SpecialAdvisor’s Mad Labs - Mars Leather Mods Plus

[wilonghair68]

Morning O-Team

Couple Ducati Themed Fresh out the Chop Shop.

Half Jacket 1.0 Ducati Themed for the Better Half.
Duplicolor - Graphite

Few Touch Up Spots to Touch Up
Icon’s Drying.
Socks and Lenses Inbound

NSJ2 - Dark Ducati Themed - Smok’d Graphite
Duplicolor - Graphite/ Black Anno Smoke on top.
Clip’s and Icon’s -

Duplicolor - Metallic Deep Cherry/Red Anno on top.

@VTHokieAlum03 I’ve got really close to Blood.

Appears a few touch up spot’s and one more coat of Clear.

Also this is 4/4 on 3 different Frame’s that lenses are in and out clean with no chip’s. Except 2 small spots Left Lower On the inside.

Top Kick Out.

 

[SpecialAdvisor]

Morning O-Team

Couple Ducati Themed Fresh out the Chop Shop.
View attachment 1347960

Half Jacket 1.0 Ducati Themed for the Better Half.
Duplicolor - Graphite
View attachment 1347965
View attachment 1347966
View attachment 1347964
Few Touch Up Spots to Touch Up
Icon’s Drying.
Socks and Lenses Inbound

NSJ2 - Dark Ducati Themed - Smok’d Graphite
Duplicolor - Graphite/ Black Anno Smoke on top.
Clip’s and Icon’s -

Duplicolor - Metallic Deep Cherry/Red Anno on top. View attachment 1347961

View attachment 1347963
@VTHokieAlum03 I’ve got really close to Blood.
View attachment 1347962
Appears a few touch up spot’s and one more coat of Clear.

Also this is 4/4 on 3 different Frame’s that lenses are in and out clean with no chip’s. Except 2 small spots Left Lower On the inside.
View attachment 1347974


Top Kick Out.

I’m digging the Duplicolor Graphite Top…very X-Metal

 

[SpecialAdvisor]

Sable Tiger SITREP: Mission Complete

 

[SpecialAdvisor]

Alright Pardners saddle stitchin time

This makes little to no sense…but this “IS” the MAD LABS. Been awhile so MONET CODE is in full effect. I’m starting simple (just ultra thin suede cow hide) but gonna get “Wild” before too long (mountain lion or prairie dog lining?)

Got more tools coming in tomorrow…forgot I needed a stitching pony so field expedient big dang book

 

[gen1]

K-Sector Lone Wolf reporting in — Operation codename: Battle-Worn Green Goblin.

Didn’t manage to capture the process this time, but the mission still delivered solid results.
It’s been a while since I pulled off a chipping-free custom, and I’ll take that as a win.

This build was inspired by a post-battle scenario — Green Goblin after going a few brutal rounds with Spider-Man. As expected, it was another reminder that custom painting never really gets “easy”… you just get a little less surprised by how hard it is.

For the setup:
Silver laid down as the base layer, topped with a dark green upper coat.
Before the clear coat, I went in with 2000-grit — not so much rubbing this time, but more of a controlled tapping approach to create that battle-worn texture. Less sanding, more “impact storytelling.”

For anyone in O-team looking to run a clean, chipping-free op, here are a few field notes:

1. Orbital (lens seat) & hinge areas — keep paint and clear to a minimum.
The thinner the application here, the lower the risk of chipping. No exceptions.

2. Lens installation — used the leader’s “Controlled Tension Method.”
Far smoother than brute force. Precision beats strength every time.

3. Stick to one system — in this case, lacquer only.
Looking back, most chipping issues came from mixing different paint types. Lesson learned.

Mission complete

 

[SpecialAdvisor]

K-Sector Lone Wolf reporting in — Operation codename: Battle-Worn Green Goblin.
View attachment 1349173

Didn’t manage to capture the process this time, but the mission still delivered solid results.
It’s been a while since I pulled off a chipping-free custom, and I’ll take that as a win.

This build was inspired by a post-battle scenario — Green Goblin after going a few brutal rounds with Spider-Man. As expected, it was another reminder that custom painting never really gets “easy”… you just get a little less surprised by how hard it is.

For the setup:
Silver laid down as the base layer, topped with a dark green upper coat.
Before the clear coat, I went in with 2000-grit — not so much rubbing this time, but more of a controlled tapping approach to create that battle-worn texture. Less sanding, more “impact storytelling.”

View attachment 1349174View attachment 1349175View attachment 1349176

For anyone in O-team looking to run a clean, chipping-free op, here are a few field notes:

1. Orbital (lens seat) & hinge areas — keep paint and clear to a minimum.
The thinner the application here, the lower the risk of chipping. No exceptions.

2. Lens installation — used the leader’s “Controlled Tension Method.”
Far smoother than brute force. Precision beats strength every time.

3. Stick to one system — in this case, lacquer only.
Looking back, most chipping issues came from mixing different paint types. Lesson learned.

Mission complete
View attachment 1349178

Awww…great photo!

Looking good O-TEAMMATE! I’m sold on that lens install method. I am still using an application of bar soap along the lens edges and the orbital area likely to get the lens edge contact. Last two frames were Steel-It so that is also less likely to chip.

How long did you let the paint cure? I’m curious. I am trying for a minimum of a week to 10 days…seems to me that was @Lopaka KaMars method.