Dredd 2012 Lawgiver 3d print (YES! ANOTHER ONE!)

[JOATRASH FX]

Small update today. I'm going at several projects at once (stupid me) so things are not moving as quickly as they could. Anyway, here is the clear ammo plate after dry-brushing and carefully painting a few layers of black paint on the back. The plate is printed in the "ultra detail" material just like the serial number, with the lettering "engraved" from the back. You can see the light shines through pretty well. Next I will start working on adding some leds and bullets to the magazine.

 

[trt66]

Said it before and will say it again superb work.

Am I right in thinking that you (or shapeways) will offer the display on it's own, with bezell, even if I haven't bought a complete lawgiver from you? It will save me a lot of swearing if you do. Also the serial number plaque, please!

Also on a very picky point and I apologies before hand. The screen needs a minor detail change. If I'm looking correctly the diamond shape is broken into bars.

 

[JOATRASH FX]

Am I right in thinking that you (or sh*peways) will offer the display on it's own, with bezell, even if I haven't bought a complete lawgiver from you? It will save me a lot of swearing if you do. Also the serial number plaque, please!

Also on a very picky point and I apologies before hand. The screen needs a minor detail change. If I'm looking correctly the diamond shape is broken into bars.

I might make it available to others once the run is taken care of but that is where the first priority is. I beg to differ on the detail change however. While there may be a slight bar-effect there it looks like it COULD be an effect of the slight space between pixels (due to the screen being low resolution) more than an actual space pt there on purpose. (The display also looks slightly different depending on what scene it's from.) It's impossible to say without a perfect side-view where you can see the pixels perfectly. In a couple shots I have there even seems to be a very slight banding in the text as well. At any rate, a space that small would run the risk of not print correctly- you can see I even added a little more space between the M and the I in semi to be safe. For that reason I'll probably leave it be until some very sharp photos surface.

 

[scattrap]

looking great!

 

[andyface]

That's a really cool idea for the display screen, gonna look perfect with the LED's installed.

Can't wait to see it 100% completed, the pics you've put up so far look awesome. Very nice work

 

[JOATRASH FX]

A long bit of silence on this one but here's a small update. I've just placed an order for some LE sheet and a miniature inverter. I think it will fit perfectly. Also bought some fake ammo and plexiglass for the magazine. Expect a bigger update soon!

 

[Propsjonnyb]

Very interested in this as I am going to get a 3D printer later this year , are you going to make the plans available or just sell the prints? either way, it would save re-inventing the wheel- if you are going to release enough pieces to convert an airsoft Glock , please let me have details including shipping (I'm in UK)

my best regards,

propsjonnyb

 

[Propsjonnyb]

A thought has just occurred to me - no-one here is doing any work in metal, I have had a lot of experience in building prop replicas using white metal - pewter , I appreciate , the shells might be brittle cast in resin for addition to a airsoft , but metal would be a completely different scenario , it would make for a heavier gun and again from what I can gather most of the gunsmiths on the film worked with the SFX guys to ensure the most accurate 'real world' interpretation of a 'working functional' gun . I have a couple of Glocks waiting so as soon as I can get some shells I give it a go . I have been very ill recently and for some time I have not been able to model also I have lost some motor function in my hands, so I an really having to learn how to do things over again , but I do miss the hobby and this may get me back

 

[glencsiro]

Could be worth remembering that there is the avalibility to 3D print with a metal powder.

 

[JOATRASH FX]

are you going to make the plans available or just sell the prints? either way, it would save re-inventing the wheel- if you are going to release enough pieces to convert an airsoft Glock , please let me have details including shipping (I'm in UK)

I have teamed up with Morganthirteen (one of THE best builders/casters on the RPF) to do a run of (more or less) solid castings. Here is the thread. please keep all discussions to buying there, thanks! I will probably not be releasing the 3d files for this because it would be like handing out copies of the master mold to every recaster out there. Right now it doesn't look like shells will be widely available due to companies not wanting to print anything weapon-like (though we managed to sneak this one through by restructuring it into a non-weapon)- I considered trying to make a VERY limited number of prints available but they'd cost several hundred $ each (due to the difficulty and risk in getting them done) and people would have to put in maybe 150 as a deposit that they would have to be willing to lose IF things went completely to hell (extremely small risk for sure since printing companies usually refund money if they refuse to print something, but the risk is there nonetheless). 3d printing isn't cheap and there's no way I could take all the financial risk of arranging prints... I just don't have the disposable money for it. So I'm not sure there is any point in setting it up.

