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Hi all Lenses now have a good home Regards Gra

I can def see the Billy Goat, looks like a cave painting. I like. If no luck with oven cleaner try screen wash, if not IPA ( its alchol). About £22 in UK for 5 litres, will not affect plactic and will strip all back. Please don't scrape it away :-) Gra

Red bubble lenses going FREE to anyone that wants them. First PM Also posted on MEPD Oversea all I ask is postage costs UK I will pay

My boo boo, 1.8mm Sorry I type BAAAADDDDDDDDDDDDDD Thickest I have and I measured it on my dads engineers tool. Sorry, will amend.

A little bit of weathering before bed, I know I have to paint the rest but that will be for tomorrow/today. Humbrol metalcote, apppliee with a RIZLA papaer, you get really fine lines then. and a few finger prints to make it look used :-) More to go and can't wait to go dirty. Best wishes

Hi Caleb, I feel a little guilty :-), but not good at sport, what forum? Am I right that its a TE bumby cast. I have TM and AP and SDS but I like this as it look rugged and real as in screen used. All the best Please tell me if anyone can spot the TE generation this is from. It really is a thick helmet and the forming is very good for the thickness Gra

Hi all, Can I first say a big thanks for all your help. Some of you may have seen this on the dreaded EBAY. I bought it at a really low price and saw there was something good I could do. It is actualy about 1.8mm ( calipler measurements) thick and the strongest helmet I have ever seen, but I may be wrong. Please don't tell me about casting etc, it was really a case of I will give whatever I get a go. Well after lots of fiddling I got this to shape and managed a mix for HDPE. I screwed and screwed, a bit of filler and lots on the ears and eyes. Basicallly it needed a effort on TLC. 1/4 Sea Grey 1 Dark yellow 1 white Clear as needed. All are tamiya and the idea was to get as close HDPE with thanks to all members I could. When done it was very very matt, so I polished first with plastic polish, it really started to look like it was made from some greeny brown mouldy stuff :-) Above top polished rest not Inside was done with red primer and a white over spray. Then I used Latex to mask and sprayed All latex removed and now early stages top end Helmet last on right, with my own tips :-) Its late and I am not close to done yet but would love to here comments before i post next. Weathering next after the final tweaks BTW helmet was £50 :-) , please comment.regards gra

Hi John I will have a set please when done. Can you put me on the lists. Please PM costs when ready and I can PP you, I am UK Many thanks Graham

Hi Paul many thanks, I also was given your ref to Platikote Warm Grey by Pappy on MEPD. Many thanks as I managed to get this from the Plasti-kote site WARM GREY SATIN - NEW 2128 Its a great source and thanks to you and Pappy. Is this the one you mean on here and have you used both, they look very close GREY BEIGE SUPER SATIN 2118- PLASTI-KOTE Both look close All the best

Hi all, Can anyone give me a a make of paint for a colour match to HDPE thats available UK. I can mix an enamel or acrylic one and spray thorugh my airbrush, the only concern is that i want to use Halfords appliance white and it may bubble the paint I have added if I do this. My worse case is that i apply enamel white spray on top instead of Halfords but wondered if there was a good match that Halfords can be applied to. Also am I correct in that the white for a HDPE should be more egg shell than really glossy. Many thanks as always gra

Hi mate, Fully understand and glad you mentioned the fun bit. I fully agree and think it is good if it is used for that and I apprecite the effort you went to. The US rank was actually a tongue in cheek comment as I am UK Forces, just keeping the British upper end up, but certainly no offense meant. I just imagined for some reason this going official, I know what it likes to give someone a little bit of power all too well :-) Regards

Thanks all so much and especially to Locitus for the pics. I reckon I can do the nipple as an add piece that drops in. Hopefully then it will fit all requirements :-) I will get onto it, had some good advice about using a punch for the mesh so all being well that will be even better too. i am enjoying this. Best wishes graham

Many thanks for your kind words. Can you explain the nipple better for me. I had no knowledge of this when I did the mould as the tip I have is just smooth. If you can show me the nipple I will try to add to the mould and if i can get out of a 1 piece it will not add any costs extra. Thankyou again graham

