Just a question about Westar blasters limited availability

I will offer up any molding and making time and skills on this project. Cruzer and Alan, feel free to pm me. I am definitely down.

BUMP for update:

I work as an art director for an import company, we deal with a machine shop here in town. I am going to talk with them later this week or early next week. I will post an update right after that meeting.

Hi All,
Fairly new to TDH and don’t post often but read loads.

However I am no stranger to making props and have started making an accurate Westar sculpt for my Jango WIP.
As an example of my work I made these for my garrison.
http://outpost42.dr-maul.com/forums/index.php?act=ST&f=8&t=1189&st=0

I actually own all of the blasters you mentioned above.
MR’s
Resin set
Rubies set
And an Unknown resin set (lot like the first set but with subtle differences)

I have actually started work on a sculpt and molds for these, by taking a bit from each.

Let me explain.
I do not want to recast my MR’s as it not a challenge for me and I want something I can call my own.

I have taken measurements from all of the above and obviously the MR’s are the accurate ones
Here is the comparison

MR’s = Perfect
Rubies = close to accurate handle size, though a little wide, Barrel diameter wrong, barrel length to short, receiver end totally wrong.
Resin blasters= Handle to large, too wide (just way off), barrel close in length and diameter, recess in barrel to long, receiver end close but not exact.

What I have started doing is this.
I dremelled off the rubies handle, took a few mm of each side and glued them together, took the foot off (I call it the pistol whip butt), filled with bondo and modeling puttied over screw holes etc to make them smooth.

I have started the barrel and I am just working out the best method to make a kit that is easy to put together and accurate, thinking of 2 method, a hollow aluminum barrel with a keyed resin insert to attach the barrel ends too or a solid resin barrel like the resin kits, but more accurate.
If anything the only things I will take from the MR’s as far as casting goes will be the barrel ends and pistol whip foot.

I will get some photos for anyone interested, I was only planning on doing 1 set but if there is interest then I may do more.

Regards Deadalus

CGClone said:

BUMP for update:

I work as an art director for an import company, we deal with a machine shop here in town. I am going to talk with them later this week or early next week. I will post an update right after that meeting.

Click to expand...

what parts were you thinking of doing in machined aluminum?

Deadalus, that sounds promising, only problem is, you say you'll be casting the flash supressor and energy cell (the two ends of the barrel) Now, those being a different material from the barrel, the whole thing will have to be sprayed anyway, losing the jaw-dropping metal finish that the MRs have. That is, unless you can cast them in some kind of metallic finish resin, like FP's jango lids.

NOITAIDAR said:

Deadalus, that sounds promising, only problem is, you say you'll be casting the flash supressor and energy cell (the two ends of the barrel) Now, those being a different material from the barrel, the whole thing will have to be sprayed anyway, losing the jaw-dropping metal finish that the MRs have. That is, unless you can cast them in some kind of metallic finish resin, like FP's jango lids.

Click to expand...

Thanks, i can never remember the names of those parts

That was one part of the Idea, using a cold cast metallic resin.
However, the only true way to get an accurate finish would be to machine them. and sadly i dont have access to that sort of equipment anymore.

still working on what would be the best solution for the barrel and barrel ends.
Handle is sorted tho.

the cold cast can be polished up. I saw how nice FP's helmet looked with just a quick steel wool buffing, so I believe that would be acceptable for the blasters, but it'd take some doing to get the pipe barrel section to look the same. it'd mean using alu pipe, rather than shinier chrome, and buffing the same way. It'll look metal, but not quite as shiny as the chromed MRs. I believe this is acceptable

I would be all over resin copies of the MRs, OR a kit with different materials in different parts.

I would think that with all-resin blasters you can still achieve different metal lusters using different types of paint... say, like Testors buffing metallizer for one area, with a Krylon paint somewhere else, and maybe some Rub'n'buff elsewhere. Know what I mean?

Even if what I'm saying is not possible, I'd still pay to see some MR recasts done.

CGClone said:

BUMP for update:

I work as an art director for an import company, we deal with a machine shop here in town. I am going to talk with them later this week or early next week. I will post an update right after that meeting.

Click to expand...

Sorry it has taken near 2 months to get this rolling. I am planning my wedding as well LOL...

I am not trying to compete with tubachris' thread, I am just following through on what I started.

I have been given permission from Alan,(wizardofflight) to use his templates. The machinist has them and it working on the prototype for me. He is tracking his hours and material cost to help determine a price.

I should know more next week on where we stand as far as delivery and cost.

If this proves to be a conflict with tubachris, I will back this down. Again, I am just following through with what I started. No offense or confusion meant.

CGClone said:

Sorry it has taken near 2 months to get this rolling. I am planning my wedding as well LOL...

I am not trying to compete with tubachris' thread, I am just following through on what I started.

I have been given permission from Alan,(wizardofflight) to use his templates. The machinist has them and it working on the prototype for me. He is tracking his hours and material cost to help determine a price.

I should know more next week on where we stand as far as delivery and cost.

If this proves to be a conflict with tubachris, I will back this down. Again, I am just following through with what I started. No offense or confusion meant.

Click to expand...

I dont want you to get the impression that Im trying to compete with anyone on this project, and Im not trying to make a buck either, I just want to help those who dont have a decent set, to be able to get something more quality then a cheap resin or rubies blasters.

By all means, go ahead, it seems your making better progress on this then I am, and if yours goes through, I might just let you take over competly, only because the guy I have is not really working out as well as I had hoped for.

But please do not ever think that your ever in competition with me for anything, Im a better person then that

-tubachris

Thanks for chiming in Chris, I appreciate that and the spirit.

Thats what we are all about!

I would definitely be interested in a pair of cast Westars.

definately interested. If there is a list, put me on it. I don't want to miss a day and come back to find a full run list.

For my new Jango the pistols, the girthbelt and the gloves are for me the most difficult to find.
So if there is a list in the making, I would like to be on in............