Slip's Ironman build - Cramped for time...

[SlipOfTheFinger]

Hey all,

I'm newly registered but I've been lurking around for a while. Was hoping to get my Ironman suit done for this Halloween, but I've treaded into deeper water and I've become somewhat discouraged due to what I consider setbacks.

All pieces other than those stated were modeled by callmemilo and unfolded by Belakor.
(I dont know how to say these so Ill just put the file names :confused)
IronManChest_ArrangedBy_KrovikanCorvinus
IronManBack by Dancing_Fool Unfolded by Remraf ReScaled

(I dont know if these pictures will show.. As I'm linking from facebook)

Question 1:
My first attempt using rondo, hoping to increase the chest's strength; has one layer of resin on the outside and one of fiberglass on inside; then checking about an hour after applying, and its still shiny.. So, what do I do if I didn't add enough hardener to the rondo mix?



Now this really makes me sad, this was done before the rondoing.. In hopes of making my helmet look all pro with the rounded face and whatnot without actually using a hi-def pep model. Never using bondo before, I guess I paniced when it started drying super fast and ended up looking like this:

After a bit of sanding its still not how I would like it:

Question 2:
How.. do I fix this?



Sweet now for progress pictures that dont make me feel so dissapointed!

No idea how these shoulder bells ended up different sizes:

While its too dark to be in the garage, I'm working on finishing up the Neck/shoulders, staring at the ab plates that I cant bend in and trying to figure out how I'm going to do the crotch plate.

Thanks for looking.

 

[Cashew]

1: You might have to re-do the chest piece.... I don't know of any way to cure resin like that, and, odds are its gonna be better/faster to redo it properly, then walk around in a sticky gooey chest.


2: Sand, Bondo, Sand, Bondo, Sand, Bondo, Primer, Sand, Bondo, sand, primer... (You're gonna have to repeat the series a few times till its picture perfect.... )


Good luck!

 

[RHansen]

bondo takes ALOT of time and patience to get down right, the ones we all see being perfectly smooth are after many many times over with sanding and reapplying bondo.

keep it up and you'll be there

 

[SlipOfTheFinger]

Thanks guys,

I was loosing hope but it seems like it was going -mostly- according to how it should. I will keep at it, provided I still believe I can finish by my deadline!

 

[tubachris85x]

Thanks guys,

I was loosing hope but it seems like it was going -mostly- according to how it should. I will keep at it, provided I still believe I can finish by my deadline!

It's the same exact reason why I decided to overlay clay over my darktrooper helmet sculpt. But that was only because I plan to mold it, not sure if you are or not

 

[SlipOfTheFinger]

Good news the chest has dried! I guess with it getting colder and my lack of experience with the stuff I judged too soon on its drying time.

It's the same exact reason why I decided to overlay clay over my darktrooper helmet sculpt. But that was only because I plan to mold it, not sure if you are or not

I wont be molding my helmet, Bondo was a stretch for me to work with and I don't think I'm ready for learning to use clay just yet.

Not planning on making this helmet open or anything, just hoping to get all the shape and everything of the costume done for Halloween. If I have time then I'll figure out the electronics and things.

Will upload more pictures when I get off work.

Note: I'm a super slow worker. :sick

 

[Dung0beetle]

If you need to work on it indoors between bondo steps, you can dust it with baby powder, baking soda, or baking powder to get rid of the toxic smell.

 

[SlipOfTheFinger]

If you need to work on it indoors between bondo steps, you can dust it with baby powder, baking soda, or baking powder to get rid of the toxic smell.

Awesome, thanks for the tip! I admit, I was stalking your work before I registered... I love it!

I'm still not quite sure if I'm doing this bondo stuff correctly.. Today I ran out of Fiberglass mat and resin; but not before I rondoed the helmet. (Not sure if that was the right move.. But I did so anyways!)

I think it's starting to look better, but I'm still not so confident on how to use the stuff.


According to my sketchy math.. I'm about 40% done, which worries me.

Chest Front - Hardening is done
Chest back - Still needs to be resined
Shoulders - One is mid-fiberglass, have to remake other
Abs - Trying to wait till chest/back and COD are done.. before I attempt it
Right Bicep - Fiberglass is done
Left Bicep - Needs fiberglass
Bracers - Fiberglassed
COD - I got nothing.. Haha
Right Thigh - Fiberglass is done
Left Thigh - Fiberglass is half done
Shins - Needs fiberglass
Right boot - Needs fiberglass
Left boot - Fiberglass is drying

Arc Reactor - Ready to work(Nothing special, just a store bought taplight thing)
Wrist light thingies - None (Dont have gloves)
Foamy Neck - 90% done, just need reinforcement and Velcro


Also, seeing how much difficulty I'm having with the helmet, I'm leaning towards not bondoing the outside of the other pieces, considering how little time I have left. Suggestions?

Question:
How do I know when to apply more bondo?

Thanks for looking.

 

[Finhead]

Are you using Bondo or automotive grade filler? If your using bondo it's pretty hard not the best to work with.
You can put another layer on just as soon at the first is dry enough to sand, should be less than 10-15 min depending on how your mixing. By the looks of your photos your mixing hot so should be pretty quick. I would try and mix smaller batches and smooth it out more as you go instead of the rough patches your working on. Makes it much easier to sand and form. What grit of sandpaper are you starting with? You should work form rough to fine, start as low as 40 grit and work your way up no need to rough sand with fine sandpaper if you just going to put another layer of filler on.
JMO on this stuff though, other's might do it different.

 

[WarPig]

Have you considered cheating a bit, and purchasing a helmet?

 

[SlipOfTheFinger]

Are you using Bondo or automotive grade filler? If your using bondo it's pretty hard not the best to work with.
You can put another layer on just as soon at the first is dry enough to sand, should be less than 10-15 min depending on how your mixing. By the looks of your photos your mixing hot so should be pretty quick. I would try and mix smaller batches and smooth it out more as you go instead of the rough patches your working on. Makes it much easier to sand and form. What grit of sandpaper are you starting with? You should work form rough to fine, start as low as 40 grit and work your way up no need to rough sand with fine sandpaper if you just going to put another layer of filler on.
JMO on this stuff though, other's might do it different.

Hey Finhead, I'm using Bondo Body Filler (red tin can; 3.3kg of it..). I think I'm not sure of the grit of sand paper, just mostly whatever came with the Mouse sander I have.

And, I'll take your advice in high regards; as I've seen your work! :$

Have you considered cheating a bit, and purchasing a helmet?

I haven't considered buying a helmet, at all, due to, how fun it is making these things; and personally, with it being my first project, I feel if I bought a helmet I wouldn't be getting the full experience of Tony Stark.

Though I have considered replacing my current helmet with Dung0Beetle's, but I haven't gotten around to it since replacing parts aren't so high on my priority list after I already have one; even though it may be less shaped.

 

[SlipOfTheFinger]

A small update:

Applied another layer of bondo to the helmet, I think its starting to look better.

Also started primer-ing. Didn't realize how much the primer would bring out the imperfections, now I'm really thinking about adding bondo but dont want to add too much time sanding.
Thigh:

Chest:

Question:
If left unbondoed, and I just added the paint onto the primer the way it is, would it still look like it does now but colored?