The one I have has some cracks, and being that it's 26 years old, it's looking its age. So I decided to make a mold and vacuum form myself a new one. Actually, I had a friend make the mold and vacuum form it for me while I work on his Kiss machine. Favor for a favor. We just need to smooth out the mold a bit to clean up some edges but here are some pics of the first forms. The original is on the right in the pictures. I hand painted the first sample. This weekend I plan on buying an airbrush kit to get better results with the paint.

Brian

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We will need to work on the mold a little bit too smooth out the areas in the clear windows. We also need to experiment with different thicknesses and types of plastics. Plus, I think planetary holds the license, so I would have to talk with them about selling anything they hold a license on. Once I have a true product that's as good/better then the original the plan is to approach them and find out what can be done. I'd want to do things right so that everybody wins.

Brian

test unit in the machine.

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Thanks zippy!

You bet bro.

Thx wombat

Hi Mustangpaul,
they do get painted from the inside. I had some thoughts of putting the NASA symbol on it but an american flag will look great too. Thinking that maybe a water slide decal would work best on the outside. I also want to add a light some how. the trick is the station can, and does turn 360 degrees, so you couldn't have any wires running to it or they would snap off. You would need some sort of contact fingers.

Thanks Bill,
Those are exactly the type of design I was thinking.

Brian

Thanks for posting RCA, Glad you like it.

We are going to make a few in a two part clear resin to see how it'll turn out. I'll be sure to post a few pictures. Hopefully that will happen this week. Hard to work on pins when it's so nice outside!

Brian

<blockquote cite="#952136"
are familiar with dry brush painting? you paint the darker layer first then the lighter over it, if you used black first then maybe a grey then dry brushed over it with white it might give it a more death star look. Oh dry brush you get the brush wet with paint then whipe most of it off till it barely lays down color, I used to do this for painting warhamer 40k figures then clear to seal the paint so it wont flake off.
Thanks for the painting tips Skill_shot.

The ramp does hide the motor assembly for the station and a kicker coil. My ramp was beat to hell and I had to use Ed Cheung's repair "guide" to fix it. I think it came out pretty good. I'll have to post pictures of that later.

Brian

just a quick update. I was hoping to get a second run of the station with a better/clear center window. We wanted to remake a better mold but it'll have to wait a few because my friend is in the middle of working another tv show and the project had to be put on the back burner.(they pay a little better than I do ) Although now that I know how to make these molds I may try one myself. He did leave me some supplies to give it a shot. That's the best way to learn and gain experience. Jump right in with both feet!

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Hi Guys,
Not much of an update here because life has gotten in the way a little but I wanted to introduce the guy that helped me make the mold for this. His name is Danny Phillips and he will be on season six of Faceoff. Here is his profile if anybody likes and watches the show. I know I'll be cheering him on. The first show of the new season is Tuesday 1-14.

http://www.syfy.com/faceoff/contestants/daniel_phillips

Brian

Working on the new mold. Hopefully I'll have some new and better stations formed this weekend.

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The new and improved Vacuum forms are made and I'll be making a few test stations this weekend. Fingers crossed!

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Hi Tony, hopefully I'll have some very soon. I know I keep saying this so I apologize to everyone that's been waiting. I'm trying to get the best possible results.
Brian

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Hi Tony, (I posted this in the other thread so I just copied my reply here also.)

I have been planning and trying to make some more but life has been crazy busy and pinball has taken a bit of a back seat since my wife and I adopted a baby a year ago this May. But now that things are somewhat returning to normal (as in sleep) I'm finding more time to work on things and I hope to get some more of these out real soon.
sorry it's been taking so long everybody,
Brian

Small update. I've been having issues with getting the clear windows in the middle to form flat and clear with the molds I have. So I'm going to try a different approach. I made a new mold with that area open. I'll be forming a few tonight and report back how they look.
Brian

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Just a small update, the new mold is very promising. Now I need to test out some thicker material. I'm so glad the long weekend is coming up so I can monkey around with this some more and get this project finished!

Brian

it would still have the clear part. Basically the same looking part. With the old mold I was having trouble pulling this section down nice and flat. With it open now, it draws down really nice. I was concerned with the holes of the former making dimples in this area but I can block those off so that it doesn't happen.

I will update everybody on the progress of the stations by this weekend 7/4. I'll either have a bunch made and ready to go, or all my hair will be pulled out and I'll throw in the towel! At which point I'll send my molds to Freeplay40 and have him pump them out. He's done a great job with the ramps so far!

Getting closer....these new molds are getting better results for sure. Had a crease in this sample but the plastic is nice and clear looking. Still need to get more definition on the top.

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