Facehugger Stasis Tubes.......how?????
- Thread starter TazVader
- Start date
just incase any uk members are interested i have been making enquiries to a company that do large acrylic tubes.
just waiting to hear back.
personally i would not be heartbroken if the tube diameter was out an inch or so, as long as it was large enough to hold the face hugger.
anything between 10 - 12 inch would do me.
z
just waiting to hear back.
personally i would not be heartbroken if the tube diameter was out an inch or so, as long as it was large enough to hold the face hugger.
anything between 10 - 12 inch would do me.
z
When I saw the screenused tubes on display eons ago at the Franklin Institute (along with the queen and powerloader), the clear tube appeared to be made of very thin material. Of course, for safe and sturdy in home display purposes, you'll want to get at least 1/8" walled acrylic tube. There alre two or three sellers on eBay with good prices and can do custom sizes.
Also, in the bottom of the tubes (and my memory is really fuzzy here, as it was like 15 - 20 years ago), I recall there being white plastic grating like the kind used in flourescant lighting fixures. Same stuff I've seen a few people mounting their PRs on for wall displays.
Also, in the bottom of the tubes (and my memory is really fuzzy here, as it was like 15 - 20 years ago), I recall there being white plastic grating like the kind used in flourescant lighting fixures. Same stuff I've seen a few people mounting their PRs on for wall displays.
fettster
Sr Member
will do,
i did mention to them there may be a few interested parties if the price was right.
ive wanted one of these props for ages.
z
dropshipbob
Master Member
I was in on the last run of these that Got Maul put together. I still have all of the paperwork on them...I even have the contact info of the company that supplied the tubes.
Here is/was the big problem. There are two kinds of clear acrylic tubing, "extruded" and "cast". Extruded is a process in which the acrylic is pulled to the desired length. When this cools, it tends to have an uneven surface, like it has "ripples" in it. The cast acrylic is completely even, no distortions, but this also makes it VERY expensive.
The problem with getting clear acrylic tubing in the proper dimensions is that most companies won't mess with it unless the lengths/diameters needed excede a certain amount. In other words, they won't cut the stuff unless there's a big demand. It's just too expensive for them to go cutting up one 3' long piece.
When Got Maul put his run together, he went to the same factory that Frank had his made at, which meant they still had all the dimensions still on file. This company also sealed one end so that it could be filled with water. You will be hard pressed to find acrylic tubing with a water tight seal. And sealing it yourself is neither economical, easy or even dependable.
In the end, I think each of us had to pay $500+. This included all the parts necessary EXCEPT the control box on top and the metal rods that went on the outside.
If I can be of any help, let me know. I also have the Modelers Resource issue with the Frank Cerney/Stasis tube article.
Here is/was the big problem. There are two kinds of clear acrylic tubing, "extruded" and "cast". Extruded is a process in which the acrylic is pulled to the desired length. When this cools, it tends to have an uneven surface, like it has "ripples" in it. The cast acrylic is completely even, no distortions, but this also makes it VERY expensive.
The problem with getting clear acrylic tubing in the proper dimensions is that most companies won't mess with it unless the lengths/diameters needed excede a certain amount. In other words, they won't cut the stuff unless there's a big demand. It's just too expensive for them to go cutting up one 3' long piece.
When Got Maul put his run together, he went to the same factory that Frank had his made at, which meant they still had all the dimensions still on file. This company also sealed one end so that it could be filled with water. You will be hard pressed to find acrylic tubing with a water tight seal. And sealing it yourself is neither economical, easy or even dependable.
In the end, I think each of us had to pay $500+. This included all the parts necessary EXCEPT the control box on top and the metal rods that went on the outside.
If I can be of any help, let me know. I also have the Modelers Resource issue with the Frank Cerney/Stasis tube article.
I've wanted one of these for a long time, too, and bought a copy of the issue of Modeler's Resource with Frank Cerney's "SCRATCHBUILDING ALIENS STASIS TUBE" article a few years ago as a reference. The hardest part, as dropshipbob points out, is sourcing a cast acrylic tube of the correct dimensions with one end sealed and watertight.
If a kit or parts run comes out of this thread, I will be more than interested in participating. :love
If a kit or parts run comes out of this thread, I will be more than interested in participating. :love
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Once it's filled with water, a lot of the rippled effects will be cancelled out. You might see a little waver here and there, but only if you're searching for one and moving your head around a lot. The screen used ones were far from perfect, and you're going to save a couple hundred dollars with extruded.
On a complete tangent, has anyone thought about keeping a Beta or goldfish in there for s**ts and giggles?
EDIT: OOOH!! Does anyone have any glass casting connections? That could actually end up being cheaper than acrylic.
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KnightAsylum
Sr Member
That started me looking for an aquarium that would work. I can't seem to find a big one outside of this one- which is way too fancy and expensive (although would work nice if I had one laying around):rolleyes
http://www.fishtanksdirect.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=111
http://www.fishtanksdirect.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=111
TazVader
Sr Member
According to Franks tutorial we need something 24" Long, 10 and 15/16 OD wide with a 1/8-inch thickness.........so let's start there.
Dropship....maybe we should have a little chat to MGM Plastics? See if we can lower those prices to say $350 in a bulk order? Care to call them on our behalf? Or someone here?
Regards
TAZ
Dropship....maybe we should have a little chat to MGM Plastics? See if we can lower those prices to say $350 in a bulk order? Care to call them on our behalf? Or someone here?
Regards
TAZ
Extruded acrylic sucks.
Cast is the only way to go.
The last time I got quotes, it was over 1400 for enough material to do 3 tubes. That was the clear, and the top and and bottom pvc.
I had real aluminim bottoms and tops made...6 of them. I was going to make 6 tubes for ebay fodder. Ill get to them sometime this summer.
Frank
Cast is the only way to go.
The last time I got quotes, it was over 1400 for enough material to do 3 tubes. That was the clear, and the top and and bottom pvc.
I had real aluminim bottoms and tops made...6 of them. I was going to make 6 tubes for ebay fodder. Ill get to them sometime this summer.
Frank
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