renegadecow
Active Member
Like just about everybody else, this new weapon greatly intrigued me and the moment I saw it function on the big screen, I was hooked. Not long after I was contacted by Jimmi who also wanted one and this was the final push for me to make it as I was on edge about making just one for myself as it needed quite a few molds to make. For reference, I'm relying heavily on the Figuarts action figure while scaled to the scene where it's sent spinning for the first time on screen. Material is primarily PVC as there are other people also wanting to duel with it. Unlike all of the builds prior, I'm not making the arms flip out by the push of the button on the handle. I'm more convinced that that button is for controlling the electric current on the prongs and after studying the scene from the movie it appears to me that all TR-8R does is jerk it in a back and forward motion. This leads me to believe that it's better to make it with an inertial lock: the baton is jerked back and the weight of the lock uncouples the axle. The axle is then powered by a weak spring, just enough to make them pop out and then when the user jerks the baton forward, it sends the arms flying forward like a side folding knife instead of the violent action of a spring assisted switch blade.
The main body is constructed from a single piece of PVC for rigidity. It's also extruded oval as the real thing isn't actual cylindrical.
For simplicity, I'm not making the arms fold in automatically towards the body. Instead I'll be making a replaceable axle so it can be manually put in that configuration.
The most complex part would be the rear extension of the body. It transitions from a round profile to an octagonal one which I've done by molding a separate piece that goes around it.
More work on the handle (cutouts) which reveals the hole opposite the handle which I ended up not needing as the three parts are all anchored by the side screws. Will be filling up the hole with epoxy later and omit it in succeeding casts.
The main body is constructed from a single piece of PVC for rigidity. It's also extruded oval as the real thing isn't actual cylindrical.
For simplicity, I'm not making the arms fold in automatically towards the body. Instead I'll be making a replaceable axle so it can be manually put in that configuration.
The most complex part would be the rear extension of the body. It transitions from a round profile to an octagonal one which I've done by molding a separate piece that goes around it.
More work on the handle (cutouts) which reveals the hole opposite the handle which I ended up not needing as the three parts are all anchored by the side screws. Will be filling up the hole with epoxy later and omit it in succeeding casts.
