I have looked, and looked at this bucket all day off and on, and I don't think it needs TLC, but a stick of TNT. Sorry Hunter, but if you can rehab it you will indeed be the Fett expert.
You dont need to be pro at doing many things. My suggestion for those raised spots is to file or sand them off. If the surface gets really thin, add fiberglass to it. If you poke a hole in one part while filing, just glue in a piece of cardboard behind it and add body filler and smooth it out. So its not that much TLC to get this working but.
I have looked, and looked at this bucket all day off and on, and I don't think it needs TLC, but a stick of TNT. Sorry Hunter, but if you can rehab it you will indeed be the Fett expert.
This is a tough one. It isn't just bumps and depressions, the whole thing is wonky. If I was going to try to fix it I would take auto putty and fill all the depressions I could find, then I would take 60 grit sandpaper and just go at the whole helmet until the surface was pretty much even all over. It'll be a lot of work, but if you're willing to do it I think there is some potential in there for a decent lid.