Star Trek TNG First Contact Type III Phaser Rifle - Done (with pretty pictures)!

This first of all posts made here is a request for a progress report on this whole thing being offered in kit form, which may be long overdue. Have personally been seeking a phaser rifle for literally years, but always in vain due to lack of either credits or a reliable source for such objects.
Once such a kit is available, it will be considered for purchase.
 
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This second of all posts makes one thing perfectly clear:
The rifle thus artificed is the Three Bravo, which is NOT what is sought. The one sought is the Three ALPHA, shown in the image affixed.
Star-Trek_First_Contact_Phaser_Rifle_Prop_Replica.jpg

Can THAT be constructed, and employed for templating kits, as well? If so, then IT will be sought, and top price will be paid. Have contacted at least one buyer who will then be interested; HE will use PayPal to get it using funds provided to him to that end, as alas, PayPal is no option here.
 
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Re: Star Trek TNG First Contact Type III Phaser Rifle - On the Final Lap!

So, mixed bag on the molding and casting activity. The molds came out great, nice and smooth with no bubbles.

My first (and only castings so far) have a lot of bubbles -I should have degassed the resin.

Here's how they came out:
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5582/14624020923_3a716f8ded_c.jpg

Fortunately, for this prop, the resin does not need to be clear. A little time with some fine-grain sandpaper and I think the pieces should be usable:
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3883/14603961605_a07b1eb66f_c.jpg

For the hood light I'll be airbrushing a light coat of red on the non-exposed sides to give it the proper tint. The targeting lens will get a light coat of white across the back (and possibly the front) and black acrylic painted into the etched portion (can't wait till I get home on Friday).

I'm very excited to have gotten the prop to this point, it's starting to look like the real thing ;)

Stay tuned...

As post ten, I have a question, and that question asks how to de-gas resin.
ANY​ resin.
I may want to duplicate this myself, on my own.
 
Re: Star Trek TNG First Contact Type III Phaser Rifle - On the Final Lap!

As post ten, I have a question, and that question asks how to de-gas resin.
ANY​ resin.
I may want to duplicate this myself, on my own.

There are several threads on this site about molding and casting bubble-free clear parts. But the basic gist of it is that you'll want to use a vacuum chamber and/or a pressure pot to manipulate air pressure to reduce bubbles that are formed when the resin is mixed.

A vacuum chamber allows the bubbles to expand and pop out of the resin, so when the resin is returned to ambient air pressure there are fewer or hopefully no bubbles. A pressure pot increases the atmospheric pressure thus squeezing the bubbles until they are very small, thus reducing the number of apparent bubbles.

The success of both of these processes depends on the cure time of your resin and the amount of vacuum or pressure one can achieve in your vessels. A longer cure time is usually preferable.
If your resin kicks off while the bubbles are still expanding in your vacuum chamber - Fail.
If the resin cures before you can get your pressure pot up to pressure - Fail also.

Some folks like to use both processes, in which case a longer cure time is a necessity.

So try a search on this site for more info. There are some very experienced folks around here.
 
This second of all posts makes one thing perfectly clear:
The rifle thus artificed is the Three Bravo, which is NOT what is sought. The one sought is the Three ALPHA, shown in the image affixed.
http://www.weaponreplica.com/wp-con...k_First_Contact_Phaser_Rifle_Prop_Replica.jpg
Can THAT be constructed, and employed for templating kits, as well? If so, then IT will be sought, and top price will be paid. Have contacted at least one buyer who will then be interested; HE will use PayPal to get it using funds provided to him to that end, as alas, PayPal is no option here.

What does this post even mean?
 
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It refers, for the benefit of Kokanee, to the specific TYPES of rifles.

- - - Updated - - -

Will do what Duncanator suggested.

--- Updated ---

Where did you find the drawing you used to construct your prototype templates?

--- Updated ---

This to martinr1000:
From where had YOU downloaded the blueprints for this rifle?

--- Updated ---

What about polycarbonate, aka "Lexan?" Will that work?

--- Updated ---

And is there NO way to DEFEAT the automatic shut-off safety feature???
I INSIST upon knowing, for I myself will build a vacuformer to duplicate this.
 
Re: Star Trek TNG First Contact Type III Phaser Rifle

What if you raised the buck on 1/4" blocks, so that the form under-cuts rather than flares?
That will be the approach I intend to use.

Glad I could help
wink.png
It seems to be working out so far.


I picked up some plumbers putty for this build, but will definitely try the CA route in the future.

Ok, I'm officially at the point where I'm sick of this build. But it happens to the best of us, the cure is to solider on.

I did a little more on the electronics and think I have everything locked in. Battery holder wired in and attached:
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7440/13944498190_e426913ba5_c.jpg

Temporary switch to operate the lights
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7407/14107953136_d342cb05e8_c.jpg

Red LED wired to the trigger and added to the nose of the gun
https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2933/14107953836_a3a2a55de3_c.jpg

Test of the lights
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7322/14107954476_5f1a371d0d_c.jpg

Not a good picture, but the red LED on
https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2916/13944455530_a7a279e881_c.jpg

Not sure what my next step is, either clean up the two pieces so the edges lock, or build out the control panel with display and touch buttons.

Stay tuned...

My version of this will use a size D power cell, and a RECHARGABLE one at that.

So, mixed bag on the molding and casting activity. The molds came out great, nice and smooth with no bubbles.

My first (and only castings so far) have a lot of bubbles -I should have degassed the resin.

Here's how they came out:
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5582/14624020923_3a716f8ded_c.jpg

Fortunately, for this prop, the resin does not need to be clear. A little time with some fine-grain sandpaper and I think the pieces should be usable:
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3883/14603961605_a07b1eb66f_c.jpg

For the hood light I'll be airbrushing a light coat of red on the non-exposed sides to give it the proper tint. The targeting lens will get a light coat of white across the back (and possibly the front) and black acrylic painted into the etched portion (can't wait till I get home on Friday).

I'm very excited to have gotten the prop to this point, it's starting to look like the real thing
wink.png


Stay tuned...

There's where Lexan polycarbonate will DEFINITELY be employed in mine.
 
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Can't believe I missed this whole thread. It's a thing of beauty,and the fact you can use it to make others is outstanding. I should get my head out of my bucket more often!
 
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