YO! I just purchased a racing helmet so i can co drive some rallys in the near furture. I want to paint the helmet, but i\'d rather not buy an air brush and all the accessories. Anyone know if theres a way i can just brush paint..? If so, what type of paints do i use? Do i sand the helemt down 1st? Then prime, then paint? Of course, a snell rated racing helemt is very expensive, so this is somthing id like to get right the 1st time, haha! Any help tips or advice is greatly appreciated, yada yada, blah blah!
A painting question, not mini related!
- Thread starter Recoil889
- Start date
Can you paint a crash helmet and keep it within fire safety regulations?
I know that painting one in the UK takes it out of the Registered Standards. (Or it used to)
I know that painting one in the UK takes it out of the Registered Standards. (Or it used to)
painterboyroy
Member
major problems here as a lot of paints will affect the helmet as mentioned above, plus hand painting on will not go flat and then prepration is tricky to key the surface but not damage helemt. I know as had to try and paint dads racing helmet for his truck racing days.. then you have to mask off all the rubber and any stud work.. good luck and be prepared to buy another or buy a 2nd hand one to practice on.
Einion
New member
You\'re not \'supposed\' to paint crash helmets but I don\'t know whether that\'s based on some silly old-wives tale or something actually worth paying attention to (even the legal requirements might be based on rumour more than fact - like not using cell phones in gas stations).
I think a lot of stuff is done with decals these days but it sure looks like some helmets are custom painted.
As painterboyroy suggests practicing on a second helmet might be a good idea.
Einion
I think a lot of stuff is done with decals these days but it sure looks like some helmets are custom painted.
Enamels or oil-based trim paint would probably do the trick. Neither will attack fibreglass. But commercially if they do paint helmets it\'s pretty likely that they\'ll use automotive paints, which can really only be feasibly applied by spraying.
Lightly sand or scuff with Scotchbrite or similar to prep (just need to roughen the surface, take the shine off, no more). No absolute need to prime strictly speaking - lots of paints bond quite well to certain materials without a primer but worth testing the adhesion in a corner or at the back.
As painterboyroy suggests practicing on a second helmet might be a good idea.
Einion
As far as i know, there is no rule that states you cant paint your helmet. Thats either in rally america, or any of the amature ones. Infact, the outside \"shell\" of the helemet isnt fire resistant anyway, its the inside part that fits snug against your face/head that is.
Another thing i didn\'t specify is that there is no sheild, it\'s an openfaced helmet, so there is not much if anythng to remove:
http://www.helmetcity.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Session_ID=84b02c8f7cb087c25766215355b74de9&Screen=PROD&Product_Code=rjairwhite&Category_Code=S1
With that being said, I work alot with stencils i make in my art work/school work. If i do paint it, ill have made a stencil, and spray it black with an airbrush, and then paint the details with a brush.The design is a 3 celled comic type strip of samurai in battle.
Can i thin automotive paints? Can i mix them? What kind of paints could i use that i could mix on a pallet? Does Such a paint exist?
When you said lightly scuff it, Einion, would you recommend somthing like a 400 grit sandpaper?
Thanks guys
Another thing i didn\'t specify is that there is no sheild, it\'s an openfaced helmet, so there is not much if anythng to remove:
http://www.helmetcity.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Session_ID=84b02c8f7cb087c25766215355b74de9&Screen=PROD&Product_Code=rjairwhite&Category_Code=S1
With that being said, I work alot with stencils i make in my art work/school work. If i do paint it, ill have made a stencil, and spray it black with an airbrush, and then paint the details with a brush.The design is a 3 celled comic type strip of samurai in battle.
Can i thin automotive paints? Can i mix them? What kind of paints could i use that i could mix on a pallet? Does Such a paint exist?
When you said lightly scuff it, Einion, would you recommend somthing like a 400 grit sandpaper?
Thanks guys
War Griffon
New member
Type in Airbrush tutorials or simular on Youtube and you will find a lot of info on this including a video of a guy painting a crash helmet 
RuneBrush
New member
In the UK, I seem to recall from when I rode a bike (as in motor, not push) that you shouldn\'t \'modify\' your helmet outside of the original manufacturer\'s spec. I think that the legal issue comes in that if you suffered some kind of injury the fact you modified the helmet could render insurance invalid. I know that manufacturers say that if your helmet suffers any kind of impact that it should be replaced (this includes having it roll down a hill). Obviously my limited knowledge is bike related, where as it sounds like you\'re doing car rallies.
