Dreamscape
Active Member
Cool, have you started looking at the paint colours yet?
Star Trek: Mark IX TR-590 Tricorder
- Thread starter Dreamscape
- Start date
Cool, have you started looking at the paint colours yet?
Dreamscape
Active Member
Stapleton Productions (ebayer https://www.ebay.co.uk/usr/killmenow0) sells pressure cast hollow kits for replica props.
Gerry or GMProps (ebayer https://www.ebay.co.uk/usr/gmprop) sells the electronic kits that are ready to install that fit the Stapleton Productions kits.
Based on some feedback I got from RPF members, I picked up a few things:
- Dupli-Color Perfect Match BPR0031 Scratch Filler Gray Primer
- Duple-Color Perfect Match BGM0479 Medium Marblehead Met
- Krylon ColorMaster - Castle Rock - Gloss
I'm not 100% sure what I'm going to be using yet, but I will probably experiment with some of these, and/or whatever is discussed in this thread.
- - - Updated - - -
Except...Gerry is planning on shutting down his electronics business after his current orders go out. So just be aware if you try to purchase anything at this point. I believe it even says as much on his different online stores now.
Dreamscape
Active Member
I've already purchased the electronics for mine - so I'm good. It's a shame that he's stopping this, but I can understand that life has to come first.
Dreamscape
Active Member
Whoever steps into that role would have great trouble doing them at such high quality at those low prices...
Anyway, I took renaissance_man's advice and tried the Vauxhall Smoke Grey paint. It's the same hue as Astro Silver but darker - and I'm happy with the final colour after a couple of coats.
I've spotted a couple of imperfections which I'm going to sand out with 1500, 2000 and 2500 grit sand paper, then I'll apply another coat. After that I'll spray the back plate.
Then I just need to wait for the electronics to arrive - as I can't do any painting on the door as I need to drill out a hole, install the reed switch magnet, and fill it first.
Anyway, I took renaissance_man's advice and tried the Vauxhall Smoke Grey paint. It's the same hue as Astro Silver but darker - and I'm happy with the final colour after a couple of coats.
I've spotted a couple of imperfections which I'm going to sand out with 1500, 2000 and 2500 grit sand paper, then I'll apply another coat. After that I'll spray the back plate.
Then I just need to wait for the electronics to arrive - as I can't do any painting on the door as I need to drill out a hole, install the reed switch magnet, and fill it first.
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Dreamscape
Active Member
So propninja sent me a sample of GM7173 - and the results are interesting. It's much closer to the paint i used for my nemesis phaser.
You can see Vauxhall smoke grey (left), GM7173 (centre), and Audi Dakota grey (right, used for my phaser).
It definitely has a darker and browner hue than Vauxhall smoke grey. So the hunt is on for a metallic paint that is a tad lighter/browner than the Audi paint.
You can see Vauxhall smoke grey (left), GM7173 (centre), and Audi Dakota grey (right, used for my phaser).
It definitely has a darker and browner hue than Vauxhall smoke grey. So the hunt is on for a metallic paint that is a tad lighter/browner than the Audi paint.
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xl97
Master Member
Not sure of the prices before... but if someone is (was) doing them (I'm sure someone else could manage it as well)..
I dont know much about the Trek universe.. but I do electronics kits for runs here from time to time.
I'm sure its possible!
Dreamscape
Active Member
Not sure of the prices before... but if someone is (was) doing them (I'm sure someone else could manage it as well)..
I dont know much about the Trek universe.. but I do electronics kits for runs here from time to time.
I'm sure its possible!
The electronic kit was $135 - and you can see a video of it at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezz-PbAH0G8. There's also a nice video which shows the slightly more expensive medical tricorder with scanner - and how it get's constructed (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bur5hRr8nrU).
On the colour front, I decided to try dusting some Audi Dakota over the Vauxhall Smoke - and I was glad I tried it...
Carwyn Morris
New Member
I thought I'd share this with you I think it might help. This is the series prop in flat lighting
Dreamscape
Active Member
This is what mine looks like. But the light is a bit yellow as it was early in the morning.
Carwyn Morris
New Member
Yours is a bit of a lighter shade but I wouldn't worry too much about that. Its a fair bet that if you were to put two of the screen used props side by side they probably wouldn't match each other.
AnubisGuard
Master Member
GM7173 could vary quite a bit in shade depending on the batch and how heavily the coats are put down. I have props that I painted myself out of a can that are a whole shade apart.
Dreamscape
Active Member
Yeah, that image did seem a bit darker than other images I've seen.
I guess so long as I've matched the sample I have - I know I'm not that far off.
propninja
Member
Dreamscape
Active Member
Actually they do match. I painted several of them myself so I should know
I guess it's difficult to match metallic paint because of the nature of how it reflects light. I which case I'm very happy that I'm as close as possible. Thanks again for the sample.
Dreamscape
Active Member
So I've now given it a couple of coats of clear lacquer - which has deepened the colour a tad.
And for comparison against the GM7173 sample:
And for comparison against the GM7173 sample:
