darth_myeek
Sr Member
You know this technically makes you a ball buster.
Building The Death Star - PRODUCTION
- Thread starter PHArchivist
- Start date
You know this technically makes you a ball buster.
vaderdarth
Master Member
yeah Rob, don't give up man, it's so close it's frightening. I cannot wait to see this bugger finished.
PHArchivist
Master Member
A little... But not completely. I've been "battling the bulge" for the past few weeks.
I'd added a thicker strip of styrene around the edge of the lower dome which created a notable step in porfile. My initial efforts to smooth this over simply created a round bulge.
So its been a matter of sanding, primering, sanding again, primering again, and on, and on. Problem is I cannot simply sand the lower edge of the styrne smooth and flush with the acrylic, because as the styrene thins out, it then peels off.
But the good news is that I'm just about there. The dome is just about restored to a perfect contour with no bulges or edges.
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darth_myeek
Sr Member
It's good to step back for a bit and get a new perspective. A break is A-OK.
-DM
-DM
IEDBOUNTYHUNTER
Sr Member
Yeah take a breather, come back refreshed and ready to finish it. no need to rush. we'll be here.
Al
Al
papamurf812
Well-Known Member
This thing is gonna look beautiful once it's complete.
Smiling Demon
Sr Member
Rob, where are we on the little (and I use the term loosely) project?
PHArchivist
Master Member
Nice analogy!
The bulge on the lower dome at the equator was in fact a bit of a set back.
But unlike some of my other (Indiana) projects (Jones) this (lifesize) one (figure) has not completly hit a brick wall.
Actually, the resurfacing of this thread is timely.
Just this past week, I finally finished smoothing over the bulge and unmasked the masking paper and tape that has covered the ball for the past couple of months.
And saw for the first time the trench as it will be - completed to the correct height and with the notches. It looks really cool.
Unfortunately, my PCs motherboard is fried, and I'm now in the market for a new computer. It will probably be another week or two before I can post new pics.
One side effect of the trench reworknig is that it is no longer light-proof, so now I'm having to go through that PITA process of light proofing the seams inside of the trench.
The bulge on the lower dome at the equator was in fact a bit of a set back.
But unlike some of my other (Indiana) projects (Jones) this (lifesize) one (figure) has not completly hit a brick wall.
Actually, the resurfacing of this thread is timely.
Just this past week, I finally finished smoothing over the bulge and unmasked the masking paper and tape that has covered the ball for the past couple of months.
And saw for the first time the trench as it will be - completed to the correct height and with the notches. It looks really cool.
Unfortunately, my PCs motherboard is fried, and I'm now in the market for a new computer. It will probably be another week or two before I can post new pics.
One side effect of the trench reworknig is that it is no longer light-proof, so now I'm having to go through that PITA process of light proofing the seams inside of the trench.
PHArchivist
Master Member
Now...
If you really want to talk about brick walls. I will present it to the forum yet again.
I NEED A BETTER WAY TO CREATE THE SPECKLE PATTERN.
I have heard, considered, and respected all ideas mentioned over the past ten months, but none really seem to be a workable or ideal solution.
The biggest problem is consistency.
Using either rattle cans or an air brush with mulitple color passes will not produce the consistency of the pattern on the original. At least not in my hands.
When you examine the original in detail as I have, and consider how evenly spread and consistent the pattern is, you begin to realize that it very likely was not applied with such random tools as rattle cans or an air brush or a tooth brush.
Maybe I'm wrong, and maybe it was.
But in my opinion, its just too evenly speckled, and sure looks like a printed pattern.
If you really want to talk about brick walls. I will present it to the forum yet again.
I NEED A BETTER WAY TO CREATE THE SPECKLE PATTERN.
I have heard, considered, and respected all ideas mentioned over the past ten months, but none really seem to be a workable or ideal solution.
The biggest problem is consistency.
Using either rattle cans or an air brush with mulitple color passes will not produce the consistency of the pattern on the original. At least not in my hands.
When you examine the original in detail as I have, and consider how evenly spread and consistent the pattern is, you begin to realize that it very likely was not applied with such random tools as rattle cans or an air brush or a tooth brush.
Maybe I'm wrong, and maybe it was.
But in my opinion, its just too evenly speckled, and sure looks like a printed pattern.
I can almost garauntee that I could do the spray paint speckled patter with consistency. It's all about taking your time and stepping back every so often to check for consistency.
I really don't think it's as hard as you think it is.
How else would they have done it back in '76?
Brad
PHArchivist
Master Member
Here's a reminder...
These are the main colors or shades of speckling present on the model today, though the variation doesn't show on screen
PHArchivist
Master Member
And another...
This pic sort of exemplifies that - you can see the edge on the blank band, and the scoring depression along the latitude, but there is no real sign of physical relief between the grey and the speckle.
FANTAMATION
Well-Known Member
I know I've said this before but I've done this same exact speckle pattern on filming miniatures by just using a finely bristled brush (like a toothbrush or wire bristled brush, etc.... anything with really small fine bristles) and flicking the paint by stroking the bristles with your thumb. If you try it on something to experiment with it I'll GUARANTEE that it will work. After looking at these beautifully detailed reference pics of the original I can plainly see the non-consistency of the speckles sizes and patterns........ I just don't see the consistency that you're seeing.
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