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[Raum]

Hello fellow Mando's! This is my first build and I though I would document my progress.
I wanted my first helmet to be cast based so I purchased one from Headshot Props. Great
product and received my helmet quickly. The cast is really well done and I am completely satisfied
with my purchase. I was a bit leery at first, being unfamiliar with prop makers, but I am glad I went
that direction.

Here's the lid straight out of the box. It was packaged nicely for the trip.


I spent the a few hours the other day to get it cut out and cleaned up. The resin used for the cast is very easy to work with.

Yesterday I epoxied on the ear caps, I plan on molding them in for a cleaner look. I plan on keeping the brace at the bottom of the visor opening if I can. I also went with the magnet method to attach the RF cap.




Hopefully I'll be able to start painting this week. Ill update my progress. Any tips or suggestions are greatly appreciated!

[crutchthecrusher]

Vod looks great to me

[Jorad Werde]

Looks like you're off to a great start

[Bowfanny]

I concur it's a good step in the right direction. Welcome to the forums and I'll pop in a few times because I'm a helmet addict and I enjoy parting with knowledge gained from lots of sources!

[Genessa Draltuur]

Scott, that looks so cool! Looks like you totally know what you're doing. I have absolutely no experience crafting yet but I am excited to work concurrently with you on our kits for Shonare Vhekadla way to go!

[Raum]

Got some updates to share. Thought I'd post them up!

Put down some primer and a silver base coat.




This will look neat detailed!





After a couple days to really cure I started to tape it off...
Hey look! It's Jango!



I used liquid mask and I'm glad I did! It works great!





These are not the actual final colors. I am doing a multi layer weathering so I used the "opposite" colors that I'll re-mask off the silver and add additional under colored layers.

I'll keep updating as I progress!

[Naasad Tal]

MOAR DESERT MANDOS!!!! Looking good so far ner vod!

[Myra Tiin]

Oya for desert mandos :p

That color scheme looks really good, and your weathering is on a good start as well

[Straka Zulu]

Looks slick, so far. And HSP does make a bad-shebs helmet.

[Uneek Top'El]

Yep..lookin good ..nice start

[Raum]

I was able to make a good amount of progress today!

Laying down the final colors.


Taping and masking fluid.


The "Basecoat" or layered effect I was going for.





Last color for the eyes!





Still much to do. The viewfinder, visor and plenty of weathering and detailing.
Let me know what you think!

[Naasad Tal]

Stang...that looks awesome ner vod! Can't wait to see it finished

[Uneek Top'El]

Damn !! That orange made everything pop  !! Nice work !!  8)

[Welkin]

That looks awesome! Great paint job on that Vod.

[Raum]

Mini Update.
I hit the whole helmet with Testors Dull Coat to cut down the and gloss or sheen and to seal the paint. Stuff works great.
I also detailed the circuitry in the ear caps and painted the range finder cap.





I'll be adding charcoal and acrylic to make it weathered and dirty. After all it's a desert mando!

I'm also working on hacking in a micro LCD and camera for a range finder. The resin cast on the left was one included in the helmet kit and is actually a bit small scale wise to Fetts finder. The one I'm making is only about a half inch longer and will have a similar shape and design to Fetts rangefinder.

[Straka Zulu]

So, a "working" range finder... Cool  8)

[Naasad Tal]

definitely interested in seeing how the rangefinder comes out

[Welkin]

That's pretty cool, I had wanted to try to do a functional one back when I was still thinking of having a rangefinder, can't wait to see how it works out.

[Raum]

Got some work done on the rangefinder. Just need to refine and paint.





When I soldered the brass housing together I created some "battle damage" on this corner. The damage hole is actually the port for the USB plug. I will also be molding that front cap in with some modeling putty. I also need to paint it. I plan on having some of the brass showing through. It's patina is really nice looking.



While not heavy by any means the resin stalk that came with the helmet is just too thin and flexible. I'll be going with an aluminum one if I can find one or maybe just reinforce this one with a metal rod.



I plan on black and brown washing today or tomorrow and I'll post up the results!

[Russiya]

This turned out great ! I tried to do something similar but with my screen inside my bucket because I do not use a rf but it failed do to the fact that a screen right in front of your eye dose not have any clarity

[Raum]

Did a blackwash with acrylic...



Followed by some dry brushing with oil paint.





Think I'm pretty much done with paint, might spray a dullcoat layer on too seal it up.

Going to shoot for installing the visor and finishing and installing the rangefinder this week!
Been window shopping for materials to begin the soft parts.
Also any recommendations on precut Sintra armor? I'm planning on a light armor Fett style vest.

[Naasad Tal]

that RF looks pretty sick & that paint! Awesome work ner vod!

[Raum]

Been busy but found some time to get some work done. Wow, I'm just about "finished", just plan on adding some fans and possibly electronics.

Finished up the paint and detailing of the range finder.



Attached with a aluminum Chicago screw.


Built and attached the visor. I made a green and a chrome reflective lens, I liked how the chrome one looked better.
I cut a slot at the bottom of the visor area that the visor slides into. I wanted to keep the bottom brace. The top of the visor is attached by four aluminum Chicago screws with the base epoxied to the helmet.



I placed misc military and bicycle helmet pads with velcro to get the helmet to fit snug and correctly.


Trying out the finished bucket!




Let me know what you guys think!

[Bowfanny]

Looks fantastic ner vod! That's a a very nice job you did there!

[Laaran Kar'ta]

Wowee! This is great and a good tutorial for paints and such. Thanks for the tips vod!