How to Airbrush a Batting Helmet
Athletes are proud of their individual style, and a fun way to show off that style is with a custom-painted batting helmet. Painting helmets can be a lucrative addition to an airbrush artist's business as well. Consider the number of baseball and softball leagues that exist at all age levels. Every one of them is filled with players that need to wear helmets. Why not offer eye-catching headgear? It might even help to intimidate the opposing players.
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Double-action airbrush
- Compressed air source
- Pressure regulator
- Moisture trap
- Air hoses
- Face mask
- Spray booth
- Batting helmet
- 1000-grit sandpaper
- Pencil
- Airbrush paint
- Spray gun
- Urethane clear coating
- Microfine rubbing compound
- Electric buffer
Instructions
-
-
1
Select artwork for the helmet from reference material or create a custom design. Make sure to account for the curved surfaces of the helmet.
-
2
Prepare the surface by rubbing it with 1000-grit sandpaper. This will provide "tooth" for the paint to adhere. Thoroughly clean and dry the helmet.
-
-
3
Sketch the design on the helmet in pencil. Since the pencil lines are erasable, you can improvise freely and adapt the design to the shape of the helmet. Apply any masking called for by the artwork.
-
4
Connect your airbrush to the air source and wear a face mask. Work in a spray booth with good ventilation. Select an initial color and load it into the airbrush paint cup.
-
5
Start the rendering in layers, changing colors and adjusting the masking as needed. Let the paint thoroughly dry.
-
6
Apply three layers of urethane clear coating to the helmet with a spray gun. When it is completely dry, use a buffer to polish the surface with an extra fine rubbing compound.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
The same procedure can be adapted for any plastic sporting equipment.
On this kind of surface, water-based paints will be more delicate than enamels.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit boy batting baseball image by pixelcarpenter from Fotolia.com
