Building The Death Star - PRODUCTION
- Thread starter PHArchivist
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PHArchivist
Master Member
Just slicing real thin using a very sharp exacto with a steel straight edge on a cutting board.
I use an 18" steel ruler to cut along, and a 6" steel ruler with metric to ensure the strip is precise.
vaderdarth
Master Member
That is just phenomenal Rob. 
modeleers
Sr Member
JediFyfe: I'm positively Green!!!
A small square of glass can be acquired from your local hardware store & safety-proofed by edging-it with duct-tape. I do however - recommend using 1/4 inch glass (rather than 1/8th). More expensive, but well worth it.
Here's an ol' school trick (serving suggestion) to getting super-straight cuts & avoid the slight blade-'travel' that comes from cutting on a cutting-board. Cut on Glass!
A small square of glass can be acquired from your local hardware store & safety-proofed by edging-it with duct-tape. I do however - recommend using 1/4 inch glass (rather than 1/8th). More expensive, but well worth it.
PHArchivist
Master Member
That might be a good idea. What I'm using as a "cutting board" is actually a 8x10 inch piece of 1/4 inch thick plastic. Not sure what type it is; it is opaque white, and not quite as resilient as pure acrylic. But the blade does cut into the plasctic a bit, so I'm building up the "track lines" quickly.
Rob just use the mirror that we used to crush up all the coke we snorte...UH I mean Coca-Cola we drank...yeah Coca-Cola that's it...
Brad
modeleers
Sr Member
A technique heads-up: If you need to use a heavy hand while cutting, even the Glass will 'rut' with micro-scratches. Trouble-shoot: keep the cuts moving around to different areas.
In addition, 1/8th thin glass can be substituted of 1/4 inch think, but only if you are cutting on a level surface & under No circumstances - should you Steady the glass with your Other Hand by Leaning on it.
I've heard - that it will Break every single time you do! :unsure
In addition, 1/8th thin glass can be substituted of 1/4 inch think, but only if you are cutting on a level surface & under No circumstances - should you Steady the glass with your Other Hand by Leaning on it.
I've heard - that it will Break every single time you do! :unsure
Rob, I was thinking about your DS and I had a few questions.
1. Will this thing fit through a regular sized doorway ? Or is it like a baby crib, you have to put it together in the room you want it in.
2. Where are you planning to display it ? How will this effect the set-up of the room you have planned ?
3. Would you ever consider 'loaning' it out to a short-time cause like SDCC or Dragon-con for display (if someone was willing to pay for transportation) ?
1. Will this thing fit through a regular sized doorway ? Or is it like a baby crib, you have to put it together in the room you want it in.
2. Where are you planning to display it ? How will this effect the set-up of the room you have planned ?
3. Would you ever consider 'loaning' it out to a short-time cause like SDCC or Dragon-con for display (if someone was willing to pay for transportation) ?
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nwjedidave
Sr Member
and pay for Rob's way and hotel, and food to make sure nothing happens to this fantastic recreation !!
This will NOT fit through any regular sized doorway!! Rob can't even get this inside his house unless we take his sliding door apart, frame and all. This is going to stay in his MAN-GARAGE.
I think the best thing that Rob needs to do at this point is get in contact with the original builders of the DS and have them come take a look at it when they're "in town".
Brad
I think the best thing that Rob needs to do at this point is get in contact with the original builders of the DS and have them come take a look at it when they're "in town".
Brad
I asked because as weird as it might be to display it inside, I would think after all this hard work you would want to display it in an air-conditioned/heated room and not in the garage where extreme heat and cold could affect the paint over time (shrinkage and expansion). Or is the garage on the A/C ?
PHArchivist
Master Member
Ah, the good ole' days... There was this one time, at college, when she hit the tequila pretty hard, and then wandered over to my apartment...
Ah **** - wait; we were talking about the Death Star weren't we...?
PHArchivist
Master Member
No, seriously...
It just won't fit in the house. I have a modest sized home, about 2k square feet. The home theater just isn't designed for a display this size (recall I had to build a table for the MR Falcon).
My sweetie - its not a matter of not approving of the item or project, but the size. Just won't work.
And James, its not really all that portable. Probably weights 50 pounds, give or take, and is unwieldly as hell. One good shock, and acrylic could crack, or seams can come undone. Static, its not fragile. I built sturdiness into it. But its not meant to travel.
Lorne, the door is open. I'll buy the beer.
It just won't fit in the house. I have a modest sized home, about 2k square feet. The home theater just isn't designed for a display this size (recall I had to build a table for the MR Falcon).
My sweetie - its not a matter of not approving of the item or project, but the size. Just won't work.
And James, its not really all that portable. Probably weights 50 pounds, give or take, and is unwieldly as hell. One good shock, and acrylic could crack, or seams can come undone. Static, its not fragile. I built sturdiness into it. But its not meant to travel.
Lorne, the door is open. I'll buy the beer.
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PHArchivist
Master Member
Back on task...
All right guys - no bull****. I need direct feedback. That means no kiss-ass "Yes men", and no critiquing just for the sake of critiquing (you don't have to find anything off).
Tell me if you see any lines that are askew. I'm less concerned about whether or not they point to the south pole. I want to make sure they all point the proper direction.
All right guys - no bull****. I need direct feedback. That means no kiss-ass "Yes men", and no critiquing just for the sake of critiquing (you don't have to find anything off).
Tell me if you see any lines that are askew. I'm less concerned about whether or not they point to the south pole. I want to make sure they all point the proper direction.
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Gigatron
Sr Member
Incredible work, Rob :thumbsup.
Unfortunately, it would be almost impossible for us to tell if the lines are straight or not, due to the inherent distortion of camera lenses.
But, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. What you can do is take a simple bubble level and make sure the DS equator is sitting true. Then, get one of those cheap laser levels, make sure it's level and project the beam on to the DS. Most decent laser levels allow you to switch between horizontal and vertical projection at the push of a button, so you can check the tape markings in both directions.
-Fred
Unfortunately, it would be almost impossible for us to tell if the lines are straight or not, due to the inherent distortion of camera lenses.
But, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. What you can do is take a simple bubble level and make sure the DS equator is sitting true. Then, get one of those cheap laser levels, make sure it's level and project the beam on to the DS. Most decent laser levels allow you to switch between horizontal and vertical projection at the push of a button, so you can check the tape markings in both directions.
-Fred
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