Steve's T3 Build

[Skudster13 Profile]

The body, yes. The skin, hopefully. The electronics, only if I get some major help. They are proving much more difficult than I had imagined and I am waiting on some parts that may or may not get here in time. Coding those electronics could prove mind-blowing also. Here's keeping my fingers crossed though.

[R2DEVO]

Well don't hesitate to ask for any local help

Are you going straight for the 3 axis neck or going to start out basic? That is something I've been looking at on a wall-e neck, too. With the T3 head being so large, the neck joint will have to be pretty solid.

[Skudster13 Profile]

I'm going to start out simple and then see how to add tilt.

[lynellephi]

WOW!! It's got a great start! I'm totally psyched about having a T3 in the local area.

[MonCal]

Nice. Keep up the good work and keep feeding us with eye candy

[Skudster13 Profile]

So far I've only got the stencils for the feet cut out. I would have gotten more done, but my 3 year old decided I needed to vacuum the house today.

[Skudster13 Profile]

Okay, so today I worked with cardboard. I mentioned in my last post that I made stencils for the feet. Those cuts would be terrible without them.

I wasn't all too thrilled with having to make my head out of cardboard, but it's going to be MUCH lighter than trying to do it with wood. I still have a bunch of structuring to do on the inside as well as some more cardboarding on the outside, but it's starting to look like something.

I also figured out that stitching (leatherworking style) with some thin wire makes for some easy and strong bindings. With some glue and wood putty, this thing should hold up pretty well.

[R2DEVO]

Cool! Ever consider using thin styrene sheet to do the head? It's be light and very smooth, and probably more durable than cardboard. You saw how those little buttholes at Wings can be.

Still, impressive for cardboard. It's probably look pretty good after some paint and weathering.

[Skudster13 Profile]

Well, I'm considering replacing it in the future with something better, like styrene. Right now budget is very tight and I don't have the proper tools to make it out of styrene anyway. I'll just have to make sure it gets replaced before the next wings.

[lynellephi]

You could add resin for rigidity. Here's a link to hardening cardboard with a couple ways of doing it:
http://www.ehow.com/how_5729545_harden-cardboard.html

I also found a youtube vid of how to make a cardboard boat. He used newspaper and varnish on the outside. This might be a good cheap solution, then you can probably prime and paint it. I don't know how varnish really works, but I know it's stiff!