Echo Station 57, we're on our way....slowly

Re: Echo Station 57, we're on our way....slowly

That's the plan my man. :)

I've got a fair bit of mould wrangling to do first, but I'm plugging away.

DLT9 said:
First of all very nice work there:eek

Second i must be dreaming or misunderstanding or are there plans in the work for a kit of this puppy?
Click to expand...
 
Re: Echo Station 57, we're on our way....slowly

That looks...WOW....em..ahhh...amazing....errr....WOW
 
Re: Echo Station 57, we're on our way....slowly

Oh, now that is great. Can't wait to see one painted up.
 
Re: Echo Station 57, we're on our way....slowly

I really want one of these...sent a PM to you Nick if there's a second run waiting list. Since discovering this forum recently I have found it difficult to prize myself away........
 
Re: Echo Station 57, we're on our way....slowly

Nick,

It is hard to be patient. :lol

Any update would be stellar. Even if it is a new batch of pics to keep this thread toward the top. I am certain the "collective" has nothing but support and admiration for what will become THE snowspeeder kit.

Cheers
 
Re: Echo Station 57, we're on our way....slowly

Gort said:
Heh heh, thanks guys. Your enthusiasm is a great boost as always.

BTW: I'm also now looking into getting proper decals made up for the speeder. Wasn't sure if this was going to be viable but thru one of the two guys who helped me get the info I needed to start this project, it looks like I can offer spot on stuff :)

It will mean I need to re assess the final unit price...which I was going to have to do anyway once the dust has settled in the workshop, but I can't see the cost leaping up badly.

Cheers
N
Click to expand...

Most excellent Nick!

Well... whenever you are ready, so will I be... for TWO of these beautiful T-47 kits! :D
 
Re: Echo Station 57, we're on our way....slowly

Hi guys,

Thanks for the continued interest...and patience!

Here are a couple of pics of some test castings and the moulds I've done so far, just to show that though it may be quiet on the thread I am still slogging away. I've kicked off with the one part moulds and after I finish this note I'm back down to start claying up the first of the 2 part moulds.

I reckon the final part count will be around 75+, ( gulp!) which means I have another 17 moulds to make ( groan). The biggest pain is having to redo the main hull moulds. They turned out ok for a couple of quick and dirty casts but weren't quite up to mass production. So, I'll do those again as the last job before launching into casting properly.

Just so I know, if anyone who has contacted me for a kit has decided, or realised through circumstances that they really can't stick with it please drop me a pm so I can update my records and keep a realistic list of names etc.

Hey Kurt, glad to hear from you again. Was getting worried you had got bored with me! :)

Cheers
Nick

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn256/Gort_99/T-47 Studio Scale/Large_parts_s.jpg
http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn256/Gort_99/T-47 Studio Scale/Moulds_first_set.jpg
http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn256/Gort_99/T-47 Studio Scale/Small_parts_s.jpg
 
Re: Echo Station 57, we're on our way....slowly

Whoa, been waiting for this update :) You know i aint bored Nick, still down for a couple, great castings BTW!

lee
 
Re: Echo Station 57, we're on our way....slowly

Thanks guys. I'm experimenting on some parts, especially the larger more detailed pieces, with a combination of slush cast PU resin, GRP gelcoats backed with PU resins, and slow cure PU that I can hand work the bubbles out of.

Its funny, when you are doing stuff like this the threat of air bubbles becomes the all consuming bane of your existence! - ironic really as the original ILM speeder castings (of the size I'm making) have lots of blown out details and little bubbles holes. Which of course wasn't a problem as they never showed up etc.


Nick
 
Re: Echo Station 57, we're on our way....slowly

Ya nick now you are butted up against the biggest challenge....keep pushing you will get it!! :thumbsup
 
Re: Echo Station 57, we're on our way....slowly

I should think that a first pour and slush cast would allieviate a good 95%-99% of surface bubbles.From my standpoint,I'd steer away from gel coats or any pollyester resins just because they shrink so damm much (a minimum of 10%).You can/should be able to do consecutive pours with pollyurethane resins,a slush cast followed by a solid pour.Just be sure that when casting with a urethane that there is no residual moisture or humidity because then you with get lots of bubbles/frothing as urethans react violently with water.Another idea is if you just want to have a urethane shell or to keep a certain part relatively hollow,you can do the slush mold (get a good .020-.030 shell)then lay in fiberglass w/epoxy for rigitity and strength.Epoxy hardly shrinks at all as does urethan resins.I think they shrink around 1%-2% and not like pollyesters.
 
Re: Echo Station 57, we're on our way....slowly

Gort said:
Hi guys,

Thanks for the continued interest...and patience!

Hey Kurt, glad to hear from you again. Was getting worried you had got bored with me! :)

Cheers
Nick


Large_parts_s.jpg
Click to expand...

GOOD LORD NICK! :eek:eek:eek:eek

No sir! I am Never bored with you my friend! You are a FANTASTIC artist! Just look at what you have done here! AMAZING work! I am VERY impressed! (y)cool:thumbsup
 
Re: Echo Station 57, we're on our way....slowly

MY GOD!!! I can't believe I never saw this thread before. If it's not to late, add me to the list!!!!
 
Re: Echo Station 57, we're on our way....slowly

Hi,

Thanks for the advice, always welcome :). I agree that the polyester resins are not the most user friendly. I have had some reasonable results from doing a gel coat backed with PU, but I wasn't planning on using it for the main kit runs. I'm trying to do it all now with three types of PU: a quick 5 min cure for shooting smaller 'fire and forget' moulds, then a slush cure and a slow (10min) cure for the larger more labour intensive parts. The main hull halves are the tricky ones as they are pretty big.

Cheers
Nick

JPolacchi said:
I should think that a first pour and slush cast would allieviate a good 95%-99% of surface bubbles.From my standpoint,I'd steer away from gel coats or any pollyester resins just because they shrink so damm much (a minimum of 10%).You can/should be able to do consecutive pours with pollyurethane resins,a slush cast followed by a solid pour.Just be sure that when casting with a urethane that there is no residual moisture or humidity because then you with get lots of bubbles/frothing as urethans react violently with water.Another idea is if you just want to have a urethane shell or to keep a certain part relatively hollow,you can do the slush mold (get a good .020-.030 shell)then lay in fiberglass w/epoxy for rigitity and strength.Epoxy hardly shrinks at all as does urethan resins.I think they shrink around 1%-2% and not like pollyesters.
Click to expand...
 
Re: Echo Station 57, we're on our way....slowly

Oh man, I can't imagine the work you've put into this already. Everything is just astounding.

Really... :love
 
Re: Echo Station 57, we're on our way....slowly

Hi,

There has been a little flurry of additional interest over the last couple of days so much so that I must call a halt to any further names being added to my main list.

If anyone PM's me from here on in I will have to add them to a provisional/maybe list. I want to keep the output comfortably within the lifespan of the moulds etc..plus I'm going to need an oxygen tent and a long holiday by then anyway! :confused

Cheers
Nick
 
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