[MadClown]

Just though that I might stick this one up here as well while in it...

I'd like to show you how to paint a helmet from start to finish, step by step and day by day. Well I hope so anyway...

The design of the helmet has been left entirely on the Mad Clown himself, with only one condition: ‘Fighting Irish’ logo on both sides of the lid.
I have mentioned before somewhere that I am not too pushed to use the ‘Fighting Irish’ logo on any paintwork as I somehow missing the whole thing and I don’t understand why someone would use logo of an American football team to prove one’s Irishness.
Anyway, I took this job partially as a favour and partially as a challenge. Just to see if I can incorporate that leprechaun picture into some decent paintjob without being too rough, if yas know what I mean



- So I got this helmet, don’t remember the name of it, but some components looks very similar to Nitro helmets. So I presume it’s made in the same factory as some other brands, including Nitro.
The original graphic is desperate, but no worries, it’ll be gone in no time. I’ve made a quick drawing of some ideas I had in my head. Only as a guide, we’ll see how and if it’s going to work at all…

[MadClown]

Thanks for your comments everyone About that teaching thingy, I don't think that I am a good teacher, I would boil over and kill someone, if there would be some useless fart in the class

bandit 600, on Nov 12 2009, 02:28 PM, said:

thank you for the info

im using a 25lt compressor at home for my paint work would that be to big to run a air brush?

I was using 250lt 7.5hp a while ago and it really doesn't matter on the size of the air compressor, I mean the large size, but on the pressure going through the 'brush. So when you turn the pressure regulator down, it'll work like a dream.


Now, where were we?

- I was on another job on Tuesday and have lacquer it in the evening for the 1st time. But still without the Black pinstripe though. This all was remedied the following day when the final layers of HOK clear coat were sprayed on.
It took the usual two sessions of clear coating with smoothening of the graphic edges with sand paper in between them. Normally I’d use wet 360 or 400 grid, but I would leave it to sit for 2 days to allow the lacquer cure properly. I didn’t have time to do this and so dry sanding with 320 grid paper was done. It might look like too rough treatment but, don’t take like a cheap advertisement, House Of Kolor clear coat works miracles and covers all the scratches and creates nice and smooth glass-like finish.
I took a couple of pictures of the 99% finished lid today. All what it needs now is a bit of polishing to bring out the depth of the paint work and show how glossy that clear can get.

I’m hoping to get a bit of sunshine tomorrow so I can take a few snaps outside to show it in the real light

[elpigaro]

Drool, how much would this cost typically?

[MadClown]

The cost is typically less than you'd think

- And the journey ends…
I have done a bit of polishing using one of the 3M Perfect-it buffing compounds, nothing too complicated or hi-tech, just a quick rub by hand using J-cloth and a bit of above mentioned stuff.
I got lucky and sun came out just on time to take a picture or two outside in the natural light. So I ran out and the sun disappeared, but came out again for a minute and disappeared again… Anyway even with my plastic wonder I managed to take some half-decent snaps.
Unfortunately you can’t really see the flakes as they come into life when the helmet is moving or when you are walking around the helmet, which is what they should do anyway. But trust me, they do bring a lots of nice sparks into the Green.

Thanks for looking, reading and commenting
Yours MC

[sutty]

Stunning work there Madclown.

Over all, how many layers go into work like this? Such as undercoats and paint and lacquer layers.

[dynamite]

less than u think dosent really say how much for a typical job like this ??

[Kang]

black,white,green,brown,yellow,light green, sand paper I guess thats all u have to buy, plus the airbrush gun and the air compressor and clear lacquer. all colour need not that much so u can repeat paint more.

[Spiceburger]

Top job MadClown

[STefan]

great job Mad Clown you have me thinking now if i get my spare helmet sprayed would be cool to have that helmet in Viffer color

[MadClown]

sutty, on Nov 13 2009, 10:15 PM, said:

Stunning work there Madclown.

Over all, how many layers go into work like this? Such as undercoats and paint and lacquer layers.

Cheers

If I start from the start and will count only full coats, so no shading on the flames or airbrushed bits, and if I will refer to 1coat as a coat of paint sprayed during the session and which could compromise from several layers:

- sealer - 1coat / 2 layers
- base coat - 1coat / 1 layer
- inter coat - 1coat / 2layers
- pearl white and metallic green - 1 coat / 2 layers each
- clear coat - 2 coats - probably 5-6 layers first coat and 2-3 layers final coat

I haven't counted the layers on the real flame, but it's never less than 6 with 5 different colours. That's the bare minimum....for me anyway, but this one has more than that as I wasn't happy with the overall colour and flow of the flame.

I could have jumped the base coat stage, but wanted to be sure that none of the original graphics will show through the white after the clear coating.

And when you still asking about price, 350 is the average cost. Obviously depends on the complexity of the design and some other factors, like type of the helmet, preparation work needed etc...

[Iforgot]

Stunning end result ... nice piece of Art

[Hanna]

Well done and very interesting! Nicely explained, even for a total ignorant person like me

[yvo6]

Stunning work. I really enjoyed this thread.

Thanks MC

[maddaz]

nice job, i ave done work like that when i worked for PAINTBOX

[Playtime]

wow fantastic work/result Madclown

[wesifumi]

Great work MC

This post has been edited by wesifume: 16 November 2009 - 12:45 PM

[aln]

Hi Madclown, would you be able to do sketching of ideas? like a theme and then work from there? Might be interested in a fresh looking lid for this year, pm me if your interested.

Cheers
a