Marrow Sun?

[Kris Lyssara]

To start, I know that technically this should go in the OT forum, but more people who know who Marrow Sun is will see this topic here, and it's quite important that the most people possible see this.

I'll make things short: I need to get in touch with Marrow Sun ASAP. I have one of his Marrow Sun Custom mandalorian helmets, and it's got an irrepairable crack in it. Unless I get in touch with him about getting a replacement or getting permission to recast it to replace mine and do a run to recoup the cost of that one cast, I'll effectively be done with costuming altogether.

So anybody who has any contact information of his that you know still works for getting in touch with him, please let me know ASAP.

 

[stormtrooperguy]

Unless I get in touch with him about getting a replacement or getting permission to recast it to replace mine and do a run to recoup the cost of that one cast, I'll effectively be done with costuming altogether.
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In order to cast it, you would have to repair it, otherwise you'd be making horribly flawed casts.

If it can be repaired to recast, why would you not be able to repair it in general?

Did the helmet arrive damaged, or did that happen later?

If it arrived in good repair, I don't really see how he's under any obligation to do anything for you, and I REALLY don't see why he'd let you do a run of recast helmets...

All that being said, I haven't talked to him in years, since he basically dropped out of the TDH scene soon after doing his MS3 Boba helmet.

 

[Kris Lyssara]

Well, the problem is it's a hairline crack right up the back of the ear. Fixable for casting, but not for wearing (I can't reinforce it to prevent further cracking).

The helmet arrived fine. I wasn't going to ask him to just make me another one, I was going to see if I could monentarily persuade him to cast another one.

And I don't think he'd let me do a recast run, but I may have to do a cast of my bucket in general to replace it.

 

[KnightAsylum]

Seems like if it is a hairline crack it would be repairable. Either way i think you are stuck dealing with it yourself. I have not spoken with him in over a year but he really is done with the hobby for all regular purposes. I think you would be asking a lot for something that should be fixable.
I am sure some of the fine folks here could offer some repair advice if you asked.

 

[Firespray]

2-part epoxy on the inside, spot filler on the outside, a little sanding and you should be good to go. A hairline crack is pretty minor in my opinion.

 

[Dung0beetle]

2-part epoxy on the inside, spot filler on the outside, a little sanding and you should be good to go. A hairline crack is pretty minor in my opinion.

i agree, irreparable means it was eaten or my kids got to it just fix it and save yourself some cash, I doubt he will be keen on letting you recast.

 

[Kris Lyssara]

The problem is in the fact that I can't reinforce it to prevent further cracking. The crack is on a weak point, and it didn't go as far as it could have. Fiberglass or Carbon Fiber resin eats into the plastic (I tested it on a bit of plastic from when I cut the visor out), and I'm deathly afraid that if it EVER gets dropped again, it might crack the rest of the way and the helmet will be a total write-off.

 

[Wolfie]

is it abs? or some other stiff plastic?

I've fixed a cracked helmet of mine by gluing another piece of plastic on the inside of the helmet along the crack with 2 part epoxy/plastic welder. used epoxy on the outside too then sanded it down and repainted.

i like filling gaps with epoxy versus body filler for some reason *shrug* always looks cleaner to me. I guess I just suck with bondo.

 

[Firespray]

Can you post a pic of the crack in your helmet so we can see what your up against? I have a Marrow Sun Boba Fett helmet and used fiberglass resin on the inside with no problems, but maybe the custom mandalorian helmets were made of a different material. I just can't fathom this helmet is irreparable. I was able to repair the crack in the helmet below and it wasn't much bigger than a hairline. :lol
View attachment 26352

 

[Mandalorian Gunslingerr]

Can you post a pic of the crack in your helmet so we can see what your up against? I have a Marrow Sun Boba Fett helmet and used fiberglass resin on the inside with no problems, but maybe the custom mandalorian helmets were made of a different material. I just can't fathom this helmet is irreparable. I was able to repair the crack in the helmet below and it wasn't much bigger than a hairline. :lol
View attachment 26352

I think that's known as a receding hairline crack

 

[Kris Lyssara]

The helmet is at a friend's place at the moment who has a few helmet stands so my helmet is up away from potential damage (I'm in the middle of moving to an new apartment). I'll try and get pics ASAP.

As far as I can tell, it's made out of the same type of plastic as those PlaySkool kids tables and stuff. Really flexible and durable, but doesn't like resin. I may just be using the wrong type of resin, IDK. I've still got several more scraps from cutting out the visor laying around, so I'll try and find them and test some other stuff on them.

