Helmet painting tips

C

coolv1rus

Hunter
how u guys get that nice Curve on the cheeks...mind kinda just wun get as sweet as u guys...any tips?!

helmeyy.gif



I also am living in Singapore..any one of u can like get a set of visors suitable to ship over to me? Most online shops dun do overseas outta US.....do leave me a price including shipping....if its ok with me i'll let u noe..

thnks
 

Attachments

  • helmeyy.gif
    helmeyy.gif
    6.4 KB · Views: 264
Don't use regular painter's tape. Go to a place that sells automotive painting supllies and get a vinyl based tape that can curve to accomodate edges.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
No, it's designed for automotive painting and doing the nice curves. It's basically the same as painter's tape only with more of an electrical tape kind of stretchiness.

Always ready to help you Mirax. ;)
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Oh man, that is awesome. I defintely need to get some as I am yet again painting my darn helmet as it keeps getting screwed up!
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I usually cut out a template and then cut wide tape to that shape. It's worked just fine with blue masking tape.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I prefer to use 1/8" automotive pinstripe to make my initial masking on the cheeks. It stretches and bends easily and peels away without taking off any paint.
 
Last edited by a moderator:

Mirax H wrote:
Oh, now I didn't know about that trick. Does it pull the paint off at all?
Click to expand...

You can also buy 1/8" and 1/4" fine line masking tape in the auto parts store that is desinged to tape curved edges like that. Use the fine line tape to do the curved edges and then use regular masking tape to do the rest, no need to cut and fus with regular masking tape.
That is what car air brush painters use to make those nice flamed paint jobs on cars.
I have been using it for years.
Lynn
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Personally, I come from the school of liquid masking and blue tape. I am horrible at doing curves with tape, but I'm handy with a brush. My cheeks came out beautifully, but as the trim caprenters always say, "Swear to God we tried our best, but paint and caulk can hide the rest", you can always hide bad curves with good weathering.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Just keep in mind that paint takes a few days to cure. It'll be dry to the touch in an hour, but it won't have hardened very much until a few days have passed. This is usually the reason behind paint sticking to the tape. If you're really crunched for time, 3M makes a tape called "Safe Release" that is really low tack. It's white (not the blue stuff that they make for normal paint masking), and costs about twice as much as regular masking tape. It's also kind of tricky to use, as the low tack means it tends to peel up when you try applying it to a curved piece. But, sometimes, when you're up against a deadline, it comes in handy. You're still better off letting the paint cure a few days, then using the vinyl stuff talked about earlier to get a hard line, and then covering the rest with regular or blue masking tape.
 
Last edited by a moderator:

Bexley wrote:
Just keep in mind that paint takes a few days to cure. It'll be dry to the touch in an hour, but it won't have hardened very much until a few days have passed. This is usually the reason behind paint sticking to the tape. If you're really crunched for time, 3M makes a tape called "Safe Release" that is really low tack. It's white (not the blue stuff that they make for normal paint masking), and costs about twice as much as regular masking tape. It's also kind of tricky to use, as the low tack means it tends to peel up when you try applying it to a curved piece. But, sometimes, when you're up against a deadline, it comes in handy. You're still better off letting the paint cure a few days, then using the vinyl stuff talked about earlier to get a hard line, and then covering the rest with regular or blue masking tape.
Click to expand...

You can always lesson the tack of any tape by putting in clothes or carpet and then taking it off and putting it back on. Just becareful you don't get too many "fuzzies" at the edge you are spraying against or they will show up.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
If it's not too late to put my 2 cents in 'n try 'n help, I've always preferred hobby store supplies.

Tamiya makes quite a few widths of masking tape that are pretty much totally safe against peeling - unless ur paint is still sticky! Bendable depending on width. Hobby stores have other bendable tapes too - but I have a feeling the auto stuff will be cheaper.

On an aside, I've also found Tamiya has the best standard filler (over Squadron that is) as well as a fine white primer that's perfect for helmets - again a little more $ than HD etc but IMO well worth it! Oh yeah, R/C latex liquid mask I find is the best too...

-Rod
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Well it is good now but when I was painting, I had some silver undercoat and the blue kept peeling off of it. So I had to sand my entire bucket down and start from the beginning. It's all good now :D
 
Cut the masking tape in a thin strip so you can stretch it around the curve. A big thick piece of tape wont arc.
 
This thread is more than 20 years old.

Your message may be considered spam for the following reasons:

  1. This thread hasn't been active in some time. A new post in this thread might not contribute constructively to this discussion after so long.
If you wish to reply despite these issues, check the box below before replying.
Be aware that malicious compliance may result in more severe penalties.

Similar threads

Fettacini
PrePro2 Helmet paint up
Replies
16
Views
1,926
Fettacini
Fettacini
MachineCraft
Definitive Metal Ears for Lineage Helmets - MachineCraft Replicas
2 3
Replies
44
Views
10,720
MachineCraft
MachineCraft
MachineCraft
Maintaining your Copper Gauntlet Rocket
Replies
2
Views
861
BudaFett
BudaFett
S
My scratch build ROTJ Fett costume (work in progress) Updated 5-24-2018
Replies
7
Views
2,887
Sniper3kgt
S
MachineCraft
Warning: Issues with Ponteworks
8 9 10
Replies
199
Views
45,031
BudaFett
BudaFett
Back
Top