Stormtrooper pepakura build by first-time costumer - still alive!
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Korban
Member
Re: Stormtrooper pepakura build by first-time costumer - fiberglass done!
Hey guys! Funny you should ask... I actually "dusted it off" (okay, it's still covered in sanding dust) last night and logged into The RPF for the first time in four months. I haven't worked on it due to other commitments, but I have a new goal of getting it finished in the next month, in time for .LAN 2012.
I think I just need another coat of Bondo and some shaping to do, plus some sanding of the fiberglass on the inside. Then some paint and finish, and I'll be done! Thanks for asking! I should have some progress made in the coming days.
Hey guys! Funny you should ask... I actually "dusted it off" (okay, it's still covered in sanding dust) last night and logged into The RPF for the first time in four months. I haven't worked on it due to other commitments, but I have a new goal of getting it finished in the next month, in time for .LAN 2012.
I think I just need another coat of Bondo and some shaping to do, plus some sanding of the fiberglass on the inside. Then some paint and finish, and I'll be done! Thanks for asking! I should have some progress made in the coming days.
Korban
Member
Okay, I have more left to do than I thought! :lol This post isn't going to be kind of bland, and focuses more on my setup than anything else. Now that I'm starting work on it again, future posts will be more interesting. I promise I won't be upset if you skip this one.
First things first, when I left off last November it was plenty chilly here in Wisconsin, and I didn't have a good area to work on the project anymore. Our balcony, though a bit cramped, worked pretty well, but with the colder weather it just wasn't going to cut it, and I didn't like the mess it made.
My dad dug up a metal frame that's been in the basement of his office for going on two decades. A few months ago we put some boards on it, then topped it with a smooth, thin, coated board on top to make working with body filler and such easier. Due to time and excuses, I never made it out to the garage to get the setup all put together, and for months it sat.
Obligatory disclaimer: Being a photographer, I cringe at these awful photos, but the iPhone 4 doesn't hold up as well in low light and I didn't want to go get my camera inside, lest I never process the images.
Lookin' quite sad! I gathered up most of my costuming stuff and dumped it here, save for my respirator, which is still missing (I'm guessing I misplaced it along with my motivation). Today I put up the pegboard, brought an extension cord over, re-purposed two old reptile heat lamps to act as overhead lights, and cleaned up the bench.
Here you can see my OSHA-approved electrical setup. :lol I couldn't find two screws with small enough heads to mount the power strip along the 2x4" with the pegboard, but once I do I'll run the lamp cords behind it and it'll look nice and clean. I'd like to put up some small shelves to clean off all but the essentials, but one thing at a time...
I picked this up locally last fall for a mere $15 for a 7lb tub. It also doubles as a step stool! A wobbly, precarious step stool.
Ah, finally, the main attraction and what you all came here to see! This is my helmet after one good coat of Bondo and a fair bit of sanding (mostly on the top and sides). Instead of spending more time sanding, today I applied another, more generous coat everywhere but the front of the face to start building it up, since paper was still showing through in a number of areas.
Tomorrow I'm going to fill in any areas that are still too thin, then do a serious round of sanding to get it looking closer to the end goal. Stay tuned!
First things first, when I left off last November it was plenty chilly here in Wisconsin, and I didn't have a good area to work on the project anymore. Our balcony, though a bit cramped, worked pretty well, but with the colder weather it just wasn't going to cut it, and I didn't like the mess it made.
My dad dug up a metal frame that's been in the basement of his office for going on two decades. A few months ago we put some boards on it, then topped it with a smooth, thin, coated board on top to make working with body filler and such easier. Due to time and excuses, I never made it out to the garage to get the setup all put together, and for months it sat.
Obligatory disclaimer: Being a photographer, I cringe at these awful photos, but the iPhone 4 doesn't hold up as well in low light and I didn't want to go get my camera inside, lest I never process the images.
Lookin' quite sad! I gathered up most of my costuming stuff and dumped it here, save for my respirator, which is still missing (I'm guessing I misplaced it along with my motivation). Today I put up the pegboard, brought an extension cord over, re-purposed two old reptile heat lamps to act as overhead lights, and cleaned up the bench.
Here you can see my OSHA-approved electrical setup. :lol I couldn't find two screws with small enough heads to mount the power strip along the 2x4" with the pegboard, but once I do I'll run the lamp cords behind it and it'll look nice and clean. I'd like to put up some small shelves to clean off all but the essentials, but one thing at a time...
I picked this up locally last fall for a mere $15 for a 7lb tub. It also doubles as a step stool! A wobbly, precarious step stool.
Ah, finally, the main attraction and what you all came here to see! This is my helmet after one good coat of Bondo and a fair bit of sanding (mostly on the top and sides). Instead of spending more time sanding, today I applied another, more generous coat everywhere but the front of the face to start building it up, since paper was still showing through in a number of areas.
Tomorrow I'm going to fill in any areas that are still too thin, then do a serious round of sanding to get it looking closer to the end goal. Stay tuned!
