Obey Wann's cucblack (CB) helmet WIP/review

[Obey Wann]

After a long, and arduous process, I did finally receive my CB helmet on Wednesday. I have been in a rush to get this done in time for Denver Comic Con this weekend, so this has been (and will be) a super-rush build.

 

I will also preface this that I will weather this heavily, to match the rest of my snow scout. So, for you clean purists and OCD perfectionists, I'm sure that you would do certain things differently, and take a lot more time.

 

I am going to match it to my SC helmet, so this will be a far dirtier bucket than what most/all of you would do for a traditional TB. In the Mountain Garrison, we tend to dirty up our kits quite a bit --our Snowtroopers (and now Snow Scouts), especially.

 

 

I will add more pictures to this thread later. If you want to skip ahead, here is my Photobucket album:

 

http://s723.photobucket.com/user/tc6960/library/?sort=2&page=1

[Obey Wann]

As I go into this, I do first need to talk about the bad. It was a PITA to get this. Maybe not so different from other, more "experienced" vendors with "established track records," but they have a history. CB was new to me, and I believe, is one of the newer vendors. Add in the issues of international shipping from Bolivia, and getting the helmet was a bit of a nightmare.

 

I ordered the helmet in September 2014. I was promised a 10 day turnaround time with 2 weeks of shipping.

 

According to that, I should have had it by October 31st.

 

Christian said it shipped on November 10th. Ok,I can live with that.

 

Then, I didn't get it. Follow up with Christian. I finally got a USPS tracking number on November 10th. But it shows up as "not in the system."

 

Long story short, other folks had similar issues during that time frame. Many have still not received their items from that time period. See this thread for more info: http://forum.bikersc...=13107&st=0

 

After much follow up, ranting, and PMs... and still no helmet from the initial shipment. Finally, Christian started sending stuff. I was unwilling to trust the Bolivian postal service a "second" time, so I opted to spend extra money to have it FedEx'd. Ballpark of $200, so I paid the difference from the original $49 that I paid for shipping initially.

 

In this case, I did not pay the extra FedEx money until Christian sent me a pic of my helmet with my shipping information. We coordinated over Facebook chat, and once he showed me a pic of my helmet, with my shipping info on it, I paid for the FedEx.

 

 

This was on 5/14/2015. It shipped on Friday, 5/16/2015. The tracking number did not show until Monday. This is Christian's response:

 

I got the Fedex response. International shipments must be revised by customs in the airport before be dispatched. They work Monday-Friday. Packages received Friday and Saturday are revised by customs on Monday. When package is approved by customs Fedex register and activate the number. The package should be dispatched tonight and arrive to USA tomorrow.

 

The tracking info did work as of Monday, 5/18/2015. I was able to track it from my phone from that point on.

 

 

I don't trust delivery drivers, so we use a UPS store for our mailing and shipping address. It costs extra, but to me, the security of knowing that deliveries are logged in and secured is worth the $ each month. It is far better than having a high $$$ item left on the porch. So, my lovely wife (who was so happy about another expensive piece of kit), picked up the helmet and texted me a pic as soon as she picked it up.

 

Doesn't she look happy?

 

 

 

Since I wasn't there, I didn't see the original packing job. I don't know if it was covered in bubble wrap, or not. But I did not have the issues that AxelVBG has had:

 

http://forum.bikersc...showtopic=13435

 

http://forum.bikersc...showtopic=13457

 

No bubble wrap issues, but I will get to one other issue that my helmet does have. I'll let more experienced people tell me if it is a problem or not. I have never had a fiberglass helmet before, and I have less than zero FG experience.

 

Packing materials seemed good to me. The box was very heavy duty, with some hard styrofoam on all sides. I'll have to ask my wife if it shipped with bubble wrap over it.

 

Then again, I do see bubble wrap inside it, so I think I can assume that the helmet was shipped bubble wrapped:

 

[Obey Wann]

So, sturdy packaging, check. Helmet finally arrived. Check.

 

 

 

 

So, how does it look?

 

Initial thoughts:

 

Good look, feel, and heft. Definitely larger than my SC.

 

 

 

 

All parts were there, check. I didn't notice any spider webbing or bubble wrap marks.

