Limited Run Dredd Lawgiver 2012 Full Electronics and Action

[Props3D]

Gee2 Awesome! Looking forward to pics!

zsherman JDiamond Haha, I totally appreciate the interest but there's no wait list right now. 'Save those precious fingers' hits it right on the nose! Do you have any idea how much elbow grease it's taking to sand 11 to this level? I'm a gonna need a nice long break after this. I haven't taken a solid day off this since the run was first listed. I also have soo many cool projects I want to release next year, if there's one thing this run has solidified: You can make new things or sell what you've already made, you can't do both!

I knew what I signed up for, don't shed any crocodile tears, but at that same time I knew what I signed up for: 11 (9 for run, 1 for me personally, 1 for YouTube video and then for shows). Maybe next year when it fades into a fond memory just like that time I camped in a blizzard I'll do another run. But for now the models are free, the code is free, and the 'How to' videos are coming after the run. All you need to add yourself is a 3D printer and a soldering iron.

On a fun side note I pretty much spent every dime I've made on this run improving my tooling and film set, that was my secret sneaky reason for doing this.

My shopping list buying spree so far:

1. 85mm full frame prime lens for product shots
2. Permanent Photo booth (will be using this for all lawgivers before shipping going forward)
3. Milling machine with all the tooling needed (soo much tooling needed)
4. Metal lathe will all the tooling (see above)
5. New Lead Screw Z axis for my CNC so I can cut metal
6. Prusa XL preorder (I ordered it on day 1, but now I can pay for it!)
7. ATEM Mini Pro for filming modeling videos
8. New racking and storage for queuing up more production
9. Loootttt of small things

Remember I do all the models and how-to videos for free. So in the interests of my kids having food this obsessive hobby needs a way to cover what I put into it every now and then. Spidey74 also codes all of this for free and posts it on Github for everyone. He is going to take a more active role in creating content starting next year, so he's needed some gear too. So this run has really gotten us to the point where we can make way cooler content going forward, so thank you to all who put your trust in us!

Edit: Made a post without a progress update! Bad me.

jds12 is not in the shot since it's in the other room getting the electronics installed, shown here is #7,8,9 finished paint with the top coat curing. I have complete parts sets and electronics done for the rest of my portion of the run as well (3 more). As soon as these 4 are done I'll start on the frames for the last 3. And I'll leave Spidey74 to update you on his progress when he's closer to done.

 

[JDiamond]

Props3D Being a woodworker I have used a scraper for years, but, have you ever considered it for cleaning up your 3D prints.

I haven't tried it on a print but may be worth having a look at, Cheers

 

[Props3D]

JDiamond I do a lot of woodworking too. Here's one of my pieces done in oak attached to a thing I've cropped in quite closely for some reason:

I have some scrapers and gave it a go after seeing a video on it, but it's no where near as good as the interwebs would have you believe, or at least hasn't been for me. Here's some of my sanding/finishing tools, or at least those that were in easy grabbing distance, each has their use.

Everything is wet sanded on trays like the one in the pic, I don't use power sanders because they're too aggressive and I don't want dust in the air with kids in the house.

I would take the diamond blocks and diamond files over scrapers any day, they give you a ton of control and do a great job. Though the scrapers are useful for large angled surfaces. There's a lot of nooks and crannies and that requires small tools. My favorite tool by far is the Korean signature stamp making kit, you can use those like scrapers and chisels to get layer lines and imperfections right out of the teeniest places. I use the 6000 grit stone with the strop after to keep them at a razer edge.

Normally I wouldn't finish these nearly to this level, which has also added a lot of scope, but it's sort of become a challenge project as much as my first RPF run. It's always hard to know where 'good enough' is, especially when you're doing a first time thing on a place with a lot of big names like the RPF.

 

[JDiamond]

Props3D nice work on the grip fellow woodworker. It was just a thought, but now I feel like I'm trying to teach the Mistro how to play the ukulele lol. I understand where you are coming from, most woodworkers are perfectionists and I am the same. Didn't know this was your first run and I have to say you have nailed it. You are right, the RPF does set a high standard and you sir I would have to say are now a part of that club.

 

[Props3D]

Hi all!

Couple of head scratches I’d like to run by you now we’re approaching the halfway delivery and ¾ work done point.

