My heraldry progress

[Sir Edward]

Sweet, that's really nicely done. Generally I go for deeper blues, but it'll certainly work! I just don't like "in your face" bright colors, so it's looking great.

I just realized, the ailettes will be really handy for taking to the store to match up paint colors for the shield.

Oh, speaking of deep blues, this is the sort of color I'll have on my custom sword when it's done:  http://www.christianfletcher.com/Christian_Fletcher/Custom_Sword_Gallery/Pages/AT-1501.html#0 (this is the one from Christian Fletcher's site that I used as a reference when placing my order)

Thankfully the dragon design is coming along... but I just realized... I need to make a sword template too. Crap.

[Sir Brian]

Thankfully the dragon design is coming along... but I just realized... I need to make a sword template too. Crap.

uh oh! Man I really hate to add more to you...but you have to do the ankh as well! 

If that blue isn't deep enough for your needs, you can paint on top of the epoxy. It doesn't
matter if its acrylic, enamel...It works on that stuff. You should go for at least a semi-gloss
finish so it matches the same reflective aspects of the black and white. The painter recommends
using a flat finish on the charges for the contrast. The pictures kind of shows this a little. Notice
that even though the charges are done in a flat finish, they contrast well upon the gloss finish of
the shield itself.

[Sir Edward]

Thankfully the dragon design is coming along... but I just realized... I need to make a sword template too. Crap.

uh oh! Man I really hate to add more to you...but you have to do the ankh as well! 

Actually I'm not worried about the ankh. I have a graphic that I can scale up well enough that it should work, and if not, I can trace the one I have on wooden book cover which is about the right size for the shield.

I know what you mean about the contrast. I'll see how it all looks when it gets here; you're right, I could paint over the blue. I'm thinking that once I have the charges painted on, I might go over the whole thing with a clear coat, which has the unfortunate side effect of giving everything the same sheen. But I think acrylic paints and the like will need the extra protective layer.

Man, those pictures are awesome. We're gonna knock em dead even more this year.

[Sir Brian]

A trick I learned with sealing my charges after I painted them was to put the stencil back
on and tape paper all around it so when I sprayed the sealer over the acrylic paint of the
charge I didn't dull the epoxy finish. 

[Sir Edward]

I think I'm starting to get satisfied with it. I made more tweaks, and it's looking really good. Any suggestions for further improvements?

[Sir Brian]

I think you've got a winner there! Not sure if you can improve upon
perfection! 

...Of course the real test will be cutting the stencil out! (I always sucked
@ that part!) 

btw Sir Edward your shield is in the mail! I sent it the same method
you sent it to me...except it weighs a bit more because of the paint and
the Ailetts. I also included a painted aluminum plate so you can practice
your stenciling technique. The painter also wanted to relay to you that
if you wanted to paint over the blue epoxy, you should rough it up a little
by sanding it with some 200 - 240 grit sandpaper.

 

[Sir Edward]

You're right, cutting it out will be interesting. I'm planning to do very careful cutting with an xacto knife.

Awesome about the shield! Thanks again for helping out with this. Let me know what the shipping was, I'll send a check with the business cards.

I'll keep the sandpaper in mind. That's the mistake I've always made in the past is not roughing up surfaces... then I wonder why the paint flakes off so easily. I've only recently started to get that through my thick skull.

[Das Bill]

I think that looks great, Ed! And the head no longer looks like it should be vs. Predator.

[Sir Brian]

Awesome about the shield! Thanks again for helping out with this. Let me know what the shipping was, I'll send a check with the business cards.

My pleasure and don't worry about it...buy me a couple of beers @ MDRF! 

[Sir Edward]

I think that looks great, Ed! And the head no longer looks like it should be vs. Predator.

Hahah, I hadn't made that connection. It looked more like a watermelon seed to me.

And Brian, you're on!

[Sir Edward]

The shield got here yesterday. You guys did a great job on it! Man, I gotta get cracking on the rest of the stencil designs.

[Sir Brian]

Was the shade of blue ok?

Oh and don't forget to pick up some stencil adhesive...It will make you're stenciling
life a LOT easier! 

[Sir Edward]

The blue looks pretty good, but I haven't decided if I want to paint over it or not. I may try for a deeper color, but I'll look and see what's available. I'm being really indecisive because it looks very nice as it is.

[Sir Wolf]

i thought it looked great

[Sir Edward]

I think I need to take it outside and look at it in the sun. The lighting in my house sucks and I haven't had a chance to play with it all weekend!