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[Malek Dair]

So it begins. I was intrigued by the scratch built buckets that many others have done. Here's my first build thread. Hope you enjoy it!

Like any child of Mandalore knows, before battle you prepare, and get your supplies ready to go. Pay day rolled around and I was lucky enough to find my way to the Depot.



Some of you with keen eye sight may notice there's no bondo in this picture...you are right! Figures, they had everything else but the filler. Easy enough to remedy in a few days time. Right, back to the build.

Trimmed the hard hat and gave it a good sanding with the Dremel.





Next, cut out my templates (Thank you WoF) and fit them to the dome.







Day 1 is in the books dare I say it....

Is the lower portion of the helmet low enough? Also, is the dome a good height? Stuck to my measurements, and made sure the width was enough to not have my ears or cheeks touch anywhere, but not so loose I feel like a bobble head.

Any and all comments and help is greatly appreciated! More to come tomorrow.

[Bowfanny]

Done height is good but you'll want to add some length to the front section so it goes down past your chin hairs just a bit more. Other than that I'm liking what I see.

[Malek Dair]

Success! Thank you for the input. My beard is getting a bit outta control but I'll add some length to the front just to make sure.

[Ohl'd Vart]

Looks good. 

Are you using the stock headband suspension? If not, you're going to want some room for padding...keep in mind that it might push the bucket up a bit higher, so like Bow said, you'll want to compensate by adding more length in the front.

Rob

[Malek Dair]

Looks good. 

Are you using the stock headband suspension? If not, you're going to want some room for padding...keep in mind that it might push the bucket up a bit higher, so like Bow said, you'll want to compensate by adding more length in the front.

Rob

I'm not using the headband suspension that the hard hat came with. Wanted a better fit, so I am going with a minimal foam insert in the top of the dome. Just enough to make it sit still but not too much. Looked at a bunch of other members bucket builds and saw the idea/recommendation.

Here's what I have gotten done in the past few days. Laid out the templates, and allowed for more length in the front of the mask.



Stenciled out the T-visor portion and made it my own with the cut outs down the front, instead of the standard open space. Will still have the visor showing behind it after the cut away.



Remember safety first ad'ika!



Everything was cut out and shaped to the dome with a heat gun, put in a few screws to hold the pieces while they dried, carved out the mask and......TaDa!







Always happy to have critiques and feed back from other Mando'ade.

Cheeks to do now, and the start mocking up the ear pieces and back details.

Oya!!

[Bowfanny]

Definitely a better fit to your noggin now! ThTs also a pretty unique visor Vod!

[crutchthecrusher]

Looking forward to seeing the end result

[Malek Dair]

Thank you both! It's coming together slowly but it should turn out ok.

[Ohl'd Vart]

Looks great...that extra length really helped.

Rob

[SamuelFett]

That, kind sir, is a beautiful scratch build.  Might I ask, what tool did you use to cut the bucket? 

[Malek Dair]

That, kind sir, is a beautiful scratch build.  Might I ask, what tool did you use to cut the bucket?

Ori'vor'e vod! I used a dremel to do the larger cuts (Note to self: cutting disks are brittle, do not tighten them to the mandrel too much or they shatter) used a tapered grinder bit and sized it down with sanding drums and paper, and the inner visor was done by hand with a snap blade knife.

[Malek Dair]

Quick update. Summer has been busy to say the least. Had a chance to get a bit more work done over the past few days. Carved out and shaped the cheeks on the bucket. Used 3mm PVC (Sintra) for the face portions and the scraps from the initial cut out on the cheeks.







Still have a ton of sanding to do, but things are slowly coming together. Hoping to get more detail work done in the next week or so. Specifically the keyholes in the back and the ears.

As always comments and suggestions always welcome.

OYA!

[Reyn Vok'chi]

A great start. I like the design on the visor too, a fine example of how to add detail without altering the classic 'T'. Carry on, I want to see more 

[Malek Dair]

Thanks vod! I'm hoping to have the bucket ready for paint in the next 2 weeks. Much to be done still, but it's a project of passion.

[Malek Dair]

Quick update. Got more of the bucket built. Roughed out the banding along the top of the brow, and the basic placement of the ear pieces are set.



Also, put the back together and cut keyholes in the inset panel. Tried to mirror the design on the front down the front of the T-Visor cut away. Rectangular slots instead of smaller venting.





A touch more sanding and should be ready for body filler. The gaps will be filled in with body filler much like the rest of the seams and square edges in the cheeks.

Currently wrestling with the design/concept of either making the standard view finder, or having a non-moveable Antenna array on the right side of the helmet. Saw a few cool ideas from other vods here, and think it may work better for this bucket too.

If anyone can see anything I might need to change or touch up before I move on, feel free to chime in.

Oya!

[Bowfanny]

It's looking great Vod, am diggin the overall detail you're putting into this build!

[Malek Dair]

Thanks vod! I think the hardest thing for me so far has been trying to keep the simple hard lines but still make it look swarsy. I have learned a ton since the concept has jumped off the page, and have a gut feeling this will be the first of many kits, especially buckets.

[Bowfanny]

Thanks vod! I think the hardest thing for me so far has been trying to keep the simple hard lines but still make it look swarsy. I have learned a ton since the concept has jumped off the page, and have a gut feeling this will be the first of many kits, especially buckets.

I hear that loud and clear! Lol I honestly have lost track of how many helmets I build or have built. I think right now I've got something like 12 Mando helmets in various stages from finished to still sanding and bondo. I'm also working on a second and third kit while planning a fourth!

[Malek Dair]

Busy busy! I am slowly ramping up. 1 at a time for me.

[Malek Dair]

Update time. I have got all the detailing done I think, and all that is left to do before paint is bondo, and a ton of sanding. Made a dual style antenna, and left the left side of the bucket smoothed out, and a bit of basic details using sintra.



Used platirod, the lid from a super glue bottle and some greeblies from my avaiation stash for the antenna.







Comments and tips always welcomed!

[Mercy]

Ah...the memories of (attempting) my first helmet using those Homer buckets
I'm liking the antenna assembly. You planning on going recon?

[Malek Dair]

Thanks vod! I'm trying to get a custom mando hammered out and approved before making any choices about the brigades. However, Recon and Assault are pulling me in. So many cool ideas.....must complete this build first.

[Laaran Kar'ta]

I love the detailing the safety helmet gives you. Are you gonna change it or leave it that way?

[Elekbah Dhagal]

Very creative used of materials.
I love the work with the 5 gallon bucket - inspiring. 

[Malek Dair]

I love the detailing the safety helmet gives you. Are you gonna change it or leave it that way?

I was planning on keeping the design of the dome. I am very happy with the profile it gives, and will really pop when it gets paint.

Thank you all for the wonderful feedback. Can't wait to get this painted. Need to get some body filler before I can get that far however. Planning on having it blocked out in the basic colours in the next week or so. Lots of work on my plates to do to keep me occupied.