Acrylikhan

Very true. I am trying to have fun with the law though... I am considering making plugs that have a metal loop at the end, that you could put a small ribbon, or streamer on. The streamer/flag/ribbon could have something written on it, like "DISARMED," or your TKID, or maybe emblazoned with your garrison insignias. For Charity walks, maybe a ribbon with teh charity name. If you travel with the gun on your shoulder, it would wave in the air. Corny? Maybe. Just an idea to make it muchj more than a plain old' "this is a toy" plug. Better still, would be support for your detachment...

Thanks guys! I put a coat of primer on the updated scope. Looks good! I think I should be able to get it painted next week, along with the removable muzzle. Here's how I divided the rifle so that it could be disassembled for transport and storage. Section one has a pressed in 1/2" x 13 nut that links up to the threaded rod on the mating end of section 2. I had to hand make an extra long screw using a 1/4" x 20 threaded rod, and some nuts and JB Weld. The mating end on Section 2 is a pressed fit 1/4" x 20 coupling nut. The front of section three is inset about an inch and a half. The custom screw will be hidden by the muzzle piece, which fits into the inset. It will be held in place with a 1/4" metal dowel pin and a rare earth magnet. To make things much more complicated, Illinois law requires that all toy and non-functioning guns be outfitted with a bright orange plug on the business end. Other wise you're looking at a $500 fine, and your gun will be confiscated and destroyed. I will be making a plug that will fit into the barrel and will be held in place by a rare earth magnet. That way I can remove it for pictures, and the like. I did the same for my carbine, and it's been wonderful. I will try (again) to get the rifle assembled at work tomorrow so you can see the work in progress as one full piece, shown in scale with me. It's been a busy week at work again, so play time has been limited to my ten minute breaks. I think after 12 hours at work... you'd want to go home too.

Excellent! And ooooo!!! I see some have "Kashyyyk Trooper" under there "Member" tag!

I'll try my best to help you out. I'm not too sure which products are available in Great Britain. But I'll see what I can do.

Still cranking on the rifle. Now it the time to start working on the stock. First step, get some good ol' plastic, and cut it to resemble the shape of the stock, except a little smaller. Doesn't have to be too perfect. That's what bondo is for. The drawings I have calls for the stock to be at least 1 inch at it's thinnest, and 2 inches at its thickest. I will going with 1-3/4th inch thickness. I layered both sides like a cake, and then used ABS glue to set them in place. I also got the back off the casing completed and glued in place too. Let the mixing begin! I mixed up a large quantity of bondo, and used a wallpaper tool to slather it on. Don't forget the butte. It took about two rounds, and it went on very quickly. I let it sit overnight for maximum cure. Then mechanical sanding! Typically there will always be some hidden canyons and air pockets. You can thin bondo down to get it to go on a little smoother, and there are body filler projects that you can pour that cost a little more. Honestly, in my experience, there is always some little flaw that needs patching when applying this amount, even the more expensive stuff. I don't mind it at all. Edges are always the toughest to preserve. We'll fill those in and wait. Patching round 2! Not bad at all. I was expecting more holes, but I got lucky. The edges got filled along with the pockets. I will smooth this side out with sandpaper rolled onto a steel rod to try to keep the edges crisp. If that doesn't work... there are other methods. Side two isn't too shabby either. Time for some curing, so we'll leave this for tomorrow. If I've got some time, I'll try to do more sanding and shaping into the final profile. There's some other details I need to sort out.. Getting closer. Still a few weeks away. My goal date for completion is the first week of March. If things don't get too chaotic, I might be able to make it. More to come... as always.

I did a mock assembly (no picture, sorry!) and the gun is measuring just about 56 inches long. I'm about 75" tall. This is a "frank scale" gun! Another fun fact my friends have thrown at me about the DC-15L - It basically is the MG-34 except that the mid section and the muzzle are UPSIDE - DOWN. Whether it was intentional, or a mistake by the digital artists... who knows. The only think I though was weird was the scope had a "stowed" position. I think the "greeblie" on the top would be the bi-pod, which would be on the bottom for easy deploy. Otherwise you would have to do a half-twist on 2/3rds of the gun to use the bi-pod and the scope. I thought it was an interesting point, and the gun doesn't look bad with the midsection and muzzle reversed. I wish I had seen that, but that's what I got my buddies for. I have another modification in the works: I will be pressing in a 1/2" x 13 nut into the gun section to link up with the mid-sections' counterpart. Another idea my buddies floated to me. more to come.

Adding some overlooked details. I hate when that happens. A major one on the clip and a minor one on the barrel. Coming together nicely. I upgraded the bolt from a thin 1/4" x 20 up to a 1/2" x 13. Fat and sturdy. Reaming the holes on the midsection and the handle, then tapping them was not easy. Another detail, the center ring clips for holding the sight to the gun Acrylic is all you need. And then bonded the stock to the grip on the gun. Maybe some more work tomorrow.

I checked it out this morning... I've got more gap filling to do. Sheesh... primer brings out the best, and worst sometimes. I guess painting will have to wait another week!

Like an alien cocoon, the mid-section of the DC-15L hangs in my paint booth, with a fresh coat of primer. Flaws and all... minor repairs, and alteration to be made. Then a nice coat of black.

Very nice! Well keep watchin' for updates!

I really don't care about the licensing/endorsement from Lucas... because that in of it self is pointless. There's been licensed stuff that looks like s@#$. What I am talking about is GG reputation of boasting that they digitally scan actors in costume, and use digital files from CGI generated characters to make their products. Of course there is a degree of error in scanning, and artistic license taken into account when cleaning the scan in the computer, and then the pattern finishing stages after the SLA is built. If it's true they received raw files of the CGI character to make this statue, then there's a good chance this would be a good reference to augment the photos. But at the end of the day, it all comes down to artistic license, and personal taste. The gun looks too small... and the helmet shouldn't have the vents in the back...

Wow! Very very nice! If this is straight from Lucas' digital files, then this would be a great reference! The glove greeble is way different!

Awesome!

Thanks! It's moving slow.... but it's getting there....

Oh, yeaaaa..... Slice and dice, an' mill her out. I can't wait to see more pictures!

I would go SLA, Objet, or SLF. That way you don't have to worry about vibration when your cutter is getting down to the bottom, and it's pretty accurate. I think the build time would be faster with SLA.

Wow... looking back at the ref images, I never realized that the chin triangle was flat with the snout, and not angle back toward the neck. Will you be adding the rib detail in the brow area above the visor? I think your helmet will fit my big melon!

Different tools, but it all still takes hard work, Skip! I've been on both sides of the fence, construction in CAD to CNC milling, and freehand sculpting. Both take a lot of hard work, patience and attention to detail.

Sweet!

Actually, the build is going quite quite well! I am in the middle of bondoing, patching seams and construction lines, and mistakes. After the new year I should be ready for paint.

True! Depending on fit, I may try to do the back armor over lap sans clasp. Maybe some elastic to keep it in place, and help it shift when bending over. But, we'll see. The helmet, roto-cast urethane, or vacuform put together?

Make that another one interested! Are these going to be a gray color - pre-dyed? Just askin', cuz I know that the cummer looks different colors in certain photos. The reference images it look sa medium gray, the movie varies from OD green to light gray. The velcro would be a nice touch with those nice foam ammo pouches from Strofmos!

Great work there, Chad!

That green foam looks awfully familiar.... 10-lb polyurethane sculpting foam? It looks like what I used for my scout holster buck.