Shop Notes: 2023-05-26 - Wizard Staff Progress.

 Progress on my life-size Gandalf staff is being made.  I have all the pieces 3D printed, and (mostly) assembled into a staff-like structure.  Last night I added some additional texture with a Dremel cutting disc. then primed it using a spray can of Krylon's finest matte black.

This morning I assembled the staff head, including adding in a light I scavenged from an old Manfrotto LED light that I never use. Now it powers the magic.   Not a bad upgrade for what is otherwise an unused piece of lighting kit.

I will let the glue dry while I am at work.  Then its a matter of sanding down some seams, touching up the primer on spots that got sanded, then I can start painting this sucker up!

Shop Notes: 2023-05-15 - Repetition

One of the perils of 3D printing whilst sick is accidentally printing off the same part twice. So if anyone out there needs 1/12th of a life size Gandalf staff, I got you covered.

(I've been feeling under the weather the past few days.  I've basically been napping since Thursday after work (it is now Monday, so 3.5 days of fun).  Doing a bit better now)

Shop Notes: 2023-05-09 - Cosplay Props

 I am currently working on a couple props for some cosplay photo shoots coming up in June.   I am painting up a couple elvish daggers, Galadriels dagger from Rings Of Power, to be used by a cosplayer/friend who has plans to be an elf warrior - super bad ass.  

I myself, which should surprise no one who's seen my face, have a Gandalfian look about me.  I have a Gandalf had and robe, but no staff. A wizard without his staff is a staffless wizard, and that's no fun.  So to overcome that I have started to 3D print a wizard staff.  This is the first time I've attempted to print something so large - over 6ft when completed, but it should go OK.  It is 14 pieces, and 12 hours per piece, so it is going to take... quick math.... a while.    Luckily I don't leave for this little adventure until June.

I am using my filament printer for this, which is a) cheaper, b) the better plastic for something thats going to get some wear and tear, and c) doesn't tie up my resin printer, which I need for my next diorama build.

I 3D printed the daggers on my resin printer, and primed them, well over a week ago.  This week I spray painted them with chrome paint, and am in the painstaking process of painting in all the gold bits.   It is a bit tedious, but with a good podcast playing, and a fine paint brush in my hand, getting lost in the details is rather therapeutic for the ol' mental health.  

Once the gold is done, I'll finish off the scabbards with a nice ivory of some kind.

Shop Notes: 2023-04-19 - Galadriels Dagger

I have been working on printing off a dagger for a cosplaying friend of mine from the great white northland.   Its been slow going cause I've been traveling, and otherwise busy.  However I finally got the pieces together.

Why are there two daggers?  One for me of course.  My next step is to paint mine up.  Metallic airbrush paints should be delivered Friday, so this weekend should be Dagger-ific! (yes I do regret typing that, but there isn't anything I can do about it now.)

Shop Notes: 2023-04-09 - A New Beginning

A while ago I was asked by a cosplayer friend to 3D print her a prop.  Galadriels dagger from Rings of Power.   Tonight I finally got around to starting the print.  I am going to make several copies, one to inevitably screw up, and a good one for her, and one for me.   

This is the first step in getting back into making things in my shop.  I have been traveling for the last couple weeks, so I've been distracted.   As well as the dagger, I am trying to decide what my next diorama is going to be.  Since that will involve using my 3D printer, I have a couple days before I settle on something.  Odds are its going to be fantasy based, like my last couple of projects.   

Fantasy seems to be my go-to genre lately.  Ain't life interesting? 

Rocktopus

 I had to. It gave me the LOLs...

Shop Notes: 2023-03-21 - Rocktopus

Self explanatory.