Boba Fett's Empire Strikes Back helmet - Part 2

I decided the next sections to paint would be the dome and cheeks.  So I added a layer of liquid mask in those areas where the silver should show through, and then I sprayed a layer of Rusto Anodized Aluminum with a mist of black.  When it dried, and I removed the liquid mask, we end up with this:

Once more, I added a layer of liquid mask for the places where the silver and gray should show thorugh. There is no Rustoleum paint that is an exact match for the green topcoat. That meant I had to blend a couple of different colors.  After some tests, I decided on a base coat of Rusto Spruce, with a mist of Rusto Oregano.

Before I removed the liquid mask, I dry brushed a little bit of black grime on the dent in the dome and the edge of the cheeks with Testors Flat Black... (You can see my Return of the Jedi helmet in the back there.  I used it for reference while trying to get the green tone just right. The RotJ helmet is a slightly lighter green.)

Then I removed the liquid mask and dry brushed some more grime with the black. Just a smudge here and there. Finally, I used a screwdriver to add some random scratches...

You'll note the helmet is pretty shiny -- I'm going to coat the whole thing with Testors Matte Dullcoat at the end so everything is flat, even, and not reflective.

While I had the masking tape on the non-green areas, I thought I'd go ahead and add the kill stripes on the side of the helmet.  I decided to spray these on. (Some people use vinyl decals, others hand brush them on.  The original prop seems to have been sprayed.)  So I made a complicated and infuriating mask with tape, and then sprayed it with Valspar Hubbel House Golden Maize, (there's a mouthful for you.) Towards the back of the helmet, the kill stripes become a little orange, so I misted back there with Valspar LaFonda Copper.

Once all the tape was removed, and a little more grime added, we end up with this!

More soon!

~N

Boba Fett's Empire Strikes Back helmet - Part 1

So now that I've completed the entire Return of the Jedi Boba Fett armor, (I haven't taken final project photos of it yet -- need to get a decent camera & set up,) I thought I'd move on to painting Boba's Empire Strikes Back helmet.

The two "buckets" have different color schemes, and significantly different battle damage.

I collected about 20 different photos online of the ESB helmet, and printed them for reference.

I'm starting with a "GMH" by FettPride -- recast from an actual film-used Lucasfilm prop.  It's a resin shell with fiberglass reinforcement.  I cleaned it up, trimmed everything, and got it ready for priming:

Next up, I sprayed the whole thing with Rustoleum Aluminum...

...Except for some areas in the back that seemed to have primer showing through the final paint job.  I masked these with Windsor Newton Liquid Mask so the primer would show through. 

Then I masked more battle damage per the photos (you can see my reference sheets on the table there,) and sprayed the dark gray layer.  I used Rusto Anodized Bronze and then a mist of black.  Between each layer, after peeling off the liquid mask, I lightly brushed the surface with 0000 steel wool.

Another layer of liquid mask, and then the off-white layer.  For this, I used Rustoleum Almond, with a mist of Rusto Anodized Bronze.

After that, the last layer of liquid mask, and the top coat of Valspar Peacock House, misted with Black.  Once the top coat was dry, I added "micro-damage" with a screwdriver and some gravel. 

Here we have the completed back panels... Click for a larger view:

More soon!

~N

Almost Done!

Just a quick update! I've been really busy and haven't had time to work on Boba as much as I'd like. But I've only got one thing left to do and I'm done!  I just have to weather the gauntlet hoses.  So expect completion photos in the near future!  In the meantime, here's a teaser:

~N

Backplate & Jetpack Harness

To wrap up the backplate attachment and jetpack harness, I started by doing test fittings to see how long the straps would need to be.  They would have to go over the shoulder of the harness, through the flak vest, and through the backplate.  It took me two tries, but I finally figured it out.  When I got the length correct, I used grommets to make everything permanent and used pill-shaped D rings as my jetpack fasteners...

Here are the straps through the flak vest. Note the grommets added to the back of the vest to attach the backplate, just as I attached the armor on the chest.

Here is the mounted back plate with the straps showing:

With the backplate in place, I needed a way to attach the neckplate to it. I drilled holes in both and fashioned a bracket from a piece of aluminum flat bar, and screws that I cold-welded in place with JB Weld and a bit of super glue for insurance.

Boba has silver shoulder studs to cover those screws and keep everything secure.  A set of studs came with my armor. I spray painted them silver, and routed them out with my Dremel tool.  Note the double route so that I had a little "shelf" to support the nut, but some extra space behind it to thread the screw through.

I glued the nuts in place with super glue.

The studs were screwed on.  Note the cape is attached with one of these:

Here's a close up of the jetpack hooks slipped through the strap rings:

And the diver's belt from the jetpack secured around the front:

And we have a fully attached jetpack!

Almost done!  I have the gauntlet hoses and shoulder braids left!

~N

Boots Finished!

I started out with these canvas boots from Man of War.  Great design, affordable...and comfy, too!  The problem: they were snow-white, and Boba's boots are the darkest part of his costume.

I found a lot of methods for painting and weathering these, online. Most people just use acrylic paint -- but I wanted the shoes to breathe as much as possible while being worn.  Paint would completely seal the boot's air flow. I didn't want smelly, sweaty boots if I ever decide to wear the costume.

My solution was to dye the boots with watered-down RIT Black.  Aiming for a charcoal gray base color.  Here's how they came out:

The center stripe down each boot is supposed to be almost black, and there is a lot of grime and shading. I had to resort to SOME acrylic paint.

 I watered down Liquitex Mars Black and dry-brushed it into the boots while they were still slightly damp.  After they dried, I added a small layer of brown grime with Testor's Rust, and added the aluminum toe-spikes. Finally, I scuffed them up with some sandpaper.

And we have finished boots!

~N

Codpiece and Butt Plate finished!

Yes...there's a BUTT plate.  Get all your giggles out now, folks.  (And if you thought that was funny, there's also a CROTCH STRAP.)

Here are the pieces painted silver (Rusto Aluminum) with liquid mask added for the macro damage.

Next up, the under-layer of Rusto Line Striping Yellow:

 Another layer of liquid mask and the final color, Rusto Hunt Club Green misted with flat black.  Once that dried, I scratched the pieces up with a screwdriver and some gravel. Finally, a coating of Testor's Dullcoat.

To attach these to the costume, I was originally going to use a belt, but I decided to use the same grommet method I used for the flak vest. There are enough belts on this costume already!

So I added #8-32 1/2" screws to the backs of each piece, with an extra screw for the crotch strap.

Grommets added to the pants:

Here they are, all finished, and on the mannequin!

And with all the belts and straps!

More soon!