Endoskull Roll Call...

[FelMar]

A couple things to note here...

'Clean' combat on the left...Clean version on the right.
You can notice the slight 'rainbow' effect of the chrome on the clean version whereas the 'clean' combat does not have it.

On this next pic you can see that I left some of the black area on the combat version...gives it a differnt effect than having it chrome all the way...

From left to right- clean version, combat version, 'clean' combat...

The ON/OFF writing next to the switch is erased when doing the process...caution on the front name plate!

 

[ONEYE]

why do your pics make the sizes look sooo different??

The Endos are at an angle and he's closer to the cleaned one. It's a perspective thingy. I is not for being smart too abut doze tings.

 

[mr.thrifty]

crap.. now I have to buy another one..

 

[ONEYE]

There it is! My hated enemy, that stinkin' blue nut on the back right side of the head! I loathe that!

FMWETA - YOU ARE THE MAN!

crap.. now I have to buy another one..

SS should have a sale, BOGOF (Buy One, Get One Free)

 

[sewbacca]

Awesome job man, if these look so good cleaned up why did they stop producing the clean versions.

 

[swo77]

A couple things to note here...

'Clean' combat on the left...Clean version on the right.
You can notice the slight 'rainbow' effect of the chrome on the clean version whereas the 'clean' combat does not have it.

Thank you for those shots. I am very impressed with how the cleaned combat version looks. It looks even better in bright light! Did you clean all of the paint out of the vertebrae, or did you leave some in the recesses for depth? How about the braided lines on the neck? Regardless, outstanding work!

EDIT: I just noticed that the upper gum lines of the two (right above the teeth) are slightly different. I wonder if that is the only difference?

 

[FelMar]

Ah, but it was an enjoyable three hours, right? Gotta give a lot of credit to abnpredator for letting us all know how to get this done safely and effectively, right down to the exact products to purchase.

Glad to see so much success with the equate pads, especially from one of the premier Terminator collectors.

Oh yes...it was a fun time...except your hand starts hurting a little bit but no biggie!

And Absolutely...THANKS abnpredator for the help/videos

 

[ONEYE]

Oh yes...it was a fun time...except your hand starts hurting a little bit but no biggie!

Hmm, what EXACTLY are we talkin' about. Man, I'm tired, punchy, stupid kind of tired. I'll see all you hard chargers, metal takers tomorrow, or... later today.

 

[FelMar]

Thank you for those shots. I am very impressed with how the cleaned combat version looks. It looks even better in bright light! Did you clean all of the paint out of the vertebrae, or did you leave some in the recesses for depth? How about the braided lines on the neck? Regardless, outstanding work!

No prob!

I'm stoked at how well it came out

check the the post above...I added pics of the back and side

Hmm, what EXACTLY are we talkin' about. Man, I'm tired, punchy, stupid kind of tired. I'll see all you hard chargers, metal takers tomorrow, or... later today.

have a good night captain...cya tomorrow

 

[Havok]

Those shots look really great Fel, awesome job man! A couple questions for you now if you don't mind.....

Did you have to apply alot of pressure to the Endo when you were cleaning it with the pads, or was light pressure enough?

Also how far into the eye sockets and nose did you clean? Did you just get the actual chrome parts or did you go after the black parts also, like the parts on the side of the head? And are you gonna clean the nameplate too or leave it be?

 

[FelMar]

Those shots look really great Fel, awesome job man! A couple questions for you now if you don't mind.....

Did you have to apply alot of pressure to the Endo when you were cleaning it with the pads, or was light pressure enough?

Also how far into the eye sockets and nose did you clean? Did you just get the actual chrome parts or did you go after the black parts also, like the parts on the side of the head? And are you gonna clean the nameplate too or leave it be?

Thanks Paul

I love questions

Not too much pressure is needed...some areas come off easy and some areas will need a little more work. There are a few spots that are tough and I had to use my fingernail to remove the black stuff, but no biggie. I also used cotton rounds and worked some areas with that...you'll get a lot of black gunk on the pads so just change them out.

I cleaned pretty much right to where the chrome stops on the face...I left some black areas on the back vertebrae to give it a little depth. I'm gonna leave the nameplate alone...I think it looks fine with just a little combat residue, the on/off writing on the back will come off though...that's fine.

 

[laudel7]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-XSwLgx-80&feature=channel_page

Great video mate! I am very tempted to try this now

Hi everyone!

Noob here, both in terms of to this forum and the hobby.

I have a battle damaged endoskull and wasn't too happy when i spotted a long black "skid mark" on my endoskull's left brow.

will definitely be trying the nail polish remover. and if that works, i'll prob do the wholething...

fingers crossed!

