Phaser 1 Kit Buildup plus MM P2 Restoration
- Thread starter asalaw
- Start date
asalaw
Master Member
Re: John Long Phaser 1 Kit Buildup plus MM P2 Restoration
Quick update: My move is coming along just fine, and I'll be out of here at the end of the month (I have a POD coming Saturday). The phaser project and related tools and materials are all safe and snug in my locker at the shop, so there won't be any frustrating delays trying to find it when the dust settles. What I couldn't fit in the locker is in my trunk, and the parking garage is literally beneath the shop, so that's kind of like having a really big second locker. I have all the metal and springs I need for the internals, nothing left to acquire.
So once I come back up for air, I'll be able to hit the ground running -- how's that for mixing metaphors?
Haven't found a new place yet, so it's looking like Air B&B till I find something...
Quick update: My move is coming along just fine, and I'll be out of here at the end of the month (I have a POD coming Saturday). The phaser project and related tools and materials are all safe and snug in my locker at the shop, so there won't be any frustrating delays trying to find it when the dust settles. What I couldn't fit in the locker is in my trunk, and the parking garage is literally beneath the shop, so that's kind of like having a really big second locker. I have all the metal and springs I need for the internals, nothing left to acquire.
So once I come back up for air, I'll be able to hit the ground running -- how's that for mixing metaphors?
Haven't found a new place yet, so it's looking like Air B&B till I find something...
asalaw
Master Member
Re: John Long Phaser 1 Kit Buildup plus MM P2 Restoration
Hey everybody -- still up to my eyeballs moving, and a very close friend passed away last night. Lung cancer -- it burned through him like a wildfire through deadwood in a couple of months. He had just turned 50.
If you're still smoking and Leonard Nimoy's death didn't get you to quit, think about my friend. From minor chest pains in March to dead last night, after a lifetime of smoking.
As for this project, I think I can see the light at the end of the tunnel, and it's not an oncoming train. I hope to be back in the saddle in June, and then I'm gonna run like hell to the finish line.
Thanks all for your patience. Happy Mother's Day, and tell those you love that you love them. I thought I could call my friend in another couple of days, but it was not to be, and I never got to tell him what he meant to me. But boy, did I ever shower my mother with love today.
Hey everybody -- still up to my eyeballs moving, and a very close friend passed away last night. Lung cancer -- it burned through him like a wildfire through deadwood in a couple of months. He had just turned 50.
If you're still smoking and Leonard Nimoy's death didn't get you to quit, think about my friend. From minor chest pains in March to dead last night, after a lifetime of smoking.
As for this project, I think I can see the light at the end of the tunnel, and it's not an oncoming train. I hope to be back in the saddle in June, and then I'm gonna run like hell to the finish line.
Thanks all for your patience. Happy Mother's Day, and tell those you love that you love them. I thought I could call my friend in another couple of days, but it was not to be, and I never got to tell him what he meant to me. But boy, did I ever shower my mother with love today.
robn1
Master Member
Re: John Long Phaser 1 Kit Buildup plus MM P2 Restoration
Sorry about your friend, terrible. You'd think the cost alone would keep people from smoking, but no. My dad had a stroke in 2009, arterial blockage caused by cigarette smoke. He needs a cane to walk, his left arm and left side of his face are paralyzed. But he still smokes. He's not just addicted, he actually likes it.
Hope the move goes smoothly.
Sorry about your friend, terrible. You'd think the cost alone would keep people from smoking, but no. My dad had a stroke in 2009, arterial blockage caused by cigarette smoke. He needs a cane to walk, his left arm and left side of his face are paralyzed. But he still smokes. He's not just addicted, he actually likes it.
Hope the move goes smoothly.
Sean
Master Member
Re: John Long Phaser 1 Kit Buildup plus MM P2 Restoration
My condolences to you man. sorry for the loss of your friend. smoking is a hard habit to break. one iv'e not accomplished yet. old and stubborn.
looking foreword to more progress on this my friend... keep up the good fight..
