MR Westar mold experiment

Maybe I'll be the millionth customer or something and a pair will magically arrive with my gauntlet order? Hey, can't blame a brother for trying. And what's wrong with Rubies Westars? I like mine, nothing says "The Real Deal" like thin, plastic holsters...

:cheers
 
Glad you guys still like them even when they're ugly black. The coat of SEM's satin black helped smooth out the blaster for the Rn'B coat. I'm wondering if it's best to give them a base coat of SEM's silver metallic instead of black, so that's what shows when the Rn'B rubs/scratches off.

Nothing's wrong with Rubies. I just prefer a different finish on a pair of rubber blasters when other finishes are possible.:)

Here's a few pics of a finished blaster with brass pins and stainless steel allen buttons. The barrel's gold accents were hand painted using Dupli-Color gold metallic. The barrel is Rn'B'd. The handle was first painted the darker color, and then the trigger and base where taped off and painted with Sem's silver metallic.

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Fantastic looking blasters Cruiser.

What will be the options on these? Will you be doing some already painted?

Cheers

Tony
 
The after-casting labor time is so much right now that I'd have to charge about $350 shipped for a pair similar to the one seen in the pics. Today I spent about 3 hours just getting the pulls to the all black stage. Add another 1-2 for the final painting and weathering...and it starts to add up. Not to mention the rubber material is expensive, and it takes almost a half gallon just to pull a single pair of blasters. At this point, I'm not sure how successful a run would take off because this project went from inexpensive to expensive with the use of rubber. It's really up to you guys if there is an interest in these, but the lowest starting point would have to be around $275 shipped for a black pair. I think a lot of members here would enjoy the project of finishing these blasters themselves and/or converting them for metal accents...but I may be wrong.

Being made of Hyperfirm rubber, they're very practicle and durable blasters, and having a pair of rubber Westars is way cool. However, there's only so much I can ask of members here when it comes to laying down $$ for props.

I really don't know at this point. The thought had occured to me to make a few more blaster molds so that I could offer inexpensive resin blasters ($100-$125) as well. But I'm just not sure.

You guys tell me. :confused
 
Cruzer, I think that you should make a run with Hyper, and (if you can) make an interest list (not a run) for the resin ones, so you can make the resin whenever you want, and 1 or 2 runs with Hyper.

It's just my opinion, you're the maker ;)

For me the prices are really fair.
 
Those are seriously hot blasters :)

Is there any similar material you could use that would be cheaper? Maybe not quite as good, but still better than resin?
 
I do not see what is wrong with $300 for a pair. Seeing how much it cost you to make just the mold and Hyperfirm rubber, $300 seems fair to me.
 
I do not see what is wrong with $300 for a pair. Seeing how much it cost you to make just the mold and Hyperfirm rubber, $300 seems fair to me.

I have to agree. That casting rubber is expensive, but worth every penny in the long run. For two of the same blasters, thats not that bad at all.
 
It'd be some time before I could afford the $300 cost of the Hyperfirm style rubber blasters, but to me it's well worth it.

You can definitely put me down for a set of the rubber ones, in black, ready to be modified with the metal accents. (y)

I can finish them myself. ;)




For those of you that can't seem to justify the cost of the rubber blasters, think of it this way...

1. If and when an actual set of MRs comes up for grabs, they tend to START at $800. ( that's three times the price of Cruzers rubber ones )

2. If and when a set of resin blasters comes up for grabs, they tend to sell for over $120 per blaster and they're a ton of work to get them assembled! Not to mention that there's always the risk of some fan and/or kid grabbing your blaster and it somehow dropping/falling to the floor and shattering to bits.

So... isn't the $300 worth the piece of mind that your blasters will be safe, and that if and when they are ever mis-handled or un-knowingly taken out of your holsters and dropped, that they'll survive unscathed and still be ready to troop another day?

It is to me!! ;)
 
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Those are seriously hot blasters :)

Is there any similar material you could use that would be cheaper? Maybe not quite as good, but still better than resin?
The only other alternative that I know of is the Flex-it foam 25 stuff from smooth-on, but there's no way I'd use that stuff because the paint finish wouldn't hold up at all with all the handling...it's just too soft. But in reality, there is nothing better than Hyperfirm material for a solid rubber blaster that's going to last forever! It's the best, and I wouldn't want to make these in any lessor material.

Here are a few more pics outside. Notice the small bubbling that randomly occures in the surface, as well as an unavoidable seam line that comes with any rubber blaster. It all adds to the weathering in my opinion, and the pros of being made of rubber outweight the few cons. However, my rubber casting skills improve with each try and someday I'll make a blaster with absolutely no blemishes!:wacko

Instead of the Sem's satin black, the next pulls will get a base coat of Sem's silver metallic to see how it works with the Rn'B.(y)

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Dude, I have to say, those look pretty darn hot in black. With the gold accenting like that.....

Just for fun, could you upload a pic of a full black one with gold accenting including the handle in black?
...if it's not too much trouble :)

I'd be up for two pairs most likely! Wow those look amazing!
 
Well, I am in for a pair of rubber blasters. No worries about a broken resin blaster or a scratched up set of MR blasters. Definately worth it in my opinion. (y)8)
 
They look awesome! I actually like them a lot in black. I'll check back in from time to time to see if you're doing runs.
 
Cruzer, as always, awesome work! I am totally down for 275-300 clams for the professial work that Cruzer supplies. Ive never had a second guess when it came to his holsters/girth belt guidance/backplate (hopefully shins?) :lol: Keep it up!:cheers
 
The MIGHTY KATUA has spoken!:lol: So therefore...

It sounds like there is plenty of interest still. I'll get an interest/run thread going by tomorrow noon (Pacific) and I'll start ordering the materials once a few paid orders have come in. I have a few gauntlet orders I need to finish up this week, so waiting on the materials will give me some time to take care of my other obligations.

I'll spend a little time tonight figuring out finish & metal accent options, so that people have a few different price options.(y)

DarkeSword2020, the pics I posted are the only ones I have.

Rupidupe, your right, different finishes would be very cool for custom suits or one-offs.
 
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