First, a fun one: I painted up the next 4 stands but one SMALL thing that’s bothering me is that they’re too clean. So I did 3 versions here: left and middle have a copper wash, left has subtle oil grime.

Close up of the grimed one, I kept it VERY subtle, mostly makes the reflections sell. The paint on the eagle is still wet if you’re wondering why it looks like that, just ignore it.

If you want either of the weathering options on the stand just DM me, super easy and happy to do it. You can also weather yourself, they have a nice thick coat of poly to protect them regardless so you can paint right on top of it, I'll include a weathering tutorial after the build video for the whole Lawgiver if you want to go that route. I think I'm up to like... 6 vids now on this? I'm certainly not going to get bored this winter!

Second, the confusing but interesting one: When I listed the run I was already well into making the first 4 in advance, but at the last minute I made a change to the trigger guard. In my reference images the guard looked angled, but it was actually straight, a small change but I tweaked the models just before listing the run and the other guys printing. So the first 4 were a slightly different frame with a slightly angled trigger guard.
Here’s pics of two primed frames, one with each trigger guard (If you can't see the dif that's how small it is):

When Spidey74 , BeakZ , and I divided the run up it sort of left a quandary: should I just ship the first few with the angled trigger guard? I think that’s totally fair, but rather than add confusion I just started again.

I had a think yesterday while I was painting the bullets, I’m done every part except for the frames for my part of the run, so if I offer anyone from positions #10~16 the 3 angled trigger guard versions I can pretty much ship them immediately after I ship the ones I'm finishing up (position #2, #7~#9) and it will have 0 effect on the other people in the run regardless of who's in. It would work out well actually since everyone else would get theirs faster since the frames are the only hold up now. I had a talk with Spidey74 and I can think of no way in which this cheats anyone out of anything (I hope?).

So TLDR: If you’re #10~16 and want to get yours much faster with the angled trigger guard DM me. If I get more than 3 DMs who's ever higher on the list gets it first.

If I get no DMs nothing is affected

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Here's 30 seconds of airbushing frames, just because it's Friday:

Props3D on Instagram: "Airbrushing is sooo slow compared to rattlecans but the results are well worth it. #dredd #dredd2012 #judgedredd #lawgiver #dreddmovie #dreddlawgiver #movie #3dmodel #3dmodeling #3dprint #3dprinter #3dprinted #3dprinting #maker

Props3D shared a post on Instagram: "Airbrushing is sooo slow compared to rattlecans but the results are well worth it. #dredd #dredd2012 #judgedredd #lawgiver #dreddmovie #dreddlawgiver #movie #3dmodel #3dmodeling #3dprint #3dprinter #3dprinted #3dprinting #maker #makersofinstagram...

www.instagram.com

 

[NACZ3]

Awesome and hope you do another run sometime. I can't believe I didn't see this sooner. I am so in for one when you do. Aghhh!

 

[Props3D]

Sorry, it's been 9 days since the last update. I did the first Big Bad and I didn't want to post until it was fully corrected, the end result is very positive so I wanted to make that part of the post, with pics as proof of life. I also got sick and closely after had a nasty reaction to the booster jab, so I've been pretty floored for the last week.

The Big Bad:

So we had a cold spell the the day after my last post that lasted a better part of a week. In that time I finished the next 3 frames while waiting for an opportunity to top coat (needs to be +6c or better) and about 5 days later, we had one. But with the sudden weather change came huge winds. And like a fool I thought I could top coat all four frames by timing spraying between wind gusts, and well, this happened:

Argh! Runs everywhere! There's an awesome thing that happens when top coat runs: It gums up the paint under it and any attempt to remove the run wills create an even bigger mess. Just walk away, let it cure fully, sand it smooth, then start again.

So I had to smooth out EVERY frame again and repaint, which I just finished a few minutes ago:

On the plus side they look even better for one more entire pass. So I'm going to leave these overnight and top coat tomorrow, it's supposed to be 11c, which is a perfect temp.

All the rest of the parts are done:

Not going to promise a day because while you can see it's almost there I learned my lesson about rushing to meet time frames I held myself to. It'll be done when it's done properly, just like the other ones already shipped.

I'm still diligently sanding more parts as the paint drama plays out so there next ones are catching up. Spidey74 came by yesterday from Vancouver Island for a visit and picked up all the parts he needs to get his run in order (shipping boxes, mag plates, machined parts, etc) so he's going to be getting some ready to go soon too.

