciated.

if/when i try this pep of yours, i'd use earth magnets to keep them together, so i could take the face plate off occasionally to drink

 

[Sylgian]

Re: Sylgian's Sith Stalker Helmet (WIP)

Slow day as far as progress goes. Tough to work on this during the week, but rain after work makes it impossible.

I did manage to go grab some small hinges for my flip up faceplate and sanding supplies. I also got the cheek covers patterned. So not all that bad.

 

[Sylgian]

Re: Sylgian's Sith Stalker Helmet (WIP)

Slow and steady goes the bondo. I have off tomorrow for Good Friday. I expect a lot of progress.

 

[Fett80]

Re: Sylgian's Sith Stalker Helmet (WIP)

Fantastic work!

 

[SonOfPumpkinhead]

Re: Sylgian's Sith Stalker Helmet (WIP)

Sir, this is coming along SO nicely and I'm SO glad to see you taking your time. Great step by step and great documentation of your work!

Now, as far as gluing the parts together, I'd use 5 min. epoxy. It's a two part mix epoxy glue that gives you five minutes of working time. You can get it at any home improvement store. Mix it up, apply a little to both surfaces (lightly scuff and make sure they're clean) and press together. Hold for 5 min. or so and then tape in place and leave over night. Make sure not to use so much glue that it squirts out of your seams. Once it's cured over night you can bondo in the seam line just to get a seamless blend!

I'd suggest adding magnets for the face part.

Also, use foamies for the cheeks. Simple sheet craft foam from someplace like joan's or michaels. You can cut it to shape, I've even seen people pep the stuff so you can get a little shape out of it. I can help you with some tests in painting the stuff should you attempt to use it.

This is coming along nicely! Can't wait to see where it goes!

 

[SonOfPumpkinhead]

Re: Sylgian's Sith Stalker Helmet (WIP)

Oh, also, don't fill the ear pucks, it'll be heavy again, thought you said you where avoiding that. If your glassing the inside (as in using fiberglass matte as well) you can whip up a mixture that we call "mud" in the industry. It's just your base resin with cabo-sil (WEAR AN AIR MASK, it's a little dangerous) which is highly attainable. Find an effects supplier. Mix this with the resin until it's a peanut buttery consistency. You simply catalyze this as you would the resin.

Lay this into the ear pucks into the deepes parts and then lay pieces of "wet" (resin coated) matte over it. The "mud" acts as a filler for the areas the matte can't bend/fold into and it all dries into a solid resin. This will cut down on weight and keep a little bit of a hallow area for air to flow inside the mask.

 

[Sylgian]

Re: Sylgian's Sith Stalker Helmet (WIP)

Thanks for the encouragement everyone! I am having a blast with my first project.

Its funny that you suggest it, I picked on some 5 minute epoxy while I was restocking my supplies at Home Depot the other day. After glimpsing it by the resin I thought it might be a good option so I picked up a tube. Some bondo in the seam though... now that I may have to do. The seam, naturally, isn't even all the way around the helmet. Eliminating it for the hard mounted portion seems like a great idea.

As I have some available, I was going to use velcro as a hold down for the faceplate. But, your suggestions of some hidden rare earth magnets is so much more appealing...now I probably HAVE to pick some up.

As for the ear pucks, I was only planning to fill the deepest recessed "inner ring" portion with rondo. The helmet is very slim so I need the tapered outer ring to fit my ears in, those cant really be solid. I really appreciate the suggestion. I am sure the "mud" would work really well, but the weight isn't so much a concern that I want to buy another product for just that portion of the helmet.

Its just a thought for now, but I have quite a bit of room in the "nose" of the helmet. Probably enough to fit a fist. I am toying with the idea of a small fan in the breather for some nice air flow and anti fogging action on the visor. And...JUST MAYBE... it'll make my voice sound cool talking through a spinning fan. LOL, Tommy Boy.

 

[Sylgian]

Re: Sylgian's Sith Stalker Helmet (WIP)

Update time.

Doing more bondo today. Its going pretty well. Got some glazing putty in anticipation of doing some finishing work soon.

Also did some work on my hinge in between waiting for bondo to cure. Here is the inspiration for the hidden hinge i am trying to sort out.

And here is what I have worked out so far. I added some material so that i could epoxy the hinge in place one I get to that point. I gave it some lateral tabs in an effort to add more surface area to epoxy the hinge in place. I think it just might work, we'll see.

 

[Sylgian]

Re: Sylgian's Sith Stalker Helmet (WIP)

after lunch progress.

A lot of sanding later and i was having trouble seeing all the little imperfections and areas that still need bondo. So I hit it with a layer of primer. Looking promising!

More bondo work to come. I want this thing feeling like glass before I paint.

 

[Sylgian]

Re: Sylgian's Sith Stalker Helmet (WIP)

Calling it a day. Did a lot of bondo work, it goes pretty slow because I am not very practiced at it. Hardened the breather/ear pucks and made a hinge. Pretty good for an afternoon.

Here is where we are as of today, still have a lot of finishing to do.

 

[Prince NEO]

Re: Sylgian's Sith Stalker Helmet (WIP)

Very nicely done, you did this rather quickly and the detail is very good.

 

[Sylgian]

Re: Sylgian's Sith Stalker Helmet (WIP)

So during sanding I inevitably hit some paper. The edges of which are a looking a little fuzzy now that I've sanded through them. You might be able to see some of what I am talking about in the photos.

Whats the best way to go about eliminating this?

 

[Prince NEO]

Re: Sylgian's Sith Stalker Helmet (WIP)

You get to play the adding more bondo game, are you sanding with a tool or by hand, for edges you should sand with fine paper by hand, it takes longer and more work, but it will prevent you from hitting paper as much.

 

[superDrool]

Re: Sylgian's Sith Stalker Helmet (WIP)

Great job! This pepakura thing seems super tedious from start to finish, but if someone has the time and know how. Amazing creations happen like this one.

 

[Sylgian]

Re: Sylgian's Sith Stalker Helmet (WIP)

You get to play the adding more bondo game, are you sanding with a tool or by hand, for edges you should sand with fine paper by hand, it takes longer and more work, but it will prevent you from hitting paper as much.

I knock down the high stuff with a small electric sander, then I do most everything else by hand. I feel like I have better control doing it by hand, being that it's so round.

Meh, I was hoping there would be another solution. Oh well though, its not like the can wont be open anyhow.