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TFA First Order Stormtrooper Helmet Build


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Here is a beautiful helmet from Derrek (Dday). I received this helmet a couple weeks ago, but due to being at university I had not had the opportunity to work on it. I am starting this thread now to start getting advice from all y'all. :) Here's some pics.

 

The Kit

 

15220150_632211380292368_251797077727968

 

A little work needed, but overall a very clean casting.

 

15168795_632212330292273_329532307929223

 

This is the second version of this helmet that Derrek has done, take a look at the mesh! 

 

15178125_632211986958974_899601006502526

 

A little filling to be done, not much. 

 

15181662_632212010292305_264929457407372

 

The seam line needs sanding.

 

15178986_632212113625628_251243201475053

 

 

I have two weeks of lectures left and a week of finals, so hopefully in three weeks I can start working on this!

Any tips or techniques that you'll think will be helpful before I start please feel free to share.

 

Cheers!

Edited by T K
Fixed links for pictures :)
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  • 2 weeks later...

All righty! I am starting to compile a list of things I need to get for this build.

 

Paints

 

White http://www.homedepot.com/p/Rust-Oleum-Painter-s-Touch-2X-12-oz-Gloss-White-General-Purpose-Spray-Paint-249090/202071352

 

Black http://www.homedepot.com/p/Rust-Oleum-Painter-s-Touch-2X-12-oz-Flat-Black-General-Purpose-Spray-Paint-249127/202246266

 

Primer http://www.homedepot.com/p/Rust-Oleum-Painter-s-Touch-2X-12-oz-Flat-Gray-Primer-General-Purpose-Spray-Paint-249088/100670412

 

Let me know if there is something better for paints, but as of now this is what I am planning on getting.

 

 

And wet sanding!! Does anybody know of any good tutorials here or somewhere else online? All I can find are ones for cars and stuff doing mirror finishes.

Exactly how shiny do I want the bucket to be? (I have never seen a TFA bucket in person)

 

 

I have tools so I should be good there, anything else I need to know? I hope to pick up supplies either this Friday or Saturday and then start working on the bucket at least by next week.

 

Cheers!

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All righty! I am starting to compile a list of things I need to get for this build.

 

Paints

 

White http://www.homedepot.com/p/Rust-Oleum-Painter-s-Touch-2X-12-oz-Gloss-White-General-Purpose-Spray-Paint-249090/202071352

 

Black http://www.homedepot.com/p/Rust-Oleum-Painter-s-Touch-2X-12-oz-Flat-Black-General-Purpose-Spray-Paint-249127/202246266

 

Primer http://www.homedepot.com/p/Rust-Oleum-Painter-s-Touch-2X-12-oz-Flat-Gray-Primer-General-Purpose-Spray-Paint-249088/100670412

 

Let me know if there is something better for paints, but as of now this is what I am planning on getting.

 

 

And wet sanding!! Does anybody know of any good tutorials here or somewhere else online? All I can find are ones for cars and stuff doing mirror finishes.

Exactly how shiny do I want the bucket to be? (I have never seen a TFA bucket in person)

 

 

I have tools so I should be good there, anything else I need to know? I hope to pick up supplies either this Friday or Saturday and then start working on the bucket at least by next week.

 

Cheers!

 

I believe that the color (based on research by R2Dan) is RAL 9010. You can find some RAL color converters to get the USA version. It's basically a clean white, with a very soft cream shade. Though in reality, it doesn't matter, as long as it matches the color you paint the armor, if you intend to.

 

There are a couple different blacks used in the helmet.

 

For the frown and temple areas it's a glossy black. The brow stripe, the stripe along the bottom and the 2 trap stripes just above the bottom like are a satin type black. I think the brow was actually a rubber thing, since the originals were injection molded similar to the way Anovos makes their standard line helmets. But in painting, satin catches it.

 

The 2 bottom area lines were actually some sort of PVC/vinyl tape or decal. In the high res photos of these areas you can see small bubbles trapped under the surface. They have the same finish as electrical tape does. So save yourself some trouble masking these areas off and just cut some electrical tape down to size and shape.

 

The thing about sanding I've heard is never use your hand. always sand with a block. You'll never get a smooth even surface with your hands because your fingers put pressure in certain areas making an uneven finish.

 

Wetsanding is easy though. just get paper made for this and a bucket of water. splash some on the helmet, dip the paper in and sand away. always with circular motions. make sure it stays wet and it will really get nice and smooth.

 

The screen buckets were really shiny. The white is a high gloss. Though even without a high gloss automotive shine they helmets look really good. This type of shine is very hard to get at home without all the right tools.

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  • 3 weeks later...

Ok!! Here we go! I have until Feb. to finish this. :)<br><br>

I went out and bought some proper sanding equipment and paper. <br>

Also started to fill in the imperfections. I will post pics of progress soon.

