Tackel
New Member
Build from last Fall. Printed a model from Galactic Armory. Geometry most closely resembles the Recon helmet from Halo: Reach with bump map textures applied. Might have been a modified Infinite model from the bottom lip detailing.
Print was a little rough with the connecting parts misaligned — sanded to down to fit. Used superglue to hold the support structure of the visor brim overnight — sanded down the glue where it coagulated.
Continued sanding over the next few days to wear down print lines. Used a solder to cross-stitch the inside seams — sanded down the sharp plastic made from the stitch. Filled remaining gaps with quick acting bondo — sanded down next day. Sprayed helmet with a filler and primer combo or the next two days as it dried.
Start the painting process. One coat of matte black, a two-pass spray. Then moving onto masking for the the primary color — regular masking tape used. Quick and messy, as any leakage will be gone over with a brush.
One coat of glossy teal with a two-pass spray. Placed a shopping bag taped inside the visor window to prevent paint leakage inside. For brush adjustments, I sprayed both paints into small paint cups and used a thin brush — keeping the consistency and texture of the spray paint.
Added secondary orange via the same brush method I used with the spray paint. Added the white markings via acrylic paint, hoping to give it the appearance of a custom and chipped look — was never really sure what they were in Reach.
For weathering and scoring, I used a shoe polish kit. Took a decent chunk of polish material on an old rag and ran it along the entire helmet. Then took the same polish rag to lazily clean the polish off.
Next I took my acrylic paints and took a small dip of Red, Brown, Green and Yellows into a water cup. Rinsing the brush, but not stirring the water — still letting the paints separate slightly. Emptied the cup into a spray bottle and sprayed the helmet from different angles and patterns. The paint dries rather quickly this way, and gives the appearance of mud or other fluids if you were to choose a different color combination. It can also be washed off right away with a clean wet rag if the pattern isn't to your liking.
Lastly, I used a chrome pen to run along almost every edge and lip of the helmet. As well as to go over the screws and silver elements. Then went over with sealer.
Lastly, the visor. This model came with a slit for the visor to sit in without the need for a vacuum form , so I tried utilizing that. I'm not a fan of how it turned out — so I will be sticking to the tried and true way of the vacuum form in the future. But hey, worth trying. For padding, I used adhesive strip expansive foam — allowing for easy readjustments for head size with my partner.
Print was a little rough with the connecting parts misaligned — sanded to down to fit. Used superglue to hold the support structure of the visor brim overnight — sanded down the glue where it coagulated.
Continued sanding over the next few days to wear down print lines. Used a solder to cross-stitch the inside seams — sanded down the sharp plastic made from the stitch. Filled remaining gaps with quick acting bondo — sanded down next day. Sprayed helmet with a filler and primer combo or the next two days as it dried.
Start the painting process. One coat of matte black, a two-pass spray. Then moving onto masking for the the primary color — regular masking tape used. Quick and messy, as any leakage will be gone over with a brush.
One coat of glossy teal with a two-pass spray. Placed a shopping bag taped inside the visor window to prevent paint leakage inside. For brush adjustments, I sprayed both paints into small paint cups and used a thin brush — keeping the consistency and texture of the spray paint.
Added secondary orange via the same brush method I used with the spray paint. Added the white markings via acrylic paint, hoping to give it the appearance of a custom and chipped look — was never really sure what they were in Reach.
For weathering and scoring, I used a shoe polish kit. Took a decent chunk of polish material on an old rag and ran it along the entire helmet. Then took the same polish rag to lazily clean the polish off.
Next I took my acrylic paints and took a small dip of Red, Brown, Green and Yellows into a water cup. Rinsing the brush, but not stirring the water — still letting the paints separate slightly. Emptied the cup into a spray bottle and sprayed the helmet from different angles and patterns. The paint dries rather quickly this way, and gives the appearance of mud or other fluids if you were to choose a different color combination. It can also be washed off right away with a clean wet rag if the pattern isn't to your liking.
Lastly, I used a chrome pen to run along almost every edge and lip of the helmet. As well as to go over the screws and silver elements. Then went over with sealer.
Lastly, the visor. This model came with a slit for the visor to sit in without the need for a vacuum form , so I tried utilizing that. I'm not a fan of how it turned out — so I will be sticking to the tried and true way of the vacuum form in the future. But hey, worth trying. For padding, I used adhesive strip expansive foam — allowing for easy readjustments for head size with my partner.
Last edited:
