Thread: Airbrushing an Aero Cycle Helmet

Hi all

I'm confused! I've been inspired to try my hand at airbrushing. I've found this site and read a lot of the how to's and read related stuff in the forum...I think though that I've now got information overload and am really confused!

The helmet I have is a Bell Meteor 2, like the one in the photo.


I have a few questions!

1. Do I need to prepare the helmet? If so, how without damaging the safety of it?
2. What type of spray should I use?
3. Will water based paints (presuming that's what I need) survive a downpour or is it a bit weak and will ruin at sight of a bump or rain?

Also, my father in law has a compressor that I can use for spraying. But, to put it in his words "it's like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut". It's a bit OTT.

Can you but spray cans (I Know this will offend some purists!) that could be used as a one off project?

....sorry for all the questions!! Told you I was confused!!

Bernard, I'll start this by saying that when it comes to airbrushing I've only been doing it for about six months. I have, as a hobbiest, been painting cars and motorcycles for a very long time. So, I have a limited background.

That said, I recently painted a helmet and all I did was scuff the area to be painted with 800 paper and then did the artwork. After that I cleared it with urethane and used a blending agent so the unpainted clear matched the new clear. It was then cut with 1500 and 2000 grit and then polished. It looks fine. I posted it many months ago on this forum. If you want to see it you can either do a search or just ask me to post it again.

I'm sure you will get many other responses, with different methods, as time goes by.

Bill