Hatz! The Exploding Dorian Popa & My First Airbrush Adventure

Let’s talk about failures. Not the "I burned the toast" kind, but the heartbreaking, hours-of-work-ruined kind.

I recently decided to tackle a new project: a 3D printed figurine of Dorian Popa, specifically his character from the movie Mentorii. If you’ve seen the character, you know he has a "presence." I wanted to capture that energy on my print bed.

The print itself? It looked flawless coming off the plate. I washed it, cured it, and felt like a genius. But physics had a different plan for me.

The "Head-Splitting" Incident

 

 

Here is a rookie mistake that I learned the hard way. When I hollowed out the model to save resin, I got lazy with the drain holes. Actually, I only made just a tiny one.

For the uninitiated: if you leave liquid resin or alcohol trapped inside a hollow model and cure it, gas builds up. Pressure builds up. Eventually, that pressure needs to go somewhere.

A few days after the print, I looked at Dorian and realized he literally cracked under the pressure. The head had split open. It was a tragedy. No amount of filler was going to save that structural failure. I had to scrap him and start over.

Round Two: The Redemption

I went back to the slicer. I added drain holes like my life depended on it. I made sure every drop of uncured resin could escape. I reprinted, cleaned, and cured him.

 

Perfect. No cracks. Just a smooth, solid representation of Mr. Hatz himself. But now came the part I was actually nervous about.

The Airbrush Anxiety

I’ve always used rattle cans for priming. They are easy, but they are messy and smell terrible. For this project, I decided it was finally time to unbox the airbrush I’ve been staring at for weeks.

I’m not going to lie—I was intimidated. The mix ratios, the PSI, the fear of clogging the needle immediately... it’s a lot.

But once I pulled that trigger?

MAGIC!

 

There is something incredibly satisfying about watching that fine mist of primer hit the resin. It reveals every detail (and yes, every sanding mark I missed). It unifies the different parts into one cohesive statue.

The Result

 

So, here we are. Dorian is no longer a cracked mess. He is sanded, he is primed in a beautiful, uniform grey, and he is ready for the real challenge: The Painting.

Also in this stage I magnetized it and the head and arms detached from the body and the body with legs goes inside the base with 2 pins

I’ve laid down the canvas using my new favorite tool (the airbrush is definitely staying), and now I have to bring him to life with color.

Stay tuned. Hopefully, the next update doesn’t involve me spilling paint all over the carpet.

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