Hellboy Corpse Locator Scratch Build - New Light Module Pics

[madmanmoe64]

Re: Hellboy Corpse Locator Scratch Build - Finished

http://www.therpf.com/f13/hellboy-corpse-locator-compass-informal-interest-140334/

Forgot to add a link, I'm gonna build up another full compass then I'll post new pictures when I'm taking orders.

 

[Phelyx]

Re: Hellboy Corpse Locator Scratch Build - 2nd Build Up

Pretty great work. I made the one in the film, and produced some for sale a while back from a few of my original molds and masters.
Really interesting to see how you did yours. One trick I used on the original was sculpting 1 master for each of the 6 "pie slices" so they all link together. You chose the less lazy way and actually sculpted the lid as a single piece. Nice!
I'm glad you liked this prop enough to take on a project like this!

 

[madmanmoe64]

Re: Hellboy Corpse Locator Scratch Build - 2nd Build Up

One trick I used on the original was sculpting 1 master for each of the 6 "pie slices" so they all link together. You chose the less lazy way and actually sculpted the lid as a single piece. Nice!

I did think about trying to cast up copies of the detail and then apply them to my card box, but I never imagined doing it your way.

The main difference is that mine isn't perfectly symmetrical, and each side will look a little different, hopefully it won't be too noticeable.



People were asking about copies of this in the JunkYard, so I thought I would just post up a few pictures to show that I am still working on this, but University work prevents me from making any real progress.

I cast this ages ago when I first got my resin, but then it sat on my desk for ages.

I really like the detail I get with urethane resin, there is the occasional bubble, but that's to be expected.

I also sourced some better hinges and bearings. The hinges I had before came with pins not screws and I was worried that the lid may not be too secure, now it shouldn't be a problem.

Since finishing the original I've re-moulded the lid, because the casts I was getting needed way too much clean up. All I need to do now is remake one final bit and then I should have a full set of pieces for another build up.

 

[Chris27989]

Re: Hellboy Corpse Locator Scratch Build - 2nd Build Up

Have you thought about casting the "orange stone" in the middle in a translucent resin with orange dye so you can add LEDs underneath?

 

[madmanmoe64]

Re: Hellboy Corpse Locator Scratch Build - 2nd Build Up

It was cast in clear resin with amber tint.

Admittedly I put a tad too much dye in that cast.

I have no plans to put LEDs in it, but Phelyx did do one like that, I just prefer it without.

This is a first rough test one
As you can see it is translucent. The problem is that when it's sat in its surround then it looks a lot darker. The final one will have only a touch of dye.

 

[Phelyx]

Re: Hellboy Corpse Locator Scratch Build - 2nd Build Up

I cast the center amber dome in clear resin with amber dye just like yours, but I painted the back (the flat bottom) with silver metallic so it reflects light back up through the amber. I inscribed some semi-circular lines into the silver to imply indicator markings.
I made one with a "flicker" LED inside (without the silver backing), but my wise and lovely wife said that with the flickery lights in it, it suddenly seemed more like a toy than an actual ancient relic, so I didn't make mine with that option.

 

[madmanmoe64]

Re: Hellboy Corpse Locator Scratch Build - 2nd Build Up

I painted the piece behind it gold, and tried, best as I could, to copy the lines.
I'll try painting directly on to the back of the dome next time.

 

[haldir]

Re: Hellboy Corpse Locator Scratch Build - 2nd Build Up

I'm a great fan of hellboy and i said "whouhhh" when i saw your project !!it "s very accurate and well done !!
i'm interested in your run of course!

 

[Chris27989]

Re: Hellboy Corpse Locator Scratch Build - 2nd Build Up

Thats why I thought it was casting in solid resin as you said its darker in the box but when you do the run im very intrested in put the leds behind to see the difference.. But excellent effort!! kudos

 

[madmanmoe64]

Re: Hellboy Corpse Locator Scratch Build - 2nd Build Up

There's plenty of space under the dial for a 3V coin cell, all you would need to do is carve out a hole for the LEDs to sit in.
Just the problem of how to switch it on.
Maybe twisting the dial can activate it

I might have to make one light up now just to see what it looks like.

 

[madmanmoe64]

Re: Hellboy Corpse Locator Scratch Build - 2nd Build Up

Whilst there's nothing really to show I just wanted to let people know I am, slowly, getting on with this.
I spent a lot of time adjusting the piece that holds the ring and the bearing in place.
I also made a jig for sanding the ring so that it spins perfectly, as it's quite a tight fit in the box.

Next I just need to figure out the hinge. Last time I just ground down one side of the lid at an angle, so that it would open properly. I'm going to see if I can come up with a better solution, or at least tidy it up.

 

[Alan Castillo]

Re: Hellboy Corpse Locator Scratch Build - 2nd Build Up

I might have to make one light up now just to see what it looks like.

I think it'll look great !

And I also think you'll have to make more than one eventually :lol

 

[madmanmoe64]

Re: Hellboy Corpse Locator Scratch Build - 2nd Build Up

Most of the time on this is still being spent trying to accurately machine the spinning parts (I think I'm on prototype 4 now?)

But I also went back to casting up domes.

This is the latest one, highly polished, and with only a drop of tint in it (still a bit too much?)

following a tip from the original creator I painted the back gold (I think he said silver)
It's almost impossible to capture in picture, but the piece then takes on a weird iridescent quality, similar to Tiger Eye. I spent quite a while staring at it and playing with the reflections.

This is after I etched some lines into the back.


Now for a boring bit on casting technique.
So far I've been casting this in a two part mould with the dome sitting vertically on its edge, this has led to bubbles along one edge.

