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wannab

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Posts posted by wannab

  1. How many helmet styles?

    in Build Threads Requireing Maintenance

    Posted

    As a side issue I just checked an inflation calculator and the sheets of ABS cost £16.50 each in 1979 which equates to £68 ($105) in todays money.

     

    Now assuming ABS has increased in price at roughly the same rate as inflation, in which case that suggests to me that they were pretty big sheets. How big a sheet of ABS would $100 buy now?

     

    Note that John Mollo said to me that the vac presses at Elstree were typically used for sets so I think they would have been fairly large.

     

    Cheers

     

    Jez

     

    Depending on the supply house it could cost that much for a 4'x8' sheet but likely less -- in the ball park as they say. Regular styrene is much less, but ABS is more of a premium grade styrene.

     

     

    Doug

  2. How many helmet styles?

    in Build Threads Requireing Maintenance

    Posted

    I have a question about the bubbles lenses of the ROTJ helmets (and same question for Hero and TIE pilot helmets).

     

    According to Jez website, the lenses were made out of green acrylic. But I'm really curious to know how it's possible to vacuum form acrylic sheet :huh:

     

    The less thick green acrylic that I was able to find (for my ROTJ helmet) was 3mm of thickness. And it's impossible to vacuum form, it's too thick. It's possible to heat and deform, but it's not also easy as with plastic like ABS or HIPS.

    I never found less thick acrylic. Clear acrylic can be find in 2mm and less....but colored acrylic is in 3mm for the less thick.

     

    So anybody knows the thickness of the original lenses and if it was really acrylic? (sorry Jez, it's not against what you wrote ;) )

     

     

    At a sign company I worked at years ago they formed acrylic all the time, making pan faces 3d letters etc. It's just the machine used -- this one was big able to accept 12 foot long sheets. It comes down to proper (and even) heating and larger holes (16th to 1/8th dia) in the moulds to draw things in tight to corners etc. I think the max (if I remember right) was 3/16" sheets -- typical was 1/8th". So it is possible.

     

    I would imagine they used something in the 1/16th inch or thinner range for the trooper eyes -- again it comes down to tracking the proper color/shade plastic and finding the manufacturer, then just see what thickness' are/were available. Too bad we don't have access to the LFL and related contractors invoice files!

     

     

    Doug

    FS NECK TRIM SEALS DIRECT(SWR149)

    in For Sale - Archive

    Posted

    Hi guys

     

    I got excited buying more neck trim that I really needed. I'm selling 2M\6'6'' of accurate neck trim (SWR149) from Seals+direct for $27,shipping included to anywhere in United States. I originally paid for it $36 shipping included. Only paypal please .

     

    Thanks for looking

     

    A

     

     

    I'll take it. Sent you a PM over at Mos Eisley.

     

    Doug

    Reassembled SDS Lids FS (hero & stunt)

    in For Sale - Archive

    Posted

    Here is your chance to get a hold of SDS lids made by Andrew Ainsworth (original manufacturer of the ANH helmets) at below cost! These are not available to the US market anymore due to the recent lawsuit with LFL. I am asking $750 each plus shipping -- Huge Deal! At current exchange rates he is asking $992 for them plus shipping, and again you can't get them in the US.

     

    Reason for selling:

    I have been working on getting all the parts for my 1:1 all aluminum R2 and am getting close but I still need a few parts so I can finally start work on it. The funds from these lids will go a long way in getting me there. I will miss these lids but I want to be sure they go to good homes, to folks who truly appreciate them. I will post this ad in a few forums and if no one wants them I will have to send them to ebay with a higher buy it now price, so don't miss out on this deal!

     

    Note about reassembly:

    Being an accuracy nut, I was dissapointed with how these lids appeared (poorly assembled) when I first got them, Ainsworth is not known for his assembly skills. So I took it upon myself to make them look more accurate. Both lids were taken apart and reassembled shifting and tilting parts so they would look correct, then I pop-riveted them together for a tight fit. Originally they were held together with only brass paper fasteners which made the parts loose and "cheap" feeling). No other changes were made.

     

    See pics below.

     

    STUNT ON HOLD

     

    stunt1.jpg

     

    stunt2.jpg

     

    stunt4.jpg

     

    stunt5.jpg

     

    stunt-plaque.jpg

     

    HERO SOLD

     

    hero1.jpg

     

    hero6.jpg

     

    hero3.jpg

     

    hero2.jpg

     

    hero-plaque.jpg

     

    Thanks for looking!

     

    Doug

    TE HDPE Stormtrooper Helmet For Sale

    in For Sale - Archive

    Posted

    Paint does stick, you just have to do it the right way. Everyone assumes you can do it the same way as on say a TE2 styrene, you can't as many posts have shown. With HDPE the surface needs to be completely sanded or scotchbright padded (used in auto industry not kitchen) (do a google search), then cleaned and prepped properly, this gives a good surface for the paint to adhere. Also the best paint would be something like an automotive type with a "flex" additve just because the nature of HDPE is it flexes and flexing means paint cracking, also the automotives use a "hotter" solvent to thin the paint which would give more of a bite to the surface. If you're just going to set it on a shelf, use cheap Krylon or the like and take your chances.

     

    Doug

    TE HDPE Stormtrooper Helmet For Sale

    in For Sale - Archive

    Posted

    SOLD! Thanks TK1491!

     

    I have a TE HDPE available for sale.

    It is in the original "kit" form assembled but unpainted just as Matt sent it to me. I hate to part with it but funds are tight right now. Asking $275 plus shipping (US only please). If I remember correctly it cost about $10 or $11 to ship it to me here in Alaska, so I imagine that say $10.50 for shipping would be the shipping price.

     

    Don't miss out on this as Matt isn't offering these anymore.

     

    I can take paypal but need to cover fees if so (4%) I prefer Money Order that way you don't have to pay the extra PP fee. PM me for PP ID or Mailing address.

     

    Thanks for the read.

     

    Doug

    SFS Fiberglass helmet for sale

    in For Sale - Archive

    Posted

    Man! I just spent my last bit of cash on something else. ;)

    I would so jump on this if I had the funds right now!

    Any payment plans available?

     

    Doug

     

    Come on folks, I need to get this sold NOW. Bills are due. Willing to work on the price. Please email me or post here serious offers.

     

    Thank you!

     

    T*E

     

     

     

     

    Well folks, this was a test helmet used to see how well it would paint, what paint would stick and how badly I could paint the rear trap areas. I did a great job of making it look like a drunken chimpanzee did it!

     

    The helmet is very nice and crisp details. You can strip it down if you like, or just leave it as is and re-do the traps. The tears are well done and wont need to be repainted. The foam is inside as is the lens. It just needs a chin strap, mic tips and a little extra effort to make this stellar. This is more accurate than the MR helmet is and although the ears are molded in, it still looks amazing.

     

    pics:

     

    SFSfglass1.jpg

     

    SFSfglass2.jpg

     

    SFSfglass3.jpg

     

    SFSfglass4.jpg

     

    Need serious offers over $500.00 please.

     

    This is the last one I have and less than 15 were ever made.

     

    Thanks for looking.

     

    T*E

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