Superjedi's FPH2 for Nemesis

[superjedi]

UPDATE: DAY 12

Putting my hobby time to good use this weekend! I completed the area around the turn signals, then moved on to the dent.
The patch above the turn signals has lots of fine physical scratches.

There will be some additional weathering toward the end of the project that will "dirty down" the turn signal interiors.

I got the first couple of passes done on the dent. I do the silver first, then go back and add the gray. In these pics, you can see
the outline of the stencil for the big streak that's associated with the dent. Again, the gray seems to brighten or fade depending
on the angle.

The next update will show the finished streak. . . but no Scottie dogs yet!

 

[superjedi]

UPDATE 2: DAY 12

Here are a couple of shots of the finished streak.

You can see that I've laid down the stencil for the big giant scrape across the top of dome, too.
Darth Voorhees, what do you call that one?? I've started calling it the jumping horse.

 

[Darth Voorhees]

nice work! Your topical paintwork is so good. Makes me wanna learn to do it that way!

haha i call the streak "the comet" ...i havent named the large one on top...hmmmm lol

 

[TheBobaFett]

Stunning job so far Eric! I also been following the progress on your Facebook page.

 

[norgs79]

That's looking really good dude

 

[norgs79]

I've been in touch with Chris and he showed me the ROTJ lid. It looks awesome! I'll hopefully have it on order this week! Thanks

 

[superjedi]

Thanks, guys!
Norgs, yeah I've seen pics of the FPH2 ROTJ version. I'd love to snag one for my own helmet collection at some point.

 

[superjedi]

UPDATE: DAY 15:

Forgot to post a pic of the giant scrape the other night. I've also got the killstripes done. Now Fett's looking dangerous!
This is some of the most complex masking on the whole project. Lots of tape, plastic wrap, and masking fluid. I did a
whole killstripe tutorial in another thread, and it's the same process I use on all my paint ups, so on with the pics.

Here's the big "jumping horse" scrape. This is really hard to photograph without blowing out the colors.

The killstripes were done with a couple of light coats of UP Armour Yellow, and then the rear half of the run
was misted with an orangey-red shade. I've used a couple of different Polly Scale colors for this and I've found
that it doesn't matter too much which one I use. It goes on very lightly and pretty translucent.

Here's another angle. The run of stripes should show a gradual fade from front to back.

With the stripes in place, I can finish off the remaining gray and silver damage on the dome.

 

[superjedi]

UPDATE 2: DAY 15

Got the remaining gray and silver detailing done on the left side of the dome, including the Scottie Dog!
With this, all the basic painting on the dome is complete. Here are a couple of angles.

The next stage will be to paint the outer cheeks, then begin the cheek detailing.

 

[superjedi]

UPDATE: DAY 16

Smallish update for today. I got the outer cheeks painted with PRR Brunswick Green. I do these by hand
using a medium flat brush. No pics in this post, however, since this is my first time doing an FPH2, I had
to redo the cheek stencils. I've been redoing several stencils along the way and I made a "template tutorial"
thread that you can check out here:
http://www.thedentedhelmet.com/f32/template-sizing-tutorial-51735/#post650133

Hope some members find the information helpful!
I'll begin the cheek detailing tomorrow.

 

[superjedi]

UPDATE: DAY 18

Fett's looking cheeky now!

The helmet's cheeks really help contribute to the look of the ESB helmet. They're so different from each other, and I always
enjoy painting them. Especially the left cheek. The damage here seems so angular compared to other sections.
Here are a couple of shots of the right cheek.

There is more detail that needs to be added. But I tend to associate this detail more with the mandibles, so I'll
wait to complete it until I work on those areas.

The left cheek contains another custom color blend. On the outer limit of the inner cheek, there's a slightly darker
greener gray. In all the reference pics I've studied, I can't find anywhere else where this color appears. Just one of
those cool little details of the ESB!

Again, there's more detail that will be applied once I begin doing the damage on the mandibles.

All of the "basic" painting on these parts of the helmet is finished. This sets me up for masking and spraying
the base color on the mandibles! Once that's done, it'll really take on that ESB appearance.

 

[superjedi]

UPDATE: DAY 19

Woo hoo! Red! Not green or gray or silver! Glorious red!

Got everything masked off and airbrushed the basecoat for the mandibles/keyslots/band. Lots more tape
and plastic wrap used for this stage. Always terrified when I begin to remove the masking to see if there's
any bleed-through or not, but everything came out great.

In an earlier post I mentioned that the color of the weathered dome and inner cheeks would appear to shift
once all the damage was painted on, and the mandible base coat was applied. It's another one of those
strange illusions that just makes the dome/cheeks appear a little "richer" in tone. Here's a comparison
showing the helmet from an earlier stage alongside how it looks now. Notice the change in the green's appearance?

I'll begin the damage on the red parts with the keyslot area, then move up onto the rear half of the red band.

 

[nemesis]

superjedi It's looking excellent! :cool

 

[superjedi]

Thanks, man! Getting closer to being in your hands.

 

[Necronaut]

Always a pleasure to see your work unfold before everyone's eyes, man!

 

[superjedi]

Thanks, Necro!

UPDATE: DAY 21

We're 3 weeks in now, and these pics show some work I completed yesterday. Like I mentioned, I like to begin
the damage on the red portions with the keyslots. This is the first time I'm using my maroon/purple custom blend.

Here's a closer view.

I'm getting ready to move up onto the band now. I like to do this in 3 sections: center, left and right.

 

[AFettFullofDollars]

Looks 'Spot On' Eric!

 

[superjedi]

Thanks a lot!

UPDATE: DAY 22

After a couple of sessions, the center portion of the band is done. It takes a couple of passes with each color to
tweak all the tiny shapes and give the damage the characteristic layered look.

Having nice clear reference pics is a must! Here's a closer angle.

I'll continue doing the remainder of the band this way. The left section will be up next, including the vertical part just
behind the left ear. Then I'll do the right section.

Just realized this is my 4,444th post!

 

[Jayvee]

You post wh0re you.. Looking amazing once again great man!

 

[nemesis]

You the man!!