 

However, it did have this flaw, a small bubble.hole in the helmet, in an area that will be covered by the face plate:

 

 

 

I'd love feedback on how to fix this. It will not be visible with the faceplate down, but I want to stabilize it before it gets worse.

[Obey Wann]

Inside finish is rough, fiberglass. Since I have never owned a FG helmet, and have not studied the other FG helmets in close detail, no idea if this is normal. It looks fine to me.... LOL, but I'm used to ABS or resin rotocast helmets.

 

 

 

Most importantly, it fits me well!!!!

 

 

 

Compared to the SC, it is much larger, more solid and tougher. In NO WAY am I complaining about my SC. I got a B-pull, and knew what it was that I was getting. Jeff has always been awesome to work with, and I love his stuff. My first Star Wars costume piece was a Rebel Fleet Trooper helmet B-pull, way back in 2002!

 

I simply got this new helmet because I was told by a Garrison-mate that there was a larger helmet available, and this opened the door to making a snow scout for my daughter. (A friend have me a kids-sized Snowtrooper kit that we will modify for her.) I saw the CB as a good, relatively inexpensive and quick way of getting her kitted up for (last) winter. Obviously, the shipping issues derailed that.

 

But I digress. Here is a side-by-side comparison:

 

 

 

I am under a huge time crunch, so I did not take any extra time to sand, polish or make my helmet perfect. There are some low spots or minor blemishes that you could fill in and sand. Like I have said, and shown, I weather my stuff significantly, so I don't personally feel the need to make it perfect.

 

If you wanted your final product to be shiny and glossy like brand new, unweathed ABS, then you would likely want to spend some time polishing it up. I don't know if the MLC even ships raw, all I have ever seen are the ones from Cal, or what Kent Stone paints up. (Both are in my garrison, but I never looked at the MLCs in great detail -- they are too small for my head, so once it didn't fit, I stopped paying attention to them.)

 

 

I also used the most basic, cheap paint there is on my snow scout. It is $1 white from Wal Mart. As cheap-@$$ basic, no frills as you can get. i started with black on the inside, then masked for white.

 

I used about 2 cans of flat white at first. Then, last night, I used about 1 can of gloss.

 

 

 

 

Here it is as of this morning. Please note, it is Friday, and I only got to work on it late Wednesday:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Apparently, I suck at masking. I will have to clean up the snout a bit:

 

 

 

I need to either add some more white, or weather the side a bit. It is humid and rainy today, so weathering is likely...

 

Paint isn't drying or curing like it did on Wednesday...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I did use some 1000 grit sandpaper after the dull coats before the gloss coats.

 

Ear holes are well made and solid. Niska would be proud.

 

 

This hole is not solid. Niska would not approve.

 

 

 

I added a Darth Hair helmet foam set, and it fits perfectly!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As a side note, my mouth does not show below the face plate. I opened my mouth as far as I could, and it didn't show below the face plate. I know others have had issues with this with other helmets.

 

 

So.... I'm off to add decals and weather it. i will get one set of clean pictures before making it match my armor.

 

 

 

 

And then, I will debut it on Sunday at our group photo shoot.

[Obey Wann]

Cleaned up. Decals applied. It was clean for an hour or so. Time to get dirty.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Helmet padding by Darth Hair. I have used this on X-Wing helmets, Imperial Navy and other buckets.

 

https://www.facebook.com/DHPFX?fref=ts

[SulacoBoy]

Nice!!!

[theisaac]

Really looking forward to the weathering

[Obey Wann]

 

Here goes.

 

I have tried it on every fat head I can find in my garrison. It has fit everyone so far.

 

 

 

[Obey Wann]

 

[Obey Wann]

 

[theisaac]

Looks great obey!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[kiel814]

Looks awesome!

 

BTW, love your t-shirt. "Curse your sudden but inevitable betrayal!!!" lol

[Obey Wann]

Thanks, guys! It fit everyone I tested but one, and he thought he could heat gun it open a smidge more to fit him.

 

I will wear the full kit tomorrow at DCC and get pics.

 

Also, I heard some encouraging things about CB changing his business model. I want to confirm it before saying more.

 

He is still on a buyer beware list until he clears some lost orders/backlog. Once he is off that, and I confirm the new payment process, I would give him 2 thumbs up.

