Bucket Assembly Question

[TheDrSherlock]

Hey fellow helmet heads,

I've been lurking here and theRPF for a while and have been working on a beskar build. I had a process question that I wanted people's opinion on. I have been working on Great Ape files (so good!) and have most all my armor FDM printed, sanded, bondo'd, sanded, filled, sanded, repeat to now it's glass smooth and ready for my black base, 2k, duralumen, and then repeat 2k. I'm okay with all this. The question is one of order when it comes to the process. I have resin printed the ears and vent to my helmet and am not sure if I should fully paint and finish them as well as the full bucket then glue it all together, or if it's better to glue it all together so it's painted as one cohesive unit. What has been everyone else's workflow? Any insight would be much appreciated.

 

[Builder]

If it was me I would glue it all together. My reasons are,1. You can fit and glue the raw surfaces best and do any filling etc. at that time.
I never trust adhesives over paint or other finishes.You also don't want to take a chance on getting glue on good finished work.
2. Your primer will give you a consistent look at everything before your black layer. While I think of it ,I've had great results using
Dupli-Color Sandable automotive primer #16987.Some times called Hot Rod Black. It is a beautiful flat black that holds the 2K and turns to a great gloss finish.I use 2K clear MAX #3680061. I was given this advice for finishing with Alumaluster ,which came out great, and it should work for you.
Also, work as dust free as you possibly can. Have fun...Builder

 

[TheDrSherlock]

If it was me I would glue it all together. My reasons are,1. You can fit and glue the raw surfaces best and do any filling etc. at that time.
I never trust adhesives over paint or other finishes.You also don't want to take a chance on getting glue on good finished work.
2. Your primer will give you a consistent look at everything before your black layer. While I think of it ,I've had great results using
Dupli-Color Sandable automotive primer #16987.Some times called Hot Rod Black. It is a beautiful flat black that holds the 2K and turns to a great gloss finish.I use 2K clear MAX #3680061. I was given this advice for finishing with Alumaluster ,which came out great, and it should work for you.
Also, work as dust free as you possibly can. Have fun...Builder

I appreciate the advice and thoughts! It is what I was leaning toward. And thanks for the pain advice! That's actually the duplicolor primer and 2K that I have! I saw it mentioned (or something close to it) in another Mr Modelmaker thread, I think either here or on RPF. I'm actually planning on throwing up some plastic sheeting to help cut down dust to block a few shelves where they can sit and dry/cure. Fingers crossed I can keep some dust out.

 

[Builder]

Something else that could be helpful....Do everything you can to be dust free during the spray process.
Besides the covered shelves I also used thin painters plastic ( .31 mil ) to make a spray inclosure to work in.
I lightly spray the inside walls with water from a spray bottle to keep dust down. If you do get a speck of dust
in the 2K ,first or final coat, let it dry really well and with a very small piece of 2000 grit sand paper lightly bring the raised speck
down to the level of the 2K. I then use Meguires Clear Coat Safe polishing compound ,a soft cloth and a little elbow grease, and you're back
to a gloss shine. Just sand as small a spot as you can each time and this works very well.
As you know, impatience is your greatest enemy, drying time is your friend. -Builder

 

[TheDrSherlock]

Something else that could be helpful....Do everything you can to be dust free during the spray process.
Besides the covered shelves I also used thin painters plastic ( .31 mil ) to make a spray inclosure to work in.
I lightly spray the inside walls with water from a spray bottle to keep dust down. If you do get a speck of dust
in the 2K ,first or final coat, let it dry really well and with a very small piece of 2000 grit sand paper lightly bring the raised speck
down to the level of the 2K. I then use Meguires Clear Coat Safe polishing compound ,a soft cloth and a little elbow grease, and you're back
to a gloss shine. Just sand as small a spot as you can each time and this works very well.
As you know, impatience is your greatest enemy, drying time is your friend. -Builder

Oh heck yeah. This is the kind of stuff I’m here for. That’s brilliant. I’m going to block off half my half of the garage into a paint spray area when it’s 2k time. The water spray is genius. I’m planning on making a thread and updating once I get it finished. I’m documenting along the way.