I've just posted this over on Facebook, but thought it might be worth getting some tips on the forum too. First time i've ever painted up anything like this, so its all new to me...
I bought this fibreglass Dredd helmet off a guy on eBay, and wondering where to start with it. I guess the first thing is to trim away all the excess bits round the edges. Anyone recommend the best tools to use before i just delve in and balls it all up?
(http://i982.photobucket.com/albums/ae307/chris_askham/20170314_192616_zpsnbxdasku.jpg)
Uhh this is going to become a good thread. Can't offer anything constructive but my enthusiasm for regular updates on progress!
Quote from: Colin YNWA on 15 March, 2017, 08:01:12 AM
Uhh this is going to become a good thread. Can't offer anything constructive but my enthusiasm for regular updates on progress!
Well, my next post may well be 'Bodged the trimming job, whole project binned'. We'll see :-)
"Anyone recommend the best tools to use before i just delve in and balls it all up?"
Yep - get yourself a Dremel - or a good quality Dremel knock-off. Using a cutting/grinder disk - you'll be able to cut through that like melted butter. Cut at least 1mm (maybe a bit more) away from the true edges (if that makes sense), then use a high grit sandpaper to smooth the edges down until you're satisfied with the result, etc.
(https://www.dremel.com/productimages/xDremel_12V_Lithiumion_Rotary_Tool_8220_,28EN,29,283,29.jpg.pagespeed.ic.12t6BjYqVE.jpg)
Make sure you use a mask - fibreglass is nasty stuff to get in your lungs. The Dremel will produce a lot of fine dust.
I've been using a knock-off Dremel for years. Was in a hardware store yesterday - and they were selling a genuine entry-level Dremel for about $49.00 Australian Dollars, which is great value. You can also get one with a flexible shaft/handle, which makes fiddly work easier than using the normal Dremel tool.
(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/d7/26/d9/d726d9c7ec7ba5c00d51c5878cffe97b.jpg)
Thanks Krakajac - there's a Dremel 3000 on Amazon for just under £40, reckon that should serve my purposes. Good point about the dust mask too!
I don't know anything about this type of work, but if there's flying bits, I'd suggest goggles too.
I know, that's probably pretty obvious.
And yes, please post updates!
is that photo flipped or does it really say DREDD backwards across the face?
I'b be tempted to create the visor by cutting horizontally and removing the lower face part - good luck with all that - I'm terribly kak-handed and I would doubtless ruin it instantly, but I love seeing other more capable people doing stuff ,like this!
Quote from: Dandontdare on 15 March, 2017, 07:49:28 PM
is that photo flipped or does it really say DREDD backwards across the face?
I'b be tempted to create the visor by cutting horizontally and removing the lower face part - good luck with all that - I'm terribly kak-handed and I would doubtless ruin it instantly, but I love seeing other more capable people doing stuff ,like this!
It's not flipped and it does say Dredd backwards - obviously a reverse imprint from a badge, but couldn't say why.
Chris- little to add apart from good luck with this and looking forward to updates!
I love threads like this. Looking forward to seeing things progress, Chris. ;)
Had a bit of helmet time today so did most of my cutting out. Still needs a little bit of sanding down, but I'm quite pleased that I've got past that stage without completely bodging it!
(http://i982.photobucket.com/albums/ae307/chris_askham/20170325_193701_zpsn21wk3j9.jpg)
Looks really good. How are you going to do the visor?
Good to see Dredd is boning up on benefit law as well.
Quote from: Tony Angelino on 26 March, 2017, 12:02:55 AM
Looks really good. How are you going to do the visor?
Some online forums I've checked recommend using a welding mask visor or motorcycle helmet visor.
Right. Never thought of those.
I'm about to start the process of painting my helmet :-[
so I'll be looking for tips myself.
I've thought about using a replacement visor for a face guard which will need to be trimmed to size (can get them for less than a £5 on eBay) and get tinting film which will allow for the "clear" strip at the bottom of the visor. Only thing I have to sus out is out to fix this to the helmet.
Looking forward to see the progress
So here we go so far - sanded, primed, and painted in matte black. Next step is to mask off everything i want to keep black and then crack out the red paint. Have to say that this next stage is where I start worrying about things getting a bit messy.
