Hero Phaser Scratchbuild

[redshirt]

Rob, looking at your left and right shelf on the P2's P1 ledge, it seems a bit thick yet? Looking at these it seems thinner and less rounded on the underside ledge on the original?

 

[Chrisisall]

Wow! I think you have the black border around the power meter numbers perfect under that acrylic.

Basking in brilliance?
Yeah, I've done that my own self.:cool

 

[TryChick]

Robn1. Been following your thread for a while and am totally wowed! You do superior work. So impressed with your skill.

 

[robn1]

Thank you everyone! The black border doesn't stand out as much as it does in the pics. And of course it's just there to simulate the undersized paper on the original, but having the border makes it easier to glue together because I don't have to worry about the glue squeezing out.

The originals appear to have been sanded a bit on the P1 ledge, mostly on the front making the ribs thinner there. I tried to idealize it somewhat, to capture what was most likely there to start with.

 

[KUROK]

Beautiful work as usual, Robn1.

 

[robn1]

I'm really having trouble with the p2 masters. It seems the wood is shrinking slightly, and that's causing cracks along the styrene sheet edge. I fill it, sand and paint, then a new crack opens up.

I'll have to mold it as is. Then cast a solid resin copy, clean up the cast, then make a new mold from that. Otherwise every cast will need repair. Making a waste copy will allow clean casts afterward.

 

[BrundelFly]

ewww...

I think you are right. I would mold in PLATINUM to reduce any shrinkage.
For your new master castings if you use resin, its going to shrink due to the heat in generates.

Make your mold, then spray it with primer. I would use a polyester primer like sandable DURACOAT.
Then hit it with Bondo, mixed with fiberglass (60/40) each kicked respectively, done as a gloss coat, the backed with fiberglass might reduce any shrinkage and provide you with a nice workable master.

Frank

 

[robn1]

Thanks for the tips. I'm using platinum already. And I don't really mean solid resin. I was thinking I'd slush cast with resin, for a good surface, then fill it with casting epoxy.

 

[CaptStarshine]

I've learned so much this morning, just reading all 14 pages of this thread. Thanks guys!

 

[Effingham]

Wow, this thread is like a textbook.

Brilliant work, man. Damn.

 

[Chrisisall]

robn1 does rock.
He brings order out of chaos.

 

[jlong]

Looking good!

 

[robn1]

Thanks John!

 

[NakedMoleRat]

Bumping for awesome! :cool

 

[FoxhoundTCF]

Awesome work

 

[robn1]

Thanks guys! I've been cleaning up the shop and getting my pressure pot set up, but I'll have more here soon.

 

[Chrisisall]

We are a patient bunch.

 

[redshirt]

We are a patient bunch.

Yes, especially for TOS Phasers!

 

[ecl]

beeeaaauuutiful!

 

[robn1]

I cleaned up the P2 masters as well as I could, and got them ready to mold. I had to stack them to fit the pressure pot.

It took 1 liter of rubber to mold both parts.

Curing under pressure.