RS PROPMASTERS STUNT TK HELMET PAINT TIPS/HELP NEEDED.

[SamW]

Hi all

I've just purchased a helmet kit from RS , that I plan to wear with my RWA armour and will be painting it to closely match the colour of that.

I don't plan to paint it green to replicate the original pp ones,just primer then a nice gloss top coat.

I recently stumbled upon a video of someone painting first order armour and they mentioned wet and dry sanding before primer,then wet and dry sanding the primer before the topcoat.

Would this still apply to paiting a TK Lid,as I know the RS one has all the lumps and bumps that I wouldn't want to remove and also TK Lids do have some tight corners where sanding might not reach.

I have been watching cable guy's videos on painting helmets and they do not mention anything about wet sanding prep or between coats,so anyone feel free to drop in with any advice 

[Doggydoc[Staff]]

I have not done a painted TK helmet but did a death trooper one that has a very gloss black finish (mirror glossy).  I did do a wet sand between coats to make sure there were no imperfections that would carry through to the top coats.  After the 2K clear coat, I buffed it with a cutting compound and then a polishing compound with an electric  car polisher to get the shine.  If you are not going for a high gloss finish however, you can likely get away without the sanding between coats as I did on my daughter's clone trooper helmet

 

[gmrhodes13[Staff]]

I wash all parts with warm soapy water to make sure there is no release agent or grease from hands on the pieces.

 

Sanding helps the paint to adhere to the plastic. Wet sanding helps the sandpaper to last longer, a few drops of dish washing liquid can also help reduce clogging.

 

A light sand on the primer also helps the paint to adhere to it. 

 

I also use automotive acrylic paint, dries quicker and can be sanded and polished in the event of any runs, with any paints I suggest trialling before final application. 

 

Note, if using RustOleum (a few have) it is a paint I would not recommend for helmet painting, I find it can clog and come out dry and needs constant tin shaking, it also likes to run 

 

 

[themaninthesuitcase[Admin]]

Before painting check the match. There’s only so many places to get ABS in the IK so you might find that RWA and RS use the same stuff. 

[SamW]

20 hours ago, themaninthesuitcase said:

Before painting check the match. There’s only so many places to get ABS in the IK so you might find that RWA and RS use the same stuff. 

My suit was made when Ross was using a very bright white abs,that he can't get any more.

They might match (Waiting on the kit to be posted) but have a feeling RS use the creamy off white for theirs.

[SamW]

On 5/24/2026 at 1:12 PM, Doggydoc said:

I have not done a painted TK helmet but did a death trooper one that has a very gloss black finish (mirror glossy).  I did do a wet sand between coats to make sure there were no imperfections that would carry through to the top coats.  After the 2K clear coat, I buffed it with a cutting compound and then a polishing compound with an electric  car polisher to get the shine.  If you are not going for a high gloss finish however, you can likely get away without the sanding between coats as I did on my daughter's clone trooper helmet

 

The plastic on my suit is more of a satin finish than gloss,so would not be wanting to paint the helmet too shiny.