CT 1977

I figured it out!! Below are images from my start of painting my bucket. I'm using masking tape for straighter lines on the vents, as you can see. I plan on using a second coat then letting it dry completely. I had the idea of scoring the paint along tape prior to pulling it off so it will be less likely to pull some of the paint. Hopefully this coming weekend but we'll see what life has to say about that.

I just went to Imgur to convert my photos but apparently they've changed their website and I have no idea how to convert my photos to post here...can anyone out there help trooper out?

Hi Richard, I just saw your post...thanks and I will definitely check that out. I've been busy lately with "life" stuff and just now getting back into it. I'll be posting some photos of my bucket paint job so please feel free to make recommendations and suggestions.

Thanks, Glen! Slowing going but progress is progress.

I was able to get my bucket together with lenses in and hovi tips. I was also able to get some padding in but I'm not sure I'm going to leave them this way, add to them or switch to a different system. Below are photos of the final version for today. Next session is working on the ears and I'm thinking I may end up having to use the second pair. I'm going to start looking for fans and microphone/speaker systems so any tips or leads would be greatly appreciated. I'm open to any tips or critiques. I can say I got really good at drilling out rivets....until I got it where I wanted it. Thoughts?

ok, thanks! I figured it was probably operator error.

Hey Glen, I've made some posts of some new work I've done on my bucket but they are being listed in the "New Posts" listing...anything you can see that I'm doing wrong?

anyone know why my posts aren't showing up in the "New Post" listings? What I'm doing wrong?

These are the final products after four coats. I' I'll let it dry for 24 hours, maybe more just to be sure then take the tape and plastic off. By the way, I used standard painting/masking tape and garbage bags. I read suggestions to use double thickness plastic just to be sure so I did. I'll post the photos of what it looks like once the protection is removed without any corrections on spillage so we can all see what happens.

I just made patterns as I've seen other troopers do to cut the lenses and frown screen. For the screen, I built a deck and screened in a section and used a tight weave screen called "no-see-ums" screen. I made three pieces and will attach them with the welding paste I used on the lense attachments. Not sure what that brown spot is on the right lense. Looks like one of my guitar picks got in there somehow. I'm painting now with Plastidip, presently on the second coat of 4. So far, the first coat looks pretty good. the sand in there was recommended to help with anti-slip and improved adherence. It was to go on after the first coat while it is still wet.

I've been a bit busy with home projects now that the weather permits so my armor progress has been slow. Today I cut the lenses, frown screen and painted the inside. Below are some pre-paint shots of how my lense holding shaped up.

Thanks, Caleb. That's all really good information.

good stuff, Dan! I'll go that route too, just to stay closer to the original. Thanks again, especially for taking the time to do the videos.

hey Dan, I've seen your video's around and this video is great...just what I needed. Thanks so much for sharing. I just bought a couple of sets of brushes and I'll have to make sure I have one of those filbert brushes. One more question, on the "induction filters" (not sure if that's the correct term) I've seen them completely black or with the white rim like you have. Is that a personal preference or is it ANH design?

Below is a photo of Cali_Nole's (Paul) paint job on vocoder...what are some of the technique's everyone is using to keep the lines clean and uniform?

I opened up the right side but seems I took a bit more from the top than is on the left. I'll fix that on on the next armor day.

Great job on the vocoder! How did you keep the lines so straight and distinctive? Just careful hand-drawing or a stencil of some type?

Is that a chin strap I see?

yeah, thanks Glen. I saw that too but wanted to wait to see if was as obvious to others as it was to me. I'll get'em matched up.

Oh yeah, my goal is to have my armor complete by May 4, 2022. Yeah, a year off but with home projects and beer brewing, I hope I can meet that deadline.

Here are some pic's of setting up the standoffs that will hold the lenses in place. I liked the way that Paul used the standoffs but he he used sugru and I used JB Weld, mostly because I thought I was a bit more familiar with that type of epoxy. Looking at Paul's build, it looks like sugru might be the better way to go as it looks like I'll be adding at least two more coats to build up to be strong enough. Tomorrow I'll add the second coat...more photos to come.

Newbie question, I searched Amazon for Humbrol #85 and an "acrylic" #85 came up....is this correct? Is acrylic paint the paint to use? I didn't see any references to acrylic listed so I wanted to make sure - thanks! https://www.amazon.com/Humbrol-Acrylic-Dropper-Bottle-DB0085/dp/B08DJDNGXQ/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=humbrol+%2385+paint&qid=1620499744&sr=8-1

Cool, thanks Dan! That's great advice. I'll be working on the lenses next, setting up the standoffs then spray the inside with plasitdip.

I had planned to fix the eyes then work on installing the stand-offs for the lenses but thought I'd post the photos first to see what you guys think (Glen & Dan). I ended up taking more material from the left eye outside corner than I wanted. The other aspect I became aware of was to make sure the inside and outside corners were even on top and bottom so that the lenses would sit flush and without gaps.

Good stuff, Glen...I love it! Thanks!