Building The Death Star - PRODUCTION

[PHArchivist]

It's funny - in person, (and in the first image), the detail pieces seem almost too thin. But in the second two images, when compared to hi-res and/or strongly lit shots of the original, you can see they're just about dead-on.

I do have a few imperfections still. A bump or two from some specks left under the vinyl, and a couple other oddities here and there. But the original did too, primarily with the peeling up, but other little nuances as well.

 

[DAVIDYR1]

Love it!

David

 

[PHArchivist]

Try this...

 

[PHArchivist]

Here is a look at it before.

This first image is AFTER some notable effort to sand down the plastic strips. Pretty much the way it was when I made the decision to start over.



Here is another showing its original form, as I had first built it

 

[Jedifyfe]

I forgot how amazing this thing is. Man Rob, I've got to come over soon.

 

[PHArchivist]

I forgot how amazing this thing is. Man Rob, I've got to come over soon.

We gotta figure out how to do the trench lights. I'm thinking a photo-etched brass template...

 

[joberg]

If I was your neighbour I would be worried seeing that laser pointed at my house...just sayin' Beauty that dish!

 

[PHArchivist]

Got the detail pieces that needed painting done today. Sorry - no pics...

I'm irritated about the bulge I intentionally built in five years ago at the 11:00 position. Now that the dish is smoother and more - well - "dish-like", the bulge bugs me. I'm going to try to remove the plastic shim I inserted (stupidly) and hope 1.) I can get it out and 2.) if so, that the dish will then lay flat in that area.

Next is the radial pencil lines, then I need to re-install the center disc and that's about it.

 

[MonsieurTox]

Glad to see you back at this Rob ! The extra work on the new dish is well worth the time invested.

 

[PHArchivist]

Got the initial lines down. They don't read well in person, but that may be partly due to the fact that they are not clear coated, and the graphite reflection causes the lines to blend.

But they look good in pics!

 

[jawsmodels]

Looks great Rob.
This is a thing of beauty.

 

[vaderdarth]

That's pretty!!!!!

 

[PHArchivist]

Now that I have the graphite (pencil lead) down, I need to clear coat it, but am waiting on some warmer weather. Been cloudy here and will be cloudy for the next few days. Clear Flat rarely goes "orange peel", but I want to paint under the best conditions I can so not to screw things up.

Right now its rainy in SoCal. If we get a bit of sun this weekend I'll do some test spraying with the Clear Flat and hopefully be able to get a full coat on.

After that I'll reassess my lines (if I need more, or need to darken any), do a final "once-over" to see if there are any fixes at all to make (like the patch in the ring near the 10:00 position), then install the center disc. Once installed, I'll need to do a light test on the center disc/core of dish.

At that point I think I'll unmask everything. Then it will be a matter of assessing the outer ring (that is currently under masking, and was not completely re-done) to see if it meshes with the re-done portion. I know this outer ring will need some light-proofing here and there.

Then I'm done with the dish. I hope...

 

[Jedi Dade]

I'm surprised that after the tape was laid you didn't drop it in rubber to make a solid version (that the tape cannot lift from).

it looks fantastic though... pics totally stolen

Jedi Dade

 

[PHArchivist]

I'm surprised that after the tape was laid you didn't drop it in rubber to make a solid version (that the tape cannot lift from).

it looks fantastic though... pics totally stolen

Jedi Dade

Taking a mold of this would be a very bad idea. Since its permanently mounted in the hemisphere, it would need to be molded-in-place. Meaning brush-on latex, probably. I'd be afraid of discoloring the surface, tape lifting back off with the mold, not getting a decent cast since its so thin, etcetera, etcetera...

The vinyl won't lift. Even if it does then its more accirate to the original!

 

[PHArchivist]

Good progress today. Had a warm enough afternoon to spray the clear coat, plus drilled the center core open enough that I can now get the center disc installed. And I painted a few more of the strips on the center disc the darker color.

View attachment 303670

View attachment 303671

 

[Scratchy]

Rob, the pics aren't loading.

 

[PHArchivist]

Rob, the pics aren't loading.

Blame it on the new RPF...

 

[PHArchivist]

 

[ProfKSergeev]

Now witness the firepower of this fully armed and operational battle station!