My condolences to you man. sorry for the loss of your friend. smoking is a hard habit to break. one iv'e not accomplished yet. old and stubborn.
looking foreword to more progress on this my friend... keep up the good fight..
james kramer
New Member
Re: John Long Phaser 1 Kit Buildup plus MM P2 Restoration
where were you able to get all of this inside info regarding tos props ?
where were you able to get all of this inside info regarding tos props ?
asalaw
Master Member
Re: John Long Phaser 1 Kit Buildup plus MM P2 Restoration
Anyhoo, I dropped in just now to let everybody know that 've finally weathered the storm. I'll be re-upping my Techshop membership this Friday, and I expect to return to finishing the phaser this coming weekend (keeping my fingers crossed -- I promised a friend I'd turn another bronze tube for his turntable, so I gotta work that in too).
My phaser project is still safe and snuggly in my locker at the shop, since you don't have to keep an active membership to keep an active locker rental. Which is awesome.
On the suck side, all the TOS stuff that I had intended to stage right at the front of my PODS unit wound up buried in the back by the movers. Typical.
Years and years of study, and a very long friendship with John Long, who really taught me quite a lot. About ten years ago I co-wrote articles with him for Star Trek Communicator regarding the phaser, tricorder, and communicator, and I certainly learned a lot from him doing that. John, in turn, has been friends with Greg Jein for many years, and has examined many of his original props. And of course there are other sources as well, for photographs, screen caps, and commentary. If you go back through this thread, you'll see me referring to these various sources pretty much everywhere, including links in many cases.
Anyhoo, I dropped in just now to let everybody know that 've finally weathered the storm. I'll be re-upping my Techshop membership this Friday, and I expect to return to finishing the phaser this coming weekend (keeping my fingers crossed -- I promised a friend I'd turn another bronze tube for his turntable, so I gotta work that in too).
My phaser project is still safe and snuggly in my locker at the shop, since you don't have to keep an active membership to keep an active locker rental. Which is awesome.
On the suck side, all the TOS stuff that I had intended to stage right at the front of my PODS unit wound up buried in the back by the movers. Typical.
asalaw
Master Member
asalaw
Master Member
Re: John Long Phaser 1 Kit Buildup plus MM P2 Restoration
Aaaand I've made a new mathematical discovery while attempting to turn down the brass push rod for the beam emitter!!!
Lathe + crappy shop tooling + bad tailstock practice + ƒ{Sh¡†ThatWasMyBad} = CRAAAAAAAAAAP!!!!!!!!!!
I'll let you guys know when my Nobel comes in the mail.
And you should've seen the DC's face
when I said, "I need another six inches
from you." I didn't have the heart to tell
him I just meant brass.
Now that's embarrassing.
Anyhoo, I definitely should not have put my lathe tools into storage (WTF was I thinking?), so I've got to go and pull a few things before my next attempt. I know, I know, awfully short post after such a long absence. But really, I was just at the shop long enough to realize I was in no way prepared to resume, but at least I know where I went wrong.
Yep. Right about then.
So this week I'm going on my first PODS spelunking expedition. I think I have enough food and water to survive.
Aaaand I've made a new mathematical discovery while attempting to turn down the brass push rod for the beam emitter!!!
Lathe + crappy shop tooling + bad tailstock practice + ƒ{Sh¡†ThatWasMyBad} = CRAAAAAAAAAAP!!!!!!!!!!
I'll let you guys know when my Nobel comes in the mail.
And you should've seen the DC's face
when I said, "I need another six inches
from you." I didn't have the heart to tell
him I just meant brass.
Now that's embarrassing.
Anyhoo, I definitely should not have put my lathe tools into storage (WTF was I thinking?), so I've got to go and pull a few things before my next attempt. I know, I know, awfully short post after such a long absence. But really, I was just at the shop long enough to realize I was in no way prepared to resume, but at least I know where I went wrong.
Yep. Right about then.
So this week I'm going on my first PODS spelunking expedition. I think I have enough food and water to survive.
