Koolshade, I know it's all been said before....

[OldNutsy]

In the last year or so I've gotten back into modeling after a 40(?) year break? And more recently gotten into more studio scale. I've read all the threads, we all know finding real Koolshade is a pain in the ass. I've searched ebay, etsy, etc. I'm a mechanical engineer and if i've ever needed something i couldn't get i just built it. I know it's probably been talk to death but it's time someone starts building more to the original specs.

I'm 100% sure I can build a machine to do it, ~80% sure i can build one that makes something pretty close, and ~70% sure i can do it reliable and consistently enough that it would work.

The issue I'm having is finding resources on the original. Everything says it's 23 slats/inch at 17 degrees. so I accept that, but i've seen varying info on slat thickness/width. I also don't see anything on wire diameter or spacing between wire columns.

Does anybody know wire thickness, slat thickness, slat width?

Also, anyone with some of the original material, could i trouble them for very close up photos of the wire twist at the top and bottom of each slat?

Ideally I'd look for a small 4" square of the original that had at least two of the wire columns in it, bent or frayed ends wouldn't matter, but I can't find anywhere. If somebody has some I'd gladly talk about how to get it.

 

[swgeek]

Slat width. 05"
Slat thickness .006"
Wire dia. .012"
Width between wires .4665"

Not great pics, but....

 

[OldNutsy]

Perfect! Just to clarify and confirm, that's 0.05" on slat width?

Is it a single twist of the wires between the slats, such that the top wire is always on top and bottom always on bottom?

 

[3DImpact]

I can send you a 4x4" patch...

PM me for details.

Dan

 

[swgeek]

Perfect! Just to clarify and confirm, that's 0.05" on slat width?

Is it a single twist of the wires between the slats, such that the top wire is always on top and bottom always on bottom?

Yep .05 width.
You know, that's a good question, I'll look at the wire twist closely.

 

[joberg]

Well, if you build a machine to make Koolshades, they will come...er, buy

 

[swgeek]

It looks like it's a single twist.

 

[OldNutsy]

It looks like it's a single twist.

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Great photos thank you. It’s interesting that it almost appears the “back” wire is wrapped around the front rather than the wires being twisted. It also almost looks like the straight wire is a larger diameter. 3DImpact has dropped a small sample in the mail to me (which I’m hugely grateful for). When I get it I think I will fully understand.

 

[OldNutsy]

It looks like it's a single twist.

View attachment 1883183View attachment 1883184

If you were to try to use the piece you took photos of (not sure how mangled it is, or normally is through regular handling), would you just twist the slats back into the correct angle? How hard would it be to do that?

 

[swgeek]

To twist the slats back into position? Pretty much impossible. I pulled it appart to get better pictures. But here's a picture of a different end of the same piece.

Also, I remeasured the wire both pieces appear to be .012"...or close to.

 

[mbraz]

My understanding is that the 23-louvre-per-inch stuff is made by compressing down 17-louvre-per-inch. That's at least according to the person who mans the eBay account selling A4 sheets of the new stuff. Comparing swgeek's photos with the images of the new stuff, this looks plausible to me. You might simply need to work out a way to do this 'scrunching' on the 17-count stuff, as opposed to weaving the stuff anew from scratch.

 

[OldNutsy]

My understanding is that the 23-louvre-per-inch stuff is made by compressing down 17-louvre-per-inch. That's at least according to the person who mans the eBay account selling A4 sheets of the new stuff. Comparing swgeek's photos with the images of the new stuff, this looks plausible to me. You might simply need to work out a way to do this 'scrunching' on the 17-count stuff, as opposed to weaving the stuff anew from scratch.

Have a link to the eBay? I did a search for Koolshade before starting this and there were no listings. I’d like to see a before/after of the scrunching. Honestly I can’t believe it works that well.

 

[mbraz]

Have a link to the eBay? I did a search for Koolshade before starting this and there were no listings. I’d like to see a before/after of the scrunching. Honestly I can’t believe it works that well.