Also the dome tends to come out of the mould with a tacky surface.
I have had mixed success with either preheating the mould or gently heating it in the oven a few hours after pouring, both of which cause the piece to cure, but it pulls away from the surface of the mould leaving an odd crinkly texture.

I've decided to try pouring this laying flat as a 1 part mould, which I'm hoping should alleviate some of these problems, but if anyone has experience casting clear polyester resins, any tips would be appreciated.

 

[madmanmoe64]

Re: Hellboy Corpse Locator Scratch Build - 2nd Build Up

I've been working on this slowly, but got distracted when someone mentioned putting lights in.

Anyway I figured I needed to get on with this, I wanted to have the for sale thread up by next weekend, but I've been roped into doing the London to Brighton bike ride this weekend, so I thought I'd better get on with some work tonight.
I finished adjusting the masters and tidying up the moulds and then I cast up a full set.

That's all 6 pieces being cast up (there are two dome moulds)

And one full set of parts (dome still curing). This is what you will receive in the kit, including a bearing and a set of hinges.
I'm going to do a build up of this kit and then post some better pictures of both options in the jy by next weekend.

I've also been experimenting with lighting underneath, If I get a prototype done by next weekend I may add it as an option. I'm currently waiting on a new fine tip for my soldering iron.

Now it's 5am and I'm going to bed.

 

[madmanmoe64]

Re: Hellboy Corpse Locator Scratch Build - 2nd Build Up

I've finished building up my first couple of compass's and the for sale thread will be up soon. The following few posts will be a better documentation of the build up of one of the kits, partly because all my original pictures got lost, also to act as a bit of a tutorial.


This is one full kit of parts.

First up is pretty standard clean up, removing flash and filling in lil' bubbles.

Occasionally one or two of the tiny thorns won't be properly formed, so they'll need fixing. You can use bondo, but given how small they are I prefer to use milliput, which is how I sculpted the original.

Also the side of the compass at the top of the mould is prone to sub surface bubbles, you can just paint over them but, for a long lasting paint job, I prefer to open them up and fill them with bondo.

I spent a fair bit of time lathing the moving parts to make sure they spin smoothly. The centre dials can sometimes be off by as much as 1mm so I made this jig to make sure I get them spinning perfectly round.

Also when cleaning hp the seam on the lid don't go overboard sanding it completely smooth, there is supposed to be a linear texture running round the edge, so don't go taking it all off.

The same can be said for building this up in general. Don't go OTT trying to smooth things out like you might on other builds. Any texture you leave looks great when you dry brush it with gold, and just looks a bit off and fake if you try to smooth it out too much.

 

[madmanmoe64]

Re: Hellboy Corpse Locator Scratch Build - 2nd Build Up

There is no good reference material for the hinge area of the compass so I just put a slot in the side of the main body, that way it can accomodate lots of different hardware.

If you are going to use the supplied hinges (not 100% screen accurate but pretty close) then you will need to make a small shim out of 1mm styrene.

I cut it to length then used a piece of scrap card to wedge it against the inner wall while it glued in place.

Once it had dried I took out the card and trimmed it to the right height.
Then using the hinges as a template I marked some holes.

The holes should be as close to the top edge as possible (those above are slightly too low)

Then you need to carefully drill and countersink those holes.

Then do a quick test fitting of the hinges.

 

[madmanmoe64]

Re: Hellboy Corpse Locator Scratch Build - 2nd Build Up

There seems to have been a lot of interest in seeing a lit version.
I'm still undecided on whether or not it needs it, but I made a quick prototype anyway (Its powered externally for these pics but in a final version it will be powered by a single cr2016 coin battery)

The light comes from 3 tiny surface mount LEDs. I also cast the central bearing piece in clear resin, then rough sanded it to diffuse the light a bit better.

When You have just a clear dome there is far too much light coming through, So I did a couple of domes with bits in to deflect the light a little more, but my favourite is with the back of the dome painted gold, and a few extra scratches in it. This just lets very subtle amounts of light through, and looks pretty good.

As with any lit piece it was a nightmare to photograph so I'm putting up a series of diffferent shots. including a gif of my favourite.

Lights diffused through centre pivot, with no dome.

Dome filled with gold leaf.

Dome with crinkle pattern down back.

'Standard' dome with additional scratches.

View through lid.

As I've said I think the subtle one with just scratches of light coming through works best.

In terms of selling these I'm thinking of charging:

£10 to add this to the kit, you would receive a finished led module and a clear centre pivot instead of an opaque one, including the screws needed to hold them together.
There is a bit of fiddling needed to get the led board to sit flush with the clear pieces (drilling recesses for the leds etc)


or £15 if you want this added onto a finished piece.

let me know what you think and I'll add the option(s) to the for sale thread here:
http://www.therpf.com/f13/hellboy-corpse-locator-compass-run-140334/

 

[tonykch]

Re: Hellboy Corpse Locator Scratch Build - 2nd Build Up

As I've said I think the subtle one with just scratches of light coming through works best.

You are absolutely right. That looks fantastic!

Will it have a switch for turning on and off?

 

[darthwhitey]

Re: Hellboy Corpse Locator Scratch Build - 2nd Build Up

Cha-ching!!

Looks great...well worth the upgrade cost! :thumbsup

 

[madmanmoe64]

Re: Hellboy Corpse Locator Scratch Build - 2nd Build Up

I got a bit distracted from the tutorial type thing I was doing and have now built up all the pieces I was using for these photos. I'll finish this off when I'm doing the second run, but for now, if anyone who bought any of the kits wants to know anything specific, let me know and I'll pull out some older pictures and describe the process as best I can.