GP4: Assorted Helmets from USA, Mexico and Brazil

It's been a little while since I last posted some helmets, but there's been a lot of helmets in the last three races and I'm slowly catching up with them. Today I can present you with seven new helmets and one slight update on a previously released lid. 

US GP

Lance Stroll

Lance Stroll 2021 US GP Helmet

One of Lance's sponsors held a competition via their app to vote for a helmet design to be used. Designed by Mark Anwar, there were three space themed designs and this Solar System version got the vote. 

Download | (mirror link)

GP4: 2021 US GP Updates Part 1

The US Grand Prix saw no less than 10 special helmets deployed by various drivers, by far the most of any race so far this season (that's if you don't count the first race!). I've been chipping away at recreating them quietly in the background over the past week and I can present to you some of the fruits of my labours. Hopefully the rest of them will be done before the next GP, no promises, but we'll see. 

In no particular order...

George Russell

George Russell  2021 US GP Helmet

First off we have Mercedes bound George Russell, with a new helmet harking back to the Wild West days in America. Designed  by MDM Designs, he said, "Wood and chrome effect thoughtout his standard layout, complete with the Sheriff star now we are in Texas ✍🏻💪🏻" 

It's an interesting choice of pallette, with a slightly orangey brown look.

With this one, I followed the same method I used for Lando's Turkish GP helmet, which saved me a lot of time. Ironically, it's not going to work for me on Lando's US GP helmet, but that's another story. Once I was happy with the layout, I had to create the alpha channel to make all the silver parts shiny.  

Download Link | (mirror)

Daniel Ricciardo

Daniel Ricciardo  2021 US GP Helmet

Ricciardo got to honour his hero Dale Earnhardt Sr, the helmet is heavily based on the original lid worn by 'The Intimidator'. Designed by Jens Munser Designs, he says, "The silver/red line on the bottom of Daniel’s helmet is based on the livery of Dale’s No.3 Goodwrench Chevy."

It's the first Danny Ric helmet I've done this year (I didn't do the McLaren Monaco GP specials), but thankfully, as you can see, there's nothing too complicated with this one. The only real challenge was the lightning at the rear of the helmet. With all the matte helmets this year, it's nice this one has a bit of a shine to it. 

Download Link | (mirror)

Nikita Mazepin

Nikita Mazepin  2021 US GP Helmet

Nikita Mazepin sports a US inspired version of his helmet, with a rattlesnake texture in red, the long cattle horns on the Haas logo on the front, a lucky horseshoe on the top and rear, and a cowboy hat on the side Haas logos. Nikita explains, "it's the same orange but with more flouro on a white base this time". 

Having not really departed from his style, I had a good starting point from the previous special helmet I did of his. I was quite happy to find the source clip art of the horseshoe, as there were no good angles of that part of the helmet.  

Download Link | (mirror)

Charles Leclerc

Charles Leclerc  2021 US GP Helmet

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc is marking the 20th anniversary of his sponsor, Richard Mille a watch manufacturer, with his helmet.

This helmet follows the style of his early season helmet with subtle changes, so I was able to quickly get the main template done. It was just then a case of adding the clockwork patterns and the top of the helmet after that. I do like the clockwork blueprint effect. 

Download link | (mirror)

Fernando Alonso

Fernando Alonso  2021 US GP Helmet

Following the volcanic eruptions on the island of La Palma in the Canary Islands, Fernando Alonso has had a special design produced which will be auctioned to raise money for those affected. He says, “So I will wear the helmet this weekend. I will launch a platform where people can donate some money and the helmet will be also in an auction on November 4th to raise more money, so each of us can help.”

Another first helmet of the season for me, and the first Fernando Alonso helmet I've painted since 2005 I think. I love this helmet it's simple yet effective, completely different yet still the same usual design especially from a far off. Simple details like the lava forming a heart shape on the rear is a nice touch. It was a little tricky with some of the joins, but I'm really quite happy with how this one turned out. 

Download Link | (mirror)

GP4: Russian GP Updates - Mazepin, Williams, Aston Martin & Mercedes

Helmets: Nikita Mazepin

Just the one helmet to update from the Russian GP (Vettel used his Styrian GP lid again), and it's the first home race for Nikita Mazepin.

Nikita Mazepin 2021 Russian GP Helmet

His helmet is now turned from dayglo red to the colours of the Russian flag, with gold trim. It features names of all the medalists who competed under ROC from the Olympics and the Paralympics. There's also a gold Haas medal at the front. Mazepin uses a Bell helmet, and  I'm ever grateful for Jvinu's Bell helmet and template which is a pleasure to paint on.

(mirror)

GP4: 2021 Haas VF-21 Download

 

Here is my updated 2021 Haas VF-21. This is my 2020 shape with lots of changes to bring it to 2021 spec. Thankfully, the Haas team did not do too many updates, but plenty enough to keep me busy. 

Updated is the:

• Nose, with the new cape underneath, and the floor turning vanes
• front wing - all new elements, main changes being the second pane
• barge boards - amended to fit the new additional parts
• sidepod beam/vane - the beam that houses the crash structure is now extends the width of the car
• floor - new floor sides and appendages
• diffuser - new strakes
• brake ducts - new insides on the front, and amended winglets on the rear
• t-wing - new

As you can see there's lots of changes, but most of it is hidden away in the carbon. 

But the good news is that Isaint's striking livery fits the car with very minor touch ups. 

Thanks to Excalibur for the original painting, template and generally fixing various bugs on the 2020 car and into the 2021 version. 

Download Link

GP4: Nikita Mazepin 'Victory Day' 2021 Spanish GP Helmet

I thought I'd gotten away with it, I couldn't see any special helmets for the Spanish Grand Prix to begin with, and then I saw there one after the race, and it's Mazepin amended his usual design with a tribute to Victory Day (not his victory obviously!). 

Being in a swing of creating helmets now, well race specific helmets at least, I thought I would do this out of a sense of completion. The design features two red stars and weaves three black lines subtly into his existing design. His number 9 also incorporates the black lines too, which is also the day of the race and of the celebrations in Russia. 

It wasn't easy picking the right shade for his helmet, it's a dayglo red as far as I can tell, that looks orange in some lights. Plus the red star gets a bit lost if the red was too close to red. I notice Jsoria used quite a faint orange shade, but I wanted it to be a bit more red without losing the orange tinge. 

Once more, this has been optimised for GP4, including alpha layer. I'm ever grateful for Jvinu's Bell helmet and template which is a pleasure to paint on.

Here's the links: Download Link | (mirror link)

Well with the helmets all up to date (I'm not doing Vettel's Imola GP helmet that he wore for half a race), and no hotlapping to be done for a week, I'll be concentrating on finishing my first proper 2021 car for GP4.