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[Evad]

Helmet is looking good so far. For the flight suit, I think that you need to tailor the legs quite a bit. Get rid of the hammer loop and the zipper on the butt. Dickies logo has to go as well. If you are rocking a kama then the stuff of the seat doesn't need to be removed.

Yeah I thought the legs need to be tailored as well.  They seem a bit too baggy for my tastes.  I do plan to have a kama, and I also plan to have side coverings for my calves, so most of that will take care of any extra removal, and cover up the 'earthwear' nicely. 

[Evad]

The Bucket Arrives!

Courtesy of NME Props

Well vode it was a long wait, but it was so well worth it.  I placed this custom order in June of this year and I got the bucket today.  The guys at NME did an amazing job on this custom order, and buckets off to them for such great ingenuity.  The quality is outstanding, the bucket itself is rock solid - and while I won't test exactly how strong it is, I'm not afraid that dropping it would do more than pop off the range finder if it hit the ground in the wrong way.  So without further ado, let's get into the visuals.

Overall Design

      

Here's what the finished form looks like.  I took the style of the Imperial Royal Guard Helmet and fused it with NME Props Stalker Helmet to form what you see above.  Also if anyone happens to know the exact shade of red used for the Imperial Royal Guard helmet, please send that info my way - as I'd like to bring in that color to part of the helmet. 

Functionality

      

While most Mercs have to take their helmet off for eating, drinking, or scratching their nose, I commissioned this to open up in similar fashion to Mandalore's overhead visor, but this one is simply for the practical purpose of getting to my head if I need to without removing the helmet.  NME props also found a way to make the range finder functional along with the visor sliding up. 

Test Fit #1

I used a scarf balled up for padding so the helmet would sit right for a picture.  I've heard several times on Keldabe Talk Radio, and read in other places that the helmet will look like a Bobble-head or "Bobbaly Fett" when you're not in kit and trying it on.  Initially I thought it was too big, but I'm not sure.  Let me know what you all think about the helmet, and the size of it.  I know I will need to pad the top, back and sides of the helmet to fit comfortably without it feeling like it's having to balance on my skull, creating a bell affect.  Excuse the circles on the mirror, I was testing a nerf gun

Updated Checklist

• Helmet - Obtained
• Flight Suit - Obtained
• Vest - Obtained
• Armor Plates - Partially molded/Other parts in design phase
• Gauntlets - Purchased PVC
• Girth Belt -  Pre-Design Phase
• Cape - Purchased Fabric
• Boots - Obtained
• Gloves - Obtained
• Kama - Design Phase

Suggestions and Comments Welcome

[Kavryn Falco]

Now THAT'S cool!

It may be a bit too big, but don't let that stop you. Ideally your bucket should be 1/2 your shoulder width out of kit - if it's larger, you can always bulk out your shoulders with pauldrons and the like. I also painted my earcaps black to disguise my helmet width, haha.

[Carid Vhett]

Size is fine. Brilliant design vod.

[Kol Varek]

Okay, that's pretty awesome. I cant wait to see this all finished.

[Natan Vizsla]

Great custom job of the Stalker by NME. I'd say its a tad bit big but not crazy bobbleheadedy.

[Redness]

that's... amazing, simply amazing Great job!

[Tyno Krast]

Kav is 100% correct about the sizing. So just measure the width of your shoulders and if the opening of the bucket is half your shoulder width you're in the zone.

I think the size is fine for you. Looks big in civies but once you get suited up it will look perfect.

[Evad]

So when trying it on without padding, my head can be inside the helmet and not touch any of the sides, and I can turn my head half way to either side before I touch the helmet. I'm wondering if that's what all of you experienced before adding padding to the inside of your buckets.  Thoughts?

[Kavryn Falco]

I have about 1" of space all the way around. If you pad it securely, it shouldn't matter too much how much space there was before. And besides, more room means more room for electronics!

[Kris Jasra]

As long as the external size looks right on you then you're good. I know people who have very little room in their helmets (I fit this as my glasses touch the edges of my bucket and getting it on and off is an interesting dance) yet my helmet is on the edge of being too large. And I know others who have inches of padding all round and the helmet looks if anything a little small. It all depends on your head to shoulder width ratio once you're in kit.

[Corvus]

That bucket is beyond amazing!

[Mirdala Galaar]

Absolutely fantastic progress so far. Can't wait to see how this turns out. 

[Tyno Krast]

In my mando I've got a little wiggle room in my helmet after padding. But that's only because I'm not done pimping out the interior. My TIE pilot helmet fits like a motorcycle helmet. I could do handstands and that thing isn't coming off. Wait....let me rephrase that....IF I could do handstands that thing isn't coming off. 

[Evad]

Buy'ce Padding Attempt #1

Foam Pads

   

 

These pads do allow the helmet to sit correctly on my head.  However due to the weight of the helmet itself, I have found that it does cause some pressure on my head, which I don't like feeling.  I am considering a suspension rig from a hard hat, as suggested by other Mercs on this WIP.  I've looked at some of the rigs I can buy without the hat itself off of Amazon and other places, and I also heard that Industrial Velcro works well.  I used regular 3M velcro tiles to hold in these pads at least for the first pass.  They work rather well.  The cheek pads and the back pad keep it at least slightly snug so it doesn't wobble.  I'm hoping the suspension rig will make it more stable, and by then I should know if I need a chin strap or not.  I'm going to get these pads covered in a cotton fabric so that it'll be easier to work with if I need to alter their placement.