Not sure if this is of interest, but I'm currently doing a buildup of my kit for another RPFer and thought I'd show one way to paint printed kits to look like aluminum.
This project started as my own blaster, which was painted in Alclad Chrome, but I wasn't really happy with the look because it was a little too "plastic chrome", so decided to redo it using a technique I came up with while doing my Hellboy Room Keys a few years ago. It's still Alclad Chrome applied with an airbrush, but the initial layer is wet-sanded down with 400 grit, slightly unevenly, and then rubbed with steel wool. After that a new layer of Chrome is misted on. This created an unevenness in the surface and makes it look very much like aluminum that has been subjected to the elements a bit, because it catches the light at different angles. Leaving the occasional "ding" in the surface adds to the idea that it's been handled a bit as well. It's a little hard to photograph, but this might give you an idea.
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Oh man I would be interested in an aluminum version
has anyone been able to obtain official measurements of the blaster yet? I know a lot of people have posted numbers, but I want to be as screen accurate in size as possible for my 3d print build.!
has anyone been able to obtain official measurements of the blaster yet? I know a lot of people have posted numbers, but I want to be as screen accurate in size as possible for my 3d print build.
thanks in advance!
The only suggestion I could give would be to use the image below and base all your measurements from the Torx screw dimensions, which are M3 size(6mm).
13" is definitely too big. It's closer to 11" than 13"
OOPS! I misspoke. I'm using m4 Torx (I looked at the wrong receipt).
Here is mine - designed by @JOATRASHFX. I'm using m4 secu-torx screws for the larger screw heads and after seeing the Disneyland Launch Bay version, I'd say that it's extremely close in size, if not exactly the same.
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Bill Doran (@chinbeard) has his listed at 13" in length. I don't have mine in front of me, but I'd say that's about right.
There are 3 sizes of screw used on the prop -- two kinds of button head and one socket head. Take another look at the reference which shows the grip button head screws should be larger than the body button head screws. The socket head screws on the barrel and side detail are smaller still. In my opinion the M3 and M4 are the right sizes for the button head screws.
Bill's build is very nice, and extremely well done, but it does appear too large. It's sized for man-hands rather than Rey-hands. Look how small the original prop is in Harrison Ford's hand in the movie.