Zinfer

Oh yea I've watched all the RS videos but I also have to compare with what others input, as with the case in the belt segment. But yea I've watched Simons' segment many times. It's funny though when it swaps back to Rob and he's like, and there you go, SIMPLE as that. it's THAT SIMPLE. I cringe every time he says that. But yea slow going here. I tend to just get the gray on each trap daily. I have fingered it before so I tend to just let it dry for the day, move to the next trap. Going to try masking the pinstripe this time. I'd just like to get all the gray on nicely now. I've not attempted to thin it with mineral spirits from the get go. I've had lots of problems with this, so I'm just going very slow this time around.

I have no idea how I'm even going to mask the tears. Guess I'll do those last. I always thought painting was through light coats, but after seeing how a light first coat dries and leaves stroke marks behind, I mean I posted those up right here. So I got 2 of the front traps done with gray. Now the 2 back traps. Going to try to mask the pinstripes as well. No pics yet.

I think the worst part of it is using the mineral spirits to go back and take it all back off and start over again. Alot of elbow grease and putzing and it comes off like pencil eraser bits that go all over the helmet and stick as you're wiping it off. I will give it a go with the masking tape today to create that pinstripe. If successful, that's ONE trap done. 3 to go and 2 tears. Ugh. Gotta find a method that solidly works for me.

Thanks Caleb. Yea this painting is frustrating me.

I am going to attempt strict masking only as my brush strokes are severely revealed on every occasion. I can't help but wonder if it's because I am painting in the garage at my workbench. I light the salamander to warm it up out there to a 70ish degree level. Open the door to the house to keep it about that level. I'm wondering if it's the humidity that could be affecting my paint and how it dries.

Humbrol is inferior in that it does not blend well with itself and shows every single brush stroke on the first coat. Painting should ALWAYS be in thin first coats. This paint is absolutely inferior for large flat surfaces. The only possible good outcome would be blending it with a thinner before even beginning to paint with a brush over a large surface area. Those displaying the outcome are NOT directing the light directly on the painted surface to display the sheen of the paint. This threw me, in that the only possible good outcome would be with templates and masking only. If this were an aerosol, it would deliver better results, aka thinning and no brush strokes.

Meh - starting over again. Just going with tape. This paint sure does like to display ANY stroke marks.

Doing some digging and I did see one video reference for using a 10/0 liner. Going to make yet another run to Hobby Lobby to see if they have any 10/0 liners. Hope the Humbrol comes off easily after drying.

Sure. It's a number 4

Ok, that's an improvement, I think?

These lines are a little broad but I may be able to deal with it on the inside(gray). I am going to try to use pencil lines for the outlines. One thing I've found is it helps tremendously is if I cradle the helment in my left while painting with my right. It tends to steady me, between that and my pinky. This is really quite hard.

I will try this. I am terribad with straight lines, never mind painting them.

Picked up some bright white fingernail polish to take care of the ear screws, just a few dabs on the heads.

First coat for the traps and tears. Also brought the corners down a little on the frown. These traps and tears are tricky and hard. And I haven't even gotten to the outlining yet. Just freehanded the first coat.

You made me go back and look! I'm good.

Yea I think I'd like to go with a little more gray if it's approvable. The frown goes a little further.

Odd, seems like there should be a black dot on either side.

Question; I'm about to paint the frown and I'm curious; Do I paint any black after the last of the gray teeth. Looks like a spot of black may be appropriate there. Checking before I do it for the Stunt.

Email reply from Andrea today. She replied saying they will be shipped this week. I'll start the learning process when received and doing the limb parts. I think they are going to be the hardest of all the armor because of measuring arm and leg parts and adjusting. It'd still be handy to have a local supplier but I don't know how often extra sheeting comes in handy for repairs and alterations later on. Apparently I boxed myself in with PVC rather than commonly available ABS.

Paint arrived today! Started with the tubes. Hope this meets specs ok

Began assembling the armor today. I reinforced every point except for the bottom of the kidney. Have to come up with 3 more plastics and fit them. I was a little surprised how much the chest plate can come above the codpiece. I may be with 1" pieces there instead of 2". But we'll see when I can actually climb into it. For now I at least have to get some straps on the chest plate and back to even try to get it together, but not much point until I get some weight off. I feel that, the more I assemble, the more firm and tight the unit will become. Right now parts are just kinda flopping around. But I wish I could have done a trial fit tonight. Can't really do that without the straps on the chest and back. Striving for a nice snug fit. If the elastics don't feel right, I'll go tighter, but right now it's all about cutting. May need to make the chest straps shorter? This is a 2".

Is there an equivalent PVC here in the States? I really need to get my arms and legs started and finished. Hard to find anything in mm and I think RS PVC is 1.5mm? Just need to make my cover strips. I got sent ABS by accident.

Well, I know it's PVC. I think It is 1.5 mil thickness. Everything here in the States is not metric. Checked with US Plastics. They said they do 1/8". I have tried to convert 1.5mil to inches, I think it was something like 1/16. I haven't even gotten into what shade of white. . I will have to email again to get the proper material. (4th emal) Unable to make arms and leg cover strips as of yet. Should I continue to sit back and chill/work around it until they find time? I do have paint for the helmet coming in yet. If anyone has bought the PVC TK 'idealized' armor from RS and found a good source for spare sheets in the States, please let me know.

Ok, I reverted back to the chicago screws. Drilled out the snaps and started over. I didn't really think they were going to fit, but they did. Punched the holes a little larger.