Skull Helmet

Prepping

I start by sanding and prepping the helmet. Unfortunately this helmet had flame stickers and I thought I was going to get away with a light sanding and then start painting. I was wrong and it took a lot of elbow grease to sand out. I then primed the helmet and sanded with 600 grit to smooth surface. I then sprayed the entire helmet with a metalic white. This will give the candy color a stronger depth. 

The next step was to mask off the sides so I can start painting the metal panel. I sprayed a transparent white over the surface to give a solid base.

Using a transparent black I spray the exposed area using the scratch template. I move the template around so that I get random scratch patterns.

Using acetate I cut out the basic stencil for the screaming skull from a photocopy. I used a transparent black to lightly spray the mask so that i get a light outline, so I can use as a guide. I then go in and freehand the skull.

Here you see the skull in progress.

 After I am happy with the skull, using a brown mixture I add the rust, metal sheet lines and the rivets.







I mask off the top and start on the skulls. Using a skull template I lightly spray the skull layout and then freehand each skull until both sides are complete.

Completed side

Other Side

Using Autoair Candy red, I slowly spray the colors in very light layers. It takes 7 or 8 coats. This has to be done very lightly.

Top skull before clear coat.




Final Pics after clear coat

I will strip the tape and put the trim back on. The helmet was painted using Autoair paints. 

Final Mask

Here is the finished mask. I had a few issues with the clear but other than running out of clear coat and having to switch brands, the mask turned out nice.

I had to put a little extra elbow grease into the project. I thought I could get away with 2 light coats but I managed to burn through the clear when I was buffing, so I had to wetsand and then spray some black to fix the burn to white.

I went to Hub City to get more hardener, because I had enough clear and activator to clear a few more helmets but the new VOC laws came in effect and I can't buy any more of the product so I had to change brand. On a good note, It worked real well. 

I have the mask for sale so hopefully it will go quick. Either way it is a good piece for my website.

True Fire Goaliemask

In my quest to master fire, I started a goalie mask on the weekend. I have been working on it for the las t few days.

Tonight I painted the yellow to create layered flames and then applied orange candy on top. I had some trouble with my airbrush spitting yesterday, so I put that one to soak and pulled out another tonight. I am happy with the way it is going.

Tomorrow I will highlight flames and add cand red on the ends with purple tips. Hopefully I can clear Thursday night.