Budget Loki Helmet Build Help!

[Zalure]

Hello everyone, I'll cut to the chase. basically I started a build of a Loki helmet and it's pretty much poster board, cardboard and masking tape! I wish to go to the next step! But I don't know what that step should be. I purchased some Bondo brand fiberglass resin and some Bondo brand body filler. Pics attached are where I'm at / what I'm working with now. Any suggestions or input would be greatly appreciated Thank you for your time in reading this!

 

[zorprime]

Next step would be to coat in resin (which is the stuff you put on over the the fiber glass cloth sheets) The resin will strengthen the outside of the helmet. Then you do fiber glass on the inside for more strength and after everything is dry, you start the bondo process of very thin layers of bondo and sanding.

 

[bronzerleaf]

Watch all parts 1-11 of this guys video showing how he made magneto helmet from pep to final, it will really help you figure out what to do next. Highly recommended.

http://youtu.be/pmYG0q6Wx9U?list=UUYB77RUfsIrWcz4OsD66K0w

 

[Dozer3677]

You may get more help in the Marvel Costumes thread. Not that you wont get any help here. But just an FYI. But Zorprime gave you some great info. Keep up the great work Zalure.

 

[BillyOnion]

It may be too late now, as you've already bought the filler, but I've been playing about with a different finishing process lately.

Once my card model is complete, I'm coating both sides of the card in fibreglass resin. On parts that require more strength, I will fibreglass the inside (however I've only needed to do this once so far!). The difference then comes on the finishing. I've been sticking thin eva foam sheets to the outside of the piece, then treating each part as if it were a foam construction; I.e. coating the foam in pva, plastidip (if desired) and painting. I've found it a lot quicker, easier and a damn site less messy! And you can do most of it inside. AND its proved a lot cheaper!

Just a though for anyone who wants to give it a go

 

[Zalure]

Hey guys, thank you all for the information and tips you've given me! I finally put a layer of resin on it and the curing process didn't go as planned. It's still a bit sticky, I left it all day with a fan pulling air out of the room it was in, and it's still sticky, I read that using heat could potentially help and I used my industrial heat gun to heat a few areas and it just seems to make it even more sticky..!! should I resin again and hope for a better result ? or would it be safe to start with thin layers of bondo even though the resin is still a bit sticky?

 

[laxman09]

sounds like you didnt use enough hardener to get the reaction going as quickly as it should have, but as long as you put in the catalyst and thoroughly mixed it with the resin you should be fine. is it sticky, but stronger than before? if it doesnt feel strong, i'd suggest upping the amount of catalyst and doing another coat. obviously this one would cure faster (and if you put in too much catalyst, WAY TOO FAST), so be aware that you'll need to move quickly but do a good job as well. the reaction occurs faster when under heat, but its better to put it in an area that is consistently hot (not your kitchen oven though) rather than using a heat gun (which unevenly blasts high amounts of concentrated heat). even better, work in a moderate temperature room, then place it in a hot area when you are done brushing stuff on (i used to work on my porch under the awning and then put it on the asphalt under the sun until it cured well.

edit: it may also be sticky just because the reaction has a bi-product, usually there is a stickiness to the glass for a bit after the cure. if that's the case and it feels structurally stronger than before and at a strength you're okay with, then by all means go right ahead and bondo that sucker