The Expanse: Props & Found Parts

[Harada357]

Re: The Expanse: Prop Weapons

Thanks fellows for answering the right side Question. I did not realize the pistols were not ejecting casings. I did notice Millers Rhino pistol shoots about 22 rounds before it needs reloading : )

The Martina Pistol Laser/Flashlight attachment arrived today USPS. I am still sanding and refining the Helix pistol parts. But here is a pic of the new attachment:



The part identification was DEAD ON !! Thanks for the input.

Anyone have a Time Machine that can make Paint - Putty - and Glue dry faster? The glue sets too fast when I don't want it to - and the paint NEVER dries.

 

[Harada357]

Re: The Expanse: Prop Weapons

I'm also working on the Star Helix pistol, using one of the cheap knock-offs as a base. Hopefully should have some pics up in the next few days.

I'm also going to have a shot at one of the phones. Not quite sure yet how to do the graphics, I'm going to try laser engraving on clear acylic with a mask, then overspray with colours.

I have the Advanced Glock molded - one solid piece. If you want one I will send you one.

The problem is how do we get into the UK with Customs - What color does it have to be?

The Glock prop It obviously is not capable of firing anything and is basically paper weight - but our Governments seem to think if it "looks" like a gun - it is a gun. I never heard of anyone being killed by resin.

But who am I to question our Government? . . . . . . .. WE are about to make a GAME SHOW HOST . . . President of the Untied States .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

 

[Mike J.]

Re: The Expanse: Prop Weapons

How cold is it where you're painting? If you're careful, you could set a small heater up near, but not too close to the props. A moderate amount of warmth should help the paint dry quicker. Too much heat may soften the resin and damage the paint. Ask Jason Easton (Moff Eaton) how he paints in the winter, he's near Baltimore.


-MJ

 

[Noeland]

Re: The Expanse: Prop Weapons

I noticed the pistols don't eject too.

However, having the port covered when the slide is closed is not a big deal if the cover is mounted to the frame, as they eject above the grip, not above the trigger. Many times you'll see competition race guns with the ports covered over the trigger.

Example of what I mean:



BUT . . . those mounts looks to be mounted right on the slide.

 

[Birdie]

Re: The Expanse: Prop Weapons

That's very kind of you, Harada It would be terrific to get a cast of the WE X Series IPSC, they are very hard to get here

I have the Advanced Glock molded - one solid piece. If you want one I will send you one.

The problem is how do we get into the UK with Customs - What color does it have to be?

The Glock prop It obviously is not capable of firing anything and is basically paper weight - but our Governments seem to think if it "looks" like a gun - it is a gun. I never heard of anyone being killed by resin.

But who am I to question our Government? . . . . . . .. WE are about to make a GAME SHOW HOST . . . President of the Untied States .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

 

[Harada357]

Re: The Expanse: Prop Weapons

That's very kind of you, Harada It would be terrific to get a cast of the WE X Series IPSC, they are very hard to get here

I am sure we can work something out.

- - - Updated - - -

How cold is it where you're painting? If you're careful, you could set a small heater up near, but not too close to the props. A moderate amount of warmth should help the paint dry quicker. Too much heat may soften the resin and damage the paint. Ask Jason Easton (Moff Eaton) how he paints in the winter, he's near Baltimore.


-MJ

We are expecting snow today. I paint in the garage - Heat lamps would be nice. Best results are during the summer months. It is not a real problem - just slows the process.

 

[Harada357]

Re: The Expanse: Prop Weapons

That's very kind of you, Harada It would be terrific to get a cast of the WE X Series IPSC, they are very hard to get here

I have some more resin on order from smooth-on.

Can you ship Blue/white pistol resin one piece to the UK ? I can pour a different color. I think the BLACK RESIN will not fly.

How does it have to be listed on the customs form? Don't want Interpol to come looking for me. Especially since my day job is a COP. . . the Office tends to frown upon an international arrest warrant for "smuggling" replica weapons to the UK.

