what is styrene? and were can you buy it?
what is styrene? and were can you buy it?
If there is an honest to goodness Model Shop or Train Store in your neighborhood, you should be able to find it there, otherwise here is their web addy…
Those large for sale signs are made of styrene.. odds are you could also use balsa wood, or even square dowels. I think the only thing that I would add to this would be working lights of some kind.
Those large for sale signs are made of styrene.. odds are you could also use balsa wood, or even square dowels. I think the only thing that I would add to this would be working lights of some kind.
Cheez, Gareee, you could have put in some kinda spoiler alert.! LOL! I have some lights planned for Wrecto-2 which I will be posting pictures of as I build it. BTW if there are any electronics experts or posts that could offer some help with LED lighting, please steer me that way. Thanks!
Those large for sale signs are made of styrene.. odds are you could also use balsa wood, or even square dowels.
I almost forgot. Balsa and dowels could be used it’s true, but styrene has no grain and is sturdier. and a plastic to plastic bond is usally stronger. That equals one coat paint coverage and quick, easy glue joints.
You could just use a cheap led holiday string for the headlights and tail lights, or use one of those flashing necklaces for the top police lights.
I have a blue set here that I was already planning in using in mine, gotten around halloween.
Trick with cheap lighting is to scroung around during holidays.. for instance, right now is a good time to find green lights or flashing necklaces, since SAt Patrick’s day is around the corner.
also the ends on the yellow tube thing gives it a good look , what did u use for that? And like how u blacked out the windows are they painted? I also have done a custom kenner.
The ends are clear plastic half spheres I had lying around in a junk box, they just happened to be the same diameter as the tubes. I cut off the tabs at both ends and glued them on.
The windows are blacked out with spray paint from the inside. Here is a link to the whole building process:
BTW I checked out your version of the Ecto-1, really nice job!
After I completed Ecto Wrecto-1, I had some parts left over in the form of 3 Ecto carcasses. I wasn’t about to throw them away, so I’m on to Wrecto-2. The glass has the same troubles as Wrecto-1 so it will be sanded and dipped to try and restore it as best as possible.
Wrecto-2 is taken apart and cleaned. I use “Bleache-Wite” tire cleaner to do the job. It’s also good at removing mold release from cast resin parts.
After cleaning, the under carridge is spray painted flat black.
Seriously? It’s and interesting project, but three threads?
Seriously? It’s and interesting project, but three threads?
Yeah, I can’t believe it either. Usually I’m content just to sit in the background and lurk, Sorry, I didn’t intend to hijack the forum.
My reason for the three is just that, each one is a seperate project, at least from my point of view. The first Ecto was completed last year before I joined the forum and it wasn’t until recently that I had enough parts to make the “vanilla” Ecto for the compairison shots. So I sort of had 2 in the barrel stepping in.
This thread is an ongoing project that I’ve just started this month.
If this is Ecto overload, perhaps one of the moderators can link them into one thread as I don’t have the editing power to do that.
This next section was inspired by Spengler 28’s remakes of the Kenner Ecto
The wheels. I loved how he filled them in and painted the white walls and hub caps. But I also hate having to use filler and the endless sanding to get it smooth to where I’m happy with it. I also wanted to do something a little different.
In my spare parts box I had 2 chrome truck tank ends that were about the right diameter to double as “moon” hubs. I pulled both wheel sets off and filled in 2 wheels with filler.
I glued the "moons’ to the center of them and then made a mold of the 2 wheels.
I took the untouched wheels and drilled weep hole near the outer edges of where the white walls would be. I mixed up a small amount of black resin and poured it into the molds so it came up to the white wall level. i took the untouched wheels and slid them into the molds, pushing them slowly up and down to expell any trapped air. When I popped them out, they were filled in and capped, ready to go.
This time 'round I wanted shiney chrome for the Wrecto-2. I used Kraft Foil to this end. It comes in a few different colors, including silver. It goes on by first brushing the intended area with a tack glue. The glue stays sticky for a while after it has dried. The foil is then pressed onto the glue while it is still tacky.
No matter how hard you press on it, there will still be some minor spots where the foil won’t stick. Knowing this, I left the hubcap section black to give it a pitted chrome look.
Mmmmm, shiney!
You can get this at most arts and craft stores like A.C. Moore or Michaels.
I think it looks pretty awsome on the grill, too.
nice wheather effect!!! you should built the black hearses with that wheater FX !
I made a step plate for the rear bumper and then laid on the chrome twice to fill in any black spots missed the first time 'round. The licence plate tops it off.
Some random bits and pieces came along with a few of the Ectos I purchased. One piece happened to be a RGB purple proton pack minus the thrower. in another group I received a thrower/gun cast in orange plastic. I plugged the holes in the pack, trimmed down the thrower and added a handle grip and hose. I made a mold from these and made a casting.
I painted up the casting close to what a “real” pack would look like.
I cast and painted up 3 more. Then I rigged a platform to set them in so they would lean as in the movie.
The platform was sized to fit inside the back of the Ecto. As there is not much room between the door and the seat, the packs had to be close together.
The test fit looks good. I have to reshape the platform to resemble a gurney and work out a rail system that it can slide on and not fall off the back of the Ecto.
Amazing.
awesome work! though Im surprised you didnt make a mold and casting of the Mattel pack, as judging by your photos, your refurbished Ectos are for posing with the Mattel figures
Stop trying to moderate you jerk.
Thanks!
Good question.
I didn’t use the Mattel packs because the “thrower” sticks out on the Mattel pack, making it thicker over all. There are 2 wires and the rainbow ribbon with connectors that are separate pieces and would have to come off to get a good mold. Squiggly wires and ribbons with connectors are a PITA to mold and cast.
As to why I used the RGB pack? The over all shape and size are close to the packs on the Mattel figures. The smaller bottom on the RGB pack works like a peg to hold them in place on the “gurney” and it was more fun to kit bash this just to see how close I could get the RGB pack to resemble the Mattel pack.
As the figures are all wearing their packs, the gurney should really be empty, but what gives it the wow factor is pulling out the gurney full of packs.
Dude thats awsome. Id buy a set of 4 packs all done up like that.