Helmet (and other) Questions...

[RZill]

I am going to be posting a lot of helmet questions here.  I have a Studio Creations kit.  Thanks in advance!

Edited June 10, 2023 by RZill
Added non-helmet questions.

[RZill]

Hello! I will have many questions about my Studio Creations helmet build - here is my first three:

1. I am guessing I will need to paint the snout greeblie medium gray? Recommendations on what type of paint??

2. The space around the greeblie - looks like this should be black, but I do not have a decal. Should I paint this area on the helmet around where the greeblie will be glued in?


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[Dart]

3 hours ago, RZill said:

1. I am guessing I will need to paint the snout greeblie medium gray? Recommendations on what type of paint??

2. The space around the greeblie - looks like this should be black, but I do not have a decal. Should I paint this area on the helmet around where the greeblie will be glued in?

1. Any medium gray should do the trick. I'd stick with something that's matte or satin. I think when I built my first helmet, I just used grey primer.

2. Yes, you wanna paint it black, preferably a matte or satin black, around the inside and about halfway around the ridge that goes around the snout. If you take a look at the pics below, even though it's kinda tough to see, but you'll see how the black paint goes over the inside edge of the snout ridge (1st pic - top right and top left).

One the second photo, pay attention to the bottom of the snout. You'll see how it's squared off below and how it goes up and over the ridge of the snout. Very similar to how it is in the top image (top right).

[RZill]

On 5/28/2023 at 11:05 PM, Dart said:

1. Any medium gray should do the trick. I'd stick with something that's matte or satin. I think when I built my first helmet, I just used grey primer.
2. Yes, you wanna paint it black, preferably a matte or satin black, around the inside and about halfway around the ridge that goes around the snout. If you take a look at the pics below, even though it's kinda tough to see, but you'll see how the black paint goes over the inside edge of the snout ridge (1st pic - top right and top left).

One the second photo, pay attention to the bottom of the snout. You'll see how it's squared off below and how it goes up and over the ridge of the snout. Very similar to how it is in the top image (top right).

Awesome, thank you. Now questions about the size of the eye/lense cut out. I’m very worried about trimming too much, but it seems like my lens is way bigger than the opening I’ve trimmed. I know I still need to take it down more, but how much more? Should I trim this entire edge down so that the snout angles straight back towards my face and doesn’t curve up Ike it is?


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[Aradun]

The lens is not inserted in the opening. It is mounted behind it so it will be larger than the opening itself. Would you post a pic of the front of the face plate so that the armory team can better see what you have cut so far?

[RZill]

It just seemed like my lens opening was very small - I know this still needs some edging down, but I didn’t want to go farther until I am sure. The front pic has pencil marks where I’m thinking I should trim down to. I still haven’t heat formed my lens, so I traced it on paper and cut it so I could see how it will lay.

I’m also thinking my nose part that comes up between the eyes shouldn’t be so rounded. Not coming to a point, but not as rounded as it is now.


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[RZill]

On 5/28/2023 at 11:05 PM, Dart said:

1. Any medium gray should do the trick. I'd stick with something that's matte or satin. I think when I built my first helmet, I just used grey primer.
2. Yes, you wanna paint it black, preferably a matte or satin black, around the inside and about halfway around the ridge that goes around the snout. If you take a look at the pics below, even though it's kinda tough to see, but you'll see how the black paint goes over the inside edge of the snout ridge (1st pic - top right and top left).

One the second photo, pay attention to the bottom of the snout. You'll see how it's squared off below and how it goes up and over the ridge of the snout. Very similar to how it is in the top image (top right).

I don’t even have that snout ridge on the bottom. Mine comes straight down. I never trimmed it at all, it came like this.


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[BikerScout007]

1.  The SC lens opening IS small.  That's just par for the course.  The lens gets glued behind the opening so everything there looks good.  As for your cuts.  They also look good.   Compare to a screen used:

You're looking good.  Don't over think it.  You don't want to square the upper left and right corners.  You want them nice and rounded like the pic above.  

 

3 minutes ago, RZill said:

I don’t even have that snout ridge on the bottom. Mine comes straight down. I never trimmed it at all, it came like this.
 

2.  Dart was referring to how you paint the snout area, not the bottom of the helmet.  You paint the "canyon" portion of the snout area all black, square it off at the bottom and just barely come out over the ridges

[RZill]

7 minutes ago, BikerScout007 said:

1.  The SC lens opening IS small.  That's just par for the course.  The lens gets glued behind the opening so everything there looks good.  As for your cuts.  They also look good.   Compare to a screen used:

You're looking good.  Don't over think it.  You don't want to square the upper left and right corners.  You want them nice and rounded like the pic above.  