FYI: There was a small code push yesterday to github for trigger responsiveness, and I don't know if I mentioned but I did a full assembly in pics at the end of the readme. GitHub - Props3D/dredd-lawgiver

We're getting there!

 

[Props3D]

jds12 Just have to put the cowl on! This a test of the new code build from this morning and a final test before finishing the assembly.

Bigger update coming tomorrow, along with some completed pics in the new photo booth of the one above. I really wanted to get it done and do the update today but it's late on Sunday and I just wanted to show quickly how things are rolling, proper update coming tomorrow.

My wife now helping with the initial sanding. She's not a noob by a long shot, she's the owner of Sunny Patch Design on Etsy and a fair chunk of "my" shop is actually our shop, she does a lot of woodworking so sanding is her game. "My" CNC is actually her CNC, I have to ask her before using it because she doesn't like me to mess with her tooling setup. This should help speed up the time in getting the last ones done.

(refinishing the cupboards is next year's job, well aware of the state they're in)

ps. New code update posted this morning, if you building your own you'll want to update to this build. Details on that coming tomorrow too.

 

[enterprise0216]

BIG THANK YOU Mrs. Props3D for helping with the sanding very much appreciated

 

[jds12]

Thanks Props3D for the update... Is the video my gun sans cowl? Looks and sounds very COOL!

 

[Props3D]

Thanks Props3D for the update... Is the video my gun sans cowl? Looks and sounds very COOL!

Yup that's yours! The updated sound files from a few weeks ago with the snappy new response time really make it feel good to play with. I've just got to set the brass plate and add the cowl and I'll send you final pics before shipping.

 

[Primus Palus]

ps. New code update posted this morning, if you building your own you'll want to update to this build. Details on that coming tomorrow too.

Are there any plans to update the sound or make post build changes later? Is it easy for the end user from this run (not the self builder) to do that?

 

[Props3D]

Are there any plans to update the sound or make post build changes later? Is it easy for the end user from this run (not the self builder) to do that?

It's very easy to update, you have to be a bit careful with it but there's a USB port on the Arduino you can use to update and the sounds are all on an SD card. I would highly recommend waiting for me to finish the videos first as it's waaaayyy easier to see it done than read a text file. This is by far the most complex interactive prop I've ever designed so while the components are relatively easy to get at it's also easy to knock something out of whack if you take it apart incorrectly. Toy Traders has offered to let me use their build as the YouTube video one so I can film as part of the run, so theirs will be the last one in the build order, videos are coming.

I'm pretty happy with the sound as of the last update, and it was pretty good before that. The recent code and sound improvements are subtle so it's not imperative to do any updates even if you have the first one that went out.

 

[Knightmare]

It's very easy to update, you have to be a bit careful with it but there's a USB port on the Arduino you can use to update and the sounds are all on an SD card. I would highly recommend waiting for me to finish the videos first as it's waaaayyy easier to see it done than read a text file. This is by far the most complex interactive prop I've ever designed so while the components are relatively easy to get at it's also easy to knock something out of whack if you take it apart incorrectly. Toy Traders has offered to let me use their build as the YouTube video one so I can film as part of the run, so theirs will be the last one in the build order, videos are coming.

I'm pretty happy with the sound as of the last update, and it was pretty good before that. The recent code and sound improvements are subtle so it's not imperative to do any updates even if you have the first one that went out.

I Honestly don’t see any reason to update mine . It’s surpassed all my expectations

 

[Props3D]

I Honestly don’t see any reason to update mine . It’s surpassed all my expectations

It was very solid at the point we started shipping, it's just been niggly things. We're a couple of OCD nerds. So happy you're enjoying it. There's a lot of hard work and elbow grease that went into each one.

-----------------------------
Big update will be tomorrow, feeling like a heel for not posting when I said but the new top coat I was waiting for didn't meet expectations. Full story tomorrow but for now:

On the left is the top coat I was using for the ones already shipped, it's not liking the cold so instead of the smooth even coat I was getting before it's all kinda mottled. To a certain extent this looks cool but it's not on point. So after research I ordered the best airbrush topcoat to match the look (in the middle) but for some reason it knocked down the back enough that it didn't 'pop' anymore from the frame. I really thought it would be on the money and It's certainly a really nice top coat, but no.

