Portal - Companion Cube [ Slight update: 9-15-11]

[VitaminZinc]

I always thought it would be cool to have a companion cube of my own. So, I've set off on the idea of making my own. I understand that a 1:1 would be about 3-ft. The one I'm making is about a third the size, only about 13 inches. I'm intending to give this as a Christmas gift, so it's smaller so I can actually ship it still. :lol

This is very much a WIP, but I did a SketchUp file of it to get an idea of how it should look.

I'm pretty limited on tools, but I think this is going to be a fun starter project and won't be all that hard! And, hopefully once I get this one completed I'll work on another build of a 1:1.

I'm a little worried about my idea, though. I'm considering mdf for the construction due to how smooth it finishes, but I'm also thinking that might make it too heavy once I'm done.

Anyway, that's all I've got for now. Like I said, it's very much so a WIP.

 

[GeektressGalore]

Re: Portal -- Companion Cube

This is very cool! I'd totally buy one if you were doing a run of them, but that's just me. I'd love to have a Companion Cube of my own!

 

[VitaminZinc]

Re: Portal -- Companion Cube

OK! Well, after a few weeks of planning I finally got started on this with my meager miter saw and drill. First thing I found out was that this would be so much easier with a table saw and a router of some sort. After realizing my limitations with the project, and just how large a 12" cube would actually be, I decided to scale it down to a smaller 6" cube.

Also, apologies in advance. All I had on me to take pictures was my phone.

The initial idea stayed the same. Make the box out of wood. This is it just kind of pieced together to see how my cuts were.

After a day or so of thinking it over, I decided to try a second method of making this box with styrene. The bottom piece of the side is 1/8", and then each raised piece is 1/8". The wooden craft circles are just on there to see how it looks. (PS: Notice the tacky glue in this picture. It's horrible. But I'm sure you all knew that already. :lol )

I ended up blending methods on this and actually placing the styrene ontop of the wooden box since I felt it gave the piece some realistic weight.

I cut out 1/4" foam board and temporarily placed it in place to see how it would look in a mock-up. The craft circle is still just kinda sitting there.

My first ever usage of bondo. After sanding and such I've added a 2nd coat, which still needs to be sanded off. I'll get the hang of it! Maybe. Also, you can see I've opted for nails in the four corners to hold it together as opposed to the single "seemed like a bright idea" screw in the middle of the panel. The nails were added after drilling through the styrene as not to shatter it.

I bought 1/4" basswood from a craft store and cut it to 2" squares to be my outer raised area.

AND, that's where I'm stuck at the moment. I still need to obviously sand off my (unpictured) second coat of bondo for the edges, but really most of that is going to be covered by the raised sections, or the tabs in the middle-edge so I'm not all that worried about it.

My main focus is getting the top-most raised sections to have the circular sections look nice, since those parts technically need to bevel down to the edge as it approaches the circle. It seems too small to use a jigsaw on (plus I don't have one). I was considering buying a hole drill to attach to my drill (like ya do!) and plugging the hole in before I cut off the excess. Or, maybe using a different material for this. I'm completely open to ideas on this if anyone has some input.

Needless to say, I've learned a lot so far and I'm not even really close to being done (obviously), and I already have some great ideas for what to do next time I make one.

 

[sycor]

Re: Portal -- Companion Cube

looks like you are off to a nice start. You've given me some ideas on building one for myself.

 

[bak9799]

Re: Portal -- Companion Cube

looks really good so far. Keeping an eye on this thread

 

[Aeneas2020]

Re: Portal -- Companion Cube

ill be watching this thread with interest...been thinking about making one of these myself

 

[WMDunkin]

Re: Portal -- Companion Cube

very sweet. Have you thought about making on in metal? can't wait to see the out come.

 

[VitaminZinc]

Re: Portal -- Companion Cube

I've never worked with metal, so I can't imagine that ending very well--for my safety or the end product. Certainly something to consider, though. It could be really cool. ...making one out of metal, that is--not me hurting myself. :lol

 

[GeektressGalore]

Re: Portal -- Companion Cube

What's your total cost so far? I'm thinking of starting my own Companion Cube project. One for me and one for a friend.