NOTE: I have shipped to Australia and they seem to have the most restrictive laws in the world. The receiver had to get a permit - email me the signed permit and I had to declare it on the customs form and enclosed the permit in the package. He got it.

So - it can be done - what are the rules for shipping from the US to the UK ?

I called the Doctor to send it by TARDIS but Amy Pond said it would take about ten million years to deliver.

Left CLICK the IMAGE for UPDATED Delivery info => : . . . . . NOPE NOT getting it THAT way. . .

She right . . . the TARDIS does not seem to be making ANY progress . . . . time loop ! RIVER needs to drive.. . . .

We will have to rely on POST.

 

[Birdie]

Re: The Expanse: Prop Weapons

The Uk law is a lot less restrictive than Australia, but still a PITA .RIFs (Realistic Imitation Firearm :rolleyes) must be brightly coloured. A few years ago I had an AEG imported from the US with the customs declaration 'Brightly painted Airsoft Gun' with no problems. In this case 'Brightly Coloured Toy Gun' would probably be the best description. The worst that can happen is that customs destroy it.

 

[Birdie]

Re: The Expanse: Prop Weapons

Here's what I have on the phone graphics so far:

 

[Harada357]

Re: The Expanse: Prop Weapons

The Uk law is a lot less restrictive than Australia, but still a PITA .RIFs (Realistic Imitation Firearm :rolleyes) must be brightly coloured. A few years ago I had an AEG imported from the US with the customs declaration 'Brightly painted Airsoft Gun' with no problems. In this case 'Brightly Coloured Toy Gun' would probably be the best description. The worst that can happen is that customs destroy it.

I will try to pour up a "brightly" colored BLUE/white (cobalt) resin and that should work. I am working on the other parts - finding the right size and angles are more difficult than I thought. An angle too steep - too long or too short. It is hard to do it from screen caps - because the next reference pic then reveals a new shadow or angle - then back for a revamp. There are good reference shots - so i think I have it now - but it is a process. Almost there. I can't wait to start the Martian pistol!

- - - Updated - - -

Here's what I have on the phone graphics so far:

http://i65.tinypic.com/2w7nvaw.jpg http://i65.tinypic.com/2akl44x.jpg

OMG !!! the graphics ROCK !!! What did you use to create them?

 

[Birdie]

Re: The Expanse: Prop Weapons

Yeah caps are a drag....pity there aren't more quality pics surfacing from last year's SDCC, I did a trawl through Google images, but no luck.

I drew the graphics in Adobe Illustrator, I'm currently trying some different settings on my laser cutter to get the best effect engraving them onto clear acylic sheet. It looks okay-ish with a straight-forward engrave, but it really needs to stand out more, so I'm experimenting with engraving through a mask, then overspraying with white paint.

 

[Harada357]

Re: The Expanse: Prop Weapons

Laser Etching is a fascinating tool for SCI FI projects.

3D printers. You know i could fashion the entire Helix pistol and the Martian Pistol in 3D models. But the printed end result often seems to look like a rough SAND sculpture.

 

[Mike J.]

Re: The Expanse: Prop Weapons

Birdie, you could etch the markings, then fill the etched recesses with white paint, and wipe off the excess. Though your method sounds simpler. The mask isn't going to diffuse the beam, is it?

Attached retouched versions of the best pics I could find of Miller's terminal. Other terminals have some different icons.


-MJ

 

[Birdie]

Re: The Expanse: Prop Weapons

3D printers and laser cutters are tools, very good ones, but they are not the be all and end all to producing good parts. It's exasperaqting to me to see the amount of 3D models on the RPF which have just been printed out and painted, without any prep and sanding down of the print lines. They look horrible, but everyone bows down to the holy technology, it's an Emporer's new clothes philosophy. I purchased a 3D printed Serenity ship model a while back, and was around 60 hours into sanding and prep before even starting the build.

