Darktrooper Progress Thread 8MAR2011: Getting back to it

[jarodpenn]

A friend of mine did the opposite. He had a pretty small car and supercharged the air intake with parts from a hand held Dirt Devil. He's crazy like that.

 

[GCNgamer128]

When will you get working on some bucks again?

 

[tubachris85x]

When will you get working on some bucks again?

As soon as I get a new belt sander. However, since I will have access to a CNC mill soon, Im considering constructing bucks through this if I have.

 

[tubachris85x]

I ain't done here, gettin a belt sander tomorrow

 

[Jodo Kast 3]

Chris,

Can`t wait to see more progress on this project..

 

[tubachris85x]

This show is back on the road...

-tubachris

 

[Callista]

This is such a great project, im sure everyone on TDH have looked at this thread atleast once (or every couple of days.....) ....and every time there is something else really great you are doing for your trooper. All I can say is keep going, the progress so far is great....and the finishd thing will be mindblowing!!!!

:cheers

 

[corby]

YAY!!!!!!!

 

[CSMacLaren]

Looking great, Tubie! Keep up the good work!

 

[tubachris85x]

Alright...

The scoop: I bought that belt sander on my own just before my B-day.
I got "tipped off" by my GF that my parents wanted to get me one. So I did not even want to use it until I knew. Turns out they did, however, they had to mail order it for me (long story) Regardless, I had to return the one pictured above (got my $65 bucks back ) and I finally got the new one the other day in the mail. So yesterday, I went out, got some more sanding paper and some more "no parking" signs and Im going to start today!

Ive been slackin too long on this, and I apologize to those who are eager to see this finished. I hear of people talking of this project, and I feel worse for having to explain my laziness...

I got several projects going on at the same time, even though I know I shouldnt:

-AT-AT Driver suit (so I can get into the 501st already!)

-Halo 3 master chief armor (working with a buddy)

-Cookimongoloid's ebay bought crappy recasted boba mystery bucket (wont start that for awhile though)

Just rambling on, but now, Im going to work! (for serious this time)

-tubachris

 

[tubachris85x]

BTW-there will be updates later on the jump jet pack

 

[ItsThatGuy]

Looking foward to seeing your progress and updates!

 

[Hagen Nor ak]

It's been said countless times already Chris, but a project of this size takes time. SO we can be patient as long as you keep working on it. You deside to give up on it though and there might be a bunch of mando's at your door to "MOTIVATE" you to continue

Oh and I think it should be a writen/unwritten rule that any more progress pic's have to be taken with you in your DSC uniform ... yeah know for -censored- and giggles

Have a good one Chris:cheers

Hagen

 

[tubachris85x]

It's been said countless times already Chris, but a project of this size takes time. SO we can be patient as long as you keep working on it. You deside to give up on it though and there might be a bunch of mando's at your door to "MOTIVATE" you to continue

Oh and I think it should be a writen/unwritten rule that any more progress pic's have to be taken with you in your DSC uniform ... yeah know for -censored- and giggles

Have a good one Chris:cheers

Hagen

LOL, With the amount of mando's out there, I might not want to consider giving up on this armor. As for the DSC uniform.......*sigh* lets just say I tend to accidentally break up college parties in it....thanks man, I think maybe one year I'll go as that imperial officer in Dark Forces whos in charge of the darktrooper porject lol, I'll need to get my hair all grey.

Anyways, Ive been sitting here all day working on the JP, I got alot done, started building the main box, and I put together all the walls now, so its getting there. I need to build an internal support frame as well so the thing dosnt fall apart under its weight. I'll post some pics later on when Im done for the night.

-tubachris

 

[tubachris85x]

Okay, updates just like I promised..

I only worked on the JJP today, and got alot more done, may not look like much, but it takes awhile. I managed to get all the outside walls constructed, the only things left to add are the thrusters and the backing.

I started building the main box on the face of it, the screens I have for reference are never clear enough for me to actuall see what it really looks like, so Im doing my best to represent it here.

So here it is now, getting closer, Im goin to have to repaint the grey on the whole thing, then add some clear coat for protection. I am not goin to close the back yet, because I still need to create a harness and or method of attachment. Im considering just taking some long bolts and attaching it to the back plate once thats created, but I will see when that time comes.

The edges as you see do not line up perfectly, keep in mind that Im goin to be doing a bondo run down of all these areas before I paint it up

-tubachris

 

[Zman12]

Looks really nice.

For braceing do you think you could use that expanding foam? Used in little doses so it dosn't bulg out the parts and has room to expand.

 

[tubachris85x]

Looks really nice.

For braceing do you think you could use that expanding foam? Used in little doses so it dosn't bulg out the parts and has room to expand.

Its a good idea, but Ive never used the stuff, and Ive heard horror stories from people using it. I'd be afraid of it causing the jp to bulge out in all directions and what not. I think Im just going to stick with an internal skeleton type thing, with strips of styrene running the length, horizontally from top to bottom.

Im going to try to knock as much more out from this later today. I want to finish the main box, and paint it. Im not goin to attach it however, until I repaint the main body again. The next issue, is creating the thruster body's. Im not totally sure how I am goin to do this yet, but Im thinkin lol

-tubachris

 

[Zman12]

Its a good idea, but Ive never used the stuff, and Ive heard horror stories from people using it. I'd be afraid of it causing the jp to bulge out in all directions and what not.

That is why you do it a small ammount at a time. I have seen chest moulds made with ductape useing something similar. I understood the person found that if you only did a little filling at a time then you didn't have the problem of it expanding and forceing the sides out it just expanded where it had the room already, which was up and out.

 

[tubachris85x]

Well, I originall was going to try to get this done today, based on my previous plans. However, I accidentally stumbled across an new source of reference, in which, it clearly shows the details that were previously hidden before in my screen shots. Because of this, its going to take a bit longer to replicate these details, nothing extravagant, but something I could not get done today.
I'll see what I can get done tomorrow

-tubachris

 

[Stormrider]

I would go buy a 4 x 8 sheet of the orange styrofoam from a home improvement store, and cut that into shapes that support the structure.

Its very light, VERY VERY strong. You can stand on it and not put a dent in it, a 1 x 1 foot sheet you probably coudlnt break with your hand strength.

You could cut sections, and glue it in. It would be a rock.

You could almost fill the entire thing with pieces of it, and only gain a pound or two to its total weight.

Its very easy to shape. You can cut it on a scroll saw, and sand it.

Your belt sander would shape it like butter.

I use a ghetto sander a lot in my work to flatten things (The concrete and the curb and some scraping) and you wouldnt believe how easy it is to shape.

Just a thought. Looks pretty cool man.
stormrider