My personal suggestion would be to contact company that spray\'s up helmets and ask them about any issues associated with customisation.
Pete
My personal suggestion would be to contact company that spray\'s up helmets and ask them about any issues associated with customisation.
Pete
airhead
Coffin Dodger / Keymaster
I\'ve painted a few motorcycle helmets and construction hard hats.
1. You void all warrantees. The manufacturer will no longer stand behind his product since you\'ve modified it. Anything beyond putting a simple sticker on it and it is no longer covered. Sorry, fact of life with lawyers on the planet.
2. You cannot paint that slick plastic like most construction hard hats are made from. You want a good fiberglass/Kevlar helmet.
3. Strip it down to the shell to prime. Take all the padding, strips, screws, etc. out. Keep them in a baggie - take pics so you remember how to put them back.
Barring that, purple tape is your friend. Stuff the interior with newspaper and then tape it well. The 3M painters tape in purple is designed for oil based paints. It is not cheap, but it works.
4. Scuff everything before you start. A bit of 220 grit or a good green scotch-brite pad. Rinse with a clean lint free tack cloth. (I use the blue shop towels and dampen them with acetone.)
5. A good primer is a must. Duplicor will work. I\'ve always used white as it does not interfere with my colors as I build up with the airbrush.
6. If you\'re not going to shoot it, look into \"One Shot\" paints. They are designed for pin stripers. You will need to reduce them with a bit of enamel reducer as they are very heavy bodied.
7. Use good brushes. Sables are very nice, but I\'ve had mixed results using my mini brushes in enamels then switching them back to water based paints.
8. Get it clear coated. Take it to a local auto body shop and see if they will clear it for you while they are doing something else. Shouldn\'t cost that much and you are probably not geared up for shooting iso-cyanurates.
9. Feel free to ask questions.
******
1. Find a local company that does vehicle wraps. Take your design to them and let them wrap your helmet.
1. You void all warrantees. The manufacturer will no longer stand behind his product since you\'ve modified it. Anything beyond putting a simple sticker on it and it is no longer covered. Sorry, fact of life with lawyers on the planet.
2. You cannot paint that slick plastic like most construction hard hats are made from. You want a good fiberglass/Kevlar helmet.
3. Strip it down to the shell to prime. Take all the padding, strips, screws, etc. out. Keep them in a baggie - take pics so you remember how to put them back.
Barring that, purple tape is your friend. Stuff the interior with newspaper and then tape it well. The 3M painters tape in purple is designed for oil based paints. It is not cheap, but it works.
4. Scuff everything before you start. A bit of 220 grit or a good green scotch-brite pad. Rinse with a clean lint free tack cloth. (I use the blue shop towels and dampen them with acetone.)
5. A good primer is a must. Duplicor will work. I\'ve always used white as it does not interfere with my colors as I build up with the airbrush.
6. If you\'re not going to shoot it, look into \"One Shot\" paints. They are designed for pin stripers. You will need to reduce them with a bit of enamel reducer as they are very heavy bodied.
7. Use good brushes. Sables are very nice, but I\'ve had mixed results using my mini brushes in enamels then switching them back to water based paints.
8. Get it clear coated. Take it to a local auto body shop and see if they will clear it for you while they are doing something else. Shouldn\'t cost that much and you are probably not geared up for shooting iso-cyanurates.
9. Feel free to ask questions.
******
1. Find a local company that does vehicle wraps. Take your design to them and let them wrap your helmet.
johnboyjjb
Active member
Our local sign shop did a lot of vinyl work on cars. That is the solution I would work towards. A vinyl sticker on a helmet should work just fine.
airhead
Coffin Dodger / Keymaster
Depending on the quantity you are about to paint, I\'d recommend a small cup/bowl or even a saucer. Something you can pool a bit of solvent in along with the paint.
One Shot is thick. Like honey or syrup thick. Pin stripers put a little on a plate then dip brush in solvent and pull a little paint. Then apply.
airhead
Coffin Dodger / Keymaster
Another option would be some 2 stage ureathanes (first stage very flat with color, second stage clearcoats). The ones I\'m familiar with are designed for airbrushes via
House of Kolor
of if you\'ve got the guts, try using some of those little touch up paint bottles you can get at the automotive section.
House of Kolor
of if you\'ve got the guts, try using some of those little touch up paint bottles you can get at the automotive section.