 

[VitaminZinc]

Re: Portal -- Companion Cube

I had most of the material lying around, but I'd say around $40 to far. I have a TON of foam lying around in my workshop. I probably should have constructed the whole thing from that to save even more money. But I do like the weight that the wood adds to it. I'd love to make one completely from wood once I get a table saw.

Rough Run-down for stuff bought so far (that I can remember).
-$20 for the lumber (I overbought cause I didn't calculate my footage before-hand. oops!)
-$10 for the bondo.
-$10 for misc junk I've picked up for it (like the craft circles).

I've decided to actually give the foam a try for the outer sections. I ran into a lot of difficulty with trying to shape the wood without a band saw. I consider myself patient, but cutting 24 pieces of wood by hand to any kind of accurate curve would have killed me. The foam is much more forgiving.

So far, the bondo seems to go really well with it. But this could turn into a major waste of time by the end. I think I could have used another filler for the edges and gotten the same result, honestly (cause that's a lotta bondo I'm using!)

I'll end up sanding by the middle of the week if it stops raining. Sucky weather is sucky.

 

[beerninja]

Re: Portal -- Companion Cube

looks great so far! it'll be fun to watch your progress. bookmarked!

 

[cyditron]

Re: Portal -- Companion Cube

COMPANION CUBE!!!! Oh, I like how this is turning out. Make sure it gets to have cake when its completed.

 

[VitaminZinc]

Re: Portal -- Companion Cube

Cake is an excellent idea, and I shall enjoy it greatly. Any excuse for cake!

Been kinda busy due to holidays, and I'm definitely not liking how the foam is working at all. SOOOOOO, it's gonna be fun to take all that off. I've got a ton of time off from work this week, so time certainly isn't an issue--it's the fact of going to my workshop in 30 degree weather. Blah. Hopefully I'll have some more pics in the next few days.

 

[edzeez]

Re: Portal -- Companion Cube

I've been watching this thread for a little while now, I'm looking into making one myself.

 

[VitaminZinc]

Re: Portal -- Companion Cube

Ok! Update time. Not a very great or showing update, but I figured I'd show the change I've decided to make.

I've had HUGE issues with trying to get the machined look I was wanting with the edges due to my lack of tools. And while toiling away with other projects (Papercraft IM helm and Daft Punk helms) I thought "Geez, I wonder if anyone has any papercraft Companion Cube files" -- obviously there are plenty out there. So, taking those files and scaling them appropriately, I made my corner pieces.

Also had my first test with resin since I didn't want to ruin a helmet in a trial run. Here's how the corner came out. I'm very pleased with this, and will probably rondo it or fiberglass it to finish it off.

I'm still using the same base of styrene/wood. So, just so you know, this isn't an entirely papercraft piece now. Justing using papercraft corners. It's a "Weighted Companion Cube" after all. =P

 

[Shade88]

Re: Portal -- Companion Cube

Just please don't incinerate your companion... I'm looking at you GLaDOS!!!

Looks great!

 

[VitaminZinc]

Re: Portal -- Companion Cube

Hm, not much new with the project. I'm being lazy-ish. Actually, I've been working on an Iron Man helm and a Daft Punk Guy-Manuel helm. While I was cleaning up the workshop (cause it needed it. =\ ) I did a mockup of kinda how the cube looks. Nothing's glued on, but it was sort of inspiring to see that it's VERY close to being finished.

 

[boodha]

Re: Portal -- Companion Cube

WOW, that's shaping up nicely!

 

[TechDante]

Re: Portal -- Companion Cube

looks good cant wait to see the finished piece

 

[FSURobbie]

Re: Portal -- Companion Cube

Fantastic, I was watching some Companion Cube parody clips on Youtube the other day and thinking how cool it would be to have a real one. Nice work.