Another Tie Pilot Costume

[TIE1138]

Thanks for that badges, but I'm going to leave it as it is, because I have almost finished it. I'll post a picture that Blaxmyth took of me wearing it, and you'll see that the eye openings aren't too bad.

[TIE1138]

Onward and upward. Now the fun part, that I have been thinking about for quite a while, begins. The Ears. I thought of Vac Forming these but decided to do it the "Nick Way", and make them out of laminated 18mm MDF. So, I drew up a pattern on card to get the shape and size about right using pictures on the Net, and set to cutting out and gluing the MDF pieces together.
Once dry, I placed these on the side of the helmet, and with the aid of photos, determined where they would be and drew a pencil line around them onto the paint. I then used masking tape to run around the line and applied some oil to the surface so the filler wouldn't stick to it, and then mixed this up and applied this to the ear. I then pushed it onto the helmet and held it in position for a couple of minutes and then carefully pulled it away and 'Hey Presto', a perfect moulded shape that now sits on the helmet.
There is some more filling and finished work to be done, but they tidied up very nicely.

[badges2nz]

Hey that's looking really sharp, nice work.
Can't wait to see the finished product.

[Postie]

That's coming along nicely fella!
Looks like you've got all the proportions/angles pretty much spot on, good work

[TIE1138]

Thanks guys. Next step was to start applying plastic to the outer surface, and then glue plastic around the shape so it forms a type of 'gasket' where it meets the helmet. I then used Tamiya filler to smooth all joints and edges. Before I put the styrene over the outside face, I drilled a hole through the piece and glued some threaded rod in. This will allow me to put them on and take them off the helmet if need be. I also put in a locating pin to 'lock' the ears in place and prevent them from moving while handling.

[badges2nz]

That is really nice work on those ears, do they look straight on the helmet?
From what I can see they are very nicely made.

[TIE1138]

Unfortunately no,badges2nz, there are not up and down, but angled inwards. I am going with them as they are and see what sort of feedback I get. I have no problem getting the helmet on and off my big head, especially when I wear the balaclava.
Next, I went to the local $2 shop and purchased a sheet of stick-on dome button letters and numerals. I put three of these on each of the ears and then primed and painted them in the Gloss Black I have been using. I then sanded down the helmet ready for the first of three top coats.
I have to say that the helmet started to look like the 'Real' thing once the top coats were applied and allowed to dry for 30min. I hope I'm allowed to do a plug for the paint manufacturer, but with this product, they have excelled themselves.

[oota goota]

the paint job looks beautiful nick nice one!

[badges2nz]

WOW that is nice, the Dulux paint that you have used I'll have to remember for my mini helmets.

[badges2nz]

Unfortunately no,badges2nz, there are not up and down, but angled inwards. I am going with them as they are and see what sort of feedback I get. I have no problem getting the helmet on and off my big head, especially when I wear the balaclava.
Next, I went to the local $2 shop and purchased a sheet of stick-on dome button letters and numerals. I put three of these on each of the ears and then primed and painted them in the Gloss Black I have been using. I then sanded down the helmet ready for the first of three top coats.
I have to say that the helmet started to look like the 'Real' thing once the top coats were applied and allowed to dry for 30min. I hope I'm allowed to do a plug for the paint manufacturer, but with this product, they have excelled themselves.

I think that's a characteristic for that style of helmet, my AT AT is the same.