(http://i982.photobucket.com/albums/ae307/chris_askham/20170410_193313_zpsbbywsgaz.jpg)
Great work - looking forward to seeing the finished product!
This thread title has to be a winner for the "Mrs Slocombe Award for Thinly Veiled Innuendo".
:o
Looks good - I need to get my finger out and get started with mine. Just a bit nervous I feck it up.
Good luck
Matte black. Well, of course it's your helmet your choice. I would have thought high-gloss, or at least it's what those replica ones seem to look like.
Also, no one's mentioned it, but you might want to consider some kind of smoke black plastic sheeting, since it occurs to me a pre-made sort of motorcycle or welding helmet shield isn't just going to be a simple cut-to-fit and pop-in-place job. Most likely you're going to need to custom shape it to fit the precise contours of the edges (as well as fitting flush to the back of the crosspiece in front). I'd go with the thinnest stuff I could find that won't crack or break easily, since any additional thickness you add to the inside edges of the helmet is likely to affect the comfort or snugness if actually worn.
Although if you could presumably check the fit by hand bending carefully (maybe not though, if it needs to be cut before you can do that) of the welder's or motorcycle helmet shield before you purchase it, that still might work too, depending on what kind you find.
And if custom shaping to fit all those interior edges is indeed what you need to do, the you'll need a heat gun.
Oh yeah, since we're on the paint thing, take your time to consider all of your options. What's the look you want? "Comic book" Dredd? Primary color yellow and red? Or something more snazzy? You have various options of metal or pearlescent finshes in both colors, and a range anywhere from red to more slightly wine-colored, or yellow-orange to true gold, so pretend you're choosing colors for the inside of your your house that you'll have to live with for a while. You'll be happier in the end if you don't rush the choices. You probably want a nice clear hard lacquer finsh too, to protect your final choices.
I know I'm in a minority of one here but I would also go with a dark blue instead of black. I can still never see it as a black uniform.
Quote from: Tony Angelino on 14 April, 2017, 05:25:25 PM
I know I'm in a minority of one here but I would also go with a dark blue instead of black. I can still never see it as a black uniform.
That's what I meant about "comic book" Dredd. You try to reproduce the colors you actually SEE in the comic, rather than your mental interpretation of what they're supposed to represent. Black in a comic book just looks like a featureless blob of ink, therefore it's dark blue, or a combination of blue and black ink. If you were going with that you'd probably want a straight bright yellow and straight bright red to reflect primary comic book inks (going back 40 years). Modern comic books have a better range of colors, but the more limited ones available with the old 4-color printing press technology have a nice nostalgic feel.
I had this very dilemma which version of Dredd to go for. In the end I've went for the Dredd (2012) colours as I was able to get a 2012 movie replica gun for a decent price so I can display them together. Once I've saved my pennies I'll get another Helmet and a comic MKII and pay homage to the great man :)
Eventually I'd like to get the MKI and the "original" style Helmet to complete the collection.
I've just finished the base coats on my helmet and gun so hopefully finish over the weekend :)
Well I got the finger out and prepped the Helmet/Gun/Gas Canister/Flash bangs & Breach mines.
Helmet is painted & now waiting to be distressed (I like this look and it hides any mistakes in my initial painting)
Gun is finished
Gas Canister is finished
Flash Bangs Painted - just detail to be added
Breach Mines Painted - just detail to be added
I'm most chuffed with The Flash Bangs & Breach Mines as these were made by my own fair hands :)
I'll post pictures when everything is finished.
Then it's on to my next project but don't tell the wife :D
Quote from: Trooper McFad on 16 April, 2017, 09:14:39 PM
Then it's on to my next project but don't tell the wife :D
Well if she can't smell the paint, that's
her problem!
Just read the posting rules and have now asked to get permissions to post pictures of the finished Helmet (well not yet distressed as I can't bring myself to do the damage :-\ )
I'm very happy with the MkII paint job but most pleased with the Breach mines & flash bangs as these were made by my fair hand. Not perfect but enjoyed the process of research, problem solving, wood working, glueing, sanding and painting. The finished products are not as refined as the ones you can buy but my ones will make good fridge magnets and Christmas tree baubles on my comic book themed tree decorations.