Last edited:
asalaw
Master Member
Re: John Long Phaser 1 Kit Buildup plus MM P2 Restoration
Uh... yeah... that's kinda one more of my screwups. Bought one on fleabay, and it turned out to be a French Army Knife. It has 18 white flags.
asalaw
Master Member
Re: John Long Phaser 1 Kit Buildup plus MM P2 Restoration
Quick update -- still haven't had a chance to spelunk, slammed at work. But I did sneak a trip to Harbor Freight in Woodbridge. Awesome place, though their lathe tools are a disappointment. I got a 10-pack of cutting tools anyway, so the need to get mine out of storage may be moot for now. We'll see. My replacement metal arrived, which I ordered after my original metal fell through a space in my locker to the locker below, whose owner is, of course, out of town.
Won't be making it into the shop this weekend, but next weekend I'm doing Friday and Sunday. Also going to lay in some scuplting clay and alginate for... well, you'll see.
Quick update -- still haven't had a chance to spelunk, slammed at work. But I did sneak a trip to Harbor Freight in Woodbridge. Awesome place, though their lathe tools are a disappointment. I got a 10-pack of cutting tools anyway, so the need to get mine out of storage may be moot for now. We'll see. My replacement metal arrived, which I ordered after my original metal fell through a space in my locker to the locker below, whose owner is, of course, out of town.
Won't be making it into the shop this weekend, but next weekend I'm doing Friday and Sunday. Also going to lay in some scuplting clay and alginate for... well, you'll see.
asalaw
Master Member
Re: John Long Phaser 1 Kit Buildup plus MM P2 Restoration
It's like a little mini paradise, isn't it?
So I'm getting pumped for this weekend. Been through a lot of stress, but Friday, I sleep in and go to the shop. Saturday, more sleep (shop's closed). Sunday, sleep in and hit the shop. That lathe is so close I can taste it.
Last trip I got nothing accomplished, but I did learn how to hunt down and isolate what's causing chatter, and how to swap out and adjust the tailstock, and that a tailstock is heavy enough that you'd damn well better never have your foot under one.
But I am massively, immensely pumped...
It's like a little mini paradise, isn't it?
So I'm getting pumped for this weekend. Been through a lot of stress, but Friday, I sleep in and go to the shop. Saturday, more sleep (shop's closed). Sunday, sleep in and hit the shop. That lathe is so close I can taste it.
Last trip I got nothing accomplished, but I did learn how to hunt down and isolate what's causing chatter, and how to swap out and adjust the tailstock, and that a tailstock is heavy enough that you'd damn well better never have your foot under one.
But I am massively, immensely pumped...
robn1
Master Member
Re: John Long Phaser 1 Kit Buildup plus MM P2 Restoration
There's a lot of good stuff, but also a lot of poo. Just be careful where you step and you'll find some good deals. Looking forward to seeing more on this
There's a lot of good stuff, but also a lot of poo. Just be careful where you step and you'll find some good deals. Looking forward to seeing more on this
asalaw
Master Member
Re: John Long Phaser 1 Kit Buildup plus MM P2 Restoration
Plus I like to swap those for reading glasses when I need to, and I like to stick my face right up to my work and see what's going on, so the rest of my face needs protection. Go back to the earlier pages of this thread for a comprehensive list of profanity caused by getting hit in the face with hot chips.
Yeah, I wasn't thrilled with their selection of metal lathe tools, but they were well stocked on air hoses and valves and such for cheap, which was great, because spending my first 15 minutes at the shop looking for a hose and nozzle was getting pretty old. Plus I got a polyethylene face mask for less than $4 (the lexan face plate I prefer was $10 more and I was trying to keep my total down). Safety goggles make me nuts because bifocals.
Plus I like to swap those for reading glasses when I need to, and I like to stick my face right up to my work and see what's going on, so the rest of my face needs protection. Go back to the earlier pages of this thread for a comprehensive list of profanity caused by getting hit in the face with hot chips.
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