Ok guys, slow down a bit. I haven't been looking at the forum since the MR Thread was yanked last night ...
How about a chance to address this? I have NOT read all of this CURRENT thread yet, but I will, as soon as I have time today, so if anything I'm about to say is redundant, go easy on me.
There are NO SECRET TEMPLATES. The only thing that could be considered a "Secret" is that myself and a few others on this board have been using this method for years. This is not to say that "Others" besides us haven't been using them too.
As I said in the thread that got "yanked" (no way to prove it I suppose, mods can quote me, but I cannot) is not to get me wrong, hand painting achieves some wonderful results, but it is still, by hand, and the human hand is "less perfect" than a computer generated template.
Was I saying that that painting by hand is worthless? Absolutely not ! My point to all of this was simply, this is how MR is going to have to do it to get the same results on a infinite number of helmets to maintain "Consistency".
But, I personally believe, that if you have a choice of many months of blood, sweat, tears, and eye strain, vs. computer generated assistance, anyone with any common sense would choose to use the "Assistance" if trying to achieve the best results for your effort.
This has been COMPLETELY blown out of proportion. I was conversating with another member just last evening (Spideyfett), telling him that I WILL MOST DEFINATELY BE POSTING THESE TEMPLATES for everyone to use ...
The problem is, I didn't have time to address anything after the MR Thread was "yanked". "Spideyfett" I'm sure will come right in and VERIFY that these were my intentions .. for the good of the board. Am I going to charge for them? Hell no

Perhaps now I should address why these templates have not been talked about before ...
Truth is, "Template Talk" has been around for YEARS on this board. It comes up every so often ... but no one has ever taken the time to get the project started. As with any "Good Idea" ... they floating around in the air for anyone to "Grab". Just because I thought of it earlier than Joe Blow, and John Hancock thought of it long before "Me" ... must say something ... it's no different than someone "Inventing" an new product, nd can't get it patented fast enough before someone else comes up with an identical idea ..make sense? Perhaps I should have put these templates out before, sure. But there are "Others" that could have too ... there's no need to 'Witch Hunt" me.
C'mon ppl, I haven't been around here in months for reasons I have already expressed about my health. Now I'm alerted to this thread today and it feels like I've been "Called Out" by "Other Senior Members" for something that someone ran with, and jumped the gun. From some of what I skimmed over in this thread, it even feels as if though I've been indirectly insulted.
This was never meant to go like this. I should have kept my mouth shut I suppose. It boggles my mind that something like this can get soo blown out of proportion, and be taken so damn seriously.
There is no 'Secret Society", and there is absolutely nothing intentionally "ELITEST" going on here. NO conspiracy.
Would templates have made life easier for everyone? Absolutely. But I don't think that anyone should be holding me single handedly "responsible" because templates haven't been provided to the boards ... there is a lot of work involved. And it took some serious time to get them right. But of course, it's already been pointed out that my paintjobs aren't "Perfect", so indeed, why would anyone want "MY" templates ?? Great point ... thanks for that :cheers
Again, I already told "Spideyfett" privately that I was going to make these available ... I just didn't have enough time in the last 24 hours to bring them out .. ? Ease up a little, will ya?
If the original thread still existed, it would be obvious that I was never "Bashing" those that hand paint their buckets ... this is ridiculous. I said just the opposite. I did however, say that I personally thought templates were the best way to go. I just don't get it. In fact, I even stated that it still takes a ton of talent to get templates to go together right, or else you end up with something looking like a cartoon. So I tried my damndest not to offend any artist out there that use them too.
How can I win with you ppl?
I've been back here for a day ... and a thread is already yanked that I participated in. Everyone was getting along great. At least I thought so. I try to be nice .. and yet I still get things blowing up in my face ... I have already made an inquiry to "The Dent" to find out if the thread was "yanked" because of something I did ... and have yet to get a response.
This is one of those times that I seriously feel like I should have never come back

Does that sound a little on the 'Drama Queen" side? Absolutely .... but this thread says a lot. Why am I still being treated like this by the staff? What have I done?
Mods ... perhaps the "Original MR Helmet Thread" should be put back up and locked, so that people can see that I never "Bashed" anyone? Why is it exactly that you can quote exerpts from me, but not allow everyone to see the full context?
Thanks for the welcome back guys ... :facepalm
FP