Torso troubles

It's been too long!

We finally have some decent parts! After too long and lots of life getting in the way, poor TC14 has had to take a back seat. She's been looking down at me from the display shelf wondering if she'd ever get any new parts...
Well finally she has! As you can see from the photo I have a very decent, well made torso. Hopefully we can kick start this project and have a protocol droid to be proud of :-). More photos soon x

My 3D reference

As anything like this, good reference material is essential! Books, models, plans even etc. I've had in my collection a wonderful figure of 3po for a long time and so far it has been invaluable with this project. Wonderful detail

Here we go again...

So these legs are not going to easy.... From the photos you can see the detail needs a lot of work! I've decided to start on the left shin, no reason other than I picked it up first. Early photos show here damage and unfinished bits and I've started to break this up and start again from scratch, dremelling, cutting and filing. More pics soon

Where have you been?

So after a hectic period where we've moved and refurbished our new house, it's time to get back to this rather tricky project!
This has coincided with me acquiring some more parts off eBay. Let the fun begin

Dalecon 2, Feb 14

This weekend we took Tc14 out for a little trip out (with her new eyes), along to Dalecon 2 in Rochdale where I came across SW3PO, the wonderful costume of C3po, worn by Simon. I also met up with the guys and girls from the 99th Garrison and got a few autographs too.

Fame at last!

Just received this month's copy of Star Wars Insider magazine and in their Bantha Tracks section (page 76 or there abouts :-)) there's a photo of me from Celebration Europe 2!
Enjoy! :-)

Special delivery

Delivered today all the way from Australia some more bits to play with.
The head is in a poor state and because of insufficient packaging is rather poorly :-(.
The feet however might come in useful...
Now have head and feet, just need the middle bit now!

Somethings wrong cause now I can't see!

So I've been wanting to get a better set of eyes for my Tc14 and thought GT props and shapeways seemed an excellent, inexpensive option (just over £20). So I place my order at the weekend and had great communication emails from shapeways and UPS on its progress. They  arrived yesterday Thursday, less  than a week!
They are well made, stronger and fit really well. I'm definitely using this service again, easy and fast, really pleased. Photos soon of them painted and in place.

Trying on session!

So I thought I'd have a go at making a neck piece (working slowly down) and here is my efforts so far. A thin plastic sheet with silver sticky paper applied, velcro ed at the back. Taken from Mr GT 's blog.
More soon x

TC14 first outing! (celebration europe 2)

From Rancho Obi Wan

Whilst viewing Steve Sansweet's collection we saw this @ CE2

I am TC14 at your service

Well here it is!

It's ready!!

Just had a phone call to say 'it's ready!'
VMC Ltd have Vac Metallised my Tc14 head and it's going in the post today, and hopefully, with me by Monday!
Excited!!
Piccies as soon as I can xx

Ooh they've encased her in carbonite

So Saturday I posted my beloved head off to Chertsey to be Vacuum Metallised!
Just checked this morning and it's arrived!!
Hopefully it's a 5 day turn around, a little excited :-)
More soon....

You old smoothy!

Sanding, Finer and finer paper then a rubbing compound and now I have a very smooth and shiny head!

This time you have gone too far!

So with a gap in the bad weather I was, over the weekend, able to apply 4 coats of undercoat and paint the eyes, neck bolts and antenna silver. More sanding to get rid of imperfections, lumps and bumps, then it's time to try the topcoat! VM is out atm, may have to invest an airbrush and try Gordon T's super method!
More soon x

Getting connected!

After a lot of thought, even more research I've decided to connect the head using a method simular to the screen used 3po. I've  used a small brass hook (eye?) on the face top and same connectors I used on the neck bolts. All a bit tricky but after using a little bit of Milliput was able to disguise the work done :-).
The photos make a bit more sense than my rambling!