Skeleton Crew Jod Buckle

[greenmachines]

Captured photos were obtained from the Skeleton Crew props thread to first sculpt then mould and cast a replica buckle for Jude Law's Star Wars Skeleton Crew character, Jod Na Nawood. (Thanks to many in that thread):

Thread 'STAR WARS - Skeleton Crew props & costume' STAR WARS - Skeleton Crew props & costume

and the original show thread:

Thread 'Star Wars: Skeleton Crew' Star Wars: Skeleton Crew

(Update 2-9-25 This is the link for Modery's full Jod cosplay and props thread, a sub of the above but specific to Jod Jod Na Nawood | Captain Silvo Costume - Skeleton Crew)

 

[greenmachines]

I printed the flattest image at a size where a 1.75 inch belt would fit correctly. Sizes were judged by scans used by several rpf members, Modery, joberg (I will try to grab as many names as I can ftom the other thread). I pasted that image onto my sculpting pad and then printed another larger view for sculpting reference.

 

[greenmachines]

So far I have completed the majority of the buckle but have some questions on detail due to the lack of clear screen shots. The buckle is gray metallic so loses detail at every angle.

Here are my current pics:

 

[greenmachines]

I will smooth the current sculpt to be used for a full 3d scan before doing my silicone mold but need some final eyes on from those willing to give a detailed look.

My first question is: Does anyone else think there is a small lip/ridge where I have placed the red highlights?

 

[jts1031]

I think the ridge comes down and curls around at the bottom to create the rounded design at the bottom.

 

[Modery]

Was going through episode 5 (again...) to find some boots references, but ended up finding more good views of the belt buckle:

Bottom left is the clearest I have seen so far, think this should help you with refinements

 

[joberg]

It seems that there's 6 lips (no scabrous meaning here folks)...The left lips are pretty much equal in spacing but for the last inside one.
The right lips are different; the inside one is really close to the middle one (if that make sense).
There's two small "accents" on top of those lips that curl (one to the left and one to the right) to make the middle lips...if you see what I mean greenmachines (hey, that rimes)!!

 

[greenmachines]

I think the ridge comes down and curls around at the bottom to create the rounded design at the bottom.

I definitely see it now!!

Was going through episode 5 (again...) to find some boots references, but ended up finding more good views of the belt buckle:
View attachment 1896502

Bottom left is the clearest I have seen so far, think this should help you with refinements

You have settled it with these. I can see it all clearly now. Very grateful.

It seems that there's 6 lips (no scabrous meaning here folks)...The left lips are pretty much equal in spacing but for the last inside one.
The right lips are different; the inside one is really close to the middle one (if that make sense).
There's two small "accents" on top of those lips that curl (one to the left and one to the right) to make the middle lips...if you see what I mean greenmachines (hey, that rimes)!!

Yep, the consistency is off just enough to make the angles even harder to decipher.

So, the biggest changes are at the very bottom and with these clearer shots it will be a cake walk. The inner two mirrored lips are definitely what swirls at the bottom to form what I had previously thought was a ball. I am pretty stoked that I was right about the outer lip curling the opposite way to form the little flip which disappears when viewed at a different angle.

So the biggest takeaway is the heights of different features. The side loops donn't comme all the way up the sides but ibstead stop about 2/3, the scal is way lower than the other parts and the 3 lips mirrored to eache side are at different heights. This is why the black series tried to have them all at the same height because, from the front view, the differences cannot be seen. From 45 degrees they are very different and from the side they even hide major features from view, hidden behind the taller areas.

OK, tonight, I should have one ready to do screen for screen comps.

 

[greenmachines]

I think the part that makes this an almost guaranteed 3d print is the side loops actually bend backward. This means it cannot be a flat pour brass object. It would be a three piece wax mold (in old school lost wax and sand process, brass pour). The two side loops would be adhered to the central, giving it the non standard and not flat backed shape, placed in sand and shake filled, then tamped and finally poured with brass.