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All right, small update. I am just trying to smooth out the seam line.

 

15895609_655265617986944_122944774316084

 

I hope to cutout the eyes tomorrow as well as getting the bar stripes (things) cut out. It's been slooooow going due to a lot of things. :/ But now I have all the paints/primer/sandpaper now.

Edited by T K
Fixed links for pictures :)
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Well this past week I had been sick, so I didn't accomplish much, but today I finally started to make progress again. Here's the pics.

 

16112540_657209931125846_558618324278530

 

A TON of sanding by hand. And a lot more. Haha, but it is starting to look good. 

 

Where do I cut the lens?

 

15936917_657209994459173_810095864410367

 

You can't really see it in that picture but there are little lines that surround where I think the lens will be. Is that true?

 

Cheers!

Edited by T K
Fixed links for pictures :)
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Well, I"m late to tell you, but yes the lines are for cutting :D

 

Hold it up to the light, much easier to see.

 

Again, too late though!

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Well, I"m late to tell you, but yes the lines are for cutting :D

 

Hold it up to the light, much easier to see.

 

Again, too late though!

Haha, thanks for the reply though! I guessed those lines were where I should cut. Today I hope to finish the last of the shaping and sanding. Possibly even the first coat of primer.
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All righty! First coat of primer down and wet-sanding!! I've actually come love love wet-sanding. Starting to see some shine.

 

15975235_658814930965346_553273780770741

 

As of right now the bucket is sitting with the second coat of primer curing.

Edited by T K
Fixed links for pictures :)
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Something happened today...

 

16178654_663353863844786_704982165377364

 

White! Finally! :)

 

16179041_663353867178119_437469856089491

 

This is the first coat of white before any wet-sanding. Hoping to do that tomorrow morning.

 

Next to my OT Anovos for whiteness comparison.

 

16178835_663353880511451_643235039121459

Edited by T K
Fixed links for pictures :)
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Bad news is that it's easier to start with black. Good news is that with a glossy black base your white will be even glossier.

So ideally I should have started with black? Haha, well, I've made some mistakes that will result in a total repaint (rather it look really good than settle). But that means it won't be done for two years.

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So since I plan on getting FOTK armor when I get back in two years, I'll just finish this paint job alongside that so they both match. :)

 

Cheers! And good luck on all your endeavors! 

Edited by T K
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So since I plan on getting FOTK armor when I get back in two years, I'll just finish this paint job alongside that so they both match. :)

 

Cheers! And good luck on all your endeavors! 

 

 

While not being a total showstopper, you can also do white first then black. The white seems to gloss better with a black gloss base.

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Well, time to resurrect this old thread. 

 

So the last post Derrek informed me that you actually want to start with a black coat followed by a white one. Sanding and painting was on the horizon.

 

-7401859220267846769__MG_8304_zpsg60ecpt

 

I like it in all black. It has a very good look to it. Time to mask and paint!

 

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-668271238920431016__MG_8308_zpsmo9a4hg6

 

Looks nice in white too! As you can tell I may have gotten a better camera and a new lens. For pictures like these.

 

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This closeup shows the touch up I needed to do on the brow. I don't have any pictures mid work, but what worked really well was some charcoal! I knew there would be a clear coat coming and that the brow was supposed to be rubber so I gave it a go. It turned out pretty well. 

 

Guess what is next?

 

Yup, sanding. But look what it does! 

 

-3068356008959076095__MG_8693_zps7atwdrr

 

-6804174886774675732__MG_8697_zpsuleodvs

 

There are some imperfections, like the black spot, but I am happy with it. I will be adding very faint weathering. Nothing like a sandie or Finn's bloody helmet, just enough to make it feel used. You can see I have a little bit from above the brow already.

 

Somewhere above I said I was going to get armor to match with this helmet, but that won't be the case, this bucket will be display only (For now at least). 

 

So now I want your advice. How should I attach the bill part? and how should I attach the lens? There is quite a gap between the lens tabs and the interior of the helmet for attaching.

 

IMG_6058_zpsfiwcbu1g.jpg

 

What do you recommend?

Edited by T K
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Very nice work, it's really hard to get a perfect finish especially when you are masking curves but it's come out a treat and it's more you notice than the public will, great work.

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Beautiful work! I've found using Automotive Polishing compound works a treat when getting a smooth, reflective finish on spray paint.

 

I actually used it for my R1TK Bucket and it truly makes it look like a production piece. Just make sure to buff it really good.  

This is the brand I use: Meguiars Polishing Compound.

 

Fun fact: I got this idea from my dad (who by no means is a project guy), having a boatload of car experience. "Why don't you polish it?" "Ah dad, that won't work." "Just let me see." He rubs it super hard, then buffs it. Looks absolutely beautiful, especially after wet sanding any orange peel, just smooths it right out. "See, dad isn't so dumb after all." 

 

-_-

 

 

image.png

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