Props Finally Started This...

[Starvinartist80]

Great work as always man. Good to see you're still creating new things.

 

[Sgt Freezer]

Excellent job as usual Sir, keep it up!

 

[thorssoli]

Thank you for the kind words. Today I did a bit of fairing and a quick primer test coat:

 

[Shade88]

Looking awesome thorssoli!

 

[thorssoli]

Holy heck it's been a long time since I've updated this thread. Progress has been slow while I've been working on other things, but the AR now has a bit more definition in the foregrip area:


I've also been tweaking the magazine and the magazine well a bit:




At this point it needs a few tiny details and it'll be ready to mold.

Finally, if you were really excited about the Mass Effect pistol, I've written an article in my blog about making the mold: http://protagonist4hire.blogspot.com/2011/07/building-m-3-predator-heavy-pistol-from_11.html Check it out.

 

[Varsity]

cant wait

 

[vshore100]

Thanks alot for sharing your molding techniques Thorsolli. They really help me understand the process. And awesome job on the AR!

 

[thorssoli]

Today I rushed through the bulk of the paintjob on one of my Sniper Rifle kits:


I'm making this one so the barrel is removable:


The magazine too:


The best part about this particular build though is the scope. I drilled out the forward end with a 1-1/2" Forstner bit and painted it gold inside:


Then I laid a piece of prismatic translucent sheet over the gold paint and glued in a clear acrylic cabochon over that. I'm pretty happy with the finished effect:


It captures the light like crazy and it's a bit difficult to photograph with a flash, but it looks great. I'll make sure to get some decent photos of it tomorrow morning.

I did a tiny bit of work on the AR prototype today, but not enough to make it worth posting pictures.

 

[Varsity]

how many bullets can fit into the mag of the sniper?

 

[thorssoli]

how many bullets can fit into the mag of the sniper?

One. Only the visible one. I figure there's no sense going through the trouble of making the magazine hollow and casting a bunch of rounds to go inside where nobody will ever see them. When all's said and done, it's still just for looks.

 

[tubachris85x]

Between your sniper rifle and your WIP AR, are the magazines going to be held in place by pressure or are you developing a system to lock it in place? I noticed the elevated grooves on your AR mag

 

[thorssoli]

Between your sniper rifle and your WIP AR, are the magazines going to be held in place by pressure or are you developing a system to lock it in place? I noticed the elevated grooves on your AR mag

I'm casting the ARs in dense flex foam. Friction will be more than enough to hold the magazine in place.

For the Sniper Rifle, I've had to come up with something else. I'm using these:


They're peel-and-stick non-skid pads to go on the feet of furniture and whatnot. I use them to grip the magazine inside the mag well:


Speaking of the sniper rifle, I've finished up another one:


I'm especially proud of the paintjob on this baby:


I had to mail it out this afternoon, but I still managed to take a moment to pose for a portrait with it:

 

[thorssoli]

Forgot to mention, I'm still tinkering with the AR prototype:


And here's some more ridiculous photos with the pretty sniper rifle:

 

[Toacrabman]

Lol, the sniper is positioned in such a way to make it look as if it is your genitalia : )

 

[spartan005]

well shawn i can not wait for the AR to be done looking really good. i also cant wait to get my hands on one lol and do a damn good paint job.......

 

[thorssoli]

The AR is very nearly done now:


Here's a closeup showing some of the details:


Quite a few parts of the final casts will need to be shiny. So I gave it a nice glossy coat of paint on those parts:


Next I'll be spraying some textured paint on the parts that need to not be shiny. Stay tuned...

 

[thorssoli]

Weird. No comments.

Today I sprayed some texture on the parts of the AR that needed it:


Here's a closeup shot:


Here's the shooter view:


I also got a wild hair and decided to start working on this thing:

When it's done, the plan is to vacform it. I'll be making it into a functional case to mount on the wall in my workshop to hold my first aid kit.

Stay tuned...

 

[vshore100]

It looks like the AR is coming along nicely. I really like the health kit. How exactly are you going to mod it?

 

[thorssoli]

I really like the health kit. How exactly are you going to mod it?

The plan is to use the piece I've built as a vacuum forming buck. If you don't know what vacforming is, it's the way stormtrooper armor is usually made. It's also the way Sean Bradley makes ODST armor and the way I built my HALO3 Marine kits. You heat up a sheet of plastic in a frame until it's stretchy and flexible, press the frame over a form, then suck the air out from under the plastic. When the plastic cools, it stays in the shape of whatever was under it.

I've got some pictures of that process somewhere around page ten in my thread about building my H3 marines: http://www.405th.com/showthread.php/31388-Thorssoli-s-HALO-3-Marine(s)

That should make it all very clear. In the case of the health pack, I'll be making them in either one or four pieces. One piece if it's just going to be set dressing to hang on the wall. Four pieces if I make one that can be opened with an inside and an outside. I'm also going to have a friend of mine run me out some vinyl cut decals for the labels on the outside.

 

[vshore100]

Thanks for the explanation Thorssoli. I look forward to seeing these progress. I have seen it done here and there, but never had any experience with it personally. However, I would really like to learn more about it, possibly even look into making my own. With out trying to be too nosy, what do you think would a ball park figure (price wise) for someone looking to build their own vac table?

The plan is to use the piece I've built as a vacuum forming buck. If you don't know what vacforming is, it's the way stormtrooper armor is usually made. It's also the way Sean Bradley makes ODST armor and the way I built my HALO3 Marine kits. You heat up a sheet of plastic in a frame until it's stretchy and flexible, press the frame over a form, then suck the air out from under the plastic. When the plastic cools, it stays in the shape of whatever was under it.

I've got some pictures of that process somewhere around page ten in my thread about building my H3 marines: http://www.405th.com/showthread.php/31388-Thorssoli-s-HALO-3-Marine(s)

That should make it all very clear. In the case of the health pack, I'll be making them in either one or four pieces. One piece if it's just going to be set dressing to hang on the wall. Four pieces if I make one that can be opened with an inside and an outside. I'm also going to have a friend of mine run me out some vinyl cut decals for the labels on the outside.