Trimming and finishing questions

[Lord Maul]

<font color="red"> Since I am a newbie to the whole prop-making and finishing scene, I have some questions that I hope someone can answer.
I recently recieved my untrimmed fiberglass mystery helmet and have a few questions for you guys.
1) What is the best/safest way to trim my helmet?
2) What type of bodyfiller works best? Will Bondo work? (since I have experience with it)
3) What processes/types of sandpaper do you recommend?
4) Will a general model paint primer work or does something work better?
All help will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,

 

[cal196]

I do not have a fiberglass helmet but every other piece of my armor is, some I had to trim I have finished painting it all and I dont think it looks that bad.

1) What is the best/safest way to trim my helmet?

Dremel tool, fiberglass cutting wheel, and 300 grit sanding wheel to clean up the edges, and a small file to clean up the vents in the back and the visor corners.

2) What type of bodyfiller works best? Will Bondo work? (since I have experience with it)

Sandable body filler -the white stuff-

3) What processes/types of sandpaper do you recommend?

800 grit regular sandpaper and elbow grease

4) Will a general model paint primer work or does something work better?

I used rustoleum auto sandable primer, the talc is real thick to fill in gaps and sands nice and smooth.

 

[Lord Maul]

<font color="red"> Thanks, for all the info! You Rock!

 

[MonCal]

Hey Matt,
good to see you on here

Did you know there is another "LordFett" on the boards? Just FYI.... it might cause some confusion.

Bondo will work. They're both polyester based so it's similiar material.

A dremel with a sanding drum works great for smoothing out the cuts. Just cut it with the cutting disk and don't worry about cutting close. Let the sander and files do the fine details. If you try to do it too close with the cut off wheels, it might kick back and then you'll have more bondo work to do

 

[Lord Maul]

<font color="red"> Thanks Cal I'll try and have it trimmed so you can look at it at the next troop.