The "I'm painting a Captain America Shield" thread

[grey matter]

Well I've actually stripped my shield 3 times now. I seem to be able to lay the blue and the red outer circles down perfect. However after doing a really careful masking job covering the groove between the blue and the red circle, laying the paint down, letting it dry for a decent period of time, upon removal of the tape I always seem to end up lifting some of the red paint away around the edges near the groove without fail. I have no idea why this keeps happening as it doesn't on the outer circle or on the blue circle I'm guessing I've hit the red to heavy around the centre and it's drying to the tape edges.

Frustrating to say the least any one got any tips? Has anyone used liquid masking fluid? How easy is it to remove, and will it not damage the paint of using it to cover the blue groove before hitting the red?

Thanks for any help.

Have you tried using an exacto knife to cut in the groove around where the tape is to ensure no paint is connected to the tape? that usually works for me on other projects. Be sure the knife is super sharp, like brand new.

 

[kirks007]

Well, we're getting closer. I painted a bit a few days ago and left in despair, thinking that the whole shield had been ruined while I was re-doing the blue and subsequently clear coating. The Duplicolor blue looked to be coming out strangely (it didn't look anodized at all), but I went ahead and clear coated anyways out of frustration. When I left, I was resigned to either stripping the entire shield or maybe giving up completely. When I checked the shield today, the situation had improved a bunch:


Still have some orange peeling on the clear coat and some weird distortion on the blue that may or may not be the clear, but could be the blue itself. In any case, I'm happy enough with the red rings. Hopefully, some wet sanding will fix everything. Worst case, I re-do the blue and clear that area alone. Compared to how I thought it would look when I left the other day, I'm incredibly happy.

Hope these last few steps work out!

 

[Valor]

Wet sanding is your friend.

 

[Tanker]

hey man, where did you buy the aluminum shield blank? can you send me a link, address or something like that? Please?

Look up ROLO for the spun aluminum shield blank and Valor for the center star and handle kit.

 

[ataru72ita]

hey man, where did you buy the aluminum shield blank? can you send me a link, address or something like that? Please?

As someone suggested You search "shield" in the WTB section of the Junkyard and here You go with the answer:

http://www.therpf.com/f74/captain-america-spun-aluminum-blank-shield-216437/?highlight=shield

Regards,

Alberto

 

[Casey009]

I'm painting my Shield and just finished spraying on the Red Rings, but the paint seems a little powdery... Never used this Duplicolor Metal cast before and this is my First Cap Shield.
Was planing to let it set over night and then wet sand hoping that would remove the dustyness of the paint but leave the color... Then if so, tape off and do the blue next...
I'm just taking a shot in the dark here, can someone tell me if this is common of this paint and if I'm on the right track?

 

[Kevin Gossett]

You're spraying too far away from the shield and the paint is partially drying before it hits the shield. Spray closer next time

 

[IamJAd]

You're spraying too far away from the shield and the paint is partially drying before it hits the shield. Spray closer next time

Agreed. Closer and slower.

10 minutes between coats.

3-4 coats should do it.

 

[Casey009]

Thanks So much, in your experience Is there a way to save the current paint job that you know of, or should I strip it back down with acitone and start over?

 

[IamJAd]

Thanks So much, in your experience Is there a way to save the current paint job that you know of, or should I strip it back down with acitone and start over?

Strip it. I can't tell you how many times I had to. It'll come out so much better!

 

[Casey009]

Strip it. I can't tell you how many times I had to. It'll come out so much better!

Well... Back to square one.
Looks Like I'm going to buy some Acitone and more soft rags.

Anyone know...should I be doing any kind of base clear coat before painting so the paint will help stick? I've been painting right to the metal.

Also, how long do you normally wait for it to sit before doing the clear coat at the end? I am worried about going too slow and getting rust.

 

[IamJAd]

Well... Back to square one.
Looks Like I'm going to buy some Acitone and more soft rags.

Anyone know...should I be doing any kind of base clear coat before painting so the paint will help stick? I've been painting right to the metal.

Also, how long do you normally wait for it to sit before doing the clear coat at the end? I am worried about going too slow and getting rust.

Terry cloth towels helped me take the majority of the paint off. Old cut up tshirts to complete it. But a word of warning-- be careful of hidden lint on the shield surface. It won't be seen until you lay paint down, and then you'll curse before you have to strip again!

If you have a spun aluminum shield, no base coat of anything is needed.

Finally, I'd wait a week for the paint to fully cure before clear coating.

 

[Lord Magneto]

Well I feel completely lazy. Had 4 full days off from work and barely touched my sled. Removed some rust and stripped the blue off again but never got around to throwing down more paint.

Looks like I will doing attempt number 4 tomorrow. Will record another video... This time with the paint going on correctly(or so I hope haha)


on a side note been working on a new 8 bit retro intro for my YouTube channel... Hopefully will be starting that all back up again shortly

 

[mercuryapollo]

As someone else suggested I found one heavy wet coat works best.

Also so it it just me or does the blue go down much better than the red. One attempt and it went down nice and even. Probably a good can and the fact that it is a smaller area.

 

[drakeprimeone]

Yup, the blue is easier due to small surface area you have to paint. The large red rings take several sweeps leaving you open to uneven paint, splatters, etc

 

[Casey009]

Advice needed:
So I re-painted my red yesterday, looks alot better, went heavy and a little closer...much more shiny and rich color. Still a little dust from the can, but not like before.
Waited about 24hours, now do I wet sand the red lightly, tape off and paint my blue, then wait a week and clear coat??

 

[drakeprimeone]

Are you doing spun aluminum or sled? You shouldn't wet sand the actual paint imo

 

[Casey009]

Are you doing spun aluminum or sled? You shouldn't wet sand the actual paint imo

Spun aluminum, so I do Red, Bule w/ a space taped off slightly for the star to jb weld and then wait a week... Then add the star and clear coat?
Or should I clear coat the star seperate and add it on last?
I'm trying to most through my WIP quickly as I'm most worried about any rust till it's clear coated.

 

[drakeprimeone]

Spun aluminum, so I do Red, Bule w/ a space taped off slightly for the star to jb weld and then wait a week... Then add the star and clear coat?
Or should I clear coat the star seperate and add it on last?
I'm trying to most through my WIP quickly as I'm most worried about any rust till it's clear coated.

There really isn't a need to wait a week. The paint generally cures after 24 hours. You would be on a stricter time table if you were doing the steel sled but if it is the aluminum blank, rusting shouldn't be an issue.. that said you don't need to wait a week. Clear coat the star separate from the shield (making sure to keep the section you are going to jb weld free from clear coat).

 

[jeffreygullett]

I got my aluminum blank yesterday. It's glorious! A little heavier than I was expecting, but absolutely beautiful. I don't think I'll get it finished before SDCC though.