Indeed. This thread has inspired me to finally start my own. I’ve just ordered my first part, the Tank kit!
Interesting to see what you do with the vest.
No, the Giga-meter was built as a rental prop by people who contracted Modern Props to rent them, I’m still researching it’s history. It’s kind of strange that such a neat rental prop has so far only shown up in two films and one commercial. The makers were kind of contract “renters” and from what I gathered over the years the props didn’t stay at Moden Props because they took them home and they were brought in when needed.
I didn’t recognize any of the other parts in the kit.
Now that you mention Modern props I do remember that is was a rental item like the PKE. Thanks.
It must have been common practice to glue on some form of model kit piece while making props back in the day.
Still is.
Both the PKE and the Giga-meter have one model part, the switch on the PKE and the tank tread on the Giga, some of the other props had much more. It was just a way to add more interesting detail to a prop, set piece or model without having to make that detail.
The Nostromo from Alien was absolutely covered in kit parts.
So was the Death Star.
Almost EVERY spaceship that was made after the 50’s and isn’t CGI was made by kitbashing.
Let’s get this thread back to the subject with some more pictures!
This is the tanks and ball, I potted some lock nuts in the Plastruct domes so I could attach the lights to the tanks and the ball to the mount. Simple way to drill a hole dead center of the dome, drill a pilot hole right through the center of the injection ■■■■■■.
The ball assembled and glued together along with the pump boxes minus the heatsinks.
The pump box, ball and mounting plate off the pack. This plate is probably the hardest piece to make. Made from 1/8" plate aluminum you need to make a perfect 90 degree bend in it. I had to beef up my combo bender machine’s bending die to make the bend and it took several pulls to get it. Bottom line you might need a metal shop to make it for you.
great job so far! from what i can see on my reference shots, it looks like you might be using an incorrect tank tread for the white box. close, but no cigar.
…and speaking of cigars, you might want to start shopping around for a bit fat one to go along with the blower.
the tank tread is correct. i spent all afternoon helping someone looking for it.
it’s either that or a german leopard medium tank, both are have similar tank treads from the same model company, tamiya.
i’ll be the first to admit that i could be wrong, but the detail shot i have of the tank tread looks slightly different. the pic is probably 3-4 years old, from one of the original slime blowers at the sony prop warehouse. i don’t have a problem posting it, but i don’t want to step on any toes.
what’s the forum etiquette for posting watermarked images? does the watermark serve as sort of a citation or reference, or is it generally frowned upon without permission?
Some new pictures:
Center brace installed:
Center tank attached:
Tank crossmember attached to frame brace:
Boxes and right side pump spacer attached:
You certainly don’t want this thing to be light weight… do you?
That’s some heavy metal! Looks great!
■■■■■■■■. this build is going fast
I wish, it’s taken months of weekends to get to this point.
Funny the quick connects, elbows, short ■■■■■■■ and barbed ■■■■■■■ weigh as much if not more than the rest of the pack.
I made the forward grip for the gun yesterday and I worked on the endcap today. The forward grip frame is bent from 1 /12" steel, the original was welded. The end cap is a aluminum cup from Walmart that is the perfect size and I made the collar today and welded it on using those aluminum rods that you can use with a propane torch. The weld is a little sloppy but it holds like the dickens and won’t be seen:
Brent… outstanding!
I don’t believe there’s really been any etiquette for watermarked images.
Thank’s!
Looking great! Those hydrolic fittings had to have set you back a pretty penny. TJ researched them a couple years ago and suppliers wanted $40-$50 each for them.
Awesome. Love it