Shiny Tubing...

Equipment Proton Packs
1

Hey all, I’m assembling the parts for my Halloween pack, and I was wondering if any of you had previously ordered the full set of tubing/ wires from Multimedia Mayhem? If so, were you satisfied with them? My only concern is that I saw a pack at this year’s Fan Expo in Toronto - Looked great, and had all the correct tubing, but it all looked really shiny and glossy and frankly… too new.

Am I worrying too much about this? Is there a way to buy the new tubing, and make it look faded or weathered? I know this is a nitpicky thing to ask about, but since the wires are one of the most colorful things on the pack, I find they’re the first thing my eyes are drawn to.

Any help/ thoughts/ opinions would be hugely appreciated. Cheers.

2

the tubing you see is the correct tubing for the pack.

MultiMediaMayhem is one of the best sellers in the community.

the hose looks shiny and clean because its brand new

weather the hose by scuffing it up with some sand paper or a brillo pad, then rubbing grease or something sticky on it, then rubbing dirt or fullers earth to dull it down and give it a dirty look.

3

Mine have been installed for many many years so they don’t look new anymore.

But what I did was apply a little over-spray with flat black over the entire finished pack.

I mean very light, hold the can about 3-4 feet from the pack and spray it top to bottom letting the paint powder float onto the pack.

That will help tie in everything together, especially the labels…

4

Well I know it wasn’t my pack you saw at the Expo because mine is dirty as hell :stuck_out_tongue:

I do sell the correct Nycoil brand hose and yes it is shiny because it is new but like others said you can easily dull it down and dirty it up.

What day were you at the Expo? I was there in full gear all day Saturday. Dirty hoses and all LOL

5

Hey irrician, I was at the Fan Expo on Saturday as well. I checked your pictures, it was a different guy that I saw. Your pack looks awesome though, by the way!

Thanks lots for the advice CPU64, kind2311, and irrician, I’m gonna order my stuff from Multimedia Mayhem tonight. I actually e-mailed the guy to ask him some questions before - he seems super nice, and the site is pretty great. I think I’m gonna try scuffing the tubing up with some light sand paper, and then try your light paint trick, CPU.

Speaking of that, did you lie the pack on the floor and spray the paint downward, or have it standing up and spray the paint toward it from a few feet away?

6

Just so you know, Irricanian here is the guy you spoke to from MultiMedia Mayhem as it his website and his parts that he offers.

7

I weathering technique I use to make hoses look dirty is to take some carbon copy paper and smear it all over the hoses, barbs, labels, anything shiny. It really dulls everything down and makes it look all dirty and grimey with just a little effort. Now just find some carbon paper.

8

sorry, I dont know why that stuck out, but it did and I chuckled.

and for record, yes I realize that would be the incorrect spelling.

9

They still make carbon paper?

10

I just run the hose through y hand with some old sandpaper cupped in it.. that kills the new shine right away. Then I mix up a thin wash of cheap black acrylic waterbased paint, broadly brush that on, and then when its about 3/4 dry, wipe it off with a paper towel. That leaves for nice detail streaks, and if you put on too light a coat, you can redo it over and over again until you are happy with it.

11

Well, you’ll want to do it from as many sides as you can to avoid having only one side covered.

Also, when you’re done with the black, you can do the same, again very lightly, with gray primer. Then take a dry towel or rag, and wipe that off. You’ll have little “dust” areas inside grooves and cracks and tight areas as if it were dusted many many times throughout the years.