Mini Tutorial: Applying "silver sratches" to Fett

[Motorfish]

I've been asked this question a few times, so I figured I'd share this info with everybody. These are the same techniques I use on every Fett helmet, and it seems to give me very satisfactory results.

Eventually, I want to do a full painting tutorial, complete with steps and pictures, so everybody can have an accurate Boba Fett helmet. There's nothing more satisfying that being able to do-it-yourself, and it's really not that hard! I don't consider myself an individual with ay special painting skills, only someone who's found and created a few nifty tricks along the way.
I'm fully confident that anybody out there can do what I do. I think that the biggest thing is patience, and practice. Repetition is also a factor as well, but I'll get into that a little later.
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I use Testors ModelMaster Chrome paint (spraycan)for all of the silver "metallic" scratches. The paint is applied topically with a sponge. Here's how I do it:

1) get a new sponge (don't use a used one) preferably the Ocello brand. (or any other of the other brand of cheap sponge with the denser cells) Cut off a small bit of the sponge, aprox 1 to 2 inches long by 1/2 inch thick. Get the sponge pieces wet with water (VERY important!) and wring them out really good. the pieces should now be soft, but not wet. this will expand the sponge pieces to their maximum size. Now trim one end of the sponge so you have a point. This will be the end that you'll apply the paint with.


2) take the lid from the spray paint can and tape up the little tiny airhole on the top of the lid. (it's usually located off center to one side)

3) carefully spray a little paint into the lid, using the lid as a receptacle to hold the paint in (you don't need very much, and remember when you do this, do not depress the spray nozzle down all of the way, otherwise, you'll get a load of spraypaint deflected back into your face.)

4) dip just the tip of the sponge into the paint and apply carefully to the helmet with a gentle "dabbing" motion. Remember to try to dab the paint lightly, in a straight path, so as to create the random, hard-edged look. If you dab the sponge too hard, it might produce soft-edged effects, which will look like paint, and not like metal scratches.

The reason I use spraypaint, and not regular paint, is because the spraypaint is the perfect consistency to fake the "chipped metal" effect, and you will absolutely not be able to tell that the paint is applied on top of the other colors, even from a few inches away! It's thin enough to where it won't "blob up" on the helmet at all, but will still be thick enough to paint with.

Each little piece of sponge is generally good for about 20 to 30 dabs, before the paint becomes too dry within the sponge.

I also apply the grey and the dark red scratches this way as well, although for those colors, I generally use acrylic paints instead of lacquer based ones.

I hope this helps!

[Hammerhead]

MF, can you post any pics of one of your awesome Fett paint jobs?

I had some saved buy I can't seem to find them. Too much SW props crap on my hard drive!

[Motorfish]

In the next few weeks, I'll be finishing up CKings Fett helmet. Afterwards, I'm going to take a little "Fett break" for awhile, and devote my prop time to creating a concise tutorial on what I've been able to learn and figure out, complete with pics, to paint an entire Fett costume.

At this time, I really don't have a way to take any decent pics of anything until my friend Mike returns to the US.

This will be great for people who like the do-it-yourself approach to things, (I know I do) and I'm pretty confident that anybody out there can achieve the highest quality of paintjob they wish, on their own with no prior experience, as long as they have a little patience and a lot of tenacity.

[jt001]

Thanks Motorfish! :) Nice tips!!!!!!! I always use spray paint for that purpose and works great!

I also do my weathering that way :) Sometimes I use a small brush for dabbing, after I remove the excess in paper towel.

For this saber, I used a different technique: I painted a few layers with black paint, and then took a piece of sandpaper and rubbed it following the contour of the saber.

http://www.taino.net/ballesteros/images/Obi_anh_1.jpg

http://www.taino.net/ballesteros/images/Obi_anh_3.jpg


Could you please post pics of your helmets?

Sorry for stealing your thread. :p


jt001

[Braks Buddy]

MF, I thought you used a masking/layering technique when painting your helmets or are you just referring to minor scratches? Also, please post this to the AYW board as well.