Now on to my next project (GI equipment) I've been re-reading all my Rouge books to decide which style, of which there are many, to attempt to re-create. Colours are also a nightmare to decide on. Favourite so far are the early Dave Gibbons progs. Anyway all this means I have to convert part of the garage to a workshop and buy better tools. :D
Quote from: Trooper McFad on 25 April, 2017, 07:36:03 PM
Now on to my next project (GI equipment) I've been re-reading all my Rouge books to decide which style, of which there are many, to attempt to re-create. Colours are also a nightmare to decide on. Favourite so far are the early Dave Gibbons progs. Anyway all this means I have to convert part of the garage to a workshop and buy better tools. :D
Your instincts are on-target. If Dave Gibbons isn't the definitive Rogue Trooper artist, then I don't know who is. Didn't he
design all of that equipment as the original artist on Rogue? He didn't one day just wake up and become the guy who drew
Watchmen, y'know. ;) He was doing it all long before that.
Yes. Go for the Dave Gibbons original.
What colour was the helmet anyway? Green? Brown? I have seen Dave Gibbons art with both.
Bad enough that arguments start over Dredd's uniform colour but this could be the new big discussion point on the forum.
It's not just the colour of the Helmet what about the texture in the drawings it looks like dimpled but is that supposed to be the paint job (camouflage)?
I've also seen the Bags as Brown or green. including a mixture (bag green and straps brown)
I think I have a long way till I get to Painting anyway. I've got Ideas on the Bag (box) and the body & butt of the gun. I'm also thinking of going for a steel army surplus Helmet and adding the "bumps" some how.
These are the problems I'm looking forward to solving :)
Quote from: Trooper McFad on 26 April, 2017, 08:57:21 PM
It's not just the colour of the Helmet what about the texture in the drawings it looks like dimpled but is that supposed to be the paint job (camouflage)?
I've also seen the Bags as Brown or green. including a mixture (bag green and straps brown)
I think I have a long way till I get to Painting anyway. I've got Ideas on the Bag (box) and the body & butt of the gun. I'm also thinking of going for a steel army surplus Helmet and adding the "bumps" some how.
These are the problems I'm looking forward to solving :)
I'm pretty sure the texture of the appearance of the helmet is in the actual metal surface, not any paint job. That goes for whatever other textures Gibbons indicated by shading, crosshatching, or stippling techniques -- I think it's safe to assume it's the actual texture of the materials used that he's conveying, not any indications of surface paint or dye.
And well, of course Gibbons didn't color his own penciled and inked work (that I know of, anyway), so you should just pick from among the color work you've seen that looks best or most natural or logical to you. Of course, should you discover that I'm wrong about this and Gibbons DID supply his own color work in some instances, those would probably be the most 'definitive' color guides, IMO.
Thanks to Mod 500 I can now show you my first attempts at creating some boys toys for myself :D
and trying to upload images.
Ooops! I think I have to practice on uploading pics. Hope you can still see the overall effect.
Quote from: Trooper McFad on 27 April, 2017, 07:14:27 PM
Ooops! I think I have to practice on uploading pics. Hope you can still see the overall effect.
To display them in a post, rather than a attachment links, you need to upload them to an image-hosting site like Photobucket, copy the link from that site (photobucket offers 4 links, I usually use the one labelled DIRECT), click the "insert image" icon on a new post and paste the link between the square brackets.
Helmet's looking great!
Thanks Dandontdare I'll give it a try
Forgive me but I'm trying to use Danontdare's advice and use a link to my pictures on Photobucket, Hopefully this is easier to see my efforts.
http://s350.photobucket.com/user/TrooperMcFad/media/Dredd%20Equipment%20Project/IMG_4510%201_zpsimyzlaj8.jpeg.html?o=1
Looks like I've cracked it Thanks Dandontdare for the tip.
Now to plan my next project :)
Fabulous work, Trooper!!
Interesting that the helmet shield appears more gold when viewed from a distance at an angle, in the group photo shot, while in the next photo shot from head-on, it appears more of a flat yellow ochre.
Great job all around.