Don Post 96?! Need some recommendations here...

[xero]

Don Post 96 or Scratch Build? Please, Need help!

OK, so... I have come into posession of a Don Post '96. Now... unfortunately... there are some problems with this bucket. I've actually had it since last Christmas, but have just now decided to work on it, due to the special circumstances surrounding this bucket...

See, this bucket previously belonged to a local comic book store. The store had bought it (for it looks like) $75, or was selling it for that much, one or the other -- that's the price on the tag. Well, apparently, they had had the top of the bucket signed by Mr. Bulloch himself. Yeah, I know, I freaked out too. Here's where the bad news begins: The comic book shop moved across town, and in the move, somehow managed to drop the bucket... breaking the stock vizor (no biggie) but also cracking the left side of the helmet, from the visor, through the mandable, through the left earcap...

So, I come to my fellow brethren here on the forums... should I really fix up this bucket, or should I keep it on the shelf and make a bucket from scratch?

Pics highly related... let me know if it's salvageable with some bondo or something... I have no idea how to work fiberglass, so if someone suggests that, please provide tutorial links, too...

 

[fanboy]

those visors wouldn't survive a drop into a box of cotton balls. at least the sig isn't messed up. i would try to fix it up. cut out the visor that's in there and replace it with a new one. easy to do with a utility knife. bobamaker makes them, or t-visor.com is where i got mine. i also have a dp '96. not too sure how to fix the crack, maybe some super glue would work. fill it in and sand it down. it should hold up well even if it isn't fixed. it doesn't look too serious. just my thoughts.

 

[Devilstar2k2]

Fix it with Bondo, or some kind of spot putty... Then mask the signature with masking fluid, and paint around it. I mean literally trace the signature with the fluid, then you can preserve that part but still be able to work on the helmet. And like fanboy said, just replace the visor.

Just my 2 cents.


-Shawn

 

[xero]

...then mask the signature with masking fluid...

Any ideas whereabouts I pick up some of this masking fluid? I live in a rather small town, but can travel... We have a Walmart, Meijers, Target... not too many specialty art stores, I think, but I could check. I'm attending university currently, and we do have art supplies at the on-campus bookstore...

There's also a store 30 min from here named Michael's? It's an arts and crafts store...

it doesn't look too serious.

It's actually cracked all the way through, tho... meaning, the plastic has split. It's not just a "surface" crack.

 

[Devilstar2k2]

You can try using JB Weld, or epoxy, on the inside and Bondo on the outside. You can see what I did to connect a two piece helmet in a thread called $35 Boba Helmet. Its held up pretty well so far. The only part thats not pictured is where I reinforced the epoxy with globs of JB Weld.

As for the masking fluid, I have no idea (yet). On the helmet that I did, I used mustard, but it stained a little bit and also had to be scrubbed off under running water. Thats why I suggested a quality masking fluid. I'm sure that other members can recommend a good brand for you though.

 

[flatspunout]

I would replace the visor like mentioned above, fix the crack with a little zap-a-gap medium CA (hobby store) from the inside and put that sucker in a case on the shelf just like it is....but that's just me

 

[xero]

Casting...?

Y'know, I had thought for a few moments about making a cast of the helmet, so the crack is taken care of that way, and I can work on the new cast of the helmet and not worry about screwing up this one... And I know that that is a bit of a grey area, but I'm doing it for personal reasons and I honestly have no intention to sell it, if I did do that...

Ideas?

**EDIT** Geez, hope I didn't turn a lot of people off by saying that... I'm honestly just bouncing ideas off you guys, and if it's illegal / frowned upon, I won't make a casting of it... Just looking up to my elders here on the forums for sage-like advice.

 

[fanboy]

As for the masking fluid, I have no idea (yet). On the helmet that I did, I used mustard, but it stained a little bit and also had to be scrubbed off under running water. Thats why I suggested a quality masking fluid. I'm sure that other members can recommend a good brand for you though.

you can get masking fluid at Michael's, ask them they'll direct you to it. i also used mustard on my helmet. don't know how that could react with the pen ink on the sig though.

 

[xero]

Found this...

Ok, so, I'm guessing I offended some people by saying I was considering casting the Don Post helmet... I know you all here on the forum are highly against recasting. I'm sorry for that.

However, I was at a rummage sale today, and check out what I got for a dollar:

What's your opinion, guys? Do you think it's the correct size for a Fett scratch-build?

 

[Devilstar2k2]

I thought it was okay to cast things that aren't available to buy directly anymore? I mean, its a commercial product that has been discontinued... Is it still wrong to cast it? How would that be any different than Webley castings, or MQ1's, or anything? Besides, it'd be for personal use... Not for sale, right?

I dunno how that goes, as I don't cast anything. But I am curious to see what everyone thinks about it.

 

[xero]

I thought it was okay to cast things that aren't available to buy directly anymore? I am curious to see what everyone thinks about it.

Yeah, that's what I was curious about too... but nobody seemed too ready to reply to me, so I thought prematurely that I had offended fellow Fetts here on the boards... :facepalm And that's honestly the last thing I want to do, because I really enjoy all the work you guys do, and I hope I can be even half as good as you guys some day...

 

[Keegan]

Basically I think it goes like this; If you were going to cast it and pump out copies for sale(which you were not), it would be frowned upon even though that happens quite frequently:confused If it is a stock company item like a rubies or Don Post then no one should have a problem!! Go ahead and play with a copy!
If it is a piece that someone other than you has done some reworking on (MS, SGB, BM..) don't recast it. (Or at least dont tell anyone until you've made it look really nice or done some minor work to it and then its ok...:facepalm )

My suggestion. Repair it and get a new helmet somewhere. As the owner of a good DP 96 myself I can tell you that its a great learning piece if you want to do the rework.