Crash Helmet Painting

I just got myself a plain white Bell RS3 Sport SV Helmet today and would like to get it custom painted.

What's the best place to get it done at? I've tried Gremlin Design's website but it doesn't seem to be working right now.

I have a Stand21 full face and took it to JLF Designs (who just happen to also have been painting a certain Mr Hamilton's helmets for years). Can't fault them; excellent job and very helpful when I went along for a chat with some vague ideas of the design I wanted.

www.jlfdesigns.com (http://www.jlfdesigns.com)

I had mine done at JLF as well - sensible price, good quality work, nice design.... would highly recommend them.

What sort of price can one expect for a reasonably simple design?

between 350 and 450. Here's mine:

http://www.btinternet.com/~darren.houldcroft/front.jpg
http://www.btinternet.com/~darren.houldcroft/back.jpg
http://www.btinternet.com/~darren.houldcroft/side.jpg
http://www.btinternet.com/~darren.houldcroft/top.jpg

see that 350 seems huge for my incredibly simple two colour design (err see the flag <--- thats it!) why is it so high?

IMHO I have often wondered why people spend a load of money on something that is not performance enhancing ?

Because it looks nice, and racers like things that look nice! :)

I'd only consider spending money on helmet painting if I had a pile of cash that I just couldn't think of what else to spend it on. As that day is unlikely to ever occur, I'll just wait until I can paint it myself (using proper paints of course). It'll look a bit crap close up, but on photos it'll look fine.

White helmets do look stupid! :)

see that 350 seems huge for my incredibly simple two colour design (err see the flag <--- thats it!) why is it so high?

Well, for me it covers all the different colours, the fades, many many shades of lacquer-stuff etc.... the paint is rock hard and unlikely to get damaged easily because of all of this.

It's alot of prep work to strip down and mask it off x dozen times, so I don't begrudge the money. I'm not artistic at all , wouldn't dare do it myself.

For a simple two colour design he might be able to do some kind of a deal? who knows.

IMHO I have often wondered why people spend a load of money on something that is not performance enhancing ?

Mine was a combined birthday/christmas present from the wife.

There are two very similar looking yellow FF1600's at Combe, and we are both running in the same part of the pack, so it does help mark me out from a distance. Plus I've always wanted one done, think they look the dogs :) Better than lashing out on new bodywork which I'll only end up smashing up.....

Much as I'd want to fit it, I can't afford anything useful like a PI logger, so I went for the go-faster-stripes-on-heard route :)

I do them.

Send me a pm with your email address and I'll send you some pics.

To do a good job, laquered and perfect, you need at least two weeks. Patience is the main thing in preperation and waiting for each layer to go off before starting the next.

I work with a lot of lads who have had them done/want them done, but only want to pay 100 quid.

Well who does two weeks hard work for £100!!

I'm based in Silverstone, if your interested get in touch.

Robin.

Well who does two weeks hard work for £100!!



Robin.
If it takes you two weeks to paint a crash helmet then I would suggest that you're in the wrong job ! :)

I can paint it myself (using proper paints of course). :)

tc, All,

I painted my helmet years ago, when 'proper' paint wasn't thought of. A nice little Pegasus, as I recall, a rather cheeky steal from the Parachute Regiment, but none the worse for that. So what is/are 'proper' paints today? I'd give it go, on my 'stupid' but cheaper white helmet, if I knew the scrutes would not object.

John

My helmet is has a custom paint job (oooer mrs) the only thing the scrutes have said to me is thats nice when all said and done its your head you cant replace it you have to speak to the manufacture who may reccomend (although i doubt it in this day and age) a paint that is suitable.

Ian

Ian, I've seen your helmet - it is a work of art, Sir!
I was thinking if something rather simpler.
Like a dotted line and "open here", maybe.

Nhoj

£350-£450?

Mine cost me £250 a year ago, by Gremlin Designs of Derby:

http://pix.nofrag.com/8/1/8/aa04010b19cc565b20561196881d0tt.jpg (http://pix.nofrag.com/8/1/8/aa04010b19cc565b20561196881d0.html)

http://pix.nofrag.com/6/3/6/1147b487af047617fc1ab193eb281tt.jpg (http://pix.nofrag.com/6/3/6/1147b487af047617fc1ab193eb281.html)

http://pix.nofrag.com/8/d/6/c6c6855a294a4fa601cf5e4d17c5btt.jpg (http://pix.nofrag.com/8/d/6/c6c6855a294a4fa601cf5e4d17c5b.html)

Nice. My ideal design would be about 300% simpler (I like simple helmets, as they compliment my simple head within), but not 300% cheaper...

