Brute Spiker Version 2

[smick6]

I was thinking about making the kits without functional lights. I could probably mold it and cast it in one piece, making it easier to produce. What do you guys think? Does the kit really need lights? Even if I cast it in two pieces putting in lights will be a pain. See the pics below for front detail. Is it possible to mold all this in one piece? Sean and others I appreciate any input and direction you can point me in.

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[MandoMan531]

im going to vote YES, the kits do need lights. the lights really set it off IMO. or at least the space to put the lights in ourselves, and maybe a little instruction.

looinkg freakin awesome. i know im still definetly inerested.

idnno, maybe somehow you could mold it without the barrel peices and make them so you attach them. might be easier to fit the lights in.

are the barrel lights the only light on the in game spiker? or are there "status" lights on the body of the spiker as well?

 

[smick6]

There are 4 lights on each side as well. The blue parts on the last picture are transparent and filled with leds. The top ones will only light up a small circle at the top of the slit. I will get pics up of that so you can see. Maybe I could do 2 versions. I am still till working out the details. Keeping the front part of barrels of may be a route to go.

 

[smick6]

Here are some pics with the side lights on. Its not a good pic, the camera makes the leds look brighter. Plus some light shines through the unpainted plastic.

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[izzysenyrc]

Thats great, If i wern't a pacifist, (ironic that I like Halo) I would send you death threats to get that

 

[smick6]

No need for threats, just cash.

 

[izzysenyrc]

hahaha but seriously keep up the good work!

pm me about the kit that we are going to force you to make

grrarr

 

[seven]

That is an asweome Spiker!

 

[garth]

You are god, not just a god, or god blessed, you are THE god.

 

[PMS Solstice GI]

No need for threats, just cash.

Exactly. Keep up the good work. I think DIY kits all the way.

 

[falcon NL]

I was thinking about making the kits without functional lights. I could probably mold it and cast it in one piece, making it easier to produce. What do you guys think? Does the kit really need lights? Even if I cast it in two pieces putting in lights will be a pain. See the pics below for front detail. Is it possible to mold all this in one piece? Sean and others I appreciate any input and direction you can point me in.

Well by the looks of it, its would be pretty easy to make a mold from.The only problem i see are the ''barrels'' of the spiker.If you are planning to do a three part mold you could cast the barrels to.

I havened had any experienced with full castings with lights. You could do it, but it would be very tricky..

 

[smick6]

I am really concentrating on getting this one 100 percent done right now. It is being built with molding in mind so some of the parts are removable at this time, like the barrels and front shroud. I need to do more research on the molding part before the finishing touches. I dont think I would attempt to mold it with light in it. (to much work) I was trying to come up with a way to add them after casting. If I cast the front shroud seperatly I think holes could be drilled into it to the side and through the front to insert the lights.
Another issue I am working on now are the arms to hold the blades. On the last one it was bent and cut aluminum but I dont think that will have enough detail for this version. I was thinking of using various materials for the initial creation of them and then casting them on to the front as well but I am not sure how strong that would be. How durable are some of the products you guys have used, would it work? This is one part that is slowing me down.

Those are some of the details I have to work out.

Everybody keeps asking me how much they cost but I have not made a kit, this is the only one I have right now. What would something like that be worth to people? Multiple part castings, real blades (aluminum) and led lighting, ready for paint and assembly.

Any suggestions or idea sharing is always welcomed.

 

[Sigma LS]

Lights and real metal blades with unpainted raw resin parts for the rest would be worth about 125-200 to me depending on the amount of finishing required and overall quality of the pulls (which I think will be high!).

Having holes or nubs marking where you are supposed to drill spaces for the lights seems like the best bet to me.

 

[Spartan137]

Definitely around $125-250. You have managed to make one of those really rare item's that people wouldn't really mind shelling out on something that is smaller than a suit. Hell, I would easily pay upwards of $325 on that thing, and I had a whole thread in the noob forum dedicated to finding cheaper materials!

Would you take a suit of fully resined, scaled and painted pepakura?

 

[smick6]

I figured I would post a couple new shot to get people out of the old Spiker 1 thread. If you guys have any comments put them in here because I will not be watching that thread at all.

I have my template ready for the blades as well as the octagon like pieces that attach to the blades (not shown). I also sculpted and molded the little part that is on the round bottom part (I have no idea what to call it or the part it attaches to). Its a small clay piece stuck on the side. The detailed one was in the mold so the one you see is just a blank.

It is messy making the mold and casting even on that small piece. I am trying out some little pieces to see if its a job I really want to tackle or pay someone to do. I also started sculpting in the front part of the handle/back part of body, its the grey epoxy. It still needs more detail and finishing.


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[rvb4life]

Wow, great work! if you keep this up, it will be fully functional!


no more annoying neighbor dog for you.

 

[smick6]

Time to slice and dice, I just rough cut the blades. Still needs final shaping and sharpening. I am still working on the blade arms. I have some 2" aluminum strips that I might use and then make covers with more detail to go over them. I was thinking about attaching the arms and making the mold with them on but I dont know if the material would be strong enough to not bend or break. The arms would be about 1/4" thick. Does anyone know what material I could cast with that would be strong enough? I did see a molding tut on casting with a piese of metal inside the plastic, but it seems like alot of work.

Thinking about building things with the idea of molding it is a real pain. Single one of a kind builds take to long though. I want people to be able to buy them so I have to mold and cast it. I dont have enough time or patience to make another one. I might just have to build it and let someone else take up the molding chore. I would like to gain some molding and casting experience on this project but all of my other projects are backing up. I dont know yet we will see. One way or the other it will be molded and cast.

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[smick6]

I have a few new pics to share. Its getting pretty close to the end product. I really dont think I can get more detailed than it is. I have to finish the blade arms and the part that attaches to the blades. I bent some aluminum flat stock for the arms, you can see it in pic 1. I still need to cut and shape it a little more and cut out the center section. I am probably going to build a detailed cover plate to go over it. I saw a tut on embedding metals into a cast plastic piece and I was thinking about that for the kit version. I dont know how strong the casting plastics are so I guess I need to try them out first, maybe I can get away with out using the aluminum under structure. Bending it to the right shape is a pain but I guess I could build a jig if I need to make more.

 

[telak thor]

Nice! it looks huge. What was the main frame 4 it

 

[ImaGonnaGetYou]

That is bloody detailed.

I'll be sure to buy a cast of that, maybe even two.

Does it have a removable clip? Removable clips can only add epic win.