BT-1 the Blastomech

KennyZ

Active Member
I have been working on BT-1 from the Darth Vader and Doctor Aphra comic book series. For those unfamiliar with him here he is threatening R2.
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I started with a basic droid frame.
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Then that ever important giant red eye.
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Legs.
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I am currently skinning the body and dome as well as working on some detail pieces.
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Since BT is a Tarkin Initiative creation I decided to use the logo in his rear PSI. My friend with a laser cut this out for me.
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Yes, the plan is to use this automatic chain driving foam dart gun work via remote. I wanted some hidden weapons too but those may wait until later upgrades.
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Thanks everyone.

So I'm staring at the reference book closely trying to figure out the panels on BT's dome and I realise that his dome is changing from panel to panel. There's even a panel where he has an R2 radar eye with a red lens. I've finally resolved myself to the fact I can do whatever I want and it will be BT. So I started to draw and cut out what I thought would be an interesting panel layout. The top layer is clipped on. I haven't cut the two halves to line up yet. You can see what I mean in the second photo.


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BT's angry eyes have been perfected. The soul patch has to go though.
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I finally attached the outer dome skin. I still need to trim the top and blunt the "point" on the top of the dome. Just a few more finishing touches and I can start filling and sanding. BB-8 was helping me hold down the lid as the glue dried.
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The poles will be for a removable rocket slavo pod.
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I think this is the black I am going to go with for BT's main body color. That maroon will be for the lower utility arm and a couple of other random panels. I haven't chosen the dark grey yet.
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How did I miss this insanity that present before us.

So what did you do today?
Oh I went to work.
What did KennyZ die?
Oh he just started building a badazz astromech with machine guns based on a comic book.

You my friend, are of boss status.
This is aaaawwwwsome!
Robert
 
Thank you but I've been building BT off and on for about a year now. I've only recently been tackling him hard because the editor, writer, and illustrators for the Darth Vader and Doctor Aphra comic runs were super excited to see BT come to life.
 
I've been sanding and filling over the passed week. I still have a lot to do but I'm at that point where I need to apply primer as a guidecoat.

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I also started testing LED designs for that eye. It's hard to photograph correctly. The R2 body belongs to a fellow droid builder.
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I did a little detail work on BT. He's a Tarkin Initiative droid and I wanted to incorporate that logo somewhere. My fellow droid builder suggested the read PSI and cut one on his laser for me.

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I've been testing different things for BT's eye. This is one of those halloween lights. It's 110v but as soon as I can get the correct security bit I am going to take it apart and see if I can adapt or copy it.
 

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I've said in the past that BT wasn't black but the more I looked the more I realized that my idea of making him a dark gunmetal wasn't proper to the comic. I'm glad I found this universal black with metal flake. I think it looks a lot better than what I had in my head. HOWEVER, BT's panels are not gold like the ArtFX figure. I've stared at the comic enough to know he has one blue utility, one red utility, and gray panels with a red panel around the center vents. For a droid that morphs a lot I feel I have to latch onto the few common elements.


I was able to paint a couple of parts this weekend. I used some of K-9's touch up paint for the blue utility arm. I like how it looks and that two of my bots have something in common. I also like how the LDP turned out.
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Then there was sanding...and bondo...and sanding...
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and bondo...and sanding...
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some masking...and prep sanding... (he looks like a Core from Portal 2 here)
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Finally, FINALLY, no more sanding...
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I temporarily propped up the holoprojector to see if I liked the contrast of the pewter rubnbuff vs the black paint.
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I still need a few more layers of clear but the can ran dry on me. I'll have to wait the 48 hour window before applying more but that'll give me time to pick some up.
 
Thanks everyone. Today I found that I prefer the Rustoleum clear over the duplicolor clear. Thankfully they are compatible paints.

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The side pockets are only held in with friction and a bit of folded up paper at the moment.
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Thank you.

I finally built a dome cradle. I need something better for the cushioning. I forgot to buy tennis balls and with Hurricane Nate looming around the stores are all closed.
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I needed the cradle to install this.
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I really like the effect. It's just taped in at the moment. I'll be dismantling the light thrower to put it in properly.


I tested a paint effect I watched on Youtube. Instead of liquid masking I used a tube of silicon. It seemed to work really well.
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