My Ugly Duckling Recasted MH Progress thread

Ok, well it turned out just as I thought it would. The newer cloth is sooooo much better to work with and I think looks cleaner in the end, over the matt. All the area's, minus the keyslot area is covered and Im just waiting for it to cure and the re-inforcement should be done. I'll try to start the massive bondoing that it will need. I think Im going to spray primer over it too before that, just because Im kinda sick of looking at all the scratches/nastiness on it, as well as clearly point out the problem areas.

Oh yea, Im going to get the gel-coat stuff in a can from west-marine so that I can coat the inside, and keep myself from getting cut up.

001-25.jpg


You can see one side is the newer cloth, the rest is the matt.

I think my order of operation for this will be:

-wait for the fibeglass to cure
-primer
-cut key slots out
-bondo helmet rim
-get new keyslots/attach and bondo
-fiberglass over keyslot area
-gel-coat
-finish up bondoing spots
-sand and primer

After doing all the above, I think that it should be good to go

-tubachris
 
Looking better already! Those ears look fine to me, size-wise.

What's your opinion on the strength of the fiberglass cloth versus the mat? I used the mat on my gauntlets and while they are now very strong, it was not a fun process with all the strands sticking to everything. I'd like to fiberglass the resin helmet I've got coming in, but would like to avoid the mat if the cloth is just as strong.
 
Looking better already! Those ears look fine to me, size-wise.

What's your opinion on the strength of the fiberglass cloth versus the mat? I used the mat on my gauntlets and while they are now very strong, it was not a fun process with all the strands sticking to everything. I'd like to fiberglass the resin helmet I've got coming in, but would like to avoid the mat if the cloth is just as strong.


I dont really think theres much a difference in strength between the two, however, I think that the cloth should be stronger, just because it is woven, unlike the matt. I originally got the cloth just because the matt was too messy and made me waste time trying to pic off the fibers that stuck to my fingers (i am wearing gloves btw).

For the ears, yea, I think they do look fine, I just need to chop off the part already casted onto itself.

Not to sound totally weird or absolutly nutz, but I have actually taken a liking to the smell of fiberglass. Not that im going to sit there and sniff it all day or anything, but I can tolerate it without it bothering me. Dont ask me why, because I dont know rofl

-tubachris
(I feel the same way saxter)
 
Not to sound totally weird or absolutly nutz, but I have actually taken a liking to the smell of fiberglass. Not that im going to sit there and sniff it all day or anything, but I can tolerate it without it bothering me. Dont ask me why, because I dont know rofl


:lol:

Uh huh, and that happens right before you lose consciousness, and pass out :lol:

Just kidding. Some people are like that. It never bothered me from day one years and years ago. Then, there are those that can't tolerate it in the least. I've always wondered how that can be, and does in mean that one person is genetically prone from the other to get cancer or something from it because they have too much tolerance, like a marker. "Tag, you're it " sort of thing :lol:

Just be careful. Don't get too used to it, without a mask or something. You're still breathing in styrene monomers. Ya know, "Known to the State of California to cause .... <insert disease here> ". At least make sure you've got a window open or something if the weather permits.

Sorry wasn't trying to hijack, it just makes me nervous seeing people get into this stuff for the first time :lol:

Good luck with the helmet. You've got quite the job ahead. But it sounds like you've got a good mind set about you.

FP
 
:lol:

Uh huh, and that happens right before you lose consciousness, and pass out :lol:

Just kidding. Some people are like that. It never bothered me from day one years and years ago. Then, there are those that can't tolerate it in the least. I've always wondered how that can be, and does in mean that one person is genetically prone from the other to get cancer or something from it because they have too much tolerance, like a marker. "Tag, you're it " sort of thing :lol:

Just be careful. Don't get too used to it, without a mask or something. You're still breathing in styrene monomers. Ya know, "Known to the State of California to cause .... <insert disease here> ". At least make sure you've got a window open or something if the weather permits.

Sorry wasn't trying to hijack, it just makes me nervous seeing people get into this stuff for the first time :lol:

Good luck with the helmet. You've got quite the job ahead. But it sounds like you've got a good mind set about you.

FP

Thanks, I appreciate your concern for the noobs at certain aspects of this hobby. I always make sure that I work outside and that I maintain some level of protection. Just certain things Ive worked with that are *dangerous* never seem to have an effect on me, like MDF dust, I dont breath it in or anything, but wearing a mask sometimes just became to combersome. I do an on and off thing when it comes to that.

To be honest, the only time Ive ever blacked out was after standing up to fast after practicing a very long tuba piece....man that was not fun..
 
Hey mate, here's the shots of my ugly bucket with the rim during/after repair. It's kind of reassuring knowing someone else is scratchin' their noggin over similar problems around the same time as me!

IMG%5D

IMG%5D
IMG_0392.jpg
IMG_0389.jpg



IMG%5D
IMG_0603.jpg
IMG_0599.jpg


Its cool to keep up with your progress, looks like its coming on nicely! I was going to FG the inside, but like you said previously its so messy I couldn't handle evrything in the garage sticking to my gloves and immovable fibres on the driveway which happened last time I experimented. So i just epoxy puttied it, with some body filler too.

I'm sure its been said many times about Fett but it really tickles me how much work you can put into a piece of **** just to getting it look like... a piece of **** :D I guess its just a very particular and charming piece of ****.

Which version Fett are you doing btw?
IMG%5D
 
It takes a lot of guts to tackle a wasted bucket like this dude! And a lot of craftmanship, which you obviously do not seem to lack! Great stuff! (y) More pics please!!

Peter8)
 
Hey mate, here's the shots of my ugly bucket with the rim during/after repair. It's kind of reassuring knowing someone else is scratchin' their noggin over similar problems around the same time as me!

