Painful painting

[ClockworkRonin]

So while trying to apply paint to my ANH Stunt Helm i relized I might be the worst painter in the entire Empire. Does anyone have any tips? I dont want to have to go out and purchase decals after buying paint and modelling brushes...

 

I appreciate any input

[ClockworkRonin]

and I have *realized I can't type fast and spell haha

[I'm Batman[501st]]

Practice and patience. Grab some spare ABS, or paper for that matter and just practice painting straight lines. Other will probably chime in with types of brushes that may be best. I just used whatever old modelling brush I had in my paint kit.

[SCTrooper[TK]]

Trooperbay sells stencils for painting the details. These are a godsend for us lacking painting skills.

[pandatrooper[TK]]

Draw some pencil guidelines first matching the screens or photos from original helmets. Starwarshelmets.com is a good resource.

 

Don't prep your surface with alcohol, use dish detergent, rinse and dry. Watch out for lint.

 

Use a flat brush no wider than 1/4" and paint up to the pencil lines. Do black first for the front traps, tear ducts and rear vents. Do one coat, then let it dry overnight before you do another coat. Top coating right away will lift the previous coat.

 

After the black is done then do the gray the same way. 2 coats. Then do the lines with a round brush like a 0 or 00.

 

Tubes stripes I cut from vinyl and airbrush them but they can be done with a brush if you're careful.

 

Check my Ata helmet build thread, lots of pics there.

[gazmosis[501st]]

LISTEN TO TERRY!!!!

 

I would like to ad that there is an option #2.  If you choose to paint the gray first then pinstripe the black line around it and the details within, you are an adventurous soul but it can be done with the right tools. What I recommend for this is a quality brush.
If it costs a couple dollars more so be it. The quality of your bristles will affect your outcome. Make sure this is a thin bristled brush with long bristles (like 3/4 inch). Practice on scrap by marking both straight and curved pencil lines. The long bristles will allow you to make long, even strokes similar to pinstriping on a car.

[russellr2d2[TK]]

Get the trooper bay stencils. Then paint in the BLACK line first then fill in the gray it is sooooo much easier. The stencils may need some fitting and trimming to fit. Experiment first with them. And yes buy a nice brush. I found a flat 1/4" brush most useful for the long sides and straight lines. Use a pointed brush for rounded corners. "Cut into the lines" with the brush. Move up to the outside edge with the black paint and brush. Yes! Practice first on scrap. I've been through art school so I know his to do this but you can too with some practice. Let the gray area dry overnight then use the trooper bay stencils to do all the thin vertical lines. Put the stencil down and rub the edges with a pencil eraser and then first paint over with the background color. Either white or gray. Then paint in the lines blk or blue. The tube stripes require you cut apart the stencil in a couple places because it does not lay flat over the compound curves of the tubes of the helmet. Paint white over them first. Allow to dry for an hour. Then paint the blue. Allow an hour then peel slowly. You will still need to do dome fixing. I still had a few leaks. I cleaned the up with 1000 grit sand paper and soapy water. Fold over the paper to create a sharp edge and use it to cut off the bleed. You will not notice the slight dulled area where you took off the bleed.

 

Well pretty involved but the I best paint jobs come from slow work and a plan and patience to carry it out.

 

I wish you all he best luck and have fun in the process!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[ClockworkRonin]

Wow thanks all. I did not realize there were stencils as well as decals. I think I'll probably go that route. The penciling solution then following up with paint doesnt seem to be for me because my armor is already glossy ABS and very hard to write on. And what was the reason for not using alchohol to prep? Does it

[ClockworkRonin]

I know it says this somewhere but I cant for life of me find it, and I want to make sure the stencils fit so I'm wondering...since I accidently made an ebay purchase before joining the site and have a CTM props helm...will these stencils work? I know the CTM guys recast from TE2 for the armor but that the bucket has a different origin. Does anyone know what the CTM helmet really is? Ive ruled out FX, vintage Don Post's, Rubies, eFX and RSPropmasters... 

[ClockworkRonin]

And I have no idea whats with the last two posts, my computer is acting...weird