activation email

[RocketRodsXPR]

And so it begins...

This is primarily a test print and a process trial before I do any of the final product.  Unless, of course, the stars align and everything goes unexpectedly smoothly.



Is this the Way?  I hope so!

[Kandosii Tor]

Gotta start somewhere, right?

What kind of print is that? It looks very smooth for your standard filament print...

[RocketRodsXPR]

It was printed on an Anycubic Vyper from PETG filament.  I was shocked at how clean it turned out, considering any previous print was pretty rough (which is fine when it is an organic, like.a creature, but not what you want in armor.)

I honestly set this to print expecting to find either a melting mess or spaghetti in the morning.  Instead it was this... and front left face looks as good.

I am a bit annoyed I have to change filament before continuing.  Here's hoping the new batch will work as well!

[Katmya Nehutyc]

That has got to be one of the cleanest prints I've ever seen in my life. I applaud you!

Can't wait to see what else you print 

[RocketRodsXPR]

Photos to come shortly.  I have finished the front plates for my helmet, and am working on the first of the three final top pieces.

May have made a mistake printing this one upside down... slicer refused to send to print claiming the print surface was too small (it wasn't) but accepted it in thr same spot just flipped.  And now, as it gets closer to the Mando-like ridge above the visor, I'm concerned thry may nit be as supported as I'd like.

Are the strands a ruined part of an overhand gone wrong, or just traveling webs?

Well, I'll just have to wait and see. 

[RocketRodsXPR]

Have the guide pegs in place for gluing, even though won't be doing that until much later on.  I just wanted to see how the helmet really looks, verses pieces.  Two more prints for the helmet-proper to be done, and then I get to find a way to customize the earpieces.

I also did a test sand on one of the parts of the helmet that ultimately will be pitted and damaged.  So, any accidents can be easily incorporated into the design.




Good?  Bad?  Can't tell?
These questions—and many others—will be answered in the next episode of ... Soap!

[Straka Zulu]

And now I have that theme song in my head.  Thanks.

Looking good, so far, and really dig the concept in your profile pic.  Traffic Cones Unite!

[LaamycBeviin]

I have found that a thin layer of photopolymer resin brushed on, cured, and then washed takes a lot of the sanding time out. I typically sand my FDM prints with 100, 220, and 400 grit and then resin. Then I'll sand in 600+ until I'm happy with the finish.

[RocketRodsXPR]

A big step backward...  my helmet, which had been glued, fell apart.  Glad it at least did so now, not after I had sanded more or was painting.

[RocketRodsXPR]

Pieced the helmet back together after its original glue job failed spectacularly.  Ensuring it cures before doing a little filament welding and a topcoat of thin resin to fill the gaps.  And then, back to sanding.

[RocketRodsXPR]

And another step backwards.  The visor brace works well, but now the helmet is to small.

So looks like I'm starting over.  Or just maybe this isn't meant to be.

[RocketRodsXPR]

While my helmet sits in the corner to think long and hard about how it failed, I moved on to start my armor.

Hand plates are much improved over the very line-y first draft, the right gauntlet bases fit and look nice, and the shoulders are coming along nicely.  A lot of sanding and some digging work on the logo to be done, but I feel these are heading in the right direction.  :-)

BTW, would like my character name to be related to fire, since that's my inspiration.  Any ideas?  And no, not Firey McFireFace.

[Karson Wren]

I dunno, Firey mcFireface is a pretty badass name.

Sprry about your helmet vod, setbacks are the worst.

[RocketRodsXPR]

Tracyny ad Tracyntroan

Naaaahhhh