IMG%5D

IMG%5D
IMG_0392.jpg
IMG_0389.jpg



IMG%5D
IMG_0603.jpg
IMG_0599.jpg


Its cool to keep up with your progress, looks like its coming on nicely! I was going to FG the inside, but like you said previously its so messy I couldn't handle evrything in the garage sticking to my gloves and immovable fibres on the driveway which happened last time I experimented. So i just epoxy puttied it, with some body filler too.

I'm sure its been said many times about Fett but it really tickles me how much work you can put into a piece of **** just to getting it look like... a piece of **** :D I guess its just a very particular and charming piece of ****.

Which version Fett are you doing btw?
IMG%5D


Oh wow man, thats an amazing result! You did an awsome job! Im just wanting an ESB style, however, Im going to have another member paint it up for me, cause I cant paint worth anything. Tried detailed painting, and failed miserably :cry Great job again bro! (y)(y)(y)

It takes a lot of guts to tackle a wasted bucket like this dude! And a lot of craftmanship, which you obviously do not seem to lack! Great stuff! (y) More pics please!!

Peter8)

Thank you for your compliment, I really appreciate it. I think the fiberglassing was the easy part actually, the bondo is going to be the hard part of it, but I think I can handle it.

Hey Blipper, I think that both of our helmets came from the same recaster...you see on your helmet's mandibles, on the right side if your facing it, towards the bottom on the visor, is a long clump of fiberglass? That was on my helmet in the same exact spot.

As for an update, the fibergalss is still not dry. I have no other explanation for it, other then its probably the cold weather? It was really warm when I started and it the temp just droped.

Anyways, still waiting for it to set and cure, most of it did, just large parts havent. Its amazing now, that the helmet is about the same weight as my MR clone helmet, and I like it when it feels 'real' too. Will try to get more work done when I can lol Thanks guys


-tubachris
 
damn!... it's like looking in a mirror, blob for blob! Hope the FG sets mate. Nice choice on ESB, same here.

Yea, they seem pretty identical from the pics you showed me, however, I think that you got a better casting then the one I have, but it may have been just as bad, because I know pics dont show how bad it truly is.

Also, the fiberglass is setting now, not 100%, but better then it was. Im thinking its either the cold weather, or that I may have possibly not put enough hardner into the resin. But I dont know, either way, it will harden out eventually.

Another 'also,' I will soon be getting more fettpride gear to beutify this thing, will be getting the keyslots and MQ-1 board casting. This thing shoud be a swan when Im through with it. Thanks everyone

-tubachris
 
Yikes!

Well I just start a little more clean up of the visor area. Using files and such, I began grinding down the excess fiberglass and pieces that shouldnt be there. Its not 100% clean, but its ALOT better then it has looked. I trimmed the extra FG from my -re-inforcement, and left a little sticking out of the rim so that I have a "wall" to form the bondo onto.

Some areas, like the inside, top portion and bottom parts of the mandibles are partialy hollow, as I said before, some areas are either just too thick or too thin.

Well, Im going to see what else I can sand off, and Im going to start the bonoing phase

-tubachris
 
This thing just gained another pound or two.....

001-26.jpg


Anyways, its pretty self-explanatory, I applied the bondo to where I could right now, I was frantically rushing because it starts to set pretty quickly. I also choped off the ear that was already attached to it. Turns out that it was just one giant piece of solid fiberglass resin, nothing else. So I bondo'ed that up, and I just need to adjust it so that I can fit the FP ears that I have.

Im pretty sure Im going to have to sand and re-apply more bondo over time to get the rim the way I want it.

Thats it for now.

-tubachris
 
Hmm..Since I cant sleep much right now, I figured I can update as to whats happening..

Ive been patiently waiting for the bondo to cure, and harden up...but apparently, weather is not allowing it too, there have been constant temp. variations, from really cold, dry air, so somewhat warm and humid air, since the time between applying the bondo and now.

I really really wanted to be able to have sanded it down yesterday, but this is happening.

Also, I got some more gear on the way to help turn this thing into a swan or at least in my attempt to. Much thanks goes to fettpride for helping me with these pieces. Will post *pics* when they arrive.

-tubachris
 
Dude.. is that regular Bondo? Because the standard Bondo I got this week turns dark pink when you mix the hardening paste with it... it's the colour it is in your picture before you add the hardening paste to it.

It won't cure unless you mix the two together.
It might be different stuff than what I got, but the Bondo I bought came with a tube too.
 
Hey Chris,

You have done an outstanding job on this lid buddy (y)

I think your ugly duckling really is turning into a swan :)
 
Dude.. is that regular Bondo? Because the standard Bondo I got this week turns dark pink when you mix the hardening paste with it... it's the colour it is in your picture before you add the hardening paste to it.

It won't cure unless you mix the two together.
It might be different stuff than what I got, but the Bondo I bought came with a tube too.

I just bought the auto body filler, its the one with the car on it, and has a reddish color to it. Im starting to think that I may have not added enough hardener to the mix...

I took that pic shortly after adding the bondo

Hey Chris,

You have done an outstanding job on this lid buddy (y)

I think your ugly duckling really is turning into a swan :)

Thanks, but its only just begun!
 
yeah it looks too white. waaaay to white. you might wanna wipe off and try again. :(

I'm enjoying watching your progress with this. I ALMOST ended up with one of these buckets but SF saved the day for me lol. Its neat to see people fix stuff up.
 
I agree... you're doing a fantastic job cleaning this bucket up! It's looking really great!

Yeah, so you did buy the one that came with the tube of hardener, eh?
That's what I used... it will stay very soft if you didn't add enough. It should be a dark pink (have a look at the terrible job I did on my keyholes on my Budget Bucket thread... that's what it looked like when I used it... it was still curing when I took the picture)
 
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