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 Merchandise




TIE Fighter Pilot Helmet Kit

TIE Fighter Pilot Helmet Kit

Postby Spack » Mon Aug 08, 2016 8:22 pm

I've finally taken the plunge and sourced an ABS TIE pilot helmet kit from DarkAgent on the Jolly Roger Squadron forum, aka Andy at The Shed of Glittering Delights, which arrived today.

Image

Image

It needs a little trimming, sanding, drilling, and gluing, but should be a fun build. Not sure when I'll get around to starting it, but I'll post updates when I do.

Dan
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Re: TIE Fighter Pilot Helmet Kit

Postby Spack » Thu Aug 25, 2016 7:23 pm

Started trimming today, only done the left hand of the helmet and the Mohawk so far. Not sure if I've got the edges right, have posted up on the Jolly Roger Squadron forum for some advice, don't want to go cutting the right hand half to match if I've messed up the left.



Dan
Attachments
IMG_20160825_185647510.jpg
Left side cut out
IMG_20160825_185718325.jpg
Front view showing return edge on cheek
IMG_20160825_185728467.jpg
Edge above mask
IMG_20160825_185737325.jpg
Back edge from underside
IMG_20160825_185758790.jpg
Back edge from inside
IMG_20160825_185853590.jpg
Left side viewed from front
IMG_20160825_185922382.jpg
Mohawk from side
IMG_20160825_190002835.jpg
Mohawk inside
IMG_20160825_190016848.jpg
Mohawk from front
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Re: TIE Fighter Pilot Helmet Kit

Postby Spack » Sun Aug 28, 2016 1:26 pm

Bit more progress on this today. Trimmed the right half of the helmet to match the left, and then glued the Mohawk strip to the left side using E6000 glue and a combination of clamps and magnets to hold it in place.



Will take a day or so to set fully, then I can glue the other half on.

Dan
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IMG_20160828_123445071.jpg
Both helmet halves trimmed
IMG_20160828_130950025.jpg
Left side glued to Mohawk
IMG_20160828_130959172.jpg
Stacks of 12mm magnets help hold the ABS pieces together
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Re: TIE Fighter Pilot Helmet Kit

Postby Spack » Tue Aug 30, 2016 8:07 pm

Right half is now glued to the Mohawk, just need to leave it a few days to cure fully.

Next the faceplate will be fitted, and the Mohawk front glued on.

I also need to fix the neck run at the back, even though I followed the instructions for the kit I've found photos of original helmets that have a deep return edge as well as rubber U trim that won't fit now the return edge is too thin. I should be able to glue some spare ABS into place so that the rubber strip covers the join.

Dan
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IMG_20160830_192747321.jpg
IMG_20160830_192753497.jpg
IMG_20160830_192825675.jpg
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Re: TIE Fighter Pilot Helmet Kit

Postby Spack » Thu Sep 01, 2016 7:48 pm

Another day, another update. With the glue fully cured it was time to drill holes in the forehead and cheeks so that the faceplate could be attached with screws.

The Mohawk details still need gluing so have only been attached with magnets to check the positioning, and the clear plastic coating is still on the ABS to protect it from scratches.

Dan
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IMG_20160901_191954527.jpg
IMG_20160901_192018543.jpg
IMG_20160901_192041638.jpg
IMG_20160901_192055929.jpg
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Re: TIE Fighter Pilot Helmet Kit

Postby Spack » Thu Sep 08, 2016 8:10 pm

A bit more progress today. First the eyes and hose holes were cut out, and a 1m length of 32mm (1 1/4") fish pond hose was fitted; the ends of the house had small cuts made so they could be squeezed in, and they are a nice tight fit. Until I can get hold of some smoke bubble lenses I'll use the flat green material that comes with the kit.

The Mohawk strip was trimmed a little more to allow the detail piece to fit. Unfortunately the detail piece was over trimmed, I'll try to get a new one to release it but for now will glue it on; if I can't get a replacement I'll fill the gaps with ABS paste and use since gloss paint to help guide the mistake.

Dan
Attachments
IMG_20160908_195438349.jpg
IMG_20160908_195451358.jpg
IMG_20160908_195615155.jpg
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Re: TIE Fighter Pilot Helmet Kit

Postby Spack » Fri Sep 09, 2016 7:54 pm

The glue has cured so I put the helmet together to test the fit of all the parts. The lens material is a thin green plastic sheet and was held in place with a few bits of blu-tac. Here it is next to the ATA Stormtrooper helmet, and the Rubies Darth Vader helmet.
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IMG_20160909_165339481.jpg
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Re: TIE Fighter Pilot Helmet Kit

Postby Darklighter » Fri Sep 09, 2016 8:11 pm

That is one cool collection.
What, no image sigs!
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Re: TIE Fighter Pilot Helmet Kit

Postby Angelwing » Sat Sep 10, 2016 5:32 pm

Its an Empire in the making...
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Re: TIE Fighter Pilot Helmet Kit

Postby Spack » Sun Sep 11, 2016 6:28 pm

Made the pill box to go on the back of the helmet. The DA kit comes with two pieces of 2mm thick ABS, one black and one white. After cutting out the pieces it was clear that there is enough ABS to make 3 or 4 pill boxes, very handy in case of mistakes.

IMG_20160911_173837494.jpg
Pill box parts


The box is 56mm x 37mm x 10mm, and is made up from a white base and hinge, and the sides and top in black.

Looking at photos of original screen used helmets the edges of the box are curved, so I sanded the corners to try to replicate that, and then used wet and dry 800 paper to get the faces smooth enough to just use gloss clear coat rather than paint. The cost is a little rippled, but another sanding and another clear coat should fix it.

IMG_20160911_181522954_HDR.jpg
Rounded corners and first clear coat


Edit: got the second clear coat on and dried, looks nice and smooth now.

IMG_20160912_061221436.jpg
Second clear coat


Dan
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Re: TIE Fighter Pilot Helmet Kit

Postby Spack » Sun Sep 18, 2016 3:30 pm

The helmet is almost complete now. I've temporarily glued in some green plastic for the eyes until I can get the correct smoke coloured bubble lenses; I contacted a few people who make these but so far no reply from any of them :(
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IMG_20160918_143044225.jpg
IMG_20160918_143020858.jpg
IMG_20160918_143012184.jpg
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Re: TIE Fighter Pilot Helmet Kit

Postby Angelwing » Tue Sep 20, 2016 5:01 pm

excellent!
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Re: TIE Fighter Pilot Helmet Kit

Postby Spack » Wed Sep 21, 2016 7:43 pm

I've ended up getting dark green bubble lenses as the only sellers I've found for smoked ones are in the US and Argentina and the postage costs are more than the cost of the lenses for some reason. The green ones I've got from a UK seller for less than half the cost of getting them from the US.

Once they arrive I'll get them glued in, probably using hot glue blobs.

I've also got another 14" x 14" x 1" piece of foam to get a snug fit, the first piece wasn't enough as there's a lot of room in the helmet.

Dan
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Re: TIE Fighter Pilot Helmet Kit

Postby Spack » Thu Sep 22, 2016 7:28 pm

While I'm waiting for the lenses to arrive I've cut up the second piece of foam and used all of the parts to line the helmet. It's a good fit and grips my head comfortably, and is also a good fit on he styrene head I'm using for the display stand. The bottom edges also have some rubber seal fitted, it's not glued but holds onto the plastic edges tightly.

Dan
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IMG_20160922_190056862.jpg
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Re: TIE Fighter Pilot Helmet Kit

Postby Angelwing » Sun Sep 25, 2016 8:31 am

I think we need a pic of you wearing it now :D
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