I had thought it was optical illusion and it was truly flat but the clearer new pics show the side loops do reach behind the face plate.

Definitely correct me if you see a way it can be done FLAT BACK SINGLE POUR.

 

[joberg]

I think the part that makes this an almost guaranteed 3d print is the side loops actually bend backward. This means it cannot be a flat pour brass object. It would be a three piece wax mold (in old school lost wax and sand process, brass pour). The two side loops would be adhered to the central, giving it the non standard and not flat backed shape, placed in sand and shake filled, then tamped and finally poured with brass.

I had thought it was optical illusion and it was truly flat but the clearer new pics show the side loops do reach behind the face plate.

Definitely correct me if you see a way it can be done FLAT BACK SINGLE POUR.

You're right about those two loops bending on each side of the buckle...no flat back pour on that one...unless you could bend the loops while the brass is still fairly warm

 

[smithjohnj]

I have been following this thread with interest and have a couple of observations. I would find it helpful to have some common points of reference. For example "right-side", "left-side". When I am wearing a buckle with the "front" facing away from me, I refer to the left side of the buckle as the side closest to my left hand. Someone looking at me and my buckle (or at an image of the same) would see any details I would attribute to the left-side - to appear on the right-side of the image. Maybe everyone else has a clear understanding but I am not sure I am following the discussion accurately.

Secondly, in some of the clearest images, I believe the buckle is not facing completely square to the camera. I believe there is a slight turn of the buckle (and wearer) to their left - which brings the right side of the buckle slightly toward the camera, and the left side of the buckle slightly away from the camera. I believe this may the cause of the observed "inconsistent" widths between the "ridges". Everyone may already be taking this into account, but I did not see the fact mentioned in the discussion. I am working on a 2D "mechanical drawing" of the buckle which may not be providing the same degree of insight as the modeling of a realistic 3D artistic sculpture approach.

 

[greenmachines]

I have been following this thread with interest and have a couple of observations. I would find it helpful to have some common points of reference. For example "right-side", "left-side". When I am wearing a buckle with the "front" facing away from me, I refer to the left side of the buckle as the side closest to my left hand. Someone looking at me and my buckle (or at an image of the same) would see any details I would attribute to the left-side - to appear on the right-side of the image. Maybe everyone else has a clear understanding but I am not sure I am following the discussion accurately.

Secondly, in some of the clearest images, I believe the buckle is not facing completely square to the camera. I believe there is a slight turn of the buckle (and wearer) to their left - which brings the right side of the buckle slightly toward the camera, and the left side of the buckle slightly away from the camera. I believe this may the cause of the observed "inconsistent" widths between the "ridges". Everyone may already be taking this into account, but I did not see the fact mentioned in the discussion. I am working on a 2D "mechanical drawing" of the buckle which may not be providing the same degree of insight as the modeling of a realistic 3D artistic sculpture approach.

Today's pics are purpose built to show angles, so this should help a bit. Screen cap from the show on the left of screen and my current sculpt on the right of screen. The largest inconsistencies (left to right) are the size of the two curls, center/bottom and the shape of the area around the pans of the weight scale (the areas we referred to as looking like Norse mythology spirit animals) which you would most easily find by looking for the two dashed "eyes" ( the pans). This area has the most clay sculpted look, being intentionally mirrored but never truly achieving that. Many other areas have this same "done in clay first" level of imperfection. My apologies for the bottom two comp pics because I put the opposite angle, so not a great comp shot.

I am at the point of the sculpt where the next step is smoothing. I believe it to be complete except for the side bands that would require the sculpt to be lifted in order for those loops to go behind in relative position. I am hoping that after handing off the stl scan, someone will 3d sculpt these belt loops and return the finished file to the convo.

Currently my stl is being held hostage in my scanner (refusing to recognize my pc).

 

[greenmachines]

My hope is to get to the point that only having the original, screen used, buckle would allow anyone to notice any difference. After scanning, much of the clay tooling marks smooth automatically. It would already be a functional 3d print if not for those belt loops.

