- Before 16/7/2006 -
Been wanting to own a Star Wars costume or rather a full set of armour. Firstly it was a stormtrooper, since stormtroopers are so cool. It’s almost like having an aura of mystery when you are fully clad underneath that pristine white outfit. And it’s one of the most recognizable symbol besides Darth Vader himself.
But way before the stormie….. a more ambitious aim of owning a Boba Fett outfit. Yes it’s one of my most favoured characters in Star Wars since i was a kid. Plans were underway to own the bounty hunter outfit. Checked and sourced….its rather expensive and lots of time and effort needed to source out various parts and the helmet. Then again…there’s a few Boba Fetts already locally….i had to pacify myself with a Boba and Jango Kotobukiya figurines instead….good enough for now.
Call me frivoulous when it comes to costuming, but when its at an age when i should be busy with other stuff. It’s either i pursue it as a hobby or drop it and forget about it.
Then came the Cowboybar Halloween party, the chance was there for the very first time, to wear a costume. Had a try out for the very first time, a low grade version of a Darth Vader suit and another low grade Jango Fett outfit. After much procrastinating and bugging by friends to hurry up with my selections, i chose the Jango Fett outfit, as it didn’t look as cheapskate as the Vader one with cheesy cloth buttons for the chest piece.
Afterwich, constantly procrastinating about really doing costuming as a hobby. And recently kickstarted my Star Wars figurine collecting….financially it didn’t not seem viable. Desmond (the Tie-Fighter pilot who won the prize for costuming at the cowboybar halloween party) has been constantly encouraging me to procure some costume….but as he said…there are too many Tie-Pilots now! Hahaaaa. Then there’s also a call for me to get a stormtrooper outfit…but it’s so expensive! So i decided, on my bare financial capability at the moment….decided to start slow (Daniel took 6 years! i can do it! hahaa)…try my luck at building something from scratch.
From then on, the ball has started rolling. The interest grew stronger, started going on local sw forums, finding references, everyday checking Ebay for the Kelloggs version Clone helmet…till the present day.
Not bad looking…but i find the fin alittle too thick.
Hopefully im able to modify the Kellogg’s as well as Rickenbacker did…sweet!
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- 16/7/2006 -
Purchased a filmsy Kelloggs plastic helmet from a local starwars.sg forum member. At a reasonable price of course, since it’s only available in Canada, and its a few years ago. Any of those helmets floating around for sale in Ebay probably cost much much more than i paid for, for this helm. And to find one locally, considered darn rare…nobody wants to sell it.
1st cleanup ever…im alittle picky about cleanliness…
Some improvements needed!
On first inspection, it looks filmsy. Shaped like a bullet head…leaves much to desire in according to movie accuracy, but this has to do since the other version - Rubies clonetrooper helmet….its much much smaller….i don’t think it’s even wearable by an adult at first glance.
Comparing the Kellogg’s to the Rubies version…
On first try out, with both sides of the helmet velcro-ed together, it’s a very tight fit. Yes, the helmet does look huge…and with my big head…it’s tight. My high cheekbones are actually holding the helm in place, no spare space. Too tight, no space for extra padding or even a change of visor lens. Don’t even mention mini fans in there or microphone.
Definitely has to extend the width of the helmet. Blame my 7 3/4 inch (most likely size) circumference head.
Tight!
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- 20/7/2006 -
On this day, i decided to keep a log of my clonetrooper project. (yes, this page…actually i procrastinated as well on whether i should publish this page so soon….haaaa) It might take months, or even years. No modifications have been done yet to my Kelloggs helm, for fear of making the wrong cutting…then it would be spoilt for good. Haaa
Here are some photos at first look before modifications…
Front profile
Back profile. (note the fin and back lining doesn’t seem to align…don’t think i can do much of that problem)
Side profiles
Dimensions to come next when i find time to actually make the measurements. Hehe
Added tape to fasten both halves edge to edge, to lengthen the helmet, but keeping the width/breath
the same…
Top and inside profiles (note both halves has been taped edge to edge)
A more comfortable fit, front and side look
After lengthening the helmet, it’s more comfortable…about 2 fingers worth of space between my nose and the visor. With this space, padding/sponge support can be added, probably even mini cooling fans or even a microphone.
Visibility is low through the default visor lens…maybe i should source for a more suitable one
maybe one which is movie accurate….
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- 23/7/2006 -
Recommended to use this putty….
A+B Epo putty
But it seems alittle pricey for a small amount.
(need to coat the whole helmet)
Meanwhile while having breakfast in ulu ulu old Marsiling estate…another hardware shop recommended this putty…not sure if it’s suitable, but he said use on plastic its ok, after my explaining to him bout the use for reinforcing a plastic helmet.
Some unknown putty…
Soon…probably when im back in the office, hopefully i have the time to get the measurements for the helmet done. And consult my friend who’s more familiar about such workshop stuff. Maybe he could have cheaper or better alternatives. Hehe
Meanwhile i will keep exploring Home-Fix outlets and Art Friend outlets….maybe they have suitable materials as well! Hehe
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- 24/7/2006 -
First my whole chunk of info was gone when i upload and save this page…the wordpress had problems…i had to retype.
