My (not quite) shiny (yet) new TX helmet

[stormtrooperguy[501st]]

I've finally taken the plunge into the TX world!

 

Freshly made this evening:

 

 

The base helmet is an MRCE that I took apart, tuned up a bit, then made ultracal molds of. The biggest change was the frown... I redid that completely to try to make it more accurate (the MRCE has a very skinny frown that's set a bit too deep into the helmet). I also redid the ears (thinner, wider flare at the bottom, 4 bumps) and the inside of the aerator indents (flattened and smoothed it out for better pulls). The seams were all filled in and the Cap&back joined together as 1 piece. The end result is something more accurate than the MRCE but still with that symmetrical look.

 

I don't sell 'em, but it gives me something fun to play with.

 

I pulled this out of black styrene. I'll still be painting it gloss black, but this way if it chips it will just show through as duller black.

 

I'm going to stick to the eFX paint scheme for the finish.

 

At this point there's no plan to make a suit to go with it, but helmets have a way of attracting armor! I think my wife would kill me if I brought another set of plastic into the house though! I've 12 suits in the house already... lucky 13 might be the breaking point

[Darth Agnon[501st]]

If this turns out half as good as your other work it will still be one of the best in the Legion. As for the neck down.....I see no reason why 13 shouldn't be black!

[izzi[TX]]

At this point there's no plan to make a suit to go with it, but helmets have a way of attracting armor! I think my wife would kill me if I brought another set of plastic into the house though! I've 12 suits in the house already... lucky 13 might be the breaking point

 

I'm sure it could find a way to avoid her sensors and enter the house unnoticed... That is what the TX armor was used for.

 

-iz

[Griffin-X[501st]]

I finally got my wife "into" armor so it's getting easier...! Seriously, very nice work on this helmet. Very creative.

[stormtrooperguy[501st]]

My wife is totally into the hobby... she has an AT-AT driver, Commander Cody and Princess Leia of her own.

 

She just wants me to stop with getting more suits!

[Darth Emphatic[CMD-DWM]]

Well your sig bar is awfully white, so I think adding a little black would be appropriate. If you want, I would be happy to house it in my garage for you

[Darth Agnon[501st]]

It being a new kit I'm sure he'ed probably want to troop it a few times and have it ready....now if you need garage space to store any of your other kits....then I can help.

 

(oh, and I live closer than DE )

[stormtrooperguy[501st]]

Everyone is so helpful!

 

I did a coat of gloss black last night. I'm going to wet sand it, steel wool it, and do another coat tomorrow night (I want to make sure the paint doesn't eat itself!)

 

I would have posted another pic, but it looks just like that one only shinier. Once I get to the detailing I'll post another one.

[Darth Emphatic[CMD-DWM]]

Everyone is so helpful!

 

I did a coat of gloss black last night. I'm going to wet sand it, steel wool it, and do another coat tomorrow night (I want to make sure the paint doesn't eat itself!)

 

I would have posted another pic, but it looks just like that one only shinier. Once I get to the detailing I'll post another one.

 

Want to see how your painting comes out. I have never gotten it to work well, though I have seen others do it, especially Vaders. I don't think I have the patients.

[stormtrooperguy[501st]]

My TIE came out pretty nice looking...

 

 

I didn't do the sand/recoat on that one... that's just one hit of black.

 

Since I do a lot of painting, I have a spray booth at home which helps a lot. Having a closed in space that I can clean and tarp off when I want to do something shiny is a bit help. It's still hard to avoid dust settling on it during painting, but at least it minimizes things!

[Darth Emphatic[CMD-DWM]]

You make a very good point about the isolated space. Gotta make it easier to get an even coat

[Griffin-X[501st]]

That is some mighty nice paint work. Your TX bucket will look shiny for sure! And a death trooper too? Excellent.

[T0R1[TX]]

yeah this would help me lots since I am actually working on my MRCE to make it nova so u-u; i'm under the sanding atm

[stormtrooperguy[501st]]

Here it is with the first coat of black. It looks good now, but there are definitely some imperfections.

 

 

Second pass should make it really nice.

 

I installed the screen in the aerators. I went with black screening... part because it looks cool, part because I didn't have any silver on hand

 

The lenses are just taped in for the photo. Definitely a fan of the shiny mirrored lenses.

 

I'm trying to hunt down someone local with an eFX to compare to, but it seems none of our troopers have them. We've only got a couple of shadow troopers and they are all wearing FX buckets. Bummer. I'd love to see how they look next to each other!

[Darth Agnon[501st]]

Looking good! Ever think of trying to pull this in ABS? any plans on making these available for order?

[stormtrooperguy[501st]]

Looking good! Ever think of trying to pull this in ABS? any plans on making these available for order?

 

I can't really work with ABS. It sucks in moisture from the air when it sits. My workshop is in the fieldstone basement of a 100 year old house in new england... The dehumidifier runs constantly and dumps a gallon or so of water a day.

 

To use ABS I'd need a drying box for the sheets... basically a huge low temp oven to keep the sheets dry, and I just don't have the space for it. Otherwise it looks like an orange peel when you pull the pieces... the water in the plastic boils as it cooks.

 

HIPS doesn't take in moisture, so it's easier to work with.

 

As far as selling kits... I don't do that often. I'm astoundingly slow and disorganized when it comes to shipping things. I end up taking 1 night to make the kits and 4 months to get them to the post office. I mostly stick to people coming to my house and making stuff.

[dartoftruth[501st]]

Digging this thread, and Im jealous of your sig for sure. hahah. Looking good!

[T0R1[TX]]

...slowly catching up in armor count have 2 working on 3 >.>...that is if i stop upgrading the two i have

[Griffin-X[501st]]

...slowly catching up in armor count have 2 working on 3 >.>...that is if i stop upgrading the two i have

 

I'm right there with you...working on #3 now.

[stormtrooperguy[501st]]

Wet sanded and ready for what should be the final coat.

 

 

Good tip that I got somewhere... When sanding like this, wash the item off until the water runs clear, then put it on a stand to dry. Don't wipe it down or blow air on it. Both of those will generate static that will attract dust to it. Just let it sit in a clean, relatively dust free area until it dries on its own.

[Darth Emphatic[CMD-DWM]]

Wet sanded and ready for what should be the final coat.

 

 

 

Good tip that I got somewhere... When sanding like this, wash the item off until the water runs clear, then put it on a stand to dry. Don't wipe it down or blow air on it. Both of those will generate static that will attract dust to it. Just let it sit in a clean, relatively dust free area until it dries on its own.

 

Good tip, I always dry mine by hand and I probably shouldn't.

[izzi[TX]]

As far as selling kits... I don't do that often. I'm astoundingly slow and disorganized when it comes to shipping things. I end up taking 1 night to make the kits and 4 months to get them to the post office. I mostly stick to people coming to my house and making stuff.

So how do I get to your house?

 

Good tip that I got somewhere... When sanding like this, wash the item off until the water runs clear, then put it on a stand to dry. Don't wipe it down or blow air on it. Both of those will generate static that will attract dust to it. Just let it sit in a clean, relatively dust free area until it dries on its own.

Sweet! I've been doing SOMETHING right when painting. Everything else that I do is usually "wrong," but my final products come out decent. That's the reason why I don't usually give painting tips unless it's "Listen to that guy, he knows what he's doing!"

 

-iz

[trooper[501st]]

Nice work Brian, its always a pleasure watching you work.

[stormtrooperguy[501st]]

Sadly I haven't touched this guy in a few days. Needs one more coat for a nice shine!

[izzi[TX]]

What ever happened with this?

 

-iz