Trooper helmet advice

[darthjones]

Hey, gang. I have an ANH trooper helmet I am putting together over here. It is one of the kits once sold by Trooper Expert I think.

Anyway, was wondering about the gray patches on the face. Are they all painted or are some of them stickers? Does anyone sell the right shape stickers for an ANH stunt helmet?

If they are all gray paint, what gray do people use? I once heard Testors gray # 1138 (ironically) but is that still the going recommendation?

And perhaps there is an archived thread to which folks can point me. I looked around but probably missed something knowing me.

Thanks!

 

[troopermaster]

Hi DJ,

Originally the detailing on the ANH helmets were painted, and only the ESB and ROTJ had decals. It's believed Humbrol paints were used, #5 Admiral Grey, #15 Midnight Blue and #21 black. You can buy decals though if you prefer, from www.trooperdecals.com

Cheers,

-Paul.

 

[darthjones]

Thanks! It appears that your advice kicks ass!

 

[OldKen]

Thanks! It appears that your advice kicks ass!

Humbrol paints are hard to find in the US, most hobby stores etc. like 99% of them dont carry it so testors 1138 is the closest (not exact) match to the humbrol.

And yes paul is the man. :cool

 

[scattrap]

PM me DJ and I might could pick up the humbrol colors for you. My hobby store has the entire collection! I belive there like $4 something each.

 

[Clutch]

The humbrol has a blue tinge to it that I don't care for. I think the Testors is just fine for TK's.

 

[Goldenrod]

plus oddly enough the number on the testors gray paint is 1138.

 

[darthjones]

Hey, gang! Thanks for all the advice. This will really not only save some time but produce a kick ass helmet.

I have someone getting the ANH decals from the UK for me and am going to go with the Testor's 1138.

My forte is painting so what I will do is run some tests with the gray paint, let it dry, and match it up to the decals.

The rest should be just a matter of steady hands.

Have never had a real trooper helmet being mainly into Vader n' all so this is pretty cool!

Thanks again.

-John

 

[darthjones]

Hmmm - was thinking - do folks generally spray clear acrylic over the decal work?

 

[GINO]

John, why in the world would you want to use decals for anything?
There is plenty of reference available, if I were you, I'd use real helmets as reference and paint accordingly.

 

[OldKen]

John, why in the world would you want to use decals for anything?
There is plenty of reference available, if I were you, I'd use real helmets as reference and paint accordingly.

Gino, I think he meant the paint where the decals WOULD be on a ESB or ROTJ.

Right?

If painting is your forte, then DEFFINATELY dont use stickers for an ANH bucket! ( I only said stickers cause I didnt realise your painting skills)

Ill give you a tip that I believe TM told me, paint the part that will be the black outline first, then paint the grey out to it. (for the tears and traps)

For the cheek tubes many have done it different ways, but from what I gather and what it appears was the way they did it... take tape to mask the top and bottom of the rows then take appropriatly slightly curved strokes in as close to the same width and angle as possible then when you pulloff the tape the top and bottom of the lines will be perfectly flat.

The lines on the back traps (and tears if not a sandy) just takes a steady hand and some reference photos!

Dont forget the showoff thread!:cool

 

[darthjones]

Thanks, gang! Perhaps I will then paint all of it. Will certainly do some more research between now and then.

Having the decals will be cool for some reference in addition to all the photos.

Is there a best site or place for ANH gray area details?

Thanks again!

 

[troopermaster]

http://http://www.looksirdroids.com/davin_replica2.html

 

[Too Much Garlic]

There is also Jez's site: www.starwarshelmets.com - just look under real props

Good luck with your project! :thumbsup

 

[butcherbird]

Here's a good place to order Humbrol paints:

http://www.redfroghobbies.com/

They sell the small tins, which is nice because you don't need much for a helmet.

 

[yodakiller1138]

Thanks for the link for the Humbrol supplier. I just ordered some myself for my armor. :thumbsup

 

[JTKenobi]

Thanks for the link for the Humbrol supplier. I just ordered some myself for my armor. :thumbsup

I have an AP kit I'll be working on soon so since we're on this topic I figure I'd ask a few questions as I will too likely go this route for accuracy.

1) So none of these paints are spray paint, right? Just hand painted (acrylic?) on with a brush?
2)If I go the route of using Testors or Humbrol modeling paints, do you sand down the area to be painted? If you have to sand the cheek tubes how do you accurately sand the small painted areas and not mess up the area around it or between the small blue stripes?
3) Is this painting technique also used with the 'vented frown'? In most of the tutorials I've seen, people are spray-painting the frown.
4) Has anyone just applied decals and then just painted over them?
5) Other than maybe sanding, it there any other preparation or do you just go ahead and paint?

I hope someone can answer some of these questions. I need a "idiot's guide' to TK assembly I guess. Thanks in advance!

John

 

[troopermaster]

Hi John,

The only prepping needed is to make sure the helmet is clean. No sanding or anything is needed, just a steady hand and yes, everything is hand painted with a thin modelling brush and nothing sprayed (at least that's how I do it).

 

[KevVader]

I have an AP kit I'll be working on soon so since we're on this topic I figure I'd ask a few questions as I will too likely go this route for accuracy.

1) So none of these paints are spray paint, right? Just hand painted (acrylic?) on with a brush? Yes
2)If I go the route of using Testors or Humbrol modeling paints, do you sand down the area to be painted? If you have to sand the cheek tubes how do you accurately sand the small painted areas and not mess up the area around it or between the small blue stripes? No sanding required.
3) Is this painting technique also used with the 'vented frown'? In most of the tutorials I've seen, people are spray-painting the frown. You can spray if you mask first....but brush strokes are fine as well.
4) Has anyone just applied decals and then just painted over them? Haven't seen that, but I suppose that you could...
5) Other than maybe sanding, it there any other preparation or do you just go ahead and paint? Just make sure that the surface is clean before you paint...

I hope someone can answer some of these questions. I need a "idiot's guide' to TK assembly I guess. Thanks in advance!

John

Clutch has an excellent tutorial from A to Z that was archied....I had started one but haven't finished yet!:$ Both tutorials should still be archived...

EDIT....here's clutch's tutorial.

http://www.therpf.com/showthread.php?t=1069

 

[Ghost Host]

How about a color and brand for the white painted ones (HDPE)?