Built to, Build to: Long Over Due Update!

It's been far too long since I updated this little blog. So here goes.

What have I been up to?

Building! I've since built and sold 2 more packs. As each one is made the process goes quicker and the final product gets better and better. I finally broke down and decided to make a mold of my pack in order to make them a little faster and as a bit of quality control. Not to mention stronger material. So I've molded them and then cast the pieces in resin. Here are some of the molds for you to look at. In case you're curious...

Here is the mold for the cyclotron with a roughly assembled pack next to it.

And here is part two of the cyclotron with the mold and the final piece.

Pre painted cast resin pieces

And here is the majority of the pack fitted together. Just making sure everything lines up right.

It's been such a time saver to cast these. What would normally take several days of wood carving to get the piece perfect now takes me an hour. Of course there is still priming and painting. I am casting with black dye now to make the process even faster. But the pieces still need to be adjusted. Casting them in color reduces the amount of primer and paint build up which helps keep the pieces fitting together better.

I've also just completed work on a pack that is not claimed by anyone. My new goal is to make one every few weeks so this way buyers aren't waiting too long for them. And as practice for my skills. Win win.

Here is the most recent addition to the family.

The stand is not painted yet. It's such a simple thing to do I figured I can leave that for the very last.

In addition to the proton packs, I've had this idea rattling around in my head for a while. I'm sure I've seen it somewhere. Where? I don't know. But I'm sure I have. Throwing Bat pushpins! I've always been a huge Batman fan and who wouldn't want any one of his toys. I figured one of the throwing bats from Batman Begins would be easiest to make. I grabbed the logo and printed out a very basic version of it. Then I simply transferred that to a thin sheet of plastic and, well, that's about it. There is no "pin" in this yet as it's my first attempt. It's not perfect. But it's not horrible either. I think were I to cast them they'd be a bit easier to make and add pins to.

For now I'll leave you with a 1 1/2 inch throwing Bat.