Darktrooper Progress Thread 8MAR2011: Getting back to it

Early congrats on Graduation man!! Can't wait to see how this comes out when you get back at it.

-Troy
 
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Hey this is looking great! Focus on graduation. I graduate in two days! Woot! Will they let you march in gear? Ha ha that would be awkward. Good luck!
 
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I love it and want one!

A Darktrooper? I actually have recieved a few requests for more info when its completed, for possible copies. lol, one said he would never fit in it, but would want one just for display!

Thanks guys for staying patient with me on this, Im trying to do as much as I can to get further and further. Ive been really trying to form a team or a group of people to help me out, but I cant find anyone really reliable, or even able to come down to help out. I got my brother interested, but hes not really a star wars fan, let alone prop building/costuming, but he said he might help out during the summer. ThisisMyWorld im trying to have him help me out, but hes busy this summer, but I think I can run a good operation once I move up to tallahasse for college.

I think if I had somethin like that going, we could really speed up the project. The team working idea was motivated after learning how the RC armor was made. I honestly can say its very ovewhelming doing this, and I would prefer help on this. I cant really pay anyone for any work or help, but it may payoff in the longrun if I can do this right.

Anyways, thanks for keeping me motivated for this project, its like runnign a really long mile, it sucks running it, but once you cross that finish line, you feel better then anything.

-tubachris
 
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Thanks Tbone, those are alot more ref pics that I could have found for the dark forces darktrooper. Where did you find them though? I am actually doing the battlefront darktrooper, but I am planning on doing a dark forces darktrooper sometime after. Thanks!

-tubachris


The pics were on Star Wars Miniatures cards and the figures are from Star Wars Miniatures.
 
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Find a good outlet yet? most garages have bigger breakers if you have one I'd be all about taking it over. When I get home I'll be taking my moms over till I get my own :lol:
 
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Find a good outlet yet? most garages have bigger breakers if you have one I'd be all about taking it over. When I get home I'll be taking my moms over till I get my own :lol:


Hey,

I havent gotten around yet to trying to find the outlet. I can say for a fact that there are several 20 amp breakers in my house. Tomorrow is my last day of high school for good, and on thursday, my plans are to first sleep in until noon, eat at chipolte, and then work on the oven. I still need to get a 20 amp plug before I can attempt pluggin it in. Me and m bro are also in the works of planning a huge 4th of july party, I.E. revamping our backyard, with new light fixtures, put tile on the patio, fix up the grass, build a bar and even a tiki hut! My only concern is where will I be able to work after all that is done?


-tubachris
 
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My only advise for the patio is to check the weather before hand. I told that to my mom before she went ahead and started and half way thru she got rained out, and yeah the tile job was ruined
 
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My only advise for the patio is to check the weather before hand. I told that to my mom before she went ahead and started and half way thru she got rained out, and yeah the tile job was ruined


Thanks for the advise, kinda funny, we just had our roof re-done, and as soon as they finished, it started pouring, and hasnt stop since, for a few days now.


Anyways, Im sooooooo close, the only thing thats keeping me from finishing this oven is an extension cord, I cant reach the proper outlet yet lol. As soon as its up and running, Im casting that sucker!!

Also, Im gonna try to get some more work done on the jet pack as well.

-tubachris
 
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AH HA! IT WORKS!!!!

Its actually working, all the coils getting hot, but not glowing, or over heating. I did some voltage readings, and power is going through everything.

Im in shock really, lol, its hard to believe I can actually move on now

-tubachris
 
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Well, today was a very good day. The oven works after all this trial and error. I really appreciate everyones help and most of all, being patient after all this time.

Tonight, just to have a "micronic" celebration and to test it, me and my g/f decided to make some smores..I think they came out pretty good in my oppinion...

smoreoven.jpg

smore.jpg


They were mighty fine.
Something I was concerned with though, is that the center coils were glowing a bit, cant see in the pic. Not all of the coil in the center segment were glowing however. One thing I noticed is that the sections of the coil that were glowing, were not "flashing," but it would glow semi-bright orange, cool down to regular color, and glow again. I was worried because last time, the coils that lit bright orange melted lol. But this seems to stay steady. The trial run lasted about an hour or a little over and reamained constant. It got VERY hot, and the extra cement board cover helped contain it.

Once again, thanks guys for your help. Next step is makin a holding frame and casting!

-tubachris
 
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Great news, Im half-way done with the plastic holding frame, and I purchased a 6.5 HP shop vac. The platen is done, and I tested the suction using a plastic sheet and theres no leaks. Once the frame is done, I can test out the casting!

-tubachris
 
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Bah, so I tested it out tonight, and the machine and everything works great. The only problem is that its my first time doing this EVER. I tried the helmet mold first, but the plastic wasnt evenly heated enough, but got most of the shape. The bottom areas are not formed. Another thing for this mold, im gonna have to use ABS or thicker HIPS. The top of the formed piece was thin enough to squeeze and even crush. So i decided to hold off of the helmet mold until I can figure what to use for it. I put in another sheet, and this time, I learned how to heat the plastic better, by rotating it over a period of time, until the sides and such were soft. This time I wanted to try out the Guant top half and the two hand pieces. BUT due to my stupidity, I never put the larger mold over the vaccum hole, resulting in the center of the plastic to be sucked right into it.

My brother and his friends from college decided to watch me do all this, they thought it was pretty cool, despite the bad casts. lmao, they had a field day with the two bad casts. They thought the helmet cast looked likes Big Foot's head, and wore it. Pics to follow.

I know that people dont like to show their "faliures," but I have to so that everyone knows im workin to get better then before.

-tubachris
 
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Here they are. I apologize that I wasnt able to produce something quality enough the first time. I just need to keep practicing until I get it right.

failedcast1.jpg


failedcast2.jpg


failedcast3.jpg


-tubachris
 
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