Even worse are the many dealers here that print stuff out and sell it straight out of the machine, for higer prices than a resin cast, instead of cleaning it up as a master, then moulding and casting perfect copies. I can't believe folk are paying out for that crap, I guess because they are new to the hobby and don't know any better.

So yeah, the pros and cons of the new. Hopefully the olds skills will not be forgotten any time soon.

 

[Harada357]

Re: The Expanse: Prop Weapons

Laser Etching is a fascinating tool for SCI FI projects.

3D printers. You know i could fashion the entire Helix pistol and the Martian Pistol in 3D models. But the printed end result often seems to look like a rough SAND sculpture.

UPDATE - Disaster STRIKES !!! Front Screen Cap show the darn top gun sight is wider than I thought. Off by a 1/4" inch !! Tear down and rebuild time. FUBAR !!!!!!! RE-DO !!!

 

[Birdie]

Re: The Expanse: Prop Weapons

Mike, the laser deals fine with the mask, it's just a matter of working out the optimum depth of engraving for the sharpest image.

 

[Harada357]

Re: The Expanse: Prop Weapons

ProtoGEN pistol shows up in the last shoot out on the docks. Smaller version of the rifle.

 

[Mike J.]

Re: The Expanse: Prop Weapons

Appears to be, yeah. I haven't gone frame-by-frame yet, but I wonder if they just cut the stocks off.


-MJ

 

[Birdie]

Re: The Expanse: Prop Weapons

An afternoon of misadventures today

I dropped the slide - which I had finished modifying and sprayed flat black - and it actually shattered in several places! Fortunately I bought two guns in case of errors, so I can replace that.

Then comes the graphics, which are downright pesky. Being white on black, you can't actually print them onto waterslide decals, since you can't print white with an inkjet. I tried laser cutting them on white adhesive vinyl, but even the lowest power stains the vinyl yellow :unsure

Next attempt - cut a mask and spray over as a template. This was more successful, but open symbols like the warning sign don't work with a stencil at this size - too fiddly. I glued the broken slide back together as a test, with the warning symbol cut from vinyl - you can actually see the yellow staining in the pic. So looks like I'm going to have to cut it, spray it white, then apply to the gun. These decals are pretty tiny, so it makes it all a regular pita!

 

[Harada357]

Re: The Expanse: Prop Weapons

AWESOME result Birdie even if they are "failures" at what you want to achieve. The detail is perfect. I don't know anything about decals. I have photoshop and an old copy of illustrator - but i am an amateur with the program - no classes - not read the books - I can only do the most simple features - learned a few tricks with Youtube videos.

Your process is fascinating. I can only imagine your frustration dropping the slide.

I will warn you that I am new to casting - the Advanced Glock mold seam is uneven - I don't know how people get that perfect center seam with clay. The glock will need some clean up - but you can see from the pictures i have posted of the resin glocks - they are right out of the mold and the detail is exact right down to the serial numbers. Clean up is a breeze compared to a 3D printed kit. Minimal at best. someday someone will show me how to do that perfect clay seam.

I build the parts for the most part old school. Dremel,sandpaper, and tools. I is harder and harder to find supplies of plexiglass, hobby wood, metal sheets and tubing. Most of the Hobby shops in my state have closed down. It is hard to order online - because you really don't know what you are getting. Styrene is tougher to gauge and expensive without seeing what you are buying. the Arts and crafts stores do not stock adequate selection of hobby scratch building supplies. If i wanted to arrange flowers - THEY STOCK EVERYTHING. Train Hobby Stores - that used to be goldmines for materials - have packed up and left town. . .

I am remaking the top sight for the fourth time. . .

- - - Updated - - -

Appears to be, yeah. I haven't gone frame-by-frame yet, but I wonder if they just cut the stocks off.


-MJ

You are likely right - removable stocks. Everyone else (ProtoGEN mercs) on the docks are using the Airsoft Grenade launchers for rifles.