Building a ESB/Hoth binoc from Odiwans kit

What kit? This kit: the RPF :D



Due to the first shown and extremly nice build binocs from that kit on the RPF, i felt the urge to work on mine, too. :D And i decided to machine some upgrade parts first.

I made some of the masters to cast parts, one of them was the inner parts for the eye-pieces. Markus included the upper part of them within the printed rings before making his mold - that looks nice, but now i had to modify mine to install alu parts. When working them thinner they loose stability, so i needed a kind of support device to clamp them securely for machining.

I decided to use some Delrin to make that device - drilling 8 holes on a rotary-table, then turning it out, matching the outline of the upper eye-pieces.

ESBBinocparts001_zpsb20448ec.gif



Now the part can be pushed in:

ESBBinocparts003_zpsd51a7c50.gif


ESBBinocparts002_zpsf4ad5eb1.gif



That way it´s able to chuck them up without deforming the parts. It enables me to lathe the inner details out.

ESBBinocparts006_zpsb04204cd.gif


ESBBinocparts005_zpsfcda65f3.gif



Both done:

ESBBinocparts007_zps001acafe.gif



Additional i decided to make me some little brass parts - turning 6mm stock down to 5mm on one end and 3mm on the other end, then threading the smaller side:

ESBBinocparts008_zpsacb9474b.gif



The new eye-pieces - outer rings in their new shape, new alu parts, and the inner alu tube that will hold the lenses.

ESBBinocparts013_zpse9d65fa2.gif



This is the part that´s needed for the small on/of switch

ESBBinocparts015_zps6eb3c88f.gif



Here you see what the earlier mentioned small brass parts are for - as i found no useable brass bolts with that special shape, to mount the shield, i made some. Man, these were a lot of work for so few and small parts :wacko.

ESBBinocparts021_zps6e692da3.gif



And the clamps for the upper side, the small turret still needs to be drilled out.

ESBBinocparts014_zpsde4905e9.gif



All the parts together:

ESBBinocparts010_zpsbbc76ab7.gif



On the binoc body:

ESBBinocparts022_zps75bb5424.gif


- - - Updated - - -

Maybe you want a explanation why i changed the design of the alu parts for the eye-pieces, away from the parts i originally made.

It´s easy, they were designed and made at that time to fit the lasercut lenses, provided with the kit.

For my upgrade parts i wanted more versatility now, to enable them fitting with cut thin film/plastic discs, thin lenses, thick lenses, ..... you get what i´want. I don´t know how thick the lenses will be that i plan to find and use ...

Due to the inner tube with 22mm dia, and the visible opening of 18mm, you can use any found lens from 18,5 up to 22mm

ESBBinocparts016_zpsa3badda7.gif



Pushing the inner tube higher will hold any lense as thin as decided to use

ESBBinocparts017_zpsfa6dac20.gif



If a thicker lens is used ..... the tube just will not be pushed that high.

ESBBinocparts018_zpsec725de3.gif



With inserted lenses

ESBBinocparts019_zps4d80839b.gif



And this are 2 lenses from my greeblie box. I will not use them as they are to different from each other, not only their thickness but also their curve ....... i just used them to show how extremely different parts could be used .....

ESBBinocparts020_zps18ff10c7.gif
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I found some time to work on this project again. :D

In the lower left corner i found a little detail on the cast (and on the real ones) that i didn´t found on the pics of the screenused. On the pics there seem to be a flat spot only.

But as it looks nice, i left the detail instead of erasing it and filling it up to a flat surface - and just milled a notch for the camshaft part (a dremel could do the same job):

HothBinoc007_zps078ddeff.gif



And a test fit:

HothBinoc009_zps3ef6cbfd.gif



Drilling and tapping the main body:

HothBinoc012_zps84b3fa06.gif



Followed by some minor work on the backplate:

HothBinoc013_zps2c672969.gif



Rounding 2 bolts with a file on the lathe - this can be done with a drilling machine, too. It just might be a little bit less comfortable and more time consuming - but it´s also much less dangerous.

HothBinoc014_zps931dcb44.gif



Then i cemented the on/off switch in (another part of the camshaft) - i used "goo" for that, a selfmade paste from small polystyrene chips and liquid modelglue. When it´s hardened again it´s just as stable as every polystyrene

HothBinoc015_zps76c293bb.gif



Followed by some drilling and tapping to assemble the modified cover with the made brassbolts. Also filled the hole of the threading on the right corner with goo:

HothBinoc017_zpsd8973777.gif


HothBinoc018_zps5c90af41.gif
 
Talking about modifying the hood ......