2nd time…i rewrote halfway through…i accidentally close the browser…..dammit…i lost everything i rewrote. Guess im really too tired to concentrate…..will update the next day. Sianz.
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- 25/7/2006 (part 1 of 3)-
Continuing from yesterday’s sloppiness…
Items secured:
1) A3 sized polystyrene white board (or styrene as most called it)
2) Needle files (crucial tool, as the helmet is thin enough to use these effectively for minor adjustments)
3) different grades of sandpaper (in anticipation of much sanding down later after the helmet’s been reinforced)
Areas identified needing attention:
1) replacement visor, had a hard time removing it from the helmet using a penknife. Made minor damages to the helmet as well, but it can rectified easily.
Damage to the nose and visor corner areas. White line on teeth area is caused by overzealous and heavy handed cutting by a penknife.
2) helmet alignment. Since i checked, i needed the helmet to be fixed together edge to edge (for ample head space…for my big head), the alignment will be off by a little, this needs to be corrected when adding putty or reinforcing the outside of the helmet in future.
Fins and side of helmets don’t align properly
the problem of having ‘fat ears‘ is apparent without choice
3) ventilation spots
Back of helmet, possible removal of the black area under the circular protrution, replaced by wire mesh.
Chin area, possible small square hole to be cut and replaced by a wire mesh
Supposed vents, to be cut and replaced by wire mesh, instead of 8 vents, this will be reduced to 6, to try keep in line with movie accuracy
4) Minor reinforcing to the insides of the ear area and square holes
Small piece of styrene 6 x 12 to be reinforced on the inside…
Square piece of 3 x 3 to cover the holes from the inside
5) Teeth area to be redone
Round holes to square holes
Need some research to be done on how the square holes actually look like on the movie accurate helmets…
Straight down? or flushed at an angle according to the frown of the helmet?
reliable reference found….hehe
6) removed visor, replacement
Sourcing for a sun shade film or solar tint film…
to be placed either on the default visor …
or make a new one out of softer, more flexible (styrene) transparent plastic, and sticking the tinted film over it.
tinted film for cars
Will be taking a look at nearby car accessories shops, to see if i can find anything goody and cheap.
Either 60% or more dark tinting or a metallic gold finish would be good.
Example of metallic finishing from a helmet on sale in yahoo auctions
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- 25/7/2006 (part 2 of 3)-
Just labelled the various areas needing attention…so complicated. And frustrating. Add on to the
daily life worries…..i think i will lose my hair faster than usual. :P
stickies…
more stickies…
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- 25/7/2006 (part 3 of 3)-
No materials bought, simply sourcing…
(prices roughly remembered from memory…)
Putty
- Tamiya epoxy putty $18.90 (big)
- Tamiya epoxy putty $5+ (small)
- Tamiya smooth putty $8 (orange)
- Tamiya fast putty $8 (blue)
- unknown brandless model putty $5+
Didn’t get any of these above…not sure if they are waterproof…
Mustafar selling these…
- Shelly’s Epoxy A + B $5+
- Alteco Epoxy A + B $4+
Bigger rolls are sold as one big roll $60-$80+. :P
Tinted films
Car accessory shop
- small $8
- big $15
No very dark tinted ones, or metallic tinted ones
Motorbike shop
- normal slightly curved visor $6
- normal tinted size of visor $6 per piece
Mustafar - selling small tint films $8, and $15 respectively
Again no dark tinted ones.
Wiremesh or gauze for vents
Mustafar selling bout 1 meter worth at $15, it’s an insect screen.
Stick on car sun screen, cheapskate version, can be used as a mesh, $5 for two square pieces
Im still looking out for the old Tamiya wire mesh accessory for toy cars…wonder how much is it now.
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- 28/7/2006 -
Research progress!!
i finally found the solar film in Singapore!!! Wooohooo…
but it’s a little expensive for a small amount…
$18 per 1 meter by 1 meter….
Oyama solar film
Different grades of silver, amount of transparency differs
Chrome silver
super tinted black!
Gold!
Seen clearly from only one side!
another shot showing one sided see-through
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- 30/7/2006 -
Helmet has been packed and kept at my friend’s place, awaiting for my change of job. So temporarily i won’t be able to update my helmet’s progress.
Desmond helped me bought some epoxy putty….yet to see the product. Guess all have to wait awhile now. Heh
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- 12/12/2006 -
My helm is still in storage…waiting for the right moment and spare time to work on it. Stay tuned. =)
Probably get down to it, once i moved house.
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::More updates will be added when progress is made::
= Helmet is currently kept in a box, awaiting house moving, before project continuation =
(please don’t wait, might take months or years….haaaa)
With references from the following websites:
Star Wars Helmets
(rather inspiring site which showcases fan made helmets…check out the large number of photos)
Clonetroopers.Net
(most of the information i garnered are from here, but some info on materials apply to the States only)
Rickenbacker’s Kellogg’s Helm Convertion
(he does a pretty good job at it)
Studio Creations Clonetrooper How to
(unfortunately they are not ready yet to show the world)
Starwars.Sg Forums
(many thanks to Desmond, Daniel, Awee and the many others who are constantly providing support and encouragement for my little project)
Movie Mania Forums
(good source for information and knowing the many costumers based in Singapore)
(More helpful resource/tutorial sites will be added if i find them)