Any Personalized Helmets?

[autobonrun]

I'm buying a SA2000 helmet early next year in anticipation of the 2003 DE and autoX season. Most are either white or black. A few are modeled after F1 helmets that are not only too expensive, but have more on them than I care for and basically reflect some else's likes.

Have any of you custom painted your helmets or had it done? I know the key thing is safety and functionality but some custom paint might be fun.

[ChrisBennet]

Having them painted is quite expensive. The places that paint them charge about the price of a helmet.
-Chris

[obrut]

You have to be pretty careful when painting a helmet, or when applying decals. Some chemicals affect the integrity of the helmet.

I have also seen some scrutineers fail decorated helmets, particularly those with stickers.

I would be asking the paint guy whether they have looked into these issues and/or have some sort of approval (some do).

[autobonrun]

Originally posted by ChrisBennet
Having them painted is quite expensive. The places that paint them charge about the price of a helmet.
-Chris

Thanks Chris, I should have known it would be expensive. There goes that idea.

Hmm, maybe an art school student that needs a project.

[Jeffra]

Hey, I thought this was my topic!!!

Too funny, guess there's always another pelicanhead thinking about same issue.

Good post!

[Brian Cameron]

I put a sticky label on the back of mine with my name, blood type, and next of kin contact information. Call me an optimist.

[TimT]

d00ds........

$100 and I had a custom airbrushed helmet with WATER BASED PAINTS a clear coat was applied to protect the color layer.

[David McLaughlin]

As soon as I get my studio running (another month I hope) I will paint two helmets for FREE! You pay postage both ways, and I'll do the art. I need the practice and some sample pics for the web site. The first two people to contact me (yup, one helmet per person) win, all others pay cash.

Email me directly at djm914-6@attbi.com

EDIT: helmets must be new or in like new condition. I will refuse to paint any helmet that had been dropped, severely scratched or has been in an accident. I will look at the foam structure too. This is why some tech inspector fail painted helmets or those with strangely placed stickers.

[David McLaughlin]

The two helmets have been chosen, thanks for playing.

[jphillips-998]

Off track a bit but reading the Program from the Indy F1 on the drivers helmets, most have designed them themselves and have had the same design since they started racing....maybe superstition.

M. Schumacher said that they did extensive wind tunnel testing on his and was able to add 4-5 horsepower with a redesign. Pretty incredible when you consider what those engines put out to begin with.

[jluetjen]

I've always been of the (romantic) impression that a driver's helmet design is kind of like a knight's shield design. As such it is as much a form of identification used for life as it is head protection. As teams' sponsors and paint schemes change over and over, I can usually ID my favorite driver's by their helmets.

[David McLaughlin]

I believe that a helmet design has to be a personal thing. It is true that the look of a helmet is used to identify a driver, this is why MS had the top of is helmet repainted red when RB arrived on the Ferrari team with a helmet looking much like MS'. How many people have you talked with at a DE at length only to not regognize them at the after event gathering with out their helmets? Or is that only me?

Many top drivers will not change their helmet design for the sponcer, it is their identity.

[Big_Mac]

I had a graphic designer friend do a vinyl design on my motorcycle helmet. After a year or so I got bored with it, peeled off the vinyls and he then did a different design for me.

You can get computer cut vinyls made to your own design or just buy plain sheets and cut out your own.

Just thinking about it has made me consider peeling off the second design and doing another - perhaps based on the pegasus Mobil oil emblem?

[autobonrun]

I sent an email to Bell and got a quick response. Basically, I asked what paint would be safe to use on a helmet. Here is the response for those that may have the same interest. Looks like Jeffra made an exact post about the same time as I did, so I'll put this response there also.

+++++++++

"I would first recommend the services of a helmet painter, since there is specialized knowledge of the helmet construction that is useful. Basically, any paint safe for fiberglass automotive finish is useable. The factory finish is Copon, so tell your paint store that is the surface that you are painting. You need not SAND the surface, merely scuff it so that paint will stick".

[emcon5]

I like this one:



Tom

[TimT]

ouch, now thats some road rash

[74911s]

my bieffe started out as a white brain bucket and after t years of racing it started to look a little old so i spent the last week with some masking and painting to make it look better than new.

it has to be worth at least 2 seconds on the track!

[Eric Coffey]

Here's an old thread (with picture) for a helmet I had for sale:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-used-parts-sale-wanted/21974-arai-gp-3k-kevlar-auto-x-d-e-helmet-brand-new-pic.html#post123975

[David Ceruti]

Cool colour Eric!

One other thing to remember is that you can only safely paint composite helmets i.e. the fiberglass, kevlar or CF type. Those made of ABS or another type of thermoplastic are a no no

(I know that no-one that is serious about racing buys plastic helmets, but just in case!)