PAULH
Well-Known Member
If you're reading this, you've no doubt read TMax's build thread for his AR that lead to his current run. I decided that, rather than write what would essentially be a duplicate of his thread, I'd just document a few bits and pieces as I worked through this project.
On receipt of TMax's stunning AR kit, I've charged straight into building it. For those of you with kits on the way, whether it's the AR or one of the others, be aware, there's lots of sanding and filling to be done to get a great finish. But that's fine; that's what we all expect from a 3D print, and this kit obviously has a lot of parts! The parts are all beautifully printed and the barrel pieces can be done, to a large extent, with a small electric sander. Keep the Dremel locked away though - way too aggressive on the plastic! Otherwise, it's a case of putting aside a lot of time to sand, prime (with high-build primer), sand again, prime again, and so on.
In terms of filling joints and covering blemishes, I found great results using Humbrol Model Filler, and I used Halfords Plastic Filler Primer, and regular grey primer (also Halfords) for a final coat ready for painting. If you're in the UK, those brands will probably mean more to you than if you're elsewhere. Oh, and for joining the main parts together, I used RS Components' Structural Epoxy Adhesive (918-1401).
I wanted to make the weight of this thing proportionate to its size. So, I cut into the mating surfaces of the main parts, leaving enough material around the edge for when I joined the parts together. The supporting structure inside is easily removed with a battery drill.
Then I simply threw in whatever metal parts I had to hand with some adhesive. I added adhesive before, during, and after I added the metal parts so to avoid any annoying rattles on the finished prop.
Moving on, here's where I am as of this afternoon. The next task is to get all of the other parts up to this stage.
There's probably around 30 hours work in this so far.
On receipt of TMax's stunning AR kit, I've charged straight into building it. For those of you with kits on the way, whether it's the AR or one of the others, be aware, there's lots of sanding and filling to be done to get a great finish. But that's fine; that's what we all expect from a 3D print, and this kit obviously has a lot of parts! The parts are all beautifully printed and the barrel pieces can be done, to a large extent, with a small electric sander. Keep the Dremel locked away though - way too aggressive on the plastic! Otherwise, it's a case of putting aside a lot of time to sand, prime (with high-build primer), sand again, prime again, and so on.
In terms of filling joints and covering blemishes, I found great results using Humbrol Model Filler, and I used Halfords Plastic Filler Primer, and regular grey primer (also Halfords) for a final coat ready for painting. If you're in the UK, those brands will probably mean more to you than if you're elsewhere. Oh, and for joining the main parts together, I used RS Components' Structural Epoxy Adhesive (918-1401).
I wanted to make the weight of this thing proportionate to its size. So, I cut into the mating surfaces of the main parts, leaving enough material around the edge for when I joined the parts together. The supporting structure inside is easily removed with a battery drill.
Then I simply threw in whatever metal parts I had to hand with some adhesive. I added adhesive before, during, and after I added the metal parts so to avoid any annoying rattles on the finished prop.
Moving on, here's where I am as of this afternoon. The next task is to get all of the other parts up to this stage.
There's probably around 30 hours work in this so far.