Sorry for being MIA for the last two weeks guys. I've been a lazy bones, but progress continues. I am pushing my deadline to C2E2 and the chromer having enough time to do the helmets but come Hell or high water these will be out to C'n'C tomorrow.
I had the privilege of being invited to join fellow 501st artists, and professional prop makers last weekend at the monthly get together at Acme Design, Inc. After getting professional advice at Acme, by a crew of very talented lads (of various backgrounds) on everything from casting, vacuum forming, to machines I can't even remember the names of I feel pretty pumped to hammer this project out. It was like being a kid in a candy store. Or being 10 years old in the Star Wars shop attached to Star Tours at Disney.
Though this project needs to close and be finished. It's been dragging on since September, 2012 for goodness sakes. The new album might as well come out before I am finished! (Then I will look like a bandwagon fan

)I was lucky enough to get some pointers on my lids at their current stage and were examined by the owner, and fellow attendees. It was like watching a crime scene investigation, the owner noting how they were casted, all the imperfections, and tips to finish the project. He was no stranger to Daft helmets, but was impressed by the scale of the build. It was positive criticism (I mean I can't be any more of a amateur than I already am and have PLENTY to learn), but seeing all the little stuff to be filled on the lids after they were hit with some very high end primer was kind of disappointing. (I am talking the cast itself, not small pinholes to be filled.) I feel with the amount of work I have put into the casts I could've made my own helmets by now. :/ Also note, professional paint sprayers, and paint booths are AWESOME.
In short, after ohhh'ing and ahhh'ing it was a humbling experiencing getting reminded with how much I don't know. Here's some proof while I was caught working on my helmets (for no more than 30 seconds before I saw something even cooler being done and procrastinated even more on sanding the lids.)
Working at Acme by
TK9336, on Flickr
Acme by
TK9336, on Flickr
I didn't get MUCH done, but learned alot about processes, and materials to get to make life easier in the future. And on that note, for all your 3M Bondo'centric people this stuff is FANTASTIC. It's called Micro Lite by NAPA Auto Parts. Very accessible in the US, and a gallon of the stuff is about $30. I thank again Thomas Spanos for getting me hooked on the stuff, letting me borrow some at the Acme weekend build.
Micro Lite, the good stuff! by
TK9336, on Flickr
I like it's sanding qualities much over bondo...any day of the week. Regarding it's actual quality as a car light weight body filler...I have no clue. I don't think any tool I have used in amateur prop building I have actually used for it's intended purpose. That's right, I am a REBEL!
Shipping this Wednesday to the chromer to be overnighted to make my little deadline of being completely done by April 26th. (And on that note, if you ever chrome something, SAVE the box you originally received your prop in [if you didn't make it yourself, like me,] because that way, you might as well save a few bucks.) If it they aren't chromed in time, there is Motor City Comic Con in Michigan in mid May which I hear is a blast and why not...it'll be con season!
I'll take pics of the lids before I ship them. Also of all the junk I used to prep them for chroming, including the bit sizes of the drills used on Guy-man. Just need to sand them first.