[Motorfish]

Excellent saber weathering! I've gotta get a OWK saber someday!

As soon as I can get access to a good camera (digital or otherwise) the only pics I currently have are of the las few helmets I did. Let me check if they're on my weite....I think they're all at home on my computer, but let me check.

..........

All of the good pics I have are at home. My goal is to get CKing's helmet done by the end of the month. I'd like to wait and post pics of his helmet when it's completed, since it's the best one I've done so far. My own personal helmet is still only 50% completed right now (actually, a little less that %50)

[Motorfish]

Braks Buddy:

I will definately add the tutorial to the other site!

As far as masking the weathering. Nope. Amazingly, pretty much all of the weathering on the helmets I do is all done on the top of the paint. I've had people actually run their fingers over the helmet and say "There's no way the silver and grey is on TOP of the green!" I always smile when people say this! The secret is very thin paint.

The only weathered parts I mask are the yellow/ochre stripes on the side of the helmet.

Little bits of some of the grey weathering, if you're about three inches away from the helmet, there are a few places where you can sort of make out the paint is on top, but not very often. I've got it down to a pretty good system after five years, which is what I want to share with everybody.

[Motorfish]

Braks, could you please post the address or email me the address for the Boba Fett board? I thought I had it, but I don't.

Thanks!

Dan

[Braks Buddy]

Just click on the pic at the bottom of my post!

[Motorfish]

Oh.

Duh! (konks self on head)

[Hammerhead]

MF, I may have some pics of your costume on my hard drive at home, if you can't locate yours. I saved 'em because they TOTALLY ROCKED. Hope you don't mind. :)

[forttusken]

Motorfish how do you paint the green undercoat of the helmet? What paint do you use? Is it airbrushed? I tried to get some hints a few days ago but didn't get amny answers. I would prefer to use my airbrush but it takes lots of little bottles of model paint. I am doing a Boushh helmet but it is the same weathered beat up look as Fett.

Thanks in advance. I look forward to your tutorial too!

[Braks Buddy]

Here are pics of one of MF's GREAT paintjobs. MF, if for some reason you DON'T want these posted, just let me know and I'll take them down.

albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1325744&a=13207013&p=54100242 (http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1325744&a=13207013&p=54100242)
albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1325744&a=13207013&p=54100243 (http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1325744&a=13207013&p=54100243)
albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1325744&a=13207013&p=54100250 (http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1325744&a=13207013&p=54100250)
albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1325744&a=13207013&p=54100251 (http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1325744&a=13207013&p=54100251)
albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1325744&a=13207013&p=54100246 (http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1325744&a=13207013&p=54100246)
albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1325744&a=13207013&p=54100248 (http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1325744&a=13207013&p=54100248)
albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1325744&a=13207013&p=54100245 (http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1325744&a=13207013&p=54100245)
albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1325744&a=13207013&p=54100256 (http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1325744&a=13207013&p=54100256)
albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1325744&a=13207013&p=54100253 (http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1325744&a=13207013&p=54100253)
albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1325744&a=13207013&p=54100263 (http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1325744&a=13207013&p=54100263)

[Braks Buddy]

BTW, MF, where do you live? I have a good digital camera and would love to help you out!

[Motorfish]

Hammerhead:
I don't mind at all. I'm flattered actually. :)

forttusken:
The green parts are all airbrushed acrylic painted. I use a white primer undercoat first on the entire helmet. The weathering is a combonation of painted scratches for the larger, weathered areas, and using a toothpick the remove the paint right down to the primer for smaller scratches. I'll get more into depth on it when I write the tutorial.


Braks Buddy:
No problem at all! Post away!
I live up in Seattle WA. I know there's a few of us RPF'ers (almost sounds like profanity) up here, but I'm not exactally sure how many.

[Motorfish]

Not to toot my own horn (toot toot!) but the paintjob on CKing's current helmet make my older work Braks Buddy posted for me look like a stock DP 97' vinyl paintjob.