A thought has just occurred to me - no-one here is doing any work in metal, I have had a lot of experience in building prop replicas using white metal - pewter

I did a run of J Early Firefly pistols in pewter a few years ago... damn near impossible to get the surface smooth! Got any tips? I don't think the LG is suitable for pewter with all that large smooth surface area- it'd likely end up all wonky and would weigh 3 kilos!

Could be worth remembering that there is the avalibility to 3D print with a metal powder.

You generally need thicker shells to print in metal- 3mm at least if you do something of any size (the LG shell is down to 0.7mm in some places). Also, it would cost a FORTUNE and the surface of printed metal is not smooth, but pitted/textured, so there wouldn't be much point to it. It would be much cheaper to contact a machinist and do a CNC run of aluminum shells or something.


In other news... I got my EL sheet and a driver yesterday. Haven't tested it yet but it will fit perfectly as far as i can tell! I also think it will be a viable solution for the solid castings- you'd have to hollow out the area around the screen and the magwell with dremel (unless we can cast it hollow there) but it should be doable.

I'll be trying to work on it more this weekend.

 

[JOATRASH FX]

A quick test with a piece of EL-sheet taped in place. Works GREAT and it's only like 0.4mm thick! (It should in other words make it ideal for use in the solid casts Morganthirteen is making of this shell. Will be piggybacking a green LED to the same power source.

More to come later... just wanted to do a quick update since it worked so well.

 

[nicklambo]

eeklovelove

 

[Propsjonnyb]

It is possible to cast shells in pewter/white metal , I have had some success casting shells for the Total Recall Gun and Blade Gun in the past , ( Gravity casting) produces very smooth surface results (( also quality and type of pewter /white metal is also important - and one can also cast in brass !!) and was successful in producing custom cast handles for Rich Coyle's Blade Runner Blaster , ( with his permission and consent I may add) and all without adding a huge amount of extra weight , so I do know a little about working in metal - which is why I'm willing to buy a set to attempt it.

 

[JOATRASH FX]

Well, the 3d printed shell would be too thin to cast without some backing. There are also undercuts in the model that don't affect printing but would affect casting. When you say "gravity casting", do you in fact mean rotocasting? Taking into account how much a Blade Runner PKD weighs in full-metal, a pewter-shell Lawgiver would weigh a TON.

Here are a couple more shots of things I did this weekend.

First, a shot of the guts... not a very sexy image but you can see the EL strip glued in place and how cramped it is in there.

Here's a WIP of the magazine where I am test-fitting the little rack I made to hold the shells. It slots right down into the magazine and will be glued in place. The magazine will be held in place by eight super-strong magnets.

 

[sithpig]

That is just too awesome!

 

[Scoots3567]

Wow, love that idea with the backlit ammo display screen. I'm loving this build as well, cannot wait to see it finished. I'm in the early stages of an attempt at a modular build myself, but mine is all hit & hope, trial and (many!!) errors. You guys that can actually use these computer thingies to draw up plans like this, I doff my Dillon helmet to you all. Just call me Judge Luddite.

I REALLY need to learn how to use this MacBook I spent so much on! (embarrassed face).

 

[Propsjonnyb]

No not rotocasting , which is mainly used for resin , gravity casting is particularly used in metal casting , I'm not suggesting for a moment , that hobbyist try this as it is a specialized field and quite dangerous as your casting metal is heated to over 500 degrees
And you do need specialized equipment - so not recommended for the average hobbyist. Resin casting and metallic powders would probably be most people's best bet and the obvious way to go.

 

[JOATRASH FX]

Ok, so you mean good ol' pour-casting then? Casting pewter (or any white metal mix, with lead or whatever) is certainly doable at home but I don't see it working for the Lawgiver. The walls are so thin and the gun would be super-delicate as well as weighing a ton, even if you could get large areas smooth enough. I've spoken to a couple expert casters and even casting this shell is reason would not be feasible without some heavy mods in thickness.

 

[bolsoncerrado]

simply speechless!!

KUDOS!

 

[Propsjonnyb]

I respect your comments and note your concerns, but I have had over 30 years casting in metal , not just white metal , but brass and steel and did indeed make several suggestions to Rich Coyle over castings during the Blade Runner gun productions. I think it's possible, it could certainly be done using CNC milling out of stock , or even out of sheet aluminium . My only reason for suggesting it is, I would like to see a PFC forward venting donor gun on full auto ( i don't think a resin shell would take the strain , but am willing to be proved wrong. I have an order placed for one of your casts , and shall be working on that target once it comes .