Hi Karin, its a cast I had of a Hovi. I adjusted, cleaned to be able to make 1 piece moulds, painted and added the mesh. They are cast in good quality Urethane Resin, as I use for my figure castings. I didn't mean to imply I had the original, hope that does not take away the look of them or the good price ( I think). As you know the originals are like gold dust, in fact I have never seen an original so all the tips are usually a cast, as far as I am aware. I don't think this is wrong as they are all copies of an industrial item and not a sculpt of an individual. If this offends anyone greatly I will remove. PLEASE NOTE THESE ARE NOT CASTINGS FROM TIPS I HAVE PURCHASED FROM ANY MEMBER OF FISD OR ANY MEMBER OF ANY OTHER FORUM. I only want to offer some nice cheap tips to spruce up helmets Kindest regards Graham

Cheers mate, no worries. I'll post Budget mic Tips for sale in the correct forum when done and the run number. I expect to do about 20 sets at first but I'll let you know. If i can do this number then thats how I can keep the prices really low. All the best graham

Hi Scott, Thanks, glad you think they are ok. I used 2 part epoxy glue to glue a flat head screw to the back. When dry I attached a felt pad with a hole drilled, to the inside of the helmet and screwed, its very strong. I wanted to avoid drilling as the back is not that thick due to using a proper hovi and a 1 piece mould. A screw could be added inside but I would have to drill the hole before adding the mesh and it looks a bit unsightly, the screw method should hold really well but would be great to hear your views and others. Here they are in one of my lids. All the best graham

Hi all, Well thanks to my wife, and the kitchen being down a sieve, I found a softer mesh. Please let me know what you think. I just need feedback on the tips themselves and price. I will post these in the ongoing sales section as soon as I get some more cast and some more mesh from the market and see if there is an interest,I will make a list up then, think I can do them £3.50 a pair. As mentioned they are meant to be a budget alternative. but I think better than a lot of tips and a good starter before upgrading. They are Hovi casts. Regards Graham

Many thanks Think I am on the right track and have posted as budget tips for interest feedback. many thanks graham

It's a good idea mate, I have found some softer stuff tonight and will try again later, I'll post my results and let me know what you think. all the best gra

Know what you mean mate :-) I will give them another look. It always seems that the tools and paint for us UK guys cost twice as much, and a lot less choice. I often look at some cheap quick builds and when I price them up, they don't come out so cheap with UK costs:-( best wishes mate gra

Hi John, Many thanks mate The problem is the body repair mesh I hav sen is hexagonal and the originals are square. Do you know if they produce a square mesh, I have seen the hexagonal on a few tips and it looks wrong but if i can get a squre then it would certainly do. Many thanks again best wishes graham

Hi all, Many thanks especially to Paul ( still not started my TM :-) but will soon I promise) I looked for mesh and even welded mesh and there are lots and lots. :-) I am not sure of the size without actually seeing it and wondered if anyone knew the size or if there was a soldered type or one easy to cut without falling apart. It should alos be weaved I think. The reason I want some is I am doing a run of 1 piece budget hollow tips and will do some more if I can get the mesh. I need 3 sets and if I can get the mesh I will do more, they will be cheap and complete as below-with mesh. Approxe £3.50 a pair I have a Shepperton tip to use as a guide to the mesh but the trouble is the sites have only measurements. I have also contacted a mesh manufacturer in Warrington in the hope he might have a welded type. Does anyone have an idea of the size I need. I have looked and body repairs but this is hexagonal and not weaved. Thanks again Above are my tips, I have painted them at this stage, white and black.

Hi all, Can anyone point me in the direction of a good mesh for the tips. I have previously used a sieve but it is hard to cut circular and frays. Close to orignal size, if known would be appreciated and obviously silver. Any trail would be great as I am sure something close must have been found, ideally if it is pre soldered it would be easier to cut. I thank you very much in advance Happy new year Graham

Hmm, not sure why it has to conform to US ranks! Sgt First Class, Master Sgt etc Interesting theory and some hard work done there. To me it seems a reason to give some an ego boost, ie i am a higher rank than you, not my idea of FUN trooping I'm afraid. Merry Christmas to all and best wishes for 2011 Gra

As I am soon to leave my present job, full time service to the crown, I will now have to get another job, as my wife has been doing for many years. I will have to account for tax etc before I can budget my take home income, maybe the question should be how much profit that he has taken from us, has been paid to the taxes in the US. I still have his address from my helmet box, would only take a phonecall, we all know what happened to Al Cappone and having seen the profit margins worked out I certainly would not feel guilty. The way things are made is NOT my problem, the little concern he shows to the product when made and lies he told me to part with more money are. And many many more feel the same. Merry Christma however to all others on FISD Regards G