MK38 Igor build (04/29> Painting and detailing)

[laellee]

Re: MK38 Igor build (04/13> partial suit-up)

Yeah, about that...... :lol I'll be using both. As I add details to the suit, I also fill seams and imperfections with silicone caulking, and then it all gets hit with the heat gun before PVA and Plastidip applications. I don't use PVA much anymore, but there are several different kinds of foam used on the suit, and the PVA seems to helps get a more even application of the Plastidip. A lot of extra work, but considering how expensive the paint bill is on this, I don't want to take any chances with the finish.

Can't believe it's already been four weeks on this build. I said I'd have it done in six, so the end is near The girlfriend will be happy when Igor goes to his forever-home. :cry

 

[Ciano930]

Re: MK38 Igor build (04/13> partial suit-up)

Looking deadly! can't wait to see some paint on this bad boy!

 

[yojay]

Re: MK38 Igor build (04/13> partial suit-up)

... and then it all gets hit with the heat gun before PVA and Plastidip applications.... :cry

Does this improve the Plasti-Dip adhesion? I imagine you with Plasti-Dip in one hand and a heat gun in the other, Paint- Akimbo!

 

[laellee]

Re: MK38 Igor build (04/13> partial suit-up)

Does this improve the Plasti-Dip adhesion? I imagine you with Plasti-Dip in one hand and a heat gun in the other, Paint- Akimbo!

Haha, nice.

I haven't noticed the PVA coat help for Plastidip adhesion, as in making it 'stick' better. It does encapsulate the foam though, filling the pores and leveling the surface, so the Plastidip flows over the top more smoothly and doesn't absorb so much. Without the PVA (and silicone touchups) applied first, the Plastidip coat will reveal all of those messy seams and porous surfaces right away. The natural tendency is to let the Plastidip flash-dry, spray another coat, and repeat, until it hides the problems. Sure, that'll work, but now you've blown through a ton more Plastidip (and $) just to fix those imperfections. If you've got the time, applying 2-3 PVA coats first will eliminate a lot of stuff that you could waste a case of Plastidip on :lol

 

[Kryro]

Re: MK38 Igor build (04/13> partial suit-up)

How long till a "Full Suit-up"

 

[yojay]

Re: MK38 Igor build (04/13> partial suit-up)

I can appreciate the PVA layer first. I burned through Plasti-Dip exactly as you described the first time I used it. I thought I would never apply enough to get it smooth. I switched to Rondo recently but now you are inspiring me to go back and use up my Plasti-Dip reserves.

I was more intrigued by the heat gun prior to the PVA. Since I assume you're not bending the foam at this point, does a warm foam piece absorb the PVA better?

Oh, and props to your build on all fronts. It really is "head and shoulders" above the rest.

 

[laellee]

Re: MK38 Igor build (04/13> partial suit-up)

How long till a "Full Suit-up"

I'll get it all on again before it ships for pics. It's nearly impossible to suit up by yourself, and then I've got to have someone to take the picture as well :lol

I can appreciate the PVA layer first. I burned through Plasti-Dip exactly as you described the first time I used it. I thought I would never apply enough to get it smooth. I switched to Rondo recently but now you are inspiring me to go back and use up my Plasti-Dip reserves.

I was more intrigued by the heat gun prior to the PVA. Since I assume you're not bending the foam at this point, does a warm foam piece absorb the PVA better?

Oh, and props to your build on all fronts. It really is "head and shoulders" above the rest.

Thanks!

I do heat-treat the pieces, but not to then seal immediately while it's still warm. I set my heat gun on high and run it over all of the exterior surfaces to close up the pores. I just 'flash' the surface of the foam (it darkens just a little and picks up a very slight shine), and then keep moving until I've gone over everything. It only takes a couple of passes of the gun from about 8 inches or so, and the foam never even heats enough to remelt hot-glue joints (which is really easy to do). The heat-treat stays with the foam, so it's not a big deal to wait a day to seal.


....A couple of progress pics... Got some more detailing done on the rear sections of the suit. I can't finish-assemble the spine sections until after they are sealed and painted, but you can start to get an idea of the direction I'm going with the pieces.

Rear muscle-work


... With part of the vertebrate covers held in place


Upper torso detailing started


Thanks for looking!

 

[Prometheus7Fire]

Re: MK38 Igor build (04/13> partial suit-up)

WOW! I've intermittently checked this thread out of mild curiosity, but now I'm hooked. This thing is actually coming together . Subscribed for sure!opcorn

 

[Kryro]

Re: MK38 Igor build (04/13> partial suit-up)

That spine is AWESOME!

 

[Dadatown]

Re: MK38 Igor build (04/13> partial suit-up)

Is there any reason you don't seal your foam with a heat gun before you cut out your patterns?

 

[Namnori86]

Re: MK38 Igor build (04/13> partial suit-up)

Looking great!..excited to see...I'm building a full hulk so I know how daunting a project like this can be...hard work..huge payoff!


