Finishing a Vader Helmet, beginning to end.

[Atarian]

how can I smooth this out? Is there a top coat that will give it a smooth reflective finish?

 

[vader71]

It looks like you need to get the surface really smooth first. I would wetsand the whole dome starting at about 1000 grit and work your way to at least 2000.
I like the Duplicolor brand of spray paints, they make a nice glossy clearcoat that will go on very nice. Test it first though to be sure its compatible with the base paint you used.

 

[DarthVader1]

-UPDATE-

As you noticed, there was nothing posted in a couple of months on the progress of this helmet. Reason: Helmet has a NEW -and happy- OWNER...myself. (Thanks creamedgeezer...) :thumbsup

The helmet haven't changed since the last post according to "creamedgeezer", and I should receive it at home in Italy really soon. I will keep posting progress using the same thread, since it's related to the very same helmet. The updates will be slow, due that I don't know when I'm coming back to Italy after my deployment in Afghanistan (hopefully sometime soon). Stay tuned. B)

Robert :fettrotj

 

[Darth Detroit]

Originally posted by vader71@Aug 6 2005, 09:46 PM
It looks like you need to get the surface really smooth first. I would wetsand the whole dome starting at about 1000 grit and work your way to at least 2000.
I like the Duplicolor brand of spray paints, they make a nice glossy clearcoat that will go on very nice. Test it first though to be sure its compatible with the base paint you used.

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What he said. :thumbsup

 

[vaderdarth]

When you are spraying, you don't want the temperature of your spraying environment to be too humid or too cold. Either will cause that orange peel effect seen in your picture. If this occurs......it has to be sanded prior to a clearcoat. Next as you spray........keep the nozzel the same distance from the entire piece being sprayed the entire time (9 inches or so) and keep coating until it physically looks wet. Pause periodically and shake that can up again and again. It is very important to keep moving around the piece and don't try to spray in the same place for longer than a second. By the time you come back to that spot it will be dry enough to put another coat. If it doesn't look pretty wet before you stop painting and allow it to dry...........it likely won't look wet when it does dry. The key is to achieve a balance on the surface........you want it wet....but not so wet it runs. This just takes lots of practice. I have had to paint the same dome numerous times to beat some of these problems. Even experience is no match for the power of Mother Nature...

Dave

 

[DarthVader1]

-UPDATE 2-

Just received news that the helmet arrived TODAY in the mail. WOW, a whole month to arrive, but it wasn't creamedgeezer's fault, but the mailing process and time of delivery...specially now when Christmas is around the corner.

creamedgeezer,... THANKS DUDE. :thumbsup

Now to wait until I get back home to start working with this baby. :love

Robert :fettrotj

 

[DarthVader1]

I've started the process of sanding the dome for a smooth finish. I did it with a really small-grit sand paper (don't know which one), which it will be DRY sanding, to continue with another coat of Automotive primer, and then to the AUTOMOTIVE PAINT process. Will post pics soon, also with some alterations to the dome.

Robert :fettrotj

 

[Darth Domain]

Originally posted by DarthVader1@Jan 28 2006, 10:58 PM
I've started the process of sanding the dome for a smooth finish.  I did it with a really small-grit sand paper (don't know which one), which it will be DRY sanding, to continue with another coat of Automotive primer, and then to the AUTOMOTIVE PAINT process.  Will post pics soon, also with some alterations to the dome.

Robert :fettrotj

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Hi, i'm doing my rubies also, just given the dome its first coat of prime, then i'm gonna wet sand beofre the next coat. Its amazing how the primer shows off the imperfections. I was wondering, you said you have dry sanded the dome even though it has already had some paint on it. Would wetsand not be better (i'm still learning this stuff so nned it explaing like i'm a three year old)

 

[Too Much Garlic]

Looking forward to more updates on this helmet. What were the mods made to the dome?

Wouldn't mind owning one of these babies... though, it takes too long to save up for one and too many other things pulling the money out of my hands... .)