 

[greenmachines]

Am I really seeing the rounded bottom of what I have been calling the scale? I had seen some angle making it look flat or even a slight inverted v. But now I am seeing a droop.

 

[smithjohnj]

I personally do see a rounded bottom in the center. To me it is shaped like the blade of a round knife (ula) with upturned ends. Another example is the blade of the old movie Pit and the Pendulum. I have attached a simple (partial) sketch.

 

[greenmachines]

I personally do see a rounded bottom in the center. To me it is shaped like the blade of a round knife (ula) with upturned ends. Another example is the blade of the old movie Pit and the Pendulum. I have attached a simple (partial) sketch.

I will get this updated tomorrow. Mom's water heater went kerfunk today so I was out late and am replacing the whole thing tomorrow. I need to get the Revo Scan 5 loaded on my pc to get the Miraco to release the 3d scans to the pc in stl. Currently, it is only willing to send the png preview picture. But, plan is to have this loaded before the weekend is over. My 3d printer is still new in the box so no test run either. But I am willing to wait until the belt loops are included in the stl.

 

[greenmachines]

And, because I just saw a "like" from JamesM242 , I am happy to say, "guess which other buckle is now very possible?"

 

[Modery]

Today's pics are purpose built to show angles, so this should help a bit. Screen cap from the show on the left of screen and my current sculpt on the right of screen. The largest inconsistencies (left to right) are the size of the two curls, center/bottom and the shape of the area around the pans of the weight scale (the areas we referred to as looking like Norse mythology spirit animals) which you would most easily find by looking for the two dashed "eyes" ( the pans). This area has the most clay sculpted look, being intentionally mirrored but never truly achieving that. Many other areas have this same "done in clay first" level of imperfection. My apologies for the bottom two comp pics because I put the opposite angle, so not a great comp shot.

I am at the point of the sculpt where the next step is smoothing. I believe it to be complete except for the side bands that would require the sculpt to be lifted in order for those loops to go behind in relative position. I am hoping that after handing off the stl scan, someone will 3d sculpt these belt loops and return the finished file to the convo.

Currently my stl is being held hostage in my scanner (refusing to recognize my pc).

View attachment 1896881

Oh, this is looking excellent. Great work!

Only thing that I think might need to be changed is the connection between the two inner rings and the two "balls". The longer I look at it, the more it looks like there's a line from the balls that continues down into the inner rings

 

[joberg]

Oh, this is looking excellent. Great work!

Only thing that I think might need to be changed is the connection between the two inner rings and the two "balls". The longer I look at it, the more it looks like there's a line from the balls that continues down into the inner rings
View attachment 1897013

I'm with you on that one Modery...these two "accents" should connect to the one of the main lips. It's very Art Nouveau that buckle.

 

[smithjohnj]

Another practical but not evidenced component is how the buckle fastens to the belt. As already noted the belt passes from side to side through slots in the ends of the buckle. Those "end bars" of the buckle frame then lie behind the belt. On some buckles there is then a "stud" or "pin" on the back of the buckle which is inserted into the belt's hole to cinch the belt to the proper size. In some belts this "pin" is slightly curved or hooked to hold against the tension of the belt pulling against it. Note that some tension is required to keep the pin from falling out. This is common on many simple Western-style buckles. Another approach is a "Sam Browning-style" stud (with a larger ball on a narrower shaft) which passes through the hole. In this case tension is not a necessary factor to keep the stud in place. If it exists, the position of this "pin" would be in line with the holes pictured in the images. In the sketch in my post #15, I used the visible belt holes to locate the hidden hole between. This then became the center point for the circle I used in my sketch. The bottom of the circle I believe represents a good representation of that section of the buckle. The top of the circle does NOT represent the buckle, but is just an artifact of my analysis and synthesis. I do believe the center of this "circle" is the location of the buckle's pin.