Bam. My first ever replica is complete. Chief's mk vi helmet!
The process was as exciting as it was frustrating, but I would have not spent my time any other way. In just under two months, I squeezed this thing in to be completed by halloween.
Pepakura was easy, resin was easy, but the bondo was the most frustrating thing I've ever used. I could write a whole book on what I learned everyday!
I thought spreading bondo was going to be like icing a cake, but imagine if that icing was goopy and rock-hard. I initially filled in some resin-warp, and a huge tear in my card stock, and that worked out all well. I spent a disproportionate time stripping those hideous lumps with 80-grit; I ate through a sheet a day! The side was pretty annoying and unsightly, but there was one point where I realized that some more sanding would smooth it nicely, and it did. The top was easier, I filled and sanded and filled and sanded until it was excitingly smooth. The primer though made some divets, and the paint on top of it showed it too (how do I get rid of these??).
At this stage, I talked to some of my more experienced friends about the process, and I realized I wasn't the only one who felt this way. That kept me going at the lowest point, as I am not the only one who has a love-hate relationship with bondo. Lastly, it seems like some of my friends have vowed to use EVA so they don't have to work with bondo! haha
Smoothing took a month and a half. I had merely a couple days to install the visor, add details, and paint the whole thing. Oops! Forget lighting! I used foam sheets to add the floating faces, and some duct tubing for those vents. The visor, courtesy of Jim McCrea, actually fits my piece, and it looks awesome! I scaled my whole thing up so that it could fit in my head without back-off-modding, and it looked pretty normally sized. And then, the painting. I used Krylon primer, and that thing was amazing. It came out so smooth and slick. I only had time to fill in the solid colors, but only now did I know that painting is half of the effect. The masking was careless, and some of my paint peeled even before I took off the tape. I read volpin's book over and over again, and realized that an afternoon wasn't enough time to really make it stand out.
So, I pulled out 10 hours of my busy schedule per week to make this thing. I love it, but I hate it. It's absolutely priceless, but it's a piece of trash. This thing is the culmination of all my emotions. Finally, a physical object to embody my learning. Those mistakes stay, and you have to find a way to deal with them. Finishing has left a bit of an emotional vacuum; the only closure I'll feel is by starting another project
Here's some takeaways:
You will always have the urge to put on more bondo. Don't.
Those resin drips can be sanded down; you're just not putting in enough effort.
Don't leave the paint job to one single afternoon. Ever.
Remember that what you're doing is amazing and glorious; you're literally bringing a dream to life!
Thank you guys for being so supportive! I am very happy that I can talk to other people who have the interest and commitment.
The process was as exciting as it was frustrating, but I would have not spent my time any other way. In just under two months, I squeezed this thing in to be completed by halloween.
Pepakura was easy, resin was easy, but the bondo was the most frustrating thing I've ever used. I could write a whole book on what I learned everyday!
I thought spreading bondo was going to be like icing a cake, but imagine if that icing was goopy and rock-hard. I initially filled in some resin-warp, and a huge tear in my card stock, and that worked out all well. I spent a disproportionate time stripping those hideous lumps with 80-grit; I ate through a sheet a day! The side was pretty annoying and unsightly, but there was one point where I realized that some more sanding would smooth it nicely, and it did. The top was easier, I filled and sanded and filled and sanded until it was excitingly smooth. The primer though made some divets, and the paint on top of it showed it too (how do I get rid of these??).
At this stage, I talked to some of my more experienced friends about the process, and I realized I wasn't the only one who felt this way. That kept me going at the lowest point, as I am not the only one who has a love-hate relationship with bondo. Lastly, it seems like some of my friends have vowed to use EVA so they don't have to work with bondo! haha
Smoothing took a month and a half. I had merely a couple days to install the visor, add details, and paint the whole thing. Oops! Forget lighting! I used foam sheets to add the floating faces, and some duct tubing for those vents. The visor, courtesy of Jim McCrea, actually fits my piece, and it looks awesome! I scaled my whole thing up so that it could fit in my head without back-off-modding, and it looked pretty normally sized. And then, the painting. I used Krylon primer, and that thing was amazing. It came out so smooth and slick. I only had time to fill in the solid colors, but only now did I know that painting is half of the effect. The masking was careless, and some of my paint peeled even before I took off the tape. I read volpin's book over and over again, and realized that an afternoon wasn't enough time to really make it stand out.
So, I pulled out 10 hours of my busy schedule per week to make this thing. I love it, but I hate it. It's absolutely priceless, but it's a piece of trash. This thing is the culmination of all my emotions. Finally, a physical object to embody my learning. Those mistakes stay, and you have to find a way to deal with them. Finishing has left a bit of an emotional vacuum; the only closure I'll feel is by starting another project
Here's some takeaways:
You will always have the urge to put on more bondo. Don't.
Those resin drips can be sanded down; you're just not putting in enough effort.
Don't leave the paint job to one single afternoon. Ever.
Remember that what you're doing is amazing and glorious; you're literally bringing a dream to life!
Thank you guys for being so supportive! I am very happy that I can talk to other people who have the interest and commitment.