I learned a lot since then, and I will share it with you all.

Soon. Very soon. :) (my AP Transformers cover must take precedence over all else.)

[Hammerhead]

Motorfish, you're one bad motor-fisher...when it comes to Fett helmet painting, that is.

[forttusken]

Motorfish-
Specifically what brand of paints are you using. Does the acrylic come in larger quanties than 1/2 oz? How much did you need for the whole helmet?

Thanks again!

I have seen Motorfishes paint jobs in person and they are awesome! I assume that was Chris Kings glass helmet you wore at the Maydenbauer event?

[jt001]

Thanks MF!!! :)

Man, that helmet KICKS ASS!!!!



jt001

[Motorfish]

forttusken:

Thanks! The helmet I had at Maydenbauer was a fiberglass helmet made by Impervium. The paint on the earpieces were still a little wet and tacky that day because I just finished the helmet that morning. :D

At that time, I hadn't recieved Chris's helmet yet, and I'm still working on it at this time

[PEN Vermillion]

Would you be willing to suggest good paint brands and color codes? I'm about to start on a Fett helmet, and I'd much rather follow the advice of an expert on the color than try to eyeball it from a bunch of digitized pictures.

[Lynn TXP 0369]

Fantastic work and tips!! I started using those style of tips, it is called "stippling", when I redid my helmet a few years ago and it worked great. Unfortunatly I never did the grey tones on the helmet. My "new" one will when I get it.

MF... do you clear coat your final work with a flat, statin, or no clear coat at all?
Lynn

[Motorfish]

At this time, I haven't found it necessary to use a clear coat.

[Lynn TXP 0369]

interesting.... thanks....

[Dean O]

Dan
As always it's pleasure to see your work. Beautiful. I'll be using your technique when i repaint my new helmet. I too painted all my weathering over the green paint. It sure is easier than the layered method and you really can't tell. The sponges should work much better for me than paintbrushes. I also used Bare-Metal Foil in a few places of heavy scratching. When the light catches it it really looks cool to have a few bits of real metal to shine off of.

[TheLivingForce]

Motorfish you are a genius!!!

My head is spinning looking at an unbelievable paintjobhttp://www.themelee.com/smilies/s/cwm/cwm/spiny.gif . I was thinking of taking on such a daunting task of doing a helmet, but after seeing your paint job, I am truly satisfied. I talked to CKing via email, and told me he was getting a new helmet painted. Now that I know it is you, I cannot wait to see the final product.

BEAUTIFUL!!!

-Neal

[Grimlock2D]

Motorfish

I live in the Seattle area and have a pretty good digital camera if you need to take some pics. Drop me an e-mail if you're interested.


Garth/Grimlock2d

Grimlock2d@hotmail.com

[BOUNTY HAUNTER]

Isn't that the same *name omitted* fiberglass helmet with MF's paint job that was auctioned off to the board not to long ago? I never did hear what became of that. Braks, did you win it?

And by the way...if that is a "full-scale (to the film used)" fiberglass helmet, would it be possible to get a shot of it next to a typical DP vinyl? I'm curious as to just how much smaller the DP vinyl helmets are compared to the correct full-scale ones.

[Motorfish]

"Isn't that the same *name omitted* fiberglass helmet with MF's paint job that was auctioned off to the board not to long ago?"

You are correct sir.

Unfortunately, the helmet was cast from a DP 95', so it wasn't size proportionate to the film version.

(I'm not angry or anything, just don't feel too great at the moment...kinda got that stomach tightness thing goin' on.)

[PHArchivist]

>>Would you be willing to suggest good paint brands and color codes?<<

"Sometimes it's better to do it yourself..."

Words of a master artist, and rationalization from a man who's wife has lost all interest! ;) (neither apply to me...!)

MF, awesome tutorial! Awesome helmet! Thanks! Your work is truly exquisite!

[PHArchivist]

By the way... My little "quote" is PURELY all me, just having fun...