So, MF advised it is most likely residue of releasing agent causing the issue. Even though I gave it a wash with warm soapy water before starting, I suspect I didn’t go hard enough. I only used wire wool which is 0000 and therefore probably not ideal to scrub anything off.
So, now I removed all paint and primer from the helmet using acetone so it’s had a good scrub all over with that as well as another scrub with warm soapy water and we’re back to square one. I can’t see how any releasing agent would be left after that so I hope that has solved it.
[ATTACH=full]222021[/ATTACH]
I will say, after hearing that the issue could be releasing agent, I remembered how the masking tape wouldn’t really stick to the fibreglass when I was masking it up for painting the rear panels. If I had know a bit more about working on fibreglass, that would’ve been a red flag but hey-ho! Live and learn. We’re now re-primed and ready to go.
[ATTACH=full]222022[/ATTACH]
I think this may have been a bit of a blessing in disguise as, since I started painting this up, I found a thread by MF over on Boba builders which detailed the prep needed before painting which included sanding off excess fibreglass from the bottom of the cheeks and the bottom of the rear panels which I had not seen. This gave me a chance to do that and the cheeks now have that 'warp.'
If you look at the bottom edge of the cheek in the above photos, you can see what I mean.
