Senate Guard 'Plumed' Helmet (It Begins)
Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2012 5:16 pm
Here we go for the plumed version of the Senate Guard helmet seen at the end of 'The Phantom Menace'.
Not much of a movie in my mind (load of crap really) but it did produce one of the most striking looking helmets from any of the six films.
Just took delivery of Amy Berry's mk.II Senate Guard helmet today after a day at work which dragged big time as I knew the lid had been delivered.
Could not be happier with it and I am looking forward to getting to work on it in the near future. The mk.II is even sharper in detail than my original one and a bit lighter, but the weight has never bothered me TBH as it is spread across my shoulders. Another bonus is of course I do not have to worry about visors fogging or it getting too hot on the inside. Going to be my first 'open' face costume which will be weird but once I have my Brad Pitt lookalike surgery I reckon I'll be fine.
Got a bit of work to do before the helmet will be worn in public for the first time but I would love to have it ready to go for one of next years Memorabilia shows or Glasgow's Collectormania.
This is what was waiting for me when I eventually got home today!
Now I have the helmet in my hands I can get down to some serious head scratching with regards to how the hell am I actually going to do the double plumes.
I do have a picture in my head as to how it will all go together but got some other 'life' stuff to get sorted out before I can devote some serious time to the work needed.
Been in contact with a company down south (south to me that is) that will be able to supply the horse hair required and I need to get the finger out and talk to them on the phone as they have requested.
I may also go down the road and get some plumes that have been pre-made which will cut a bit of the work down but the wooden base shown in the next pic will need to get cut carefully away and the hair 'transplanted' onto a plasti-card mount which will be detachable (for transport and storage).
Will need to source some strong rare-earth magnets for that one at some point.
No matter which road I decide to go down the upper part of the crest will need to be cut into/cut away and the bit that is removed will be dropped down into the crest and will become the base for building the plume holders around.
Going to have to suss out the angles of the plumes as accurately as I can. I have seen angles of 45 degrees quoted but that looks too sharp an angle for me but I will figure it out at some point. Will need to get a protractor from some where to help with that.
Some have advised/suggested that I use Polypropylene or broom bristles for the plumes and I have seriously considered both but to get the look I am after it has to be real horse hair or I won't bother doing the helmet.Going to be a bit pricey at the end of the day for the horse hair but it is 'the' only way to go.
So!After a long wait the 'The Phantom Menace' Senate Guard is that one step closer to becoming a reality.Got a long way to go yet but I will keep this WIP thread updated as often as possible.
If anyone has an inkling, suggestion, mad scientist thinking or a eureka type moment with regards to double plumes and the making of, fire them my way please.
My grateful thanks must go to Amy Berry for once again making me one of the most unique Star Wars helmets there has ever been seen up on the screen. Just hope I can do her work the justice it deserves.
Not much of a movie in my mind (load of crap really) but it did produce one of the most striking looking helmets from any of the six films.
Just took delivery of Amy Berry's mk.II Senate Guard helmet today after a day at work which dragged big time as I knew the lid had been delivered.
Could not be happier with it and I am looking forward to getting to work on it in the near future. The mk.II is even sharper in detail than my original one and a bit lighter, but the weight has never bothered me TBH as it is spread across my shoulders. Another bonus is of course I do not have to worry about visors fogging or it getting too hot on the inside. Going to be my first 'open' face costume which will be weird but once I have my Brad Pitt lookalike surgery I reckon I'll be fine.
Got a bit of work to do before the helmet will be worn in public for the first time but I would love to have it ready to go for one of next years Memorabilia shows or Glasgow's Collectormania.
This is what was waiting for me when I eventually got home today!
Now I have the helmet in my hands I can get down to some serious head scratching with regards to how the hell am I actually going to do the double plumes.
I do have a picture in my head as to how it will all go together but got some other 'life' stuff to get sorted out before I can devote some serious time to the work needed.
Been in contact with a company down south (south to me that is) that will be able to supply the horse hair required and I need to get the finger out and talk to them on the phone as they have requested.
I may also go down the road and get some plumes that have been pre-made which will cut a bit of the work down but the wooden base shown in the next pic will need to get cut carefully away and the hair 'transplanted' onto a plasti-card mount which will be detachable (for transport and storage).
Will need to source some strong rare-earth magnets for that one at some point.
No matter which road I decide to go down the upper part of the crest will need to be cut into/cut away and the bit that is removed will be dropped down into the crest and will become the base for building the plume holders around.
Going to have to suss out the angles of the plumes as accurately as I can. I have seen angles of 45 degrees quoted but that looks too sharp an angle for me but I will figure it out at some point. Will need to get a protractor from some where to help with that.
Some have advised/suggested that I use Polypropylene or broom bristles for the plumes and I have seriously considered both but to get the look I am after it has to be real horse hair or I won't bother doing the helmet.Going to be a bit pricey at the end of the day for the horse hair but it is 'the' only way to go.
So!After a long wait the 'The Phantom Menace' Senate Guard is that one step closer to becoming a reality.Got a long way to go yet but I will keep this WIP thread updated as often as possible.
If anyone has an inkling, suggestion, mad scientist thinking or a eureka type moment with regards to double plumes and the making of, fire them my way please.
My grateful thanks must go to Amy Berry for once again making me one of the most unique Star Wars helmets there has ever been seen up on the screen. Just hope I can do her work the justice it deserves.