Kylo Ren’s helmet from The Force Awakens was my very first personal helmet project in 2017. Completed before I developed my 3D modeling skills, this build was done entirely by hand using commercial products as a base, providing an excellent foundation in traditional prop production processes before I transitioned to primarily 3D printing. 

 

The helmet's base was an amalgamation of two existing products: the Hasbro Black Series and the Disney Parks helmets. I started by modifying and grafting the Disney Parks faceplates onto the dome and upper face of the Black Series helmet. All components were subsequently backed with fiberglass before the laborious process of hand-sculpting the face filigree details began, using epoxy clay. 

The finishing work, completed early in my painting career, utilized only airbrush acrylics, lacquers, and rattle can enamels. The chrome was achieved using gloss lacquers and ink from a chrome pen, while the distinct textured, black surface was created by layering black and gloss clear rattle-can paints.