bpoodoo

Sounds like the Deer Stags were a good choice. I ordered a pair of Bass Amsterdams that should arrive tomorrow. It was a coin flip between the two.

I say leave the 5 per side as is since you have very high level OK for it. You can be the garrison maverick. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

In the other side of that picture (photo from starwarshelmets.com), I count 8 out of 24 helmets with 5 teeth cut out (barely in some cases). So they are fairly common (30%) at least in this picture, but whether they are common in the movie is the more relevant question. In my helmet kit the 5th tooth notch was very prominent on both sides, so I cut them out. But I later filled them in with small dabs of instamorph (which does stick to ABS and hardens to an opaque white color). There's a precendent for the 5th tooth cut out, but it's also reversible to 4 opening per side if needed or desired.

Disgustingly beautiful. Looks great! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

These helmets are works of art. Show it off as such! Nice pic. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Now that's what a prototype should look like! Thanks for posting. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

And it's a tedius debate, but indulge me on adding a visual data point. As a relative newbie to stormtrooper history, it's been difficult to know who and what to believe, but the story which is consistent and logical is usually the correct one. I get a headache when I try to research AA / SDS, and how history seems to get augmented or revised. These prototypes are in a class all their own in terms of the confusion they bring. I've recently been told that a "prototype" (whatever it is a prototype of) is the basis for the SDS line, and on that I agree. I agree based not solely on anyone's assertion but by comparing images. One would think that a "prototype" should look like the first helmets produced (say, like a Move Along, Stop That Ship, or one of the other first-produced Tunisia helmets). Neither the other Christie's "prototypes" nor this one looks like those Stunt helmets. Instead, the "prototype" bears a strong resemblance to contemporary SDS helmets, such as this 2013 SDS battle spec I just photographed from a similar angle. It's like a prototype that ages backwards. How curious. And illogical.

That warped assembly for the SDS helmet seems to be intentional. It's in the Battle Spec I got a year ago, and it continues in more current ones I've seen. When I first put on the helmet, my left eye had a close-up view of the green lens because it was right up against it. I sent an email to SDS asking about the warpedness and whether I could adjust the helmet so that I might have use of both my eyes. That email (minus the sarcasm) went unanswered. And I agree - the shape for what is supposed to be "Stunt" isn't close. I reassembled seeking eye relief and to find a way to elicit the Stunt look the helmet was supposedly was derived from, but that could only go so far. If the mold isn't right, the shape won't be either. From that experience fast forward to today - I recently finished building my first Stunt helmet from kit with lineage to a screen-used helmet from a vetted armorer - and am thrilled with the result. For the OP I would suggest to tap into the stormtrooper of your soul there's no better way than to get hands-on and build your own helmet and/or armor from a kit. You really get a sense and understanding for what goes into the construction of a *real* original stormtrooper.

I saw those same 'Deer Stag' boots last night while searching for men's Chelsea boots. Price is right but some concern whether they might be slippery according to one reviewer. But then again seeing how much the actual stormtroopers slipped and skidded around that could be accurate! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I just measured the brow trim I got from Trooperbay 2 weeks ago. It's exactly 15 millimeters or 19/32 inch. So yep just a smidge over a half an inch. This seems to be a standard width. It's what I also measure on a SDS Battle Spec and eFx ANH PCR. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Ok was it just me or could anyone else hear all the music, sound effects, and dialog in your head while scrolling through these pictures? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yeah I'm seeing the issue with http://www.whitearmor.net/forum/gallery/image/2629-screenshot71084jpg/ With default sort order it is image 2 on page 2, but if I use different sort order it shows up elsewhere on page 1. But in each case the problematic image is the above link. I'm running Windows 8.1. On Firefox the thumbnail image doesn't show up but instead just shows the filename Screenshot71084jpg. On Internet Explorer rather than showing a thumbnail (the medium image I think it refers to) it shows a large image instead. My guess would be that on the file system used by the web server the medium image isn't there for that screenshot or it's unreadable.

Thanks guys - it was a fun first helmet for sure

Final pics

I'll characterize it as going from idealized to looking screen used Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Start of detail painting. I'll be using templates for tube stripes and vertical lines within tears and rear traps, the rest by (not-so-steady) hand. Rough-in of traps, tears, ears. Also paint the frown. Using Humbrol #5 gray for these. For tube stripes, I started using Humbrol #15 midnight blue but switched to Humbrol #14 french blue. Had some leakage using the template, but nothing some mineral spirits and cheap low-lint rolled up tissue couldn't fix. Note: Don't use Q-Tips as-is for clean-up The cotton fibers get caught up in the paint. Also, when correcting mistakes painting the tube stripes, it's possible and probable you can wipe away the underlying white base paint. I wanted all details painted, but for tube stripes in particular, I can see why decals might be a good choice.

It's still pretty wet in that picture. That's right after I brought it inside after painting it outside. I've read good things about Valspar. I did not like Krylon Fusion gloss white which is what I first tried. It didn't spray on evenly, and the color as it dried had a slight gray tint. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

No, no armor... yet! I'd say it's inevitable that I will at some point. Finding armor and properly trimming, assembling, and fitting is a very different skill set, but I know I'm in the right place to learn how to do it.

Here's a technique for how to install and trim an ear if it would otherwise look too wide. This photo is from the RS propmasters photobucket. Use the middle of the ear against the helmet as a pivot, point the top of the ear outwards away from the helmet and angle the the bottom of the ear inwards towards the helmet. This allows the bottom of the ear to be trimmed thinner and still be flush against the helmet.

I replaced the HDPE ears with ABS ears and moved them lower. The trim I think looks a bit better. I prepared the helmet for painting by first washing with dish soap, drying, and then gently scuffing with gray scotch brite. I painted with VERY light coats of "Rustoleum Painter's Touch 2X Ultra Coverage Paint + Primer" gloss white. Easy to get runs and fisheyes if applied heavily or repeatedly over one section. Technique that worked for me was to think "mist painting" not "spray painting" by holding the can about 2 feet away sweeping across the helmet. Next the hard part - waiting! At least 5-7 days before starting detail painting.

Thanks guys. Yes SC you're correct and the trim could be closer if I moved that left ear (wearer) down like in the DavidM helmet (closer trim if moved down not up as I originally stated). These next pictures are practice HDPE ears on the helmet before lowering.

These ears are tricky especially the left. I tried to figure out how to better trim them but couldn't find a way that wouldn't result in gaps galore. The tubes aren't very wide and the helmet at the top of the ear angles inward. And the lower half of the left ear launches out at about a 45 degree angle. And the ears are a bit short. These factors are why I have the wider ear trim. I probably could have positioned the ears higher lower that could have allowed a more aggressive trim. I'm open to suggestions how I could make the ears narrower. Some gap would be alright. And screen accurate! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yep! Trimmed and assembled: Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

After some initial trimming, putting the faceplate and the dome together to see what I think looks best. I'm going for a somewhat narrower profile and more vertical faceplate than a typical SFS or DavidM style helmet. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The kit came with both HDPE and ABS ears. I used the HDPE ones for practice and the ABS ears for the helmet Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk