Tips and Tricks for making the Helmets

[Volpin]

What number sanding should i use for final sanding? I want to make mine smooth as possible.

My buckets were wet sanded with 2,000 grit before sending off for chrome. During rough shaping, I used a lot of 60 grit on an aluminum sanding block. Most detail shaping was done with 120, then 220 to smooth it out. Primer was sanded down with 320 first, then wetsanding with 400 and 600 grit. After that, I sprayed another coat of primer, then wetsand with 600, 1000, then finish with 2000. Its a long process...

I've started on a TRON version of the helmet, using my existing mold. The chin has been reshaped to be more angular, and I'll be cutting out the ear insets to match the smooth ones shown in the movie preview art. Work so far:



The inset visor helps to reduce the visual "weight" of the piece, making it more scaled to my size:



You can see the channel carved along the inside of the helmet for the visor here:



And together with a few raw pulls being shipped this week. I tried mixing some of the sanding dust from the pink helmet into the resin for the purple one as I was slush casting. Turns out resin dust makes great filler for rotocasting! That one only took 2 cups as opposed to the 3 in the others. Nice budget saver, using otherwise garbage as filler.



Probably won't make the release night, but I'd rather do a good job than a rushed one.

Edit: geez, even 500px wide breaks the forums?

[pepto]

Hey Volpin...

Looks awesome as always... Judging from the "behind the scenes" stuff from YouTube however, I'm not so sure that the ear insets are so smooth after all (see screenshot)...



At least it doesn't seem to be completely flat inside?

[SimpleSDK]

My buckets were wet sanded with 2,000 grit before sending off for chrome. During rough shaping, I used a lot of 60 grit on an aluminum sanding block. Most detail shaping was done with 120, then 220 to smooth it out. Primer was sanded down with 320 first, then wetsanding with 400 and 600 grit. After that, I sprayed another coat of primer, then wetsand with 600, 1000, then finish with 2000. Its a long process...

I've started on a TRON version of the helmet, using my existing mold. The chin has been reshaped to be more angular, and I'll be cutting out the ear insets to match the smooth ones shown in the movie preview art. Work so far:



The inset visor helps to reduce the visual "weight" of the piece, making it more scaled to my size:



You can see the channel carved along the inside of the helmet for the visor here:



And together with a few raw pulls being shipped this week. I tried mixing some of the sanding dust from the pink helmet into the resin for the purple one as I was slush casting. Turns out resin dust makes great filler for rotocasting! That one only took 2 cups as opposed to the 3 in the others. Nice budget saver, using otherwise garbage as filler.



Probably won't make the release night, but I'd rather do a good job than a rushed one.

Edit: geez, even 500px wide breaks the forums?

Will you be selling casts of them any time soon?

[sporgo]

Resin dust makes a great filler. Unfortunately it will absorb moisture from the air if stored too long and then when you try to use it the resin will foam up and ruin everything.

[Henke]

Hey guys!

I have buyed myself an very good looking helmet from Artfunk, and i just have a little problem, the visor was a bit to much tinted/sprayed, and I need tips to how to get of some soo I can see true the visor, cause now I cant see nothing. Or is anyone making visors? I am in need for help and maybe need to get a new visor. If someone have a price, plz let me know Visor to Guy Helmet btw!


Henke

[Thomas Bangalter]

if he used spray tint go buy something called Goo Gone, that stuff ripped a good chunk of tint off for me.

[Volpin]

Will you be selling casts of them any time soon?

I have been for some time now. If you're interested, shoot me a PM. Unfortunately, I can't offer visors just yet, as my vac former isn't large enough.

Resin dust makes a great filler. Unfortunately it will absorb moisture from the air if stored too long and then when you try to use it the resin will foam up and ruin everything.

I've heard that, thanks for the heads up. Right now I'm keeping the scraps in a plastic bag, hopefully that will keep it from absorbing too much moisture.

Check it out - TRON rear dome! This is actually a re-purposed FRONT dome, trimmed to fit this cavity.

[Akkazento]

[/QUOTE]

how did you glue the visor in the inside of the helmet ? and which adhesive do you use?

[sporgo]

Happy Holidays everyone! Kittens also love DP !

[ThreeFN]

Happy Holidays everyone! Kittens also love DP !

Dear lord, how many do you have?

I can't keep track of my two, and they're not even kittens anymore!