GP4: 2022 Japanese GP helmets (part 2)

Today, the 2022 season helmet pack has been brough up to date with three new helmets from the Japanese GP. After all the various helmets, I don't think I want to see another Sakura blossom for a long time! Anyway, I'm pleased to present you these three beauties, each with its own charm. It's a good opportunity to talk a little about how I create my helmets, as I use three main techniques. Let's get into it. 

Mick Schumacher

Mick Schumacher 2022 Japanese GP helmet

Agnieszka Wienand is no stranger to hand painting helmets, having done a couple of Vettel specials for the Japanese GP in the past, but it's Mick's turn to have this Sakura blossom themed masterpiece. The helmet was first embossed with Mick's design from this season on top of which the tree and flowers were painted. I hope to have managed to capture both elements in this recreation. Creating the right blue/grey gradient wasn't easy, especially if the gradient has to go over various seams. Then it was a case of drawing the tree trunk and branches, and then I managed to take a few samples of the sakuras painted by Agnieszka and carefully placed them around the helmet. 

Alex Albon

Alex Albon 2022 Japanese GP helmet

Alex has gone pink with this design, this one designed by MDM Designs. The helmet design is essentially the same as his other helmets worn this year, so the contours are already in place. The sakuras were largely taken from the blueprints, but they needed a lot of correction which I have managed to complete seamlessly onto this helmet texture. Having good source material does help reduce the amount of time to produce the helmets, but it takes a bit more care than simply copy and pasting it on. 

Valterri Bottas

Valterri Bottas 2022 Japanese GP helmet

This is another Tiffany Cromwell design, and I really like it. It's inspired by neon lights and signs in front of a blue brick wall. The wall blends in and out of a black base and actually that helped with the seams, it would have been difficult to match the brick definition if it did cross the seams. Then it was creating a neon light effect for the lights, which was fun to do with various stroke and glow effects. Then it was a case of finding the source vector files, and with a bit of searching, they weren't took hard to find. The most difficult was the Japanese writing on the right side of the helmet, which I eventually found to say 'Thank You' and again a stock image was available. Adding a bit of glow behind the neon signs and the helmet is complete. 

These helmets are painted on Jvinu's templates and shapes, and are ACSPRH compatible as usual. 

(mirror)

If you want to see most of the previews of the 100+ helmets I've done for the 2022 season, you can see them here: https://fongugp4.blogspot.com/p/gp4-2022-helmets.html

I see some US helmet specials have already been posted, so I'll be back soon with some more updates.