Painting a Vader helmet... how to make it REAL shiny?

[Darth Detroit]

He wanted to know "how to make it REAL shiny." Gino you're right as far as OT accuracy, hats off. But from what I read, he doesnt want OT accuracy.

 

[CSMacLaren]

And none of the real helmets are that clean polished so most of these suggestions are just plain wrong if you are going for the original prop look - but seeing as this is for regular helmets it may look nicer as a overly shiny display piece rather than the original look crappy paint job.

ESB era photos of the screenused Vader prop show orange peeling on the dome. A lacquer coating over the black paint has been observed on one ESB prop. The coating may itself have been polished, thereby providing the wet look while allowing the orange peeling of the paint to coexist.

But for regular trooping, the above methods work out just fine! Seems like a ROTS Vader would be a superb candidate for this too....

 

[Darth Movado]

Folks,

I coming to you with an open request. What the hell has happened to my helmet after 8 years of a flawless paint job and what is the best remedy (if any) short of a strip and repaint? This "reaction" started about six months ago with a small spot in dead center of the helmet, just above the dome line. Within two weeks, it had spread to some of the cheek area and neck. Now, it covers 90% of the mask. The dome is unaffected as it was repainted approximately 2 years ago due to a bubble/crack in the back. It was painted professionally at an automotive bodyshop. Any thoughts? Has my paint job just just oxidized? When it comes to armor, casting/molding are my thing. Painting, I know nothing about. I've attached images of the face mask in full on suicide mode......the "crazing" of the black strip down one side (the last image) is just freaky to me.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Jesse

 

[Too Much Garlic]

Must admit I've never seen anything like that before. And that last picture... it looks cool but I have no clue what caused it.

Did you use cheap paints? Did you prep the surface of the helmet before painting? In what manner were you displaying it? Steady temperature, out of the sun, etc.? Still... why the heck did it take 8 years to show?

Stripping can be done a number of ways. Some use Acetone - can affect the gelcoat of the mask. Some use brake fluid - can affect the gelcoat of the mask if it is made of cheap resin. Others just sand it down.

Good luck, man.

 

[Clutch]

I know I've seen that effect before. Just can't remember where. Seems like washing a painted kit or something caused it. I know that is of little help. Sorry.

 

[Too Much Garlic]

I know I've seen that effect before. Just can't remember where. Seems like washing a painted kit or something caused it. I know that is of little help. Sorry.

If it's a reaction to detergent, can it be buffed out?

 

[yakcam]

I'm not 100% sure, but I'm thinking that one paint job was enamel and the other was acrylic.

You can get the hazing effect when too much thinners is used and it "Flashes off" where the thinners rise to the surface but it can be polished out. Also the "crazing", which looks like a raised network of hard bubbles and not cracks? That can be attibuted to thinners too. The only problem with that it that both usually happen early, either during or shortly after painting.

I suppose that if you've kept it in a hot area or exposed to sunlight it mat have caused underlying problems to arise?

Just a thought.

Cheers,

Kraig

 

[PHArchivist]

as far as wetsanding goes - how many coats of paint do I need apply so I dont have to worry about the wetsanding revealing the primer???

How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tooysie-Roll pop!?

 

[Darth Movado]

Thanks guys. I'm going to try to wax it/buff it up a bit in a test spot at first and then I'll strip it down and just redo the whole thing. It's just kind of crazy. Especially after eight years........ Like I said, this helmet was painted professionally by the maker about 8 years ago (at least that is what I was told. It's a DP pull. However, I do have my doubts about his prep. The dome did develop a bubble on the back and that bubble did expand and eventually crack, forcing a repaint which I had done professionally by an autobody repairman. I may ask the same guy to take a look at this. He was just kind of expensive. The helmet remains in a temperature controlled office, not direct exposure to sunlight at all (actually stays kind of dark in the corner) and was trooped in on occasion but was always returned, wiped down with a tack cloth (never any cleaners, etc.) I'm a bit perplexed......hence why I put it out to the folks at the RPF.

Jesse

 

[Darth Movado]

Well, with a little work with some older brillo pads, some mild, soapy water and a few coats of Novus armor polish (3, 2 and 1). I've been able to bring the helmet back to trooping status for the short term. I still think a complete strip and repaint is in this bucket's future, but for now, I was happy to get it ready for the Star Wars Night at Turner Field on Friday.

 

[Too Much Garlic]

That's looking great. Hope you had fun. .)