Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1474575
alo whose squadrons had red, white and blue color schemes. The helmets of Evel Knievel unapologetically inspired both designs. I continued to deliver helmet graphics to the props team as they were approved. Paint Supervisor drian aldes would be responsible for painting all of the shells and the graphics application remained a work in progress. The prop master continued to work with local graphics vendors for a solution, but there were still issues translating the fi nal approved designs to the actual helmets. It was a trialanderror process, but it wasn't long before the prop master asked for my helmet contact in Lemoore. Thankfully, Ivan Romo was more than capable for this challenge. e spent the next weeks masking, measuring, hand cutting and applying the vinyl to the actual helmets, including additional stunt and doubles helmets. It was truly a work of art to take these illustrations from concept to completion with nothing more than a steady hand, a fl exible ruler and an Xcto knife. t one point, Ivan even enlisted his wife Missy, who did most of the cutting for the Rooster helmet. Ivan Romo was not the reason I went to Lemoore, but I'm not sure the onscreen helmets could have looked so good without him. Ivan is an integral part of this story and a professional at his craft. ecause of the limited crew during many of the actual fl ight scenes and the shooting schedule, it would be many months before I fi nally saw the helmets for myself. It wasn't that I forgot about them, it was ust that I had a whole show of graphics to create beyond helmets. I was so happy to fi nally see all of the helmets together during some stage work at L Center Studios when they were all on the same prop cart. ll those months later and the following years of postproduction, it remains work that I am extremely proud of. The release and reception of the fi lm has only made the commitment and challenges that much more rewarding. In all these years since 1986, I no longer needed to be dropped off at the movies to see Top Gun: Maverick. My mom was conveniently in L to visit our family as the cast and crew date at TLC Chinese Theater approached. I decided to take mom to the movies instead to see the fi lm that we had created. It was a nice full circle moment for me to share the work and that experience with her. ADG G. FINISHED HELMETS BY IVAN ROMO IN PARALOFT AT NAS LEMOORE. H. CLINT SCHLUTZ WITH HELMETS ON PROP CART AT LA CENTER STUDIOS. H G