alvomedia
Hunter
The leather I ordered came in the mail very quickly. I've heard some people say that this part of the build is/was the most difficult, but I find it quite easy and straightforward. It could have to do with the type of leather I am using. I use a very soft deerskin. It is soft, flexible, and forms very easily to the helmet. I have templates for cutting the leather, one piece goes on the top of the snout, then two separate pieces for the bottom/sides. I used to do the bottom/side pieces as one piece. But I've found over the builds that two pieces are far easier to work with, even though you do get a seam running down one part. But the seam is subtle enough that I think it is forgivable.
For the top leather pieces I always start in the middle where the leather meets the helmet. There is a little lip/edge where the leather and helmet meet up. I start by using some CA glue and run it along that lip/edge, then tuck the leather up into the lip with a little spudger tool. After that, I lift the leather and apply some contact cement to the leather and helmet. After waiting a few minutes I lay the leather down and smooth it out. Then I do the same to either side, taking special care to line up where the leather and helmet meet. There is always a bit to trim on the sides, but with a nice sharp blade it is very easy to do. Then I tuck the leather into the snout/tusk area and secure it with some CA glue.
The bottom pieces can be a bit more tedious, I guess. The important part is to start at the right place. If you don't, your lines and cuts may not line up properly. You can see in the second picture where it is best to start. I always start there, just at the corner, and work my way up lining up the two leather edges with CA glue. After the edge is lined up I go ahead with the contact cement. You've got to sort of do it in sections. The front portion first, where the top leather and bottom leather meet. Then the small section going back towards the ear greeblies where there is till a lip/edge to follow. Then back and up around behind the ear pieces. I don't tuck anything up into the helmet until I've got both sides on. You can see the seam I mentioned in one of the photos. Again, not ideal but it makes the leather process much less frustrating. When I tuck the leather up into the helmet I cut a few notches in the leather to make it easier to fold up. Tucking the leather in behind the ear pieces and up the helmet is difficult. The leather tends to bunch in less than ideal ways. Be patient here, and take your time. I find I have to spend a lot of time trimming leather here and there to get it to fit just right. Ideally you don't want any folds to be showing. This is where working with the soft deerskin really pays off. Sorry, I didn't get a picture of it. I'll add one before I get the neck cowl on there.
I also installed the lenses. This part isn't really my favourite. I don't know why, it isn't particularly difficult. Just some hot glue and a bit of patience. I start with the top lens and just use a couple dots of glue to tack it down. Then I just go a bit at a time glueing the rest. It isn't pretty on the inside, but that doesn't matter.
For the bottom lens, I tape it first. Then just go in sections again with the hot glue. You kind of need a small glue gun to get in there. I guess that's what makes it frustrating to do, it's hard to get the gun where you need it. haha. Again, it's not super pretty on the inside. With the leather and lenses on, it it almost there!
For the top leather pieces I always start in the middle where the leather meets the helmet. There is a little lip/edge where the leather and helmet meet up. I start by using some CA glue and run it along that lip/edge, then tuck the leather up into the lip with a little spudger tool. After that, I lift the leather and apply some contact cement to the leather and helmet. After waiting a few minutes I lay the leather down and smooth it out. Then I do the same to either side, taking special care to line up where the leather and helmet meet. There is always a bit to trim on the sides, but with a nice sharp blade it is very easy to do. Then I tuck the leather into the snout/tusk area and secure it with some CA glue.
The bottom pieces can be a bit more tedious, I guess. The important part is to start at the right place. If you don't, your lines and cuts may not line up properly. You can see in the second picture where it is best to start. I always start there, just at the corner, and work my way up lining up the two leather edges with CA glue. After the edge is lined up I go ahead with the contact cement. You've got to sort of do it in sections. The front portion first, where the top leather and bottom leather meet. Then the small section going back towards the ear greeblies where there is till a lip/edge to follow. Then back and up around behind the ear pieces. I don't tuck anything up into the helmet until I've got both sides on. You can see the seam I mentioned in one of the photos. Again, not ideal but it makes the leather process much less frustrating. When I tuck the leather up into the helmet I cut a few notches in the leather to make it easier to fold up. Tucking the leather in behind the ear pieces and up the helmet is difficult. The leather tends to bunch in less than ideal ways. Be patient here, and take your time. I find I have to spend a lot of time trimming leather here and there to get it to fit just right. Ideally you don't want any folds to be showing. This is where working with the soft deerskin really pays off. Sorry, I didn't get a picture of it. I'll add one before I get the neck cowl on there.
I also installed the lenses. This part isn't really my favourite. I don't know why, it isn't particularly difficult. Just some hot glue and a bit of patience. I start with the top lens and just use a couple dots of glue to tack it down. Then I just go a bit at a time glueing the rest. It isn't pretty on the inside, but that doesn't matter.
For the bottom lens, I tape it first. Then just go in sections again with the hot glue. You kind of need a small glue gun to get in there. I guess that's what makes it frustrating to do, it's hard to get the gun where you need it. haha. Again, it's not super pretty on the inside. With the leather and lenses on, it it almost there!
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