As I said before, I can repair it a dozen different ways, the issue is keeping it from cracking further. I know from experience (the MS:C was my second helmet) that once a helmet cracks, unless you reinforce the entire helmet with fiberglass or carbon fiber, there's a decent chance of it cracking further in the same area if it falls again.

So I take it that nobody knows how to get in touch with Marrow Sun?

 

[Devilstar2k2]

"if it falls again"

Wouldn't any helmet have a chance at cracking if you drop it? I mean, it cracked the first time, right?

Like you said, it can be repaired a dozen different ways. I repaired my sons vinyl Boba helmet with a 2 part plastic weld on the inside, and spot filler on the outside, both worked fine on that. Seems like it may be close to what you are talking about. JB Weld would be gentle on the material as well. Epoxy putty would probably work too.

 

[Jaedena]

Honestly, it sounds like you're better off fixing it than trying to reach Marrow Sun.

 

[Amish Trooper]

I just don't understand how it is his responsibility to cover a helmet that arrived to you fine and that was dropped and now cracked. Now you are saying that you will recast it..

 

[Kris Lyssara]

Amish Trooper: I'm not saying it's his responsibility. I simply wanted to see if he had any advice, or if he'd be willing to do one more pull from the mold, at full cost, for me. And if I can't repair and reinforce the crack (key being reinforce it), yes, I may have to mold and re-cast it, but only for my own use UNLESS I had specific permission from Marrow Sun to do the second run that everyone wanted him to do after the first run was finished. I do not plan to recast it and sell casts without his permission, and recasting it at all is only on the table if I have no other way to repair my helmet.

 

[Devilstar2k2]

How are the methods that everyone gave not good enough? I could understand if it had a part that was going to be under constant stress, but its just a helmet... Its not like you are pulling a velcro clamshell apart every time you put it on or take it off. It just slides over your head like a normal Fett helmet, right?


EDIT-

BTW, I have the thrusters on my jetpack epoxy puttied in, and I slam those into door jams constantly... They aren't even close to breaking loose. The stuff is as hard as a rock.

 

[stormtrooperguy]

I would imagine he made the custom helmets out of the same stuff as his standard Boba buckets.

If so, any/all of the methods suggested should work. I'd use epoxy putty myself.

Any resin / fiberglass helmet can break if dropped. If you got a new one and dropped it again, it would break just as easily.

Like others have said, I'm pretty sure MS has dropped out of this stuff entirely, so I'd say grab some putty, fix it up, and stay away from molding it.

If you make a mold and cast it, your friends will inevitably say "please make me one, I won't say anything" and next thing you know, you'll land in hot water.

 

[Firespray]

Your most cost effective option would be to repair the helmet you have. If Marrow Sun isn't making helmets anymore, the next option is to purchase a helmet from another maker like Sarge. Either of these options are going to be much cheaper than molding and casting one helmet from the one you have. You say if you can't fix the MS helmet, you'll effectively be done with costuming altogether, but now you're ready to purchase another one from him at full price. You just aren't making a whole lot of sense. Members here have given you some good options on how to fix the hairline crack in your helmet as many of us have had to do this. I'm starting to think you have an ulterior motive.

 

[Kris Lyssara]

I get what you guys are saying about how some of the other methods may work.... I'm just very hesitant to try anything on the helmet. It's got a lot of memories and personal meaning in it, and there's only 14 of them in existence.

I do have a bit of good news.... tested a type of carbon fiber resin normally used when making car parts, and it doesn't eat into the plastic, so I might end up going that route. If not, I'll have to really look at what options I have available and make a decision based on what you guys have suggested.

Stormtrooperguy, without MS's permission to make more, I'd only make a one-use mold. I don't even like the idea of doing it once, but if the crack in the helmet gets worse and/or can't be repaired (it's on a corner on both the inside and outside, which is going to make it rather interesting), it may be the only option if I want to keep using a Marrow Sun Custom helmet.

Firespray, as mentioned above, this helmet holds a lot of personal meaning to me. It was my last Christmas gift from my grandmother, the way it's painted was the idea of my closest friend from high school, etc. While I want to repair it however I can (even if it takes $200 of automotive carbon fiber), if I can't, some part of the meaning of it could, to me, at least, still live on through a replacement MS:C.
And I'd pretty much be done with costuming just because of the general discouragement of having the one part of my costume damaged beyond repair. I'm only now able ot afford to work on any other part of any of my costumes, and it's been nearly three years since I got the helmet.

I'll post an update (and hopefully pictures) once I have a quote from the auto body place. If lining the interior of the helmet with carbon fiber isn't an option due to price (over $300), then I'll look at some of the methods you guys have presented.