So I got yet another topcoat (brands coming with the big post) and it was perfect, that's the one on the right. Unfortunately I did all the tops with the left top coat with that mottled look so I had to sand them all down and repaint. It's a time consuming process, you would think I could just paint over but a lot of paints don't stick well to top coats and the mottle pattern may show though. So I had to take them all right back down to bare and reprime, 3 paint passes, and then top coat. I'm at paint pass two and I'm realizing there's no way I'm going to have them done tonight if I'm doing this properly, so I'll just post this short update to let you know I'm still beavering away (Canadian expression?).

 

[Props3D]

Next one done! jds12 . I DM'd you an image of the brass plate since I didn't want to post it here. I'll take better pics and the story after the paint has all cured, just wanted to show you all this!

 

[jds12]

All I can say is wow... That looks absolutely stunning! Amazing work and huge thank you to all the creators and especially to props3d, who has sweated blood and tears on this build... I cannot wait to see it in real-life.

 

[Johnnyb]

View attachment 1641906
Next one done! jds12 . I DM'd you an image of the brass plate since I didn't want to post it here. I'll take better pics and the story after the paint has all cured, just wanted to show you all this!

Wow, phenomenal work!

 

[Primus Palus]

View attachment 1641906
Next one done! jds12 . I DM'd you an image of the brass plate since I didn't want to post it here. I'll take better pics and the story after the paint has all cured, just wanted to show you all this!

This looks amazing. Can't wait.

 

[Props3D]

Big Update Time!

First off, where are we at? In case you're a TL;DR kinda cat I'll put the end first:

I have not been idle while dealing with the top coat debacle and I've been sanding, priming, and painting the nights away.

So here's the story:

Half the run got messed up because the new kind of flat top coat I used worked great when it was warm, but since it's 2022 it went from 40c to freezing and 100% humidity ALL the time, wth nature?? This weather is fine for a lot of my other top coats, but totally messes this stuff up (of course). So I sanded everything down and did it all again when the weather finally gave me a bit of a break, but it was an all day thing and when it cooled down in the evening it messed up some of them again, so 2 were good and 2 are not, so I had to redo them yet again.

I also did all the satin top coats and had a similar issue, so I realized this wasn't sustainable and I need to do a huge shop upgrade so I can switch my entire workflow to airbrush.

First thing to do was make sure my wife wouldn't talk to me for a week:

This is a double win: First off, I can now airbrush inside where it's warm. And my resin printer enclosure can now also use the vent system to act like a mini drying room if I switch the hose over:

I also bought two higher flow airbrushes to handle thicker primer and top coat (the two on the bottom):

I decided to do the tops first because they're much easier to refinish and they also need to be the smoothest, here's the top coat contenders:

And the result showing the messed up one using my old top coat (left) the second best one (middle) and the absolute perfection that's the best one (right):

This is getting long so using 'one-two-skip-a-few' let's jump to present time:

I was going to take a bunch of pics of jds12 's but out of respect for his patience it's getting shipped asap, I didn't want to risk mucking about with it and causing further delays so it went straight in the box after curing.

As to the last 6 I have to do for the run: Toy Traders is a long standing friend and client of mine, you can see some of my work from Krull, Mandalorian, Beastmaster, etc in their cage at the back of the store. They've kindly let me do theirs last so I can do it as the video one, moving up the filming schedule at lot and allowing me to focus on the getting the last 5 (7~11) I have to do out the door asap. Out of prudence and the fact I'm taking the time to do these right I'm not giving an ETA aside from soon(ish).

But here's some pics to show you where we are:

This is all the parts for the last 5 in this pic:

Tops:

All 5 are done and ready to go. Resin sights and metal triggers can be seen here.


Stands:
2/5 are finished, 2/5 have top coat, 1/5 needs another base coat ant top coat:

Main parts:
5/5 metal barrels done, 5/5 suppressors done, 5/5 orange tips done, 4/5 trigger groups done, 3/5 cocking mechanisms done, 2/5 cocking mechanisms primed, 2/5 magazines done, 3/5 magazines waiting for assemboly

Frames:
3/5 maybe done (they need close inspection), 2/5 sanded and primed

SOOO CLOSE!!!!

Oh, and a PS: While I was at Toy Traders last week Mathew (the owner) and showed me this little gem: