Anakin's Podracer
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A rare glimpse of neatness...
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I gave up on this rescued kit a few times because I did not know how to remove the enamel...
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Thick enamel mess...
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Into the purple swamp you must go...
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Someone removed all the parts from the sprue...I mean who does that? Oh yeah, it’s exactly what I would have done as a youngster...Rules? I don’t need no stinking rules! (then get discouraged and give up) The pod survives the purple swamp, and the enamel paint was successfully stripped...(thanks to tips from my mates)...👍
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These are the parts I will have to replicate...Someday I’d like to be able to scratch build stuff like this...
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Well...here goes!
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Clear goes on top
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Can it really be that easy?
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Add the Milliput and squeeze...
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Squeezed too hard, got some flashing, and the mold distorted
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A little flashing but no big deal...
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Beggar’s Canyon build
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Just like Beggar’s Canyon back home!
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Engines completed, except for some final weathering. I’m having a setback with the pod...decal disaster...stay tuned!
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评论
16 25 January 2020, 05:38
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It's been a real challenge so far...Hard to keep motivated sometimes. Y'all know what I mean...😛
16 May 2020, 17:57
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Wow your project shapes up more and more every time. I have the impression it will be something extraordinary when ready. Keep on motivate yourself!!!
17 May 2020, 19:20
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Decal sheets and bonding spray have arrived...Don't want to screw up the decals on this one, so I'm gonna learn how to print my own duplicates. Then on to the weathering, and try and figure out a way to mount everything to the base. I'm really happy with everything, just wish my progress wasn't so slow 😛
21 May 2020, 21:03
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Thanks! 😄 the Pod decals scare me the most, as the stripes have to meet in the center line of a complex curved shape...🤔
23 May 2020, 20:37
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Engines completed, except for some final weathering. Having a major decal disaster with the pod at the moment... 😠
5 June 2020, 04:46
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Very nice project! The photos of the build and those grimy engines are great, will be following this one for sure.
11 June 2020, 19:21
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I'm in a bit of a slump lately, I've had one disaster after another in painting the pod, and the decals are a nightmare, like pieces of vinyl or something and they don't soften and conform to surfaces...Oh and Pledge, aka Future isn't waterproof, so the water dissolved my nice silver paint. After about 5 more complete paint failures, I'm back to where I was, and sprayed Testors glosscote lacquer, with less than satisfactory results, however with some fine sanding and buffing it should come out nice. In the meantime I'm trying to figure out how to print my own decals. On the plus side, I'm happy with how the engines came out. Thanks for looking! 😄
11 June 2020, 20:50
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This is where I am, the project is now on hold because I am having great difficulties with the decals. I get a kick out of the recommended age level on the box... 😠 🤔 😄
19 June 2020, 02:46
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Those engines are awesome, you did a great job with all those airbrushed sections on the engines, why not airbrush the stripes?
19 June 2020, 06:55
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I have to admit this is me reaching way beyond my skill level... How could anyone anyone mask and airbrush that pattern? If it weren't for the decals, I'd be finished by now. It's into the realm of not fun anymore... A fellow Scalemate has offered to help me with the decals, so I am encouraged...
19 June 2020, 07:14
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i would suggest also to try making the masks for airbrushing.... although it may be complicated, it would look great
if you scan them, maybe me somebody you can work it in the computer, and somebody with a siluette machine can cut them for you?
19 June 2020, 07:24
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If he can't get the decals from the scan you have, let me know, I have a pod in the loft, and I'm fairly sure the decals are intact, so I could do a hi-res scan and photoshop you a sheet to print
19 June 2020, 07:26
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I'm working on a hi-res scan now of my last decal set. I need someone to transform them in to a printable version ... I have already set the bounty of one free kit from my stash to whoever ye be of pure heart...
19 June 2020, 08:09
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Very nice what you did with this kit. I am keen to see the finished scenery.
19 June 2020, 09:17
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i may be able to help you making a printable version. it may be really easy actually (no need to send any bouty, running out of space to hide kits 😄)
19 June 2020, 14:00
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Thanks for your encouragement friends, this has been a struggle from the beginning. No wonder I put this off for years...Chaz, you may be my best hope, since you already have the decals and the know how. Spanjaard, thanks to you too for offering to help. I'll be grateful to get this kit behind me and move on. It has been the Phantom Menace of my life.. 😭
19 June 2020, 20:57
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you will be a happy owner of a nice model when this is over. get me the scan from Chaz, and i will make you the vector graphics that you need to make nice decals, or get mask cut with a cameo siluette
19 June 2020, 21:58
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Thanks Zach! Spanjaard, I sent a new scan at 1200 dpi to Chaz, he's on it.. I'm getting excited again! You guys ROCK!
