Brought onboard to work with costume designer Tricia Biggar and costume assistant Michael Mooney, FBFX were not only tasked to create pieces for 60 Naboo soldiers and a variety of Tatooine characters and creatures in The Phantom Menace, but also the iconic helmet Anakin Skywalker wears during the Boonta Eve podrace. Working from a sketch drawn by George Lucas, they brought together a number of elements to bring together one of the most recognisable designs in the entire movie. The co-founders of FBFX Grant Pearmain and Andrew Dow look back 25 years to the production of the movie.
“And then we got a request; could you make this, too? We were handed a sketch hand-drawn by George Lucas. That sketch turned out to be of Anakin Skywalker’s Podracer helmet, one of the best-known costume pieces we’ve ever worked on. welding hoods auto darkening
More detailed drawings followed and we were given a couple of weeks to figure out the best way to make it. We started by creating a vacuum-formed outer skin and ear covers, layering them over an EPS liner taken from a bike helmet to ensure a good fit for Jake (Lloyd, who played Anakin). The goggles were modified welding goggles with a metal bar resting flush to the helmet – we also added a spring-loaded sliding mechanism so Anakin could flip them down before the race.
With the paint scheme, we wanted something in keeping with the distinctive Star Wars palette, colourful but muted, and inspiration came from the chipped dark red and green of Boba Fett’s starship. We applied a layer of wax before the top coat of paint, then scratched back in the wax to give the appearance of paint chips. We still use that method now, this was one of the first times we’d tried it and still think of it as a Star Wars-inspired technique.
fri29nov sun01dec MCM Birmingham Comic Con: 29th November - 1st December 2024 Time Until The Event Starts:
*Where is the event held? MCM Birmingham Comic Con takes place at The NEC (National Exhibition Centre), Birmingham, B40 1NT
*Where is the event held? MCM Birmingham Comic Con takes place at The NEC (National Exhibition Centre), Birmingham, B40 1NT Click here for directions
*When does the MCM Birmingham Comic Con take place? MCM Birmingham Comic Con takes place Spring and Winter each year.
*How do I get there? Click here for directions
*What time does MCM Birmingham Comic Con open and close?
FRIDAY: Priority Entry Tickets: 10am – 6pm General Entry Tickets: 12pm – 6pm
SATURDAY: Priority Entry Tickets: 9am – 6pm General Entry Tickets: 11am – 6pm
SUNDAY: Priority Entry Tickets: 10am – 5pm General Entry Tickets: 12pm – 5pm Weekend tickets grant priority access all three days.
November 29, 2024 9:00 am - December 1, 2024 5:00 pm GMT (GMT+00:00)
fri29nov sun01dec MCM Birmingham Comic Con: 29th November - 1st December 2024 Time Until The Event Starts:
*Where is the event held? MCM Birmingham Comic Con takes place at The NEC (National Exhibition Centre), Birmingham, B40 1NT
*Where is the event held? MCM Birmingham Comic Con takes place at The NEC (National Exhibition Centre), Birmingham, B40 1NT Click here for directions
*When does the MCM Birmingham Comic Con take place? MCM Birmingham Comic Con takes place Spring and Winter each year.
*How do I get there? Click here for directions
*What time does MCM Birmingham Comic Con open and close?
FRIDAY: Priority Entry Tickets: 10am – 6pm General Entry Tickets: 12pm – 6pm
SATURDAY: Priority Entry Tickets: 9am – 6pm General Entry Tickets: 11am – 6pm
SUNDAY: Priority Entry Tickets: 10am – 5pm General Entry Tickets: 12pm – 5pm Weekend tickets grant priority access all three days.
November 29, 2024 9:00 am - December 1, 2024 5:00 pm GMT (GMT+00:00)
tue03dec2:00 am tue4:00 am Skeleton Crew arrives on Disney Plus arrives on Disney Plus December 3rd US / 4th December UK Skeleton Crew arrives
December 3, 2024 2:00 am - 4:00 am (GMT+00:00)
sat07dec(dec 7)11:00 am sun08(dec 8)4:00 pm Farthest From 26: Saturday 7th - Sunday 8th December 2024 Star Wars collectors convention This event ends in..
The only show in the UK that is 100% dedicated to vintage Star Wars toy collecting and memorabilia is back, Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th
Join us on Twitter @Farthest_From
December 7, 2024 11:00 am - December 8, 2024 4:00 pm (GMT+00:00)
tue22apr2:00 am tue5:00 am Andor Season 2 arrives on Disney Plus arrives on Disney Plus April 22nd US / 23rd April UK Skeleton Crew arrives
April 22, 2025 2:00 am - 5:00 am (GMT+00:00)
thu05jun(jun 5)7:00 pm sat07(jun 7)10:00 pm John Williams at the Philharmonie Berlin: 5th - 7th June 2025 This event ends in..
Fantastic news for music fans as the print edition of the 2024/2025 Berlin Philharmoniker season book reveals the news that the maestro John Williams will be
Fantastic news for music fans as the print edition of the 2024/2025 Berlin Philharmoniker season book reveals the news that the maestro John Williams will be returning to the Philharmonie Berlin on Thursday 5th, Friday 6th and Saturday 7th June 2025 to perform with the Berlin Philharmonic and bring his incredible music to eager German audiences.
June 5, 2025 7:00 pm - June 7, 2025 10:00 pm (GMT+01:00)
Brought onboard to work with costume designer Tricia Biggar and costume assistant Michael Mooney, FBFX were not only tasked to create pieces for 60 Naboo soldiers and a variety of Tatooine characters and creatures in The Phantom Menace, but also the iconic helmet Anakin Skywalker wears during the Boonta Eve podrace. Working from a sketch drawn by George Lucas, they brought together a number of elements to bring together one of the most recognisable designs in the entire movie. The co-founders of FBFX Grant Pearmain and Andrew Dow look back 25 years to the production of the movie.
“And then we got a request; could you make this, too? We were handed a sketch hand-drawn by George Lucas. That sketch turned out to be of Anakin Skywalker’s Podracer helmet, one of the best-known costume pieces we’ve ever worked on.
More detailed drawings followed and we were given a couple of weeks to figure out the best way to make it. We started by creating a vacuum-formed outer skin and ear covers, layering them over an EPS liner taken from a bike helmet to ensure a good fit for Jake (Lloyd, who played Anakin). The goggles were modified welding goggles with a metal bar resting flush to the helmet – we also added a spring-loaded sliding mechanism so Anakin could flip them down before the race.
With the paint scheme, we wanted something in keeping with the distinctive Star Wars palette, colourful but muted, and inspiration came from the chipped dark red and green of Boba Fett’s starship. We applied a layer of wax before the top coat of paint, then scratched back in the wax to give the appearance of paint chips. We still use that method now, this was one of the first times we’d tried it and still think of it as a Star Wars-inspired technique.
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