NewTrooper2 Posted July 2, 2011 Report Share Posted July 2, 2011 I just finished my 1st bucket and have a question. I painted it gloss white with Valspar Gloss Outdoor paint for plastic, like you use on garden furniture and such, and it's nice n shiny. I also applied my helmet decals and tube stripes which came with the kit. My question is, can anyone suggest a good clear gloss or satin sealant they have used which will NOT damage the vinyl decals, AND seal them nicely to protect them? I asked the TK on here, who manufactures the decals for suggestions, but he is unsure of what I could use, so I figured I could as fellow members and see if they had any ideas. The lid looks great, and I want to protect it as much as possible. Any help would be greatly appreciated, fellow troopers! Thanks in advance for any advice! I posted a pic of the build, so far. Lenses are not in final position. I only put them in for reference. I have some welders type plastic lenses I want to put in instead. Sincerley, NewTrooper2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pandatrooper[TK] Posted July 2, 2011 Report Share Posted July 2, 2011 Most people don't clear coat them after painting decals. Whatever you use, you have to be very careful. Depending on what decals / paints you have used, if you use an aggressive lacquer based clear, you can soften / dissolve the adhesive on some decals and paint details. If you can, use some scraps or test pieces to try clear coating first, before you attempt it on your lid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewTrooper2 Posted July 2, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 2, 2011 Thanks for the advice Panda, much appreciated! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john danter Posted July 2, 2011 Report Share Posted July 2, 2011 Any clear lacquer would do but none of is ever do that as Terry says Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dashrazor Posted July 2, 2011 Report Share Posted July 2, 2011 i clear coated my helmet and my whole armor with modge podge gloss acrylic sealer but it was to seal in the airbrushed markings and weathering. it didn't harm the decals at all, and adds a really nice shine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TK bondservnt[501st] Posted July 3, 2011 Report Share Posted July 3, 2011 if you're worried about damage to the decals. clear coat the lid, then apply the decals over that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewTrooper2 Posted July 3, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 3, 2011 (edited) Unfortunately, I've already added the decals. I may just leave it alone, since it is finished, except for the new lense installation I am planning on. I just need to find a way to gently heat them, so I can bend them slightly to match the curvature of the eye openings. Maybe a hair dryer will heat them just enough to form them. Anyways, I've seen some good suggestions if I DO plan to seal the lid. I've even seen some posts that people put a good coat of car wax on their lids. Maybe that is an option as well. As always, thanks for the suggestions, and feel free to comment on the build. It's great fellow builders and troopers like you guys that make this the best site around! Bravo to you all! Sincerely, NewTrooper2 Edited July 3, 2011 by NewTrooper2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewTrooper2 Posted July 3, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 3, 2011 And since the post is being read, if I would decide to "weather" the lid to be a sandy, how would one go about that? I've weathered plastic models before, but a full scale helmet is a little different. What do you members use to weather? Sincerely, NewTrooper2. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Locitus[Admin] Posted July 3, 2011 Report Share Posted July 3, 2011 If your're making a sandy or stunt helmet the lens should be flat and not be pushed out of the sockets, only rotj and hero helmets have bubble lenses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geordietrooper Posted July 3, 2011 Report Share Posted July 3, 2011 who mentioned bubble lenses ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Locitus[Admin] Posted July 3, 2011 Report Share Posted July 3, 2011 who mentioned bubble lenses ? I might have misunderstood, buut he mentioned heating the lenses and forming the to the curvature of the eyes. Nevermind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewTrooper2 Posted July 4, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 4, 2011 (edited) Yea, the lenses are flat and semi rigid. I wanted to heat them gently, so they will fit the helmet openings without much strain on them. I was thinking of making up some kind of mounting blocks for helmets, that could be glued into the corners of the eye openings, then small holes could be drilled thru any lens and the block. That way, a lens could be drawn down tight with small set screws, without glue, and lenses could easily be switched out for different situations or replacement. Maybe someone who dabbles in construction could run with this idea, and produce them. I would make up a prototype, but it would probably take me longer than someone of skill could do. As far as sealing the helmet, a few people at modeling forums I belong to suggested just using pledge, or future floor wax to seal and protect the lid. That process will probably do no damage to the decals, and give the helmet protection and a nice enduring shine. I'll have to test it on a scrap piece, and see if it works. I'll keep posting results, and if anyone likes the mounting block idea, let me know your thoughts as well. Sincerely, NewTrooper2 Edited July 4, 2011 by NewTrooper2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pandatrooper[TK] Posted July 4, 2011 Report Share Posted July 4, 2011 This is how I weather a TD. http://forum.mepd.net/index.php?showtopic=7290&pid=102257&st=0entry102257 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sonnenschein Posted July 4, 2011 Report Share Posted July 4, 2011 Yea, the lenses are flat and semi rigid. I wanted to heat them gently, so they will fit the helmet openings without much strain on them. I was thinking of making up some kind of mounting blocks for helmets, that could be glued into the corners of the eye openings, then small holes could be drilled thru any lens and the block. That way, a lens could be drawn down tight with small set screws, without glue, and lenses could easily be switched out for different situations or replacement. Maybe someone who dabbles in construction could run with this idea, and produce them. I would make up a prototype, but it would probably take me longer than someone of skill could do. It doesn't need to be that complicated. Just secure them with the ear screws. Small gaps are helpful with fogging. Or just use screen accurate lightening gel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewTrooper2 Posted July 4, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 4, 2011 Cool weathering job Panda! Looks like screen used armor to me! The painting is so subtle, but still looks more like sand and grime from daily use in a harsh Tatooine environment. Now, all I gotta do is decide wether I want the used Tatooine look, or a pristine Death Star inspection look. Well, I could just solve this problem by getting another bucket kit, and just building both, right? LOL Thanks again for the help and comments. Always great hearing from fellow troopers. Sincerely, NewTrooper2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TK bondservnt[501st] Posted July 5, 2011 Report Share Posted July 5, 2011 waxes like pledge have color to them. usually will yellow a bucket. even car waxes are not made for plastic and will introduce metals which will rust. novus polish is the ONLY real way to shine up an ABS bucket. a painted bucket can be polished with fine grit sandpaper 1500-1600 many threads have been done about painting and polishing paint. most helmet makers shine up their buckets then paint the details and add the decals last... just like for a car model. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TK bondservnt[501st] Posted July 5, 2011 Report Share Posted July 5, 2011 mason has the right idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewTrooper2 Posted July 31, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 31, 2011 Well, the bucket is finished, and I stayed with the green lenses. 1, to be more like the original, and 2, the more rigid lenses gave me problems trying to conform to the eye openings. I'm calling this one done, and have made a helmet stand out of wood and dowel rod from A.C. Moore. Making the stand myself only ran around 6 bucks, and I still have dowelrod to make 2 more! A good coat of flat black paint, and the stand looks great. Basically, the lid looks like the 1st pic I posted, just a lil more shiny, and the lenses are glued in place. Next project, I'm thinking of getting another lid kit, and making a nice glossy black shadowtrooper! Thanks again for all the advice everyone gave this 1st time "bucket" builder. Much appreciated! Sincerely, NewTrooper2. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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