Arvex's helmet: Do-over or push forward?

[Arvex]

I'm in the process of converting a Rubies 2-piece Jango helmet for my Mandalorian armor, but due to some recent events, I'm considering tossing it and starting with a higher quality helmet from someone else.

It's a bit tight around the head. It has no room for padding and I have to get clever to get my glasses on under it. Currently, the helmet has had its visor pulled out and the plastic tabs have been sanded down. The helmet has been sanded over mostly. I haven't glued or Bondoed it because I heard that having the visor in when you glue it helps it keep its shape better. I don't think I need any pictures because there isn't anything too special, plus all I have is this cheap camera in my phone. I also haven't bought a new visor for it yet because I'm uncertain as to whether I want to finish this helmet or not.

It has also occurred to me that the front of the helmet can lose its shape a little without the visor. This became apparent when someone bumped it off of the table I had it sitting on and it was hanging by part of the face for a whole weekend while I was out of town for a convention. I think I've almost got it back into place, but I'm not sure.

I originally went with the R2P because of the price, but now I have a better source of income for costuming and I am trying to decide whether I want to finish my R2P helmet or buy a higher quality helmet. I would also like to hear your recommendations on which helmets I should consider. I looked at Skirata Arms helmets, but didn't see one in the style I wanted. I saw a few other helmet sellers, but I lost the bookmarks to their threads when I upgraded my computer and can't find the threads now.

As for price range, I'm always willing to save for a little longer if I see a helmet that is worth it. I'm looking for anything under $150, but since I still haven't ever finished a helmet, I would like to look at a cheaper one in case I ruin it in some way. I thought I saw some for closer to $100 before, but I can't find the thread again.

On a side note, if I do try a bought helmet instead, do you think I would be able to sell my R2P to another new Merc for... maybe half the online price plus shipping? Or am I stuck with a sanded, sans visor R2P for an eternity?

TL;DR

Should I finish the R2P or save up and get a better helmet now that I have a steady source of income for a costuming budget and which helmets should I look at?

[Novoc Mereel]

I'm going to say it:  Pics, please.    We can make a better recommendation.

Also, if you end up selling the R2P, I may be interested in the next couple weeks.

[Arvex]

Not much to show in the pictures, just a sanded down R2P without a visor. Keyslots in the back were filed out, forgot to mention that.

       
In this last one, you can kind of see how the right half of the face is bent inward a little bit. Still working on fixing that.

[Calo Ordoa]

Well, normally I'd say to continue on with the project,  but since you mentioned having trouble with it, I'm going to say that you should get a cast helmet for now, and work on the R2P as a back-burner project.

Hope I kinda helped. 

[Novoc Mereel]

Could we also get a pic of you wearing it to confirm whether or not it's too big?  I think the shape can be re-worked, and what you've got done so far doesn't look too bad.

[razor]

well when you install the visor it should fix the bent problem. i had the same issue but once the visor was put in, it looked better

[Arvex]

I can retrieve an old pic of me wearing the helmet before I sanded it. If the helmet is too big for me, then I'm screwed because I barely fit into that thing, no room for padding or anything.


I'm 5'10" and the coat doesn't add too much width since it fits a little tight around the shoulders. On a side note, I think I lost about ten pounds since I took that picture back in December. (Apparently wrong)

Sorry for the blurriness, it was taken with my phone's camera and this was before I learned that I had to set it into night mode for indoor pictures.

I'm aware that adding the visor would fix the bending issue. I just wasn't sure if I should continue with this one or buy a cast helmet that fits my new budget (and time frame) since I have to buy a visor for either option.

EDIT: Also, please do throw any and all helmet caster suggestions here. I am willing to consider any price, I just might not be as willing to pay the higher price unless I really like the helmet. Even if I don't use a cast helmet for my first and I finish the R2P, I would like to hear from people about the various helmets so I know what I'm looking at when I finally decide to buy one.

[Arvex]

Did that picture help at all? I haven't gotten a response in a while...

[Kelan Ord]

Did that picture help at all? I haven't gotten a response in a while...

I really don't think it's too big for you... In fact I'd say it's not big enough... I think that with the shoulder armor it might look really small...

I might make a few casts of the helmet I'm working on right now... It's a 1:1 helmet (I used WOF templates so...) A 1:1 might be a better fit for you.

Should be able to get to the molding pretty soon. But I am no pro (like Falin or Saz)... But hey check it out if you want: http://mercs.firespray.net/forum/index.php?topic=48889.0

Hope this helped!

[Ca'tra Talyc]

You'd be better off with a larger helmet, almost any of the cast buckets (except Saz's two-piece sized offering) will suffice. My husband and I have the M-DSB buckets, which are awesome and gorgeous and not currently in production.  Sorry I can't be more helpful on that front.

[Arvex]

Sadly, I don't have the time/tools/skills to cast a helmet from scratch like that.

I was originally planning on getting an M-DSB, but as you pointed out, they're out of production for now. I looked at the Skirata Arms ones and didn't really see a style of helmet that caught my interest.

Saz was the one I was looking for, couldn't find his sales thread, though...

I actually was looking at the buckets Asok was selling using the mold he bought from FP.
http://mercs.firespray.net/forum/index.php?topic=41803.0

[Vos Rugor]

I have an asok and love it. He was great to deal with and the cast was fantastic. I couldnt be happier.

[Arvex]

Okay, found Saz's thread. It looks like his standard helmet costs about the same as Asok's helmet after shipping (unless I want a cold cast helmet by Saz, then his becomes more expensive.)

I'm leaning more towards Asok's helmet because of two reasons:
A) His helmet includes and aluminum RF stalk
B) I don't know what cold casting is, but if it costs extra for Saz to do, I'm assuming it means a better material is being used.

Though, I do have a few questions...

What is cold casting? And how does it compare to fiberglass helmets?

On a side note: I had a part I wanted to make for my costume to go on the wrists* and I was going to use that as a chance to learn and practice resin casting. What tools and materials would I need to do this?

*Bought a new set wiper blades for the car a month ago and part of the plastic container looks like it would make an awesome piece on a gauntlet.

[Hondo Karr]

Cold casting is a method where aluminum powder is mixed with the gelcoat (the outermost coat) of a fiberglass helmet. The helmet is pulled and is a dull grey. If you polish it with 000 steel wool it shines bright silver, elinimating the need for a silver paint coat. ASOK offers it as well.

[BedlamX]

If you go with asok's, I would say go for the new Boba style one as opposed to the Jango one. It is a bit bigger and has a really nice look to it. I have one of his Jango style ones for my wife and one from the same mold as his Boba style ones for myself (if he is still using the fettpride mold he got a while back...mine is fettpride without the cold cast). Either one is nice, though I really like the molded in circuit board in the key slots, myself.

Here are the two side by side for size reference:


And the same two with a Rubies 2 piece: