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Post by magengar on Dec 1, 2013 3:29:11 GMT -5
Understood, and for Safety reasons I surely won't try it. I wanna stay in one piece and keep BOTH my hands so I can make toys. I'll stick to resin.  zozo-mag magengarThat will definitely burn and release toxic fumes since it's polymer based. The pewter might even react and gush out causing burns. Silicone has a much higher heat resistance so it's sometimes used to cast lead or pewter. |
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Post by gravewolf on Dec 6, 2013 12:56:18 GMT -5
I had to revise the knee joints again because I found the 1st and 2nd not up to the task. This is the improved knee joint I made, you can see ridges inside the tube soldered to the thighs that would provide the ratcheting mechanism I require to make it more poseable and able to hold the weight of the upper torso. The small tube on the left is the one that would secure the shin part to the knee joint, it has a small spring mechanism inside that pushes a small tooth out that would provide tension when it touches the ridges inside the knee joint as it rotates. I can't copy the joints on some the chogokins I have since they have a mix of metal and plastic parts that provide the friction and tension. If I were to do that with brass it would simply wear itself out fast with the constant rubbing of parts so I had to resort to mechanical parts with spring and bearings to provide the clicking action. It's still not complete but I managed to test the ratcheting action and feel it is sufficient for the knee articulation.  |
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Post by gravewolf on Dec 8, 2013 14:30:15 GMT -5
Leg parts are almost complete, I'm also gonna use an unconventional way of attaching the legs to the torso. Since the start of this project I always aimed to have minimal visible screws and seam lines, with almost every part done I believe I've managed to achieve those goals for this figure. I'm trying to finish this project fast since I've been hired to do some work producing silver contact points for a certain e-cig mod next week and it's gonna take me a full week to get it done since I have to make hundreds of them. Hopefully I'll finish all the leg parts and finally assemble the legs along with the torso tomorrow.  |
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Post by admin1 aka Ed on Dec 17, 2013 12:58:49 GMT -5
I am enjoying the progress, thanks for sharing  |
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Post by gravewolf on Dec 17, 2013 14:28:25 GMT -5
I am enjoying the progress, thanks for sharing Thanks, I had to stop for a while cause I need to finish this job order I took last week and this work is gonna earn me some decent money to buy some chogokins I've been dying to have. Also with the extra money I'm earning I'll be able to buy more silver that I intend to use for the next robot I'm planning to do. I'm almost finished with this work and I can finally resume my project on friday. I've learned a lot of new things while making this and I've thought up of other types of joints that I could use on upcoming projects. It's actually hard cause there has been so many trials and errors with the parts which was very work intensive since I had to make the parts first before knowing if they could work or fail  |
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Post by TheMazingerZ on Dec 17, 2013 20:27:21 GMT -5
This has to be my favorite thread! Man, I wish I lived next to you!!! }D |
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Post by magengar on Dec 17, 2013 23:40:58 GMT -5
Whatever happens, don't ever feel discouraged, Gravewolf. As with any customization project there will always be trials and errors, but the best and fun part of it is the learning process. When you build a custom figure, you get to experiment your own ways of engineering your own custom-made moving parts... Stuff like that is rarely taught in college Engineering courses, and of course the manufacturers will NEVER reveal their trade secrets. So the best ways to learn is by creating and developing your own techniques and you get to see the science of how moving parts interact with one another. Every now and then you'll even feel curious to take apart an action figure or robot toy so that you can see how the joints look inside, and you can take from those references to explore your own ideas on how to build custom figures that can put your engineering aspects to work. Everyone goes through that process, it's always been a part of us ever since our early childhood years when we took apart our toys to see what's inside and how they work. Your work is inspiring, and we really appreciate you joining us here at Robot-Japan to share your art with us. Thank you so much! zozo-mag I am enjoying the progress, thanks for sharing |
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Post by gravewolf on Dec 18, 2013 0:13:19 GMT -5
Whatever happens, don't ever feel discouraged, Gravewolf. As with any customization project there will always be trials and errors, but the best and fun part of it is the learning process. When you build a custom figure, you get to experiment your own ways of engineering your own custom-made moving parts... Stuff like that is rarely taught in college Engineering courses, and of course the manufacturers will NEVER reveal their trade secrets. So the best ways to learn is by creating and developing your own techniques and you get to see the science of how moving parts interact with one another. Every now and then you'll even feel curious to take apart an action figure or robot toy so that you can see how the joints look inside, and you can take from those references to explore your own ideas on how to build custom figures that can put your engineering aspects to work. Everyone goes through that process, it's always been a part of us ever since our early childhood years when we took apart our toys to see what's inside and how they work. Your work is inspiring, and we really appreciate you joining us here at Robot-Japan to share your art with us. Thank you so much! zozo-mag .........I've learned a lot of new things while making this and I've thought up of other types of joints that I could use on upcoming projects. It's actually hard cause there has been so many trials and errors with the parts which was very work intensive since I had to make the parts first before knowing if they could work or fail Don't worry my friend, problems like these can be tiresome but I do enjoy the challenge and I've already set my mind in finishing garada. I enjoy being a member here since I get to chat with people who share the same interests. Also being with creative people like you, TMZ and others give me good ideas that I wouldn't be able think of by myself . I've finally decided on the next project but I'll keep it a secret until I finish this one but I guarantee you'll be very happy with the next robot I'm gonna work on and he's gonna be really special though it's gonna take a while since I have to finish the garada before I can start on this. |