I think they're a UK-based seller, so you have to go through the .co.uk domain to see it. Here's the link KoolShade Modelers Fabric (A4) for TIE Fighter, Millennium Falcon, | eBay

If you want me to get you a sample and don't want to pay outrageous international eBay seller shipping to the US, let me know. I have a vested interest in your success!

 

[mbraz]

Have a link to the eBay? I did a search for Koolshade before starting this and there were no listings. I’d like to see a before/after of the scrunching. Honestly I can’t believe it works that well.

To be clear, they are selling 17-per-inch. I wrote to the seller to ask what the specs were and they said it was 17-count. They then told me that the original process used to make 23-count started with 17-count and then a machine was used to compact it, but that machine no longer exists/works.

 

[OldNutsy]

I think they're a UK-based seller, so you have to go through the .co.uk domain to see it. Here's the link KoolShade Modelers Fabric (A4) for TIE Fighter, Millennium Falcon, | eBay

If you want me to get you a sample and don't want to pay outrageous international eBay seller shipping to the US, let me know. I have a vested interest in your success!

Thanks for the link. 3DImpact very graciously sent me a sample of the original. To be honest I’m still getting over how….not sure what the right word is, maybe small? it is.

The challenge has always been the slats for me. It, in theory, is a loom with a twist, literally. There’s different ways in manufacturing that the slats can be inserted, rapiers, air assist, etc. With it being a non circular slat keeping it oriented was always one of the bigger unknowns. I’m pretty sure I’d eventually figure it out.

But setting the angle is the other big challenge. I have a step advance mechanism in mind for the feed but a form that fits between the slats for angle control, that’s going to rakes some fine precision. Crunching 17 to 23 would present similar but different challenges. I will give it some thought though.

In case it progresses, what do you think we would be looking at for cost? I’m 100% ignorant on personal international shipping.

Thanks for the research on this.

 

[mbraz]

Thanks for the link. 3DImpact very graciously sent me a sample of the original. To be honest I’m still getting over how….not sure what the right word is, maybe small? it is.

The challenge has always been the slats for me. It, in theory, is a loom with a twist, literally. There’s different ways in manufacturing that the slats can be inserted, rapiers, air assist, etc. With it being a non circular slat keeping it oriented was always one of the bigger unknowns. I’m pretty sure I’d eventually figure it out.

But setting the angle is the other big challenge. I have a step advance mechanism in mind for the feed but a form that fits between the slats for angle control, that’s going to rakes some fine precision. Crunching 17 to 23 would present similar but different challenges. I will give it some thought though.

In case it progresses, what do you think we would be looking at for cost? I’m 100% ignorant on personal international shipping.

Thanks for the research on this.

Interesting. Indeed, the machine is very much like a loom and I suspect the machine that did the scrunching was probably similar. You'd have the benefit of being able to scale down, I suppose. You don't need to make rolls of it wide enough to cover windows!

Seller wants about $25 shipping to the US for an A4 sheet of the new stuff (about the size of letter paper).

 

[bwayne64]

The hardest part to source would be the bronze louvers. If you can get the 17 louver stuff, that puts you parsecs ahead, ; )

 

[RealDaveWinter]

If you are looking for some of the new stuff, I have several metric gobbs of it. I'm happy to send you some, but it would have to be courier, Canada Post has decided they don't want to earn a pay cheque over the holidays.

 

[OldNutsy]

If you are looking for some of the new stuff, I have several metric gobbs of it. I'm happy to send you some, but it would have to be courier, Canada Post has decided they don't want to earn a pay cheque over the holidays.

What do you think it would cost to Pennsylvania? I wouldn’t mind about a floor of it, I wouldn’t mind being destructive with the 17.

 

[RealDaveWinter]

I don't really know. Shoot me a pm with your zip code and I can figure it out. I think I can get a quote from the UPS on the way to work.