19 June 2020, 22:45
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I bow to spanjaards decal set, very clean vector, I just couldn't get illustrator to behave with tracing, was about to give up and trace them myself.
24 June 2020, 20:12
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I dug out my old laptop running Windows XP but it could not run Inkscape. (Note to self, get new PC) This project is on hold until I can figure out how to print them. Is it best to use a laser printer?
24 June 2020, 21:32
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should be able to scale the output with Adobe Reader on any windows machine
24 June 2020, 21:40
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Always best to use a laser with laser decal paper, as no sealer is required
24 June 2020, 21:41
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install ubuntu (alongside windows) and then run inkscape in ubuntu (make backup before installing ubuntu, just in case).
well, actually you can download, install on a CD and run from there, without touching the harddrive. install inkscape and try. only remember that in that case, you have to save all in the a different drive, since ubuntu will be gone as soon as you restart
24 June 2020, 21:43
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Oh, so there's decal paper specifically for laser printers? Noted. I'll try Adobe Reader too. I may try to install unbuntu from a flash drive, but my patience is low while frustrations are high at the moment with this project... I gotta get better equipment.
24 June 2020, 21:44
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Nice work on this! I love your Beggar's Canyon backdrop 👍 👍 👍 I got this kit a couple weeks ago, but haven't yet decided whether to build it as the pod racer, or cannibalize it for parts. There are lots of great parts in this kit.
25 July 2020, 11:42
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Thanks Mike! 😄 I appreciate it. I'm trying to learn how to print my own decals, as I've ruined the originals. It's been holding me up for some time now. I've often wondered what ultimately became of Anakin's Podracer... Maybe it got cannibalized by someone and looks a lot different now...Maybe you could make molds of the parts you need, then go ahead and build the original pod. Either way, I'd love to see what you can do with it!
25 July 2020, 21:03
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JD, what was the clear stuff you used to make the mold on this? I have some blue stuff. I'm assuming the clear doesn't stick to the Blue?
29 July 2020, 07:21
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Hi Chaz, It seems that the clear is the same as the blue, not sure why the color difference, maybe it's formulated to not stick to the blue, but maybe it's a visual reminder to keep track of the 2 parts. I think the real reason the two don't stick together is the temperature differential between the 1st and 2nd mold. Another curious thing is the more you knead it, tiny bubbles are introduced that can mess up casting details unless it's very hot when you use it, then using a tool to force it down into the part. For flat, or 1sided parts, I used a piece of glass to push the part into the blue stuff to make a 1 part mold. It takes awhile to cool down, so I have a bowl of cold water nearby. It's lots of trial and error, but easily repeatable. 🙂
29 July 2020, 18:02
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I found the blue stuff easiest to get a good 1 part mold if first I force it into a square frame of Lego, on a ceramic tile. then I re-heated the block out of the lego mold, set the parts inside the leo frame, and push the blue stuff block down into the frame. as the block is already smooth, I got a perfect flat mold without bubbles.
I did discover that it cuts well with a sharp blade when cold, so getting a 2 piece mold is easier.
PS do not put the lego in the boiling water, it melts at a surprisingly low temperature.
29 July 2020, 22:53
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I'd like to see pics of your trials, what will you use to cast with?
As far as casting material, I've tried Milliput, JB weld 2 part epoxies, and 5 min epoxy which is bubble city.
The clay-like epoxies are quite rigid, and you have to squeeze the molds together, but too much and things get distorted. I want to try injecting resin into a 2 part mold next. Oh yeah and btw, don't use Lego knockoffs.. can't get em' apart!
29 July 2020, 23:45
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I experimented with araldite rapid and standard and jb weld steel best results were araldite standard, rock hard in 24 hours and no bubbles. It will also self level as it's workable for 90 minutes. Araldite rapid is ok, but gets bendy from body heat when trying to work it after it's cured. Could be handy in some applications. Jb weld was like rubber for a week, then hard as steel, but lots of bubbles. It's also the worst for levelling.
30 July 2020, 17:08
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I want to give a shout out to Mike Szwarc today dudes.. I received the Podracer decals he sent me out of his personal stash. A hell of a nice guy! 😭
And, what a great talent! You have to check out his post-apocalyptic Mad Max inspired builds! Amazing.. 😳
1 August 2020, 04:42
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Looking great! I really love the detail on the engines, nicely done 👍
24 September 2020, 17:14
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Thanks WhiteGlint! It's been sitting on a shelf collecting dust for some time now, soon it will begin to look like a real desert! I really must return and finish it someday after I complete my Jedi decal training. Only then will the circle be complete
25 September 2020, 03:10