JohnD - I don't know what proper paints are, but I've heard that some will damage the shell. Not sure how much, or how visibly, but I'd prefer not to take that chance. I've got plenty of two-pack ICI automotive paint here, but won't touch the helmet with it until I get round to chatting to Arai about their suitability.

I used to do a lot of radio control car spraying with acrylic paints. Those car bodies are polycarbonate/lexan. I'd have thought that would be the best sort of paint to use, and I have considered doing something like this myself actually. I wouldn't use two-pack - I think that may be a bit too harsh on the thermoplastics. Same with cellulose perhaps, but I'm no expert.

Alex - do I see a BS A/FR sticker on your lid? For some reason I had you down as doing international events..?

IMHO I have often wondered why people spend a load of money on something that is not performance enhancing ?
It's very useful in karts, endurance racing, or in any series where your team mate might have a similar livery car to you, as those interested in your position can identify you more easily.

You could also ask the question - "why are cars painted different colours?" After all, they have a race number for identification purposes. The truth is, it's nice the see a variety of attractive and/or creative designs.

If it takes you two weeks to paint a crash helmet then I would suggest that you're in the wrong job ! :)


Lets see the quallity of your work before you comment!

Mike Fairholm has a three month turn-a-round!

Love you, x.

Robin

I got mine done by D-Zign. Very decently priced and some good work. I designed it myself which I think does help reduce the costs a little bit, but I'm pleased with what I got for my £360. He did matt black on the top and sides which normally costs about another £100 since they have to mask off those areas and respray with matt lacquer.

It's a matter of opinion on whether it's worth getting your lid painted. It is indeed a luxury, but it does help to mark you out and, having designing it myself, I thought it was a good way to express my artistic streak :P I'm not one for Tattoos, but in some ways a helmet design is a bit like one!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v427/ArosMike/Drop%20Box/HelmetSide.jpg

Please ignore the upside down spoiler....it got fixed! Not my fault....LOL

http://photos-b.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v286/20/31/222303283/n222303283_3148673_5844.jpg

Lets see the quallity of your work before you comment!

Mike Fairholm has a three month turn-a-round!

Love you, x.

Robin
My bone of contention is if it takes you 2 weeks why aren't you charging £800 at least !
A mate of mine does loads of helmets and bike tanks down here in Spain as good as most and charges 80 euros for a decent helmet job !
Put a stopwatch on the time you take to actually work on it.
I am not knocking helmet painters , as some are brilliant and I am not artistic at all . I wonder who did Valentino Rossi's ?

I wonder who did Valentino Rossi's ?

A genuis. I laughed and laughed so hard when I saw that one, absolutly brilliant that was.

Mick

Rossi's helmet's are genius - all of them - good luck to the man. The screaming head one even made my wife watch MGP. No bad thing. The football this weekend I'm not so sure.

I think you will find that there is a prossess were by an image (such as a face) is printed of to a transfer sheet. That image is placed face down in a liquid which melts the transfer sheet and the image is suspended on the liquid surface.

An item, such as a helmet, is dipped into the liquid in a rolling manner and the image sticks to the surface. It is then lacquered.

If Rossi's face helmet was not done that way then the artist should be in the Tate!

One of the nicest I have seen was worn by the wife of a famous rock star involved in motorsport. At the top of the helmet was a night sky. The sparkley stars were DIAMONDS set into the surface!!!!!

I have also seen a VERY detailed illustration of a vagina painted on top of a German lady's helmet!! I don't know if it was an advert or not!!

Robin.

I have also seen a VERY detailed illustration of a vagina painted on top of a German lady's helmet!! I don't know if it was an advert or not!!

Robin.

I don't think I'll have one of those done as that might provoke someone into calling me names :rofl:

Surely not Gordon.http://www.ten-tenths.com/forum/images/icons/icon25.gif

Terence, now understand your comment in the "Ginetta Junior" thread...most appropriate :rofl: :rofl:

I thought it quite a polite expression of thought!;)

Very good link. :laugh:

Bet that helmet caused a few second looks.

Jim

I have also seen a VERY detailed illustration of a vagina painted on top of a German lady's helmet!! I don't know if it was an advert or not!!

Robin.Never done a helmet on that theme but did do a series of printed dinner plates with said organ printed in the centre once, it takes all sorts, I still have the file if any one wants one, quite artisticly done :-)!

For printing on plates, mugs, some garments and place mats etc I use a system called Dye Sublimation which I wonder is what is being refered to on the Rossi post. Basically the object to be printed has to contain or be coated with polyester and then the transfer is reverse printed with special inks (dyes in fact). These when subect to heat turn to a gas and sublimate into the polyester coat and knit with the molcules to become one. I have seen at exhibitions systems for printing mobile phones and computer mice and other odd shaped objects with this process so I would bet this is how he had his done which would mean the helmet first being sprayed with the polyester clear varnish.