traditional flames on bike helmet- achieving symetrical design

[Carlos]

hi guys

I'm new to working on helmets, and have been asked to paint some traditional style flames. How do I achieve a symetrical design on both sides of the helmet? I can layout one side with fine tape, but then it needs to be a copy on the other side or it will look ****! If I work out on paper first, I cant transfer it to a round shape, so anyone got any tips to help me out?

Appologies if this has been asked before!

[ABD]

Can't say a right or wrong, just what I've done.

I lay out the shape in fineline tape..(yer flame)..Then put a piece of paper over it and do a pencil rub..If the paper creases up on a curved object...cut the creases, let the paper overlap itself where the cut is..mold it, slap pieces of tape over the cuts, viola, holds da shape:D... Cut it out, set it aside for now..

Then I grid off the helmet with more tape...Find middle from front to back, side to side..Lay tape for that reff point.....Now you can cut perfect lengths of tape from the center line to points of yer taped flame (one that's on there now).....Know what I mean?...Imagine the very tip of yer taped flame...Stick a piece of tape on it and lay it in a straight line up to yer center reference tape line...Cut the piece exact, one end touching the flame tip, one touching the center line...Now ya got the perfect mesurement...Take that piece of tape and swap it to the other side...Ya just took the guesswork out of it..Same damn distance apart..LOL

I use a bunch of reference points on the helmet...Bottom to flame tip, visor opening to flame tip. Even if there's some vents on both sides...Cut a piece of tape and measure that distance from the vent to yer flame tip..

Once ya get that mapped in. Now can place the paper on and adjust it to damn near within perfect. Least close enough to what any average persons eye will ever pick up....Then lay yer fineline around yer paper, just follow the edges...Now ya got yer damn near identical flame.

Tiz how I do it anyway...That's how I place random solo graphics a lot of time too...Always use pieces of tape and lay lots of measurements:D

[AndyW]

Nice advice there Dell, now what is symetrical lol........

Haven't actually seen a how to, on sorting out the graphics on a helmet, hint hint anyone.

[REDTAIL]

i just pounced a hard hat and worked ok ABD idea might be the better route . i also do one side and make a temp like ABD and use chalkboard chalk to lay it out then tape it

RT

[ABD]

I kinda work it like drawing with grids on paper...never liked doing that in art class at school..LOL..But learning it came in handy.....Then just kinda applied my own quicker version to signs and Helmets...I always have lil perfect cut lengths of tape laying around..LOL...They look like a plain old scrap hunks O tape..But I know what they're for..hahaha

[draggin81]

I use the same basic method as ADB, but slightly different.
First, I take a bunch of measurements and find the center line, using a stabillo pencil to make reference marks. Then I use some really thin fine line tape from Kustom Shop and lay that straight down the middle. You could use pretty much any tape, but I find that the thinner the tape you use, the more precise your centerline is.
Then, I do the layout on one side of the helmet using the fineline tape. It's not uncommon for me to do and re-do this part half a dozen times to get everything just right. Tape is cheap, paint, not so much.
I then take some tracing paper and do ADB and make a sort of "half shell" on the helmet. Then just trace the flames/design and cut it out with an exatco knife.
Once you have that, flip it inside out and using a few pieces of tape, attach it to the other side of the helmet, using reference points to make sure everything lines up. Then outline that with a stabillo pencil, tape it up, and check again that everything lines up.
Then mask and paint away.

It's a PITA, but it's the best way I've found. I've tried using my plotter, but on a tightly curved surface like a helmet its much more trouble than its worth.

[flat screwd]

ABD has a great idea especialy if the flame pattern is fat and consumes a large portion of the helmet. If the flames are to be tight and slender try drawing them out on transfer tape and the cut them out. Take the flames "not the outlines" but the flames themselves and apply them to the helmet . You should be able to lay them flat because there is not any exess material. Then just trace em, lift em, tape em, and shoot em. It works for me.

[REDTAIL]

this may be alittle of topic but how the heck do you hang on the a helmet when your trying to tape it . i fell like the monkey and a football

RT

[ABD]

this may be alittle of topic but how the heck do you hang on the a helmet when your trying to tape it . i fell like the monkey and a football

RT

RT, check out what i use...I show it in the 1st few posts of this thread..Handy lil ordeal:D

http://www.airbrushtech.info/AIRBRUSH/forum/showthread.php?t=4949&highlight=hairdresser

[REDTAIL]

thanks ill hit some ggrage sales and swamp meets/fleamarket

RT