Sent from my VS910 4G using Tapatalk 2

 

[GhostMinion]

Re: MK38 Igor build (04/13> partial suit-up)

WOW that spine looks SWEET!!! :thumbsup

 

[laellee]

Re: MK38 Igor build (04/13> partial suit-up)

WOW! I've intermittently checked this thread out of mild curiosity, but now I'm hooked. This thing is actually coming together . Subscribed for sure!opcorn

That spine is AWESOME!

Looking great!..excited to see...I'm building a full hulk so I know how daunting a project like this can be...hard work..huge payoff!


Sent from my VS910 4G using Tapatalk 2

WOW that spine looks SWEET!!! :thumbsup

Thanks for the kind words! I've been detailing/sealing/ tweaking stuff all week, now as long as I don't mix up the color scheme on the parts before they get asssembled, it should be golden. Funny that the most complex part of the suit is on the ass-end :lol

I should have more progress pics up in the next couple of days, right now it seems like there are pieces ALL OVER MY HOUSE with PVA drying on them. I haven't even started sealing the thighs and shins, either. The first pieces to get color after sealing and primer will be the helmet and neck I think, they are the farthest along with sealing and I want to get going on installing the LEDs too. Also, I don't remember if I mentioned, but Mark is all for my suggestion of a dirty wash on the parts after the main colors to bring out the details. That should give everything a lot more depth. :thumbsup

Is there any reason you don't seal your foam with a heat gun before you cut out your patterns?

For me it's personal preference. It seems like hitting them with heat after the pieces are assembled 'locks' the shapes in better than when the foam has already been preheated, and it also gives me a little more flexibility with heat-shaping while I'm building. The surface shrinkage the heat causes also lets me know more easily where I have seams that need extra work. Keep in mind, this is all from my own experiences, mileage will vary, and I definitely know people that heat-gun all their foam right away.

 

[P4r4dox86]

Re: MK38 Igor build (04/13> partial suit-up)

Wow! I can't believe I haven't stumbled on this before now Laellee, this is amazing work!

 

[ironmaided]

Re: MK38 Igor build (04/13> partial suit-up)

right now it seems like there are pieces ALL OVER MY HOUSE with PVA drying on them.

Can't wait to see it painted man. . .:thumbsup

 

[laellee]

Re: MK38 Igor build (04/13> partial suit-up)

Wow! I can't believe I haven't stumbled on this before now Laellee, this is amazing work!

Long time no talk to! Thanks, I was just looking at your Jaffa costume, nicely done!

http://i1.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/000/107/227/tumblr_lgxpiaKYy91qa556so1_500.png

Can't wait to see it painted man. . .:thumbsup

You know what's worse than parts all over the house? Three straight days of rain, so I've been Plastidipping IN MY KITCHEN. And priming IN MY KITCHEN. And test-spraying blue IN MY KITCHEN. It better not rain tomorrow... My living room yesterday:



Here's a horribly over-developed pic of the blue on the upper torso; the camera flash makes it a lot brighter than it is:



...what the blue really looks like:



I have final blues drying on the helmet and torso right now, Hopefully I can start some silver tomorrow weather permitting. It's either that, or I'm reinstalling some electronics. I'm rethinking the switch locations now, because when the suit is worn, your hands can't go too many places, but I would like at least some control available to the wearer without having to remove the upper half.

I've got to place all of these:

Switch in the removable neck-area to turn on eye LEDs
Switch for the main power pack (this will auto-turn on the camera and LCD screen)
Switch for reserve power supply (in case the camera's main power dies)
Switch for the arc reactor
Switch for the cooling fans, with two speeds
Switch for each repulsor (these are powered and wired separate from the suit)

I've got plenty of time while pieces are drying to figure out the logistics... Too bad there isn't a remote for everything, at least the LCD has one :lol

 

[P4r4dox86]

Re: MK38 Igor build (04/13> partial suit-up)

Long time no talk to! Thanks, I was just looking at your Jaffa costume, nicely done!

Yeah I haven't been around as much lately lol. No worries, the work is definitely worthy of praise! Thanks mate, I'm glad with how it came out .

 

[laellee]

Re: MK38 Igor build (04/25> Suit sealing almost completed)

It's been raining for like a week it seems. Whatever I'm going to just keep breathing poison fumes..... Got some silver started on the helmet while working on the fit:



I'm hoping to have the eyes and such installed tomorrow. The helmet looks pretty sweet already, but the weathering on it should really put it over the top. I'm finishing up sealing on the thighs tonight, then tomorrow I should have all of the blue sprayed on the suit. I'm going to seal them while they are attached to the shins; that's helping a lot so that they keep their correct shape while they harden up:



The rest of the parts are predominantly blue already... The silver details will get sprayed over the blue once they are masked out.



Getting there....

 

[torx]

Re: MK38 Igor build (04/25> Suit sealing almost completed)

this is intense! and your foamwork is precise and clean. i love it!

 

[GhostMinion]

Re: MK38 Igor build (04/25> Suit sealing almost completed)

Can't really come up with words at the moment. KICK ASS will have to do for now!