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My Rubies Helmet Mod - WIP
http://thepropden.aokforums.com/viewtopic.php?f=43&t=4131
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Author:  dinkyfish [ Wed Jul 04, 2012 10:15 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: My Rubies Helmet Mod - WIP

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While waiting for paint to dry, I thought i'd work on the tusks and grills. This is my first version made from a screw, syringe and biopsy punch.

Image

this is the final version. now to fill, prime and paint.

Author:  CSMacLaren [ Fri Jul 06, 2012 4:26 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: My Rubies Helmet Mod - WIP

Here's a suggestion. The sleeve of the green part is making the stem too thick. The diameter of the screw part is not bad, save for the threading.

Perhaps try to fill the threads of the screw part with some putty or material. Then sand it smooth. Cut the stem of the green part down so you just have the base.

Author:  dinkyfish [ Sun Jul 08, 2012 4:29 am ]
Post subject:  Re: My Rubies Helmet Mod - WIP

thanks for the suggestion. I've already painted them, so might make a new one. I think the head of the tusk is too small?

Author:  Too Much Garlic [ Sun Jul 08, 2012 8:21 am ]
Post subject:  Re: My Rubies Helmet Mod - WIP

Nope, the head is definitely not too small. Could you post the painted ones? Would love to see them.

Author:  dinkyfish [ Sun Jul 08, 2012 8:38 am ]
Post subject:  Re: My Rubies Helmet Mod - WIP

Here's a pic.
Image

I sprayed the dome today 4 coats with a rattle can, acrylic lacquer gloss black.
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Did the gunmetal yesterday

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My problem is getting a smooth wet coat on the dome. I can get one section wet, but because I "feather" the spray into the existing wet area, it creates a mist over this and gives it a "dotty" look. Would I have to wet coat the whole helmet, or can I buff this out later? (i'm thinking of just buffing and polishing the gloss black)
With the facemask, it was ok, cos i was working with small sections at a time. But with the dome, I couldn't get enough coverage with the spray cans to wet everything quickly....

I'm really hoping to buff this thing up without getting into the primer coat. I just hope I have enough coats on the dome....

Author:  Too Much Garlic [ Sun Jul 08, 2012 11:06 am ]
Post subject:  Re: My Rubies Helmet Mod - WIP

Honestly, I think the tips look fine as they are. If you make the stem smaller it will look weird.

Regarding spraying gloss paints, you need to mist on a few layers first to get coverage and then once that is dry you shoot the wet-coat. You can probably buff it out or you can sand with a ultra fine grit to get things smooth and then possibly spray on a new top-coat.

Author:  dinkyfish [ Sun Jul 08, 2012 10:57 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: My Rubies Helmet Mod - WIP

yes, I shot a mist first, then 3 heavier coats. I did heat the helmet up a little with a hairdryer, prior to painting, to try to reduce blushing. I was getting moisture condensation as the temp was around 16degC, so I warmed up the helmet to try to prevent that. Maybe it was too warm, and the paint dried too quickly before it had time to flatten out?

Author:  dinkyfish [ Mon Jul 09, 2012 12:28 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: My Rubies Helmet Mod - WIP

ok, waited the recommended 24hours (from the back of spray can) then wet sanded with 1200grit then buffed with septone mr buff compound. it's smooth, but doesn't have that wet deep black look. it's gone a little grayish instead.

and I'm having a very hard time mounting the lenses

any tips?

Author:  Too Much Garlic [ Mon Jul 09, 2012 1:01 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: My Rubies Helmet Mod - WIP

Yeah, that's usual when sanding black paint. You could try washing it lightly to get the dust off. Then spray another mist layer... or... simply... just shoot it with a gloss clear coat.

I think people generally use hot glue to install the lenses? Not sure though. Always found that icky to work with as I just make a bigger mess than actually gluing things neatly.

Author:  dinkyfish [ Mon Jul 09, 2012 9:21 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: My Rubies Helmet Mod - WIP

Image

here is a pic of what I mean. Top is newly applied wet coat, middle is wet sanded 1200grit, bottom is buffed out with compounding paste.

what I'm thinking of doing next, is spraying the helmet in little sections, to try to get that wet look.

I ended up taping the lenses on!

Author:  Too Much Garlic [ Mon Jul 09, 2012 9:34 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: My Rubies Helmet Mod - WIP

dinkyfish wrote:
what I'm thinking of doing next, is spraying the helmet in little sections, to try to get that wet look.

It won't blend together where there is overlap and you'll get the same misting where it hits already dried paint. The point of a wet layer is to have the wetness make the blend, so it should be painted quickly. Heating the dome was probably a bad choice. Some heat the paint, but that makes it runny. Also, for better spraying, you should think about buying a spray can handle, which basically turns the spray can into a spray gun kind of deal that gives better results with the application due to how you can hold it when spraying.

Author:  dinkyfish [ Mon Jul 09, 2012 10:08 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: My Rubies Helmet Mod - WIP

yes, I thought about that. I was going to loose mask sections of the helmet. eg. down the midline, and across the angle of the flange, paint one section, let dry, then repeat for next section.
Thats the only way I can think of to get the paint on the sections quick enough without over spraying.

Author:  Too Much Garlic [ Mon Jul 09, 2012 10:11 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: My Rubies Helmet Mod - WIP

Ah, yeah, you could paint the whole one side of the dome, let it dry for a few days, then mask it off at the mid strip edge, then spray the other side, and thereby prevent overspray misting up the dried paint.

Author:  T-VIRUS [ Mon Jul 09, 2012 10:40 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: My Rubies Helmet Mod - WIP

Hi dinkyfish, one thing you want to make sure of is that you completely clean all the compound off the lid before attempting a repaint. Domes are a bit of a pain to paint, but one of the biggest tips on any nice paint job is to keep the final coat wet, and consistent. If its good paint, black being a solid color will usually cover very well with two coats. If you have doubts its easy enough to apply a third. Applying to many coats opens up its own problems simply because you are stacking chemicals on top of chemicals all in variouse stages of cure.

If it was me I'd 1200 grit the whole lid and shoot the paint in one shot. Start in one spot, either top or bottom and keep a consistent steady pattern with about a 75% overlap all the way around it. Hope it works out for you whatever you decide to do. :thumbsup

Author:  dinkyfish [ Mon Jul 09, 2012 10:47 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: My Rubies Helmet Mod - WIP

Yes, I was thinking the same thing, need to clean up the compound before shooting it one last time. I am also going to get a new can of paint, as I think the current one is running out (might be part of the problem)

thanks for all the support so far guys. Here is a progress shot. Hopefully will be finished in the next week or so.

Image

btw, TMG, how come your name has changed to No Humour Man?

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