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Post by gravewolf on Dec 18, 2013 0:15:53 GMT -5
This has to be my favorite thread! Man, I wish I lived next to you!!! }D It would be actually fun if we all lived next to each other, we can make joint projects where we can all chip in ideas and make our ideal robot figures |
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Post by magengar on Dec 18, 2013 0:31:23 GMT -5
With over 5.5 thousand members here at Robot-Japan, if that were possible, this planet would tilt on its side from the weight of custom chogokins everywhere!  zozo-mag This has to be my favorite thread! Man, I wish I lived next to you!!! }D It would be actually fun if we all lived next to each other, we can make joint projects where we can all chip in ideas and make our ideal robot figures |
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Post by gravewolf on Dec 18, 2013 0:49:23 GMT -5
With over 5.5 thousand members here at Robot-Japan, if that were possible, this planet would tilt on its side from the weight of custom chogokins everywhere! zozo-mag It would be actually fun if we all lived next to each other, we can make joint projects where we can all chip in ideas and make our ideal robot figures Now that you mentioned it, it would be a bad idea since the resulting weight of our collections might create an earthquake and kill us all resulting in the extinction of robot collectors around the world thus bringing most of Bandai’s business to fail.....forcing them to produce disney figures in order to save them from going out of business! |
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Post by gravewolf on Dec 30, 2013 5:45:01 GMT -5
I finally made the feet, it's not done yet since I have to solder the bottom portion. It was difficult to hammer these into shape since i have to get both to look identical. I'm happy to say that it balances quite well but I've decided to make some slight modifications to the joints I made. I'm finally almost done with this project but the hands still need to be made along with the other horn.  |
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Post by magengar on Dec 30, 2013 8:50:20 GMT -5
That Garada is turning out amazingly AWESOME. It looks almost the same size as the SRC! You have a VERY GOOD eye for detail! I know what you mean by identical parts made in pairs. If you make the left foot a certain way, the right foot has to be made exactly the same way. Left and Right parts have to look either identical or "mirrored". Mirrored gets me in the face, because when I sculpt or draw objects I am Right-handed and I can sculpt from Right to Left. So, I end up making one side (either Left or Right part); and then I have difficulty making the opposite side because I have to reverse my perception of direction. ....yep, sounds confusing. lol zozo-mag |
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Post by gravewolf on Dec 30, 2013 12:25:23 GMT -5
@ magengarHe's gonna be as tall as src Mazinger when finished,I actually haven't attached some of the joints inside the legs and the waist area in this picture. I try my best to get as close to a good rendition of Garada as much as I can and it's been a real challenge since I'm basically making a metal figure using traditional metal smithing techniques. I'm used to mirroring parts because of my job. This crown I made a few years ago for a customer was very complicated cause there are a lot of parts I had to mirror. This was one of the most challenging jobs I did and I'm glad I was able to make it. And if you're curious this is made of white gold and everything glittering you see are real diamonds  |
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Post by xiombarg on Dec 30, 2013 12:33:14 GMT -5
Wow, the Garada is looking great, and that crown is amazing.
How did you get into metal smithing to begin with?
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Post by gravewolf on Dec 30, 2013 12:40:17 GMT -5
Wow, the Garada is looking great, and that crown is amazing. How did you get into metal smithing to begin with? It's actually my family's business, I actually never wanted to be a goldsmith but since I'm the eldest son I had no choice but to become one....also suddenly becoming an unprepared father really pushed me to take up this job. Also I forgot to post the internal part of the lower legs.  |
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Post by Lejam on Dec 31, 2013 19:01:34 GMT -5
Keep woking on this job. It's precious and worth it !
Great works you accomplished here !
This Garada is starting to turn in a gem for any collection !
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Post by TheMazingerZ on Dec 31, 2013 22:25:42 GMT -5
Happy New Year, gravewolf! Man!... the crown is gorgeous, but if I had to take one of the two, I would take the Garada!  You are the best figure maker I've ever seen! If you had Bandai's resources, I can't even imagine what amazing stuff you would come up with! }D |
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Post by gravewolf on Jan 1, 2014 1:53:41 GMT -5
Happy new year my rj brothers and thank you for your encouraging words. Right now I'm gonna use this day to rest and relax since I got wasted last night. I have 4 more days before I go back to work and I'm gonna use them to concentrate on working on this figure.
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Post by magengar on Jan 1, 2014 6:49:54 GMT -5
That crown is so beautiful, what woman on Earth wouldn't want it!
You've been blessed with a lifetime career that already
had your name on it.
Not many people in the world get to have that opportunity.
With today's advancing technologies, Metal-smithing is a striving trade.
But it is also a unique trade.
When something is made by a machine, there is a cold soul-less void
about the object; and we easily dismiss the object because another one
of the same object can always be made.
There is no bond between the owner and the object.
But, when something is made by hand, there is a Spiritual connection to it
that is Priceless; and therefore the appreciation for it is much greater.
The hand-made object is cherished for the person who made it with
his/her own bare hands.
zozo-mag
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magengar
