Phantasm fans -- I found something...

[motman241]

I thought Dremels were all powerful. :lol I see no reason why it would not cut through. It may burn through a few cutting disks, but what's the alternative?

 

[Birdie]

Some of my stainless steel balls :rolleyes

The classic

Phantasm 3 Laser Ball

Phantasm 4 surgery ball

I've also got an unused spare whih I've been meaning to convert to a P3 'eye' ball :lol

 

[patsmear]

Brandon,

I was thinking that after you cut the slits for the sphere, fill the ball with great stuff. That should let you set the blades and drill into it. Any foam that comes out should just be cut away. Worth a shot! It may stop you from having run over glue or soder.

Pat

 

[dropshipbob]

I thought the Phantasm spheres were more baseball sized than softball sized, they always seemed that way in the movies.

I think the ones from the very first film were BB sized, while the ones in Phantasm II-III were SB sized?

I remember hearing some commentary on the first Phantasm film in which they stated they had a pitcher from a local college baseball team come in and they filmed him pitching a stunt sphere down the hallways which they used for the SFX shots of the sphere "flying".

Birdie, those are beautifull spheres, very nice and clean! How did you make the blades?

 

[Birdie]

Alas, I didn't make them, I got them off ebay a few years back.

Regarding the size of the balls, I believe the standard size through all the movies is around 12cm diameter. The gold spheres were larger, and some of the SFX ones may have been larger, but I think the sentries were meant be identical.

 

[motman241]

So everyone that is working on this project, how are you proposing to attach your blades?

 

[dropshipbob]

Make the blades long enough so that the end will sit against the back of the inside of the sphere and attach with resin poured through the slots, then insert the blades?

 

[PHArchivist]

Its pretty cool and gratifying seeing this thread take off a bit!

 

[motman241]

I was thinking "What a dumb yard ornament - some baseball-sized chrome ball on a stick". But wouldn't that be a great thing for the yard?? Finish up the Phantasm ball, but keep that bottom screw thing on there, and paint that stick black. The sphere could "float" around your yard. Yet one more thing I hesitate to put in my yard, for fear of getting stolen.

 

[dropshipbob]

I was thinking the same thing!

We need to keep this thread bumped, it's a group project! I've got two on the way from a fellow RPF'er. This should be a quick and easy conversion.

 

[PHArchivist]

I was thinking the same thing!

We need to keep this thread bumped, it's a group project! I've got two on the way from a fellow RPF'er. This should be a quick and easy conversion.

Agreed!

 

[dropshipbob]

So, does anyone have plans on how to make the blades?

There's a machine shop at my work, and I think I can get a guy to cut them out of thick aluminum sheet.
I also have some resin blades I'm thinking about hitting with AlCladII chrome.

 

[Cenobyte]

I would prefer metal if possible. especially if it is bumped, droped etc.. easier to straighten out metal than broken resin.

 

[motman241]

I was thinking either aluminum or steel. Not sure you can really polish the aluminum that shiny, though.

 

[IronFist]

I got a little nervous about getting any near me, since they disappeared off of the web site. But, I was able to snag two for $8. They're kind of dinged up, though. Anyone have any tips for polishing up chrome?

 

[PHArchivist]

I got a little nervous about getting any near me, since they disappeared off of the web site. But, I was able to snag two for $8. They're kind of dinged up, though. Anyone have any tips for polishing up chrome?

Steel, I think... I don't believe they're chrome plated.

 

[dropshipbob]

Steel, I think... I don't believe they're chrome plated.

I certainly hope they are not chromed. I got to thinking about working on these last night and I began worrying that if one tried to cut through the hull with a fiberglass dremel bit, the chrome might become "burned", and I wasn't sure that could be buffed out.

But if it's just really shiny metal, hopefully it can be buffed out.

I would think that a little metal polishing compound and a soft cloth should take out blemishes.

 

[M Bison]

I am betting they are chromed. They are awfully light to be polished steel.

 

[motman241]

Bad thought - if the ball itself is chromed, I hope hacking into it with dremel won't CHIP the chrome off, leaving jagged, unchromed edges.

 

[M Bison]

You may want to go with a slower speed and more grind through it than cut.