Hello, I would like to share to you my journey on finishing my Manock’s Den Acolyte Cold Cast Kit including all the boo-boo’s I did along the way. Being my first helmet kit it was great learning experience, I hope you find it useful or entertaining nonetheless 
Here is an overview of the before and after.
So out of the box it started to look like this, containing the two halves of the helmet and a bag containing foam, eye mesh, and magnets.
I started immediately working on it without knowing really what I’m doing, just too excited to see how it shines like metal.
And on to my first boo-boo, I sand the hell out of it thinking the layer underneath will be the aluminum metal. After some grueling wet sanding thinking I’m working on aluminum I stupidly rounded some of the sharp edge details on this beautiful cast. And I didn’t stop there since It’s still not shining like metal, I used my scratch remover to make it shine same way I’m doing with real aluminum. And now it looks like a smooth shiny plastic!
Well there’s no turning back now, I then proceeded on to give it a black spray paint. And then sand the hell out of it to reveal the surface, and again to another boo-boo the paint was just too hard to be removed just by sanding which also in turn horribly rounding the edges even more.
Then I smartly use a paint thinner and rug... now it’s working really well but still not the look I’m looking for, its just too pale for my liking.
After measuring and marking I start to install the magnets by dremeling the area the magnet will sit-on and improvise some plastic on some areas for better support. I then use epoxy resin to set it in place, works great and very sturdy. (btw I spray painted the inside part black so it does not come originally like that)
Then got I bright idea of using acrylic paint to darken the surface more. After few hours I then use steel wool to scratch the surface to highlight the raise parts. Now it’s getting more to the look I’m going after and now starting to look like metal.
After letting the paint cure overnight I then washed it off with water and for the hell of it most of the darkening effect washed away as well, dammit! I’m getting a bit frustrated at this stage... I just proceed on adding copper paint details to match my lightsaber.
Then I went out and got myself a better stronger black acrylic paint, and then paint all the surface using a sponge.
Then I did the same scratching with steel wool after drying the paint...and now we’re talking, It’s looking great! a little dirty but looks great.
After some small retouch and clean-ups I guess I can safely say It’s done, not as perfect as I wanted but It’ll do for now and maybe later on I will revisit it and make it even better.
And some glam shots
A special thank you to Taras of Mynock’s Den for this amazing kit and for his great business practice.
Cant wait now to get on to my next helmet project
Here is an overview of the before and after.
So out of the box it started to look like this, containing the two halves of the helmet and a bag containing foam, eye mesh, and magnets.
I started immediately working on it without knowing really what I’m doing, just too excited to see how it shines like metal.
And on to my first boo-boo, I sand the hell out of it thinking the layer underneath will be the aluminum metal. After some grueling wet sanding thinking I’m working on aluminum I stupidly rounded some of the sharp edge details on this beautiful cast. And I didn’t stop there since It’s still not shining like metal, I used my scratch remover to make it shine same way I’m doing with real aluminum. And now it looks like a smooth shiny plastic!
Well there’s no turning back now, I then proceeded on to give it a black spray paint. And then sand the hell out of it to reveal the surface, and again to another boo-boo the paint was just too hard to be removed just by sanding which also in turn horribly rounding the edges even more.
Then I smartly use a paint thinner and rug... now it’s working really well but still not the look I’m looking for, its just too pale for my liking.
After measuring and marking I start to install the magnets by dremeling the area the magnet will sit-on and improvise some plastic on some areas for better support. I then use epoxy resin to set it in place, works great and very sturdy. (btw I spray painted the inside part black so it does not come originally like that)
Then got I bright idea of using acrylic paint to darken the surface more. After few hours I then use steel wool to scratch the surface to highlight the raise parts. Now it’s getting more to the look I’m going after and now starting to look like metal.
After letting the paint cure overnight I then washed it off with water and for the hell of it most of the darkening effect washed away as well, dammit! I’m getting a bit frustrated at this stage... I just proceed on adding copper paint details to match my lightsaber.
Then I went out and got myself a better stronger black acrylic paint, and then paint all the surface using a sponge.
Then I did the same scratching with steel wool after drying the paint...and now we’re talking, It’s looking great! a little dirty but looks great.
After some small retouch and clean-ups I guess I can safely say It’s done, not as perfect as I wanted but It’ll do for now and maybe later on I will revisit it and make it even better.
And some glam shots
A special thank you to Taras of Mynock’s Den for this amazing kit and for his great business practice.
Cant wait now to get on to my next helmet project
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