[Obey Wann]

Looks awesome!

 

BTW, love your t-shirt. "Curse your sudden but inevitable betrayal!!!" lol

 

I was at a panel with Jewell Staite today. Tomorrow is Alan Tudyk.

 

[Obey Wann]

 

[Obey Wann]

 

 

[spookymufu]

your wife took those pics didnt she?

 

[Obey Wann]

Kids.

[spookymufu]

ah, my wife takes blurry pics too, that why I asked

[Obey Wann]

I'll get better pics today.

[Chef]

That eggshell bubble in your laminate is a bit of bad laminating.

 

Basically the first coat of glass hasn't been properly laminated down onto the gel coat forming a little air pocket between the two.

 

They can be easily filled by dropping some resin or filler into the cavity.

 

 

Not an issue in itself, but it does lend the question, where else are such cavities??

 

You won't know about them until they crack and expose the void underneath.

 

 

The Gel Coat on GRP lids is just like a hard paint 'skin', forming an eggshell layer over the outer resin/glass layer. It has no inherent strength in itself.

The Scout bucket is a complex shape and has some tricky curves, so it's by no means 'easy' to eliminate all these things, but where you do get them shows it has been rushed initially.

That first layer is the most important part to get right, as it gives the structural integrity to the Gel layer.

You'll find these mostly around the rim of the lid and in the ears as they are the difficult curves to get in.

 

You will always get a weave pattern on the inside unless it's either given a gel backing or the layer is particularly resin heavy. So that in itself isn't something to worry about.

Just be aware of any stray strands poking out, they will be like hypodermic needles. Run some sand paper round the inside to remove these.

 

I have to say I am a little disappointed by the rather lumpy/bumpy nature of the surface finish (not of your painting... I'll come to that) in it's raw form.

I don't know whether that's bad moulds, or rushed lamination causing some 'pulling' during the curing process.

Impossible to say without seeing the moulds.

 

 

Paint wise... You've done a good job in the time frame you've had.

You're a braver man than I doing it in such short order, but them time became of the essence!

 

Glad you got it all finished up and sorted in time for your convention.

 

 

I do think the helmet is oversized compared to the screen used ones, but if you need a bigger lid then it's one of the biggest ones out there.

[Obey Wann]

Thanks for the info and feedback.

 

I showed the bubble to Darth Hair, our resident prop maker. He recommended filling in the bubble with CA glue, then bondo and sand, paint.

 

I wore the helmet for about 6 hours today, plus 2 or so yesterday. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive. People loved the weathering and the proportions on my frame.

 

I tried it on every "fat head" in my Garrison and Base that was at Con this weekend. It fit everyone but one.

 

The SC was definitely too small for me.

 

 

 

 

When it all comes down to it.... It is a LARGE helmet. It fits guys who can't fit a MLC. It likely needs spit and polish and elbow grease if you want to make it match a glossy REMF scout.

 

If you weather it, I think you can overcome some of the inherent flaws. It is your kit and each garrison has their own outlooks in levels of weathering.

 

For the Mountain Garrison , this fits well with our other folks's kits, and I am pleased by the public's response.

 

The bucket wasn't too heavy, and the faceplate stayed up when needed. I am not sure if I will keep the chin cup. It made donning/doffing the bucket a PITA and made closing the faceplate difficult.

 

Ventilation was tolerable. Not sure if there is room for a fan anywhere. I just lifted the faceplate when needed.

 

In the end.... Helmet finally arrived. I was able to match the paint and weathering in 48 hours and troop in it (finally!). And it fit my head much better than a SC or MLC. I'll call that a win!

[Obey Wann]

I found a couple of non-blurry pics from the con:

 

 

 

 

The faceplate does stay up well.

 

 

 

And I think it is more proportional on my frame, than the SC.

 

 

 

 

Once Christian gets his backlog cleaned up, then I would recommend it. Until he does, it is definitely a buyer - beware.

 

In reality, his backlog and communication issues aren't much worse as other "well known" vendors. But it would be nice to be able to say that it was safe to buy from him without reservation, and to know you could trust his estimated production and shipping times. But sadly, accurate production and shipping times are few and far between at times.

 

If you are willing to pay for the FedEx, then you will/should actually get the helmet.