Sandtrooper Binocular Build

[TatooineMachine]

I was fortunate to get one of Markus's Hoth binocular kits from Germany! I wanted to build them as Sandtrooper Binocs. The pieces from ObiWan72 are brilliant with little prep needed. After a soapy bath I used lacquer based sandable black primer on all the parts so when they were distressed the base would be black like on screen. I've been slowly working on these for the last few weeks. Here's the kit and a few progress pics -

The mail was good this day!

Primer

Light filler was all that was needed - it's a beautiful kit!

After running the main body and "lid" on the table sander, I installed the threaded inserts supplied in the kit

White, White, and more white

I painted the front recess black before adding the "peace" sign and "star" piece

Started on the red detail on the front lens ring

So here's where I'm at for the weekend - main body is just about done, weathered, and grey & red details painted

I'm going to make this piece up in metal and use a vintage PL-259 connector outer

Lens plate is filled, primed, holes are drilled, and it's drying. I'll shoot it with another few coats of white paint. In a few of the first photos there's shots of the vintage leather strap it will get. I'd like to put a similar slide inside these like I used for my Luke Macros. There wasn't any screen shot of a Sandtrooper looking through the binocs from his viewpoint, but I'll take the shot from the Hoth binocs, use the animation around the scene, and add a cool Tatooine pic, maybe of the droids with the skeleton of the great dragon? We'll see! I need to go to the electronics store and see if I can find a rotary switch that will work with the V8 engine camshaft

 

[russellsch]

I love your builds! They’re SO inspirational!!

 

[Red Hawk]

Love it, man. The detail bits are terrific. Great work, as always.

 

[MastahBlastah]

Looking great! Are the vents from those safety goggles uses on these as well? (in addition to the ESB mynock cave masks, that is).

 

[TatooineMachine]

Looking great! Are the vents from those safety goggles uses on these as well? (in addition to the ESB mynock cave masks, that is).

Thanks! The very first picture was the one Markus posted of his kit, I robbed it. Hope he doesn’t mind. So the goggles don‘t have anything to do w the binoculars.

 

[MastahBlastah]

Thanks! The very first picture was the one Markus posted of his kit, I robbed it. Hope he doesn’t mind. So the goggles don‘t have anything to do w the binoculars.

Thanks for clarifying!

 

[TatooineMachine]

Made some progress today on the sight side - Fitted the eye rings, hood, plug (not sure if it's a molex plug or a photo multiplier tube end), trim around the plug, camshaft support for the hood, and found most of the screws. Did a little more patching on both pieces. Should finish the white paint tomorrow and be able to finish the sight side weathering by end of the week!

 

[russellsch]

Amazing build, as always, my friend!
Love the detailed photos too!

 

[TatooineMachine]

A little more progress before painting the final few coats of white

On my Luke Marcos I have an EL sheet with an image of the Banthas and Tusken as seen on screen in ANH. Although there was never a screen shot of what the Sandtrooper saw when he was looking though these, I wanted to add an image using a similar set up. With my Luke Macors the Eumig door needs to be opened, switch turned on, & door closed, which looses a little of the magic. So I found a rotary switch to take the place of the camshaft "shaft", cut off the cam lobes & drilled them out to slip over the rotary switch. More to come!

 

[OdiWan72]

Love the progress!

 

[TatooineMachine]

I went about this a little different with the switch - Drilled out a hole

Rotary switch moch up

Bondo in place

Second round of Bondo, then some simple filler

New buttons

Now paint!

 

[TatooineMachine]

A little Sunday early morning progress

Grey details painted

Lower cam lobe installed

Ring installed around "plug"

Lenses glued in

 

[TatooineMachine]

Here’s the to do list -

1. Black out sight holes
2. Upper cam lobe & paint
3. Install sight rings
4. Install hood & paint brass screws
5. Distress & weather
6. Install leather strap
7. Machine top metal detail - this is also on the Han Hoth Scanner! Maybe another turn table piece? Anyone know what it is?

 

[newmagrathea]

Awesome build! I love this kit and I need to get one of these kits for myself. *cough cough, nudge OdiWan72 *

 

[TatooineMachine]

As done as I can be today 1 - 3 done! Paint needs to cure for a good few days before I distress it!

 

[TatooineMachine]

Hood test

Strap test - this is off of a camera cover from a Russian camera I bought for the Chewie Bowcaster. This is exactly why I don't throw away the left overs!

 

[russellsch]

Excellent progress!!!

 

[HMR]

Very cool strap! I think the distressing on this looks fantastic. Watching.
It looks like you are sanding and lightly marring through the topcoat down to the black primer?
I am curious about how you manage to not go through the black primer and into the material? Just a practice/feeling thing maybe?

 

[TatooineMachine]

HMR the pieces are cast in ebony resin so when it’s distressed it’s chipping all the way down to the resin. Scratches vary in depth. You’re right, you just get a feel for it as you go along. After the distressing, it was weathered with four colors of acrylic washes - sand, dirt, rust, and black. Sand was applied to the whole prop and dabbed off with baby wipes. Dirt, rust, & black are applied and dabbed off, reapplied, repeated, etc. I used a heat gun on low to help with the drying so I could keep weathering. I recommend a stiff cocktail the first time you try this and just go for it!

 

[TatooineMachine]

I caved and tried distressing....

I need to -

1. Adjust the strap rivets so they're tighter
2. Adjust the mounting screws
3. Trim the hood at the cam for clearance
4. Finalize the hood mount screws, paint white, and weather
5. Buy aluminum round stock and mill the top detail & mount
6. Electronics