PGHtrooper21

I just ordered these from Staples. http://www.staples.com/OIC-1-Brass-Fastener-3-8-Head/product_378814?cmArea=page_rr Andy

Great work! I thought something was wrong? I could not get on earlier. Andy

I agree. TK Boots. You can not beat the price! Andy

Thanks for answering this question! I too was trying to find out where to find "Split Rivits"! I went to Lowes, Home Depot, Harbor Freight Tools, Walmart, Jo Ann Faberics, Michaels. The only place I could find them was on the internet. I wanted to find them localy instead of buying them online. The reason is for easily returns in case I have to return them. Andy

Same here! My magnets pinched off some skin between my thumb and index finger. Don't know what was worse, removing them from my hand or the initial pinch! Andy

I hope this does not happen. Everybody gets effected all from personal letters to bill statements. Andy

This is a welcome addition! Andy

My prayers go out to everyone on the Pacific Rim. Andy

Terry, WOW!!!! Outstanding as usual!!!!! You inspired me to work and fix up my lid! Andy

Hello, Here is a Humbrol conversion chart to other paint. Andy -----

Looks good Matt! Andy

Lou, I like using the "paint markers" It gives a "Hand painted" look. Andy

After letting the paint dry for a week, I wanted to work on the “Black†outline of the “traps†and “tearsâ€. I was debating on whether using a brush or a “Sharpie†“Paint Marker†I discovered at JoAnne Fabrics and Michaels. I read from another thread that someone used a “Sharpie Marker†to outline the “traps†and “tearsâ€. I picked up some fine brushes for the detail work. I wanted to have a painted on look for my “ANH Stuntâ€. I was inspired by a thread today that showed up close views of “Original†ANH Helmets. As various people have said on these boards is that the originals are varied in paint mistakes. I used that as my inspiration. Sometimes I am in between trying to be too perfect or I tell myself, that the original suits were hasty put together and unless the person is one of us, people might not notice. As I was taking off the tape there were some places where I needed to scrape off some paint. I used a Xacto knife for this. I decided to use the “Sharpie Markerâ€. If anyone goes on this route, you have to shake the marker for a bit and press down on the tip a few times to get the paint flowing to the tip. Keep repeating this process a few times. I liked doing this better than hand painting. It was giving the same “Painted lookâ€. You are in more control. Although, at times the shape of the helmet comes into play. The part that was the hardest was the lines in the “traps†and “tears†they are not as neat as I wanted them to be. I also decided to use the “Sharpie†to paint the “vocoder†and the outline of the ears. I thought that turned out well. I was worried about painting that. I used a pencil to outline the “vocoder†and fill in the lines. Any opinions? Andy

I was not happy with my first attempt to paint my helmet. I rushed and did not like the outcome. So, I decided to remove the paint by brushing and wiping thinner and using a “Xacto knife†began to scrape and remove the paint. After the paint was removed I washed the helmet with water and soap and dried it with a paper towel. I used “Blue Painters Tape†to tape the areas so the paint will not run. Taping the teeth was rough. I keep ripping, removing and resizing so that I will not get paint outside the “Teeth†area. Also I trimmed the tape with a “Xacto knifeâ€. I used “Grey Humbrol†paint for the “Trapsâ€, Tears†and the Teethâ€.

I picked up some Sharpie paint markers fine and medium tip to possibly paint the lines in the traps and tears. Has anyone tried this? These are oil based paint. I painted the traps and tears using Humbroil grey. I know there was a thread that somone used a regular Sharpie. Also I picked up an aqua color Sharpie. I want to see how close is the shade of blue for the tube stripes. Here is a link to the site. ------ Andy

I was out shopping at Lowes, Michaels, and Joann Faberic's today. In Joanne Faberic's I found a pack of 3 "Flowerly" buttons for $2.40. At Lowes I found Daisy Antique "Furniture Nails" for $1.24 for a pack of 25. I was thinking if they were close enough I was going to paint them "White" and glue them on top of the rivits. Any opinions? Andy -------

Thanks for the input. Can I get the flower side posts\rivets at Michaels, Joanne Fraberic's? Andy

What are the size of the 6 rivits that are used on the side of the ab? I am begining to work on this and I am trying to find the right size. Thanks. Andy

MERRY CHRISTMAS from PITTSBURGH, PA!!!!! Andy

This is AMAZING!!!!!!!! If you would have the real suit and yours and ask people which is the real one. People would say yours was the original! Andy

I was at Home Depot the other day and I came across a “Dremel†that I liked It was a “Dremel Stylusâ€. What I liked about it was that it was light, easy to handle and powerful. 5,000 to 25,000 rpm’s. It can handle like a pencil or pen when writing. I bought it to do the sanding. I also found some Stainless Steel mesh gloves at our local food market, “Giant Eagleâ€. Since cutting my finger, the blade cut through my utility glove. I rather be safe than sorry. I used the sanding drum to sand around the eyes. There was a lip in the back of the eyes I wanted to “touch upâ€. The “Dremel†handled well. After that I began to work on the ears. I read on “FISD†not to cut too close to the “trim lines†on the “curve†part. So when trimming I tried to cut further away from the lines and “clean them upâ€. First, I “sanded the “round†part, I then took out my “blade†and cut out the “curve†area in a curve motion. I then used the “grinder†and “sander†bit on the “Dremel†to hopefully make the “ears†fit. I then tried to match up the ears where I wanted them. I know that twill have “gaps†between the “lid†and the “capsâ€. I “trimmed†the “brow†so the caps will not “rub†on them. When I felt I was happy with the placement of the “caps†on the “helmet†I brought out the drill and began to drill the “holes “. I got the “screws†and screwed them in. There are some gaps, like I said before, I knew about that. The pencil marks on the “Ears†are the “trim linesâ€. I have to use soap to remove them. I found out how small the “AP†“helmet†really is. When I put the helmet on and the bottom front part was close to my “throatâ€! I have to trim the under part out so I can put the helmet on with the “S trim†on and so it can feel comfortable wearing it. How did I do? Andy

Seals Direct has the Brow and neck trim. Rubber Door Seals | Rubber Extrusions | Window Rubbers | Boat and Caravan Seals | UK (sealsdirect.co.uk) I ordered a meter both for the brow and the neck. The part numer for both are below. Andy Brow US52 Neck SWR149