 

2.  Dart was referring to how you paint the snout area, not the bottom of the helmet.  You paint the "canyon" portion of the snout area all black, square it off at the bottom and just barely come out over the ridges

I over think everything!  That's just what I do... and why it took me thrice as long as anyone else to build my TK.

So, you're saying not to cut down any more at all? Or, should I cut to the pencil marks that I made?  (I know to round off the top corners)

[BikerScout007]

Honestly it looks good.  If you want to do anything, you could maybe go out on the sides a little bit to exaggerate the outer curve like the originals.  But I wouldnt go into the corners more.  I think you're in a good spot.  

[Dart]

1 hour ago, BikerScout007 said:

Honestly it looks good.  If you want to do anything, you could maybe go out on the sides a little bit to exaggerate the outer curve like the originals.  But I wouldnt go into the corners more.  I think you're in a good spot.  

Agreed. And when you're done with your cuts, give the edges some sandpapering to help smooth things out.

[RZill]

Agreed. And when you're done with your cuts, give the edges some sandpapering to help smooth things out.

That’s why I’m on here, to get advice from the best! Thank you both. . I’ll have many more questions about the helmet in the next couple weeks. Hopefully have it done by our big Con in July.


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[RZill]

On 5/29/2023 at 4:43 PM, Dart said:

Agreed. And when you're done with your cuts, give the edges some sandpapering to help smooth things out.

I just formed the lens and not getting it flush all the way around. Is it ok if some parts are not flush? I’m thinking that’s ok, as long as I tape it down when I glue it. I’ve already tried reheating it a couple times and I’m afraid to warp it if I do any more.


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[kayelbe]

Not sure how it looks from the front, but you do want some gap there as it helps with lens fogging.

[Retrofire]

Typically the glue is on the right and left sides of the visor material. You can also add a small bead at the top and bottom but not over the whole visor. Kayelbe is correct in saying that having a gap there helps minimize fogging.

[Aradun]

Here a shot of my lens so you can see the placement of the hot glue. You definitely want a little gap to allow for venting as noted above.



Glued along the outside edges and a dab above and below the bridge.

[RZill]

Mine got a little warped, but it doesn't appear to affect the look from the front.  Certainly flush enough on the sides for the glue.

[Chopper]

Folks, just a reminder that build threads are meant to be a conversation between the armorers and the person working on the build.

I've moved and merged the posts about mic and audio set up into Dennis' original thread, here: http://forum.501stpathfinders.com/topic/21922-ukswrath-audio-rs-bucket/#comment-226233

 

[RZill]

On 5/31/2023 at 7:39 AM, Chopper said:

Folks, just a reminder that build threads are meant to be a conversation between the armorers and the person working on the build.

I've moved and merged the posts about mic and audio set up into Dennis' original thread, here: http://forum.501stpathfinders.com/topic/21922-ukswrath-audio-rs-bucket/#comment-226233

 

Did I do something wrong?

[BikerScout007]

59 minutes ago, RZill said:

Did I do something wrong?

Nope!  Sometimes the Armor Team needs to clean up WIP Threads when there is contradictory info flying back and forth, which can be more confusing than illuminating.  We eased up on the "no one should be posting in WIP threads except staff" rule, but occasionally the hammer must be dropped.    

[RZill]

OK, my next question is about the earholes.  The Kropserkel tutorial video that was recommended to me shows him putting black mesh over the earholes, but the CRL says no mesh.  What do you guys do for that?  Simply paint enough of the interior of the helmet so that no white is seen through the earholes?  I assume we want to leave those open for venting.

[Chopper]

Mesh is no longer allowed for basic clearance, though it was when the video was made.

You can either paint the visible interior, or you can use black gaffer tape to make it appear black.

[RZill]

I’m a bit disappointed that I’ll likely not get my helmet done in time for our big Con in a month, much less tighten up the rest of the build. But, this earhole thing is looking like an optical illusion. I tried taking a shot from as directly straight in front as possible, and the holes look way too small. But, from an angle and straight profile, they look ok. What say you?


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[Chopper]

I think that the shape of the cuts look fine. Maybe hit the edges with a nail file or some 400 grit sandpaper to smooth it out a bit. Otherwise, you should be good.

[RZill]

I actually think that’s not too terrible for the first coat.


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