Mainly i shortened the lower ends of the "legs", around 4-5mm, and rounded the remains again. Then i sanded the upper edges to bigger radius (sanded through the corners and filled them up for that), followed by cutting off the thin part on the back (as it was in conflict with the on/off switch).

HothBinoc019_zps96eeec7b.gif



On the next step i milled/hollowed the inner part of the hoods frame, shaped a new piece (working with the installed on/off) for the one i cut off.
As i was to lazy to go to the garage and get my heatgun, i used a lighter to heat up the PS strip. ;)

HothBinoc020_zpsb1baa47a.gif



At the same step i hollowed the ends, to insert round plastic strips as on the real one:

HothBinoc021_zpsd14a7f2c.gif



Added the round piece to the camshaft:

HothBinoc023_zps0e36371c.gif


HothBinoc024_zpsdfeadeba.gif



And testfitted the parts:

HothBinoc025_zps932c97a7.gif


- - - Updated - - -

And some closeups, for comparision to the pics of the real one.

The right side, major parts i wanted to be seen were the rounded ends, and the brass bolts threading:

HothBinoc026_zps5a45c59a.gif



The left side - again the rounded corner, the brass bolt. And overall, the more fragile looking hollowed underside, when you look inside. If that sentence makes any sense..... :lol:

HothBinoc027_zps696d0bc5.gif



The area of the on/off switch - matching to the original not that bad, i think. :)

HothBinoc028_zps596352e8.gif



And some general shots from the provisoric assembled binoc:

HothBinoc029_zps991786c0.gif


HothBinoc030_zps91b43e7a.gif


HothBinoc031_zps04da6bc2.gif


HothBinoc032_zps3d994231.gif



Off course that´s only the rough build - there will be a lot of work with additional filling, sanding, fitting. :rolleyes

But before the final assembling i need to find a real tubesocket, as i can´t change it after the parts were glued on their places and the seams are filled and sanded. For the feel of real parts, AND because i was to dumb to count to three - i cut the wrong rods for the fit under the hood. :facepalm
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I´m not insane ...... well, maybe a little bit nuts. :wacko

After a small talk with Markus, where he teased me with the fact that my hood has still not the right shape :cry - i got back to work on it.

First i had it in really hot water (not boiling, but as hot as the tap delivered), to soften the resin, then i bend it while it´s hot (and according to my hurt fingers it was still really hot :lol: ) - first the bump in the middle, to get it on the same height as the binoc itself. And after that it got the dent on the outer left edge. After each step i cooled the hot resin part under cold water, to have it keep the new shape.

I did this several times, until i was satisfied. Then the 2 big corners at the top got some more sanding.

Pics are not the correct angle (and the white hood is bad for making pics of it), but i think they are OK for comparision ......?

HothBinoc005_zps565fdfd3.gif


KopievonDSC_5220_zps4d247937.gif



HothBinoc004_zps70fb48a8.gif


IMG_0809_zps97437567.gif
 
Next step - the tube socket.


First i cut the rods from the cast, and cut some lengths of brass tube

HothBinoc001_zps0f1a2380.gif



Then small holes were drilled as a guide for the bigger drill

HothBinoc007_zps69b52102.gif



And after drilling the bigger holes the brass tube pieces were ca-glued into them - you need to be fast while adjusting them. :rolleyes

HothBinoc009_zps70045bcf.gif




Btw. "**** happens" - you never see the bad moments of my builds on the pics. Between the last batch of posts and the todays i glued something on the back of the body cap with CA - not noticing that one of the threaded holes was in the same place. The CA glue runs through the hole, to the not adjusted alu-eye piece with the resin outer rings. It was only luck that i still was on the right side of the knifes edge, so i was able to seperate the messed parts before they got stuck together. They needed some cleaning, but it was no total fiasco. :)

And when i started today to drill the holes in the socket, i didn´t thought about it´s direction when assembled, which tubes were deleted. So i had to fill 2 holes again, after i was just ready with drilling. ;)

But finally:

HothBinoc013_zps2347fa76.gif


HothBinoc011_zps97afb694.gif



Thanks for looking :) - and please, don´t hesitate to mention whatever you think i can improve.
As i want to make this build shine, at least as much as i am able to - to honor Markus great effort for bringing us these kits.
 
I'm no expert in this, but judging by your great work, it looks impressive and close (so far) to the real one! Just keep up the excellent work!
 
This thread is more than 10 years old.

Your message may be considered spam for the following reasons:

  1. This thread hasn't been active in some time. A new post in this thread might not contribute constructively to this discussion after so long.
If you wish to reply despite these issues, check the box below before replying.
Be aware that malicious compliance may result in more severe penalties.
Back
Top