EyeofSauron
Master Member
you are using way too much bondo
paper showing is not a bad thing. bondo should be applied as thin as possible
paper showing is not a bad thing. bondo should be applied as thin as possible
Korban
Member
Looking back on terra1's build, I see how thin the Bondo layer was there. Oops! More fun sanding time for me, it seems. :facepalm
EyeofSauron
Master Member
everyone makes these mistakes someday. just keep going
Darth Storm
New Member
I did the exact same thing mate. I added to much bondo on the first coat as well. Our bad.
SpaceCowboy
Well-Known Member
Re: Stormtrooper pepakura build by first-time costumer - fiberglass done!
I'm glad to see you're working on it again! I hope you can meet your goal!
I'm glad to see you're working on it again! I hope you can meet your goal!
Korban
Member
Yesterday I spent an hour sanding and worked on removing some of the excess Bondo I put on. It's definitely looking better, but still has a ways to go.
I panicked a little when I saw that first paper coming through, but I reminded myself that's okay and kept going.
The front is where it still needs the most love, but it's getting there. Getting into those nooks and around the curves is today's challenge. I made the mistake of looking at everyone else's builds before posting this update, and, wow, do I have a long road ahead of me! :eek
I panicked a little when I saw that first paper coming through, but I reminded myself that's okay and kept going.
The front is where it still needs the most love, but it's getting there. Getting into those nooks and around the curves is today's challenge. I made the mistake of looking at everyone else's builds before posting this update, and, wow, do I have a long road ahead of me! :eek
Korban
Member
Thanks echo5633! It's tough getting into the small crooks to sand! But once that's done it'll start to look a lot better.
I did the exact same thing mate. I added to much bondo on the first coat as well. Our bad.
It's always nice knowing you're not alone. :lol
Thanks MwNN! This is my first time doing something like this, so I don't exactly have the skills or experience either. With the awesome work done by this community, you'd be surprised what you can accomplish following in their steps! Why don't you find one you like and give it a shot? And yes, the support here is incredible! :thumbsup
SpaceCowboy - I feel I owe you more than just my thanks - without your awesome templates this project might not have ever left the ground! Here's to getting it done on time.
chanfan
Sr Member
Keep up the good work!
Bondo is a real b'tch in that it's so effing hard to sand! But at the same time, that's what makes it so good - It's strong!
But yeah, you have your work cut out for you to get that face smooth (and sharp where it needs to be sharp) !
I read that the "setting type" of Joint Compound is easier to work with, but probably only if you are doing a mold and cast of the piece, cause I'm not sure how strong that kind of putty is.
Bondo is a real b'tch in that it's so effing hard to sand! But at the same time, that's what makes it so good - It's strong!
But yeah, you have your work cut out for you to get that face smooth (and sharp where it needs to be sharp) !
I read that the "setting type" of Joint Compound is easier to work with, but probably only if you are doing a mold and cast of the piece, cause I'm not sure how strong that kind of putty is.
SpaceCowboy
Well-Known Member
It looks like your sanding of the dome and back is coming along! I'm looking forward to seeing you tackle the face!! If you're not doing so already, it's always handy to keep reference photos from lots of different angles in front of you while you're working on it.
SpaceCowboy
Well-Known Member
Here's some input for when you're tackling the sanding of the face plate.
It might be easier to "ignore" the mouth grill when you're sanding, and just cut that out later. Ignoring the mouth grill, most of the faceplate can be sanded as as one "plane" (see the image below). When you get to the lower left side of the mouth there is an under bite where the lower faceplate begins to jut out (although you might not want it lopsided like the original). On both sides, from about the last tooth to the sides of the curved nodules, the lower faceplate sticks up higher than the upper (marked by the purple lines). Red lines demonstrate that the upper and lower faceplates are on the same plane. Hope this helps!
MOD EDIT: Link removed due to a virus alert
It might be easier to "ignore" the mouth grill when you're sanding, and just cut that out later. Ignoring the mouth grill, most of the faceplate can be sanded as as one "plane" (see the image below). When you get to the lower left side of the mouth there is an under bite where the lower faceplate begins to jut out (although you might not want it lopsided like the original). On both sides, from about the last tooth to the sides of the curved nodules, the lower faceplate sticks up higher than the upper (marked by the purple lines). Red lines demonstrate that the upper and lower faceplates are on the same plane. Hope this helps!
MOD EDIT: Link removed due to a virus alert
Last edited by a moderator:
Tigerblood
Well-Known Member
Yesterday I spent an hour sanding and worked on removing some of the excess Bondo I put on. It's definitely looking better, but still has a ways to go.
I panicked a little when I saw that first paper coming through, but I reminded myself that's okay and kept going.
The front is where it still needs the most love, but it's getting there. Getting into those nooks and around the curves is today's challenge. I made the mistake of looking at everyone else's builds before posting this update, and, wow, do I have a long road ahead of me! :eek
Find a Harbor Freight and buy a rasping tool to use instead of sanding. Thank me later.
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