Welcome freak! Prepare to have no money

O and Great pictures of all three!

 

[mr.thrifty]

I can't get over how good the cleaned up one looks...

anyone want to buy some figures??

 

[Havok]

Thanks Paul

I love questions

Not too much pressure is needed...some areas come off easy and some areas will need a little more work. There are a few spots that are tough and I had to use my fingernail to remove the black stuff, but no biggie. I also used cotton rounds and worked some areas with that...you'll get a lot of black gunk on the pads so just change them out.

I cleaned pretty much right to where the chrome stops on the face...I left some black areas on the back vertebrae to give it a little depth. I'm gonna leave the nameplate alone...I think it looks fine with just a little combat residue, the on/off writing on the back will come off though...that's fine.

Thanks for the info man, I really appreciate it. I called my brother over and showed him your pics and he was amazed at how well it turned out. I can honestly say that we're both tempted to clean ours now.

Is it the pads that actually polish it and give it the shiny look, or is that shine there naturally underneath all the black paint?

 

[laudel7]

I can't get over how good the cleaned up one anyone want to buy some figures??

I am one step ahead there I am selling already

 

[FelMar]

Thanks for the info man, I really appreciate it. I called my brother over and showed him your pics and he was amazed at how well it turned out. I can honestly say that we're both tempted to clean ours now.

Is it the pads that actually polish it and give it the shiny look, or is that shine there naturally underneath all the black paint?

no worries!

Its a fun process...but if you like the way the combat version looks better...I'd leave it...or its not gonna look like its been in the battlefield

The chrome is already shiny...the nail polish remover/pads is what removes the black paint. After cleaning it up, I used some chrome wheel cleaner with a soft rag and buffed it out. = shiny result

 

[tylerdurden]

Welcome freak! Prepare to have no money

thanks laudel7! i am already running dangerously close to the poverty line with my recent purchases. and still have pred1 + iron man mark1 waiting on preorder. yikes!

great scott felmarweta!!!

that is an AMAZING clean-up job! is it me, or does the polished combat endo look shinier than the original clean endo?

i'm looking at polishing the front name plate, but it seems like they used the same black paint for the lettering as they did for the scorch/weathering marks. and some of the marks are done OVER the lettering. any advice on how to clean it off while avoiding the lettering?

 

[Havok]

Thanks again for the info Fel. Me and my brother are gonna do some serious thinking about this one.

 

[FelMar]

great scott felmarweta!!!

that is an AMAZING clean-up job! is it me, or does the polished combat endo look shinier than the original clean endo?

i'm looking at polishing the front name plate, but it seems like they used the same black paint for the lettering as they did for the scorch/weathering marks. and some of the marks are done OVER the lettering. any advice on how to clean it off while avoiding the lettering?

tyler-

thanks
Indeed, the polished combat looks shinier...I haven't cleaned the original clean endo in a little while though...I will give it a polish this weekend

Don't polish the name plate unless you want the lettering gone...the nail polish remover will get rid of everything!

Thanks again for the info Fel. Me and my brother are gonna do some serious thinking about this one.

right on! keep us posted on what you decide to do

 

[swo77]

After cleaning it up, I used some chrome wheel cleaner with a soft rag and buffed it out. = shiny result

That's how you get it done Did you use Mother's chrome wheel polish or some other brand? I have Flitz...does the same thing.

Great tips, and thank you for the heads up on the base plate and "On/Off" markings.

i'm looking at polishing the front name plate, but it seems like they used the same black paint for the lettering as they did for the scorch/weathering marks. and some of the marks are done OVER the lettering. any advice on how to clean it off while avoiding the lettering?

That being the case, the only way to effectively preserve the markings is to carefully mask them with low-tack tape (3M painters or similar) and very carefully polish around the writing and border. Problem is the small writing beneath the T2 as it is too hard to mask each letter. You would be better off applying a carefully measured block mask to the small lettering, but you will have dulled/spattered areas under the mask when done polishing around it. Same idea for the "ON/OFF". That might look worse than the actual combat paint spatter. I think leaving the plate alone is a good idea, just apply a low tack mask over the entire plate while polishing and remove when done or just be very careful not to get any cleaning solvent on the plate itself. You also run the risk of having even low-tack tape pulling up the lettering or getting polish remover under the masked areas which will also dissolve the paint.

Final option is to clean the entire plate off and paint your own custom logo or apply a custom logo decal, but that's your call. You have already "ruined" the collector value by stripping the black paint off, so why not personalize it, right?

Mike