SP Alpha: Episode II

Hey, everybody. I picked up my barrel components yesterday at Home Depot. I bought two 10' pieces of 1/2" diameter electrical PVC (the only difference from the normal, gloss white PVC being a flat gray surface...which I suspect will take the primer better).



I also picked up a 24x24 inch piece of 1/4" plywood for the barrels' support/structure discs, and cut the discs out. The disc diameter I used is roughly 4.6 inches (nearly 12 cm). Unfortunately, there is some variation from disc to disc, but that shouldn't matter in the long run. I also cut a slightly larger section out to use as a template for the 'base' disc (the part that the barrel sections will fit into, not through...which will mount directly to the motor shaft and receiver). The size of the base disc template is 4.9 inches (12.4 cm), as of right now, though I may increase or decrease that number once I've chosen an adequate piece of wood to cut the actual disc from (something thick enough to seat the barrels at least 3/4" deep).




To make a template for barrel hole placement, use the instructions found here (that's what I did, making necessary adjustments for disc size). The 30°, 60°, 60°, 30° (starting at 180° from the x-axis) method seems to work very well, although I did change the distance from the discs' edge to 1 cm.


Here's a pic of my rough template:





Tonight, I sanded the discs down and rounded the edges somewhat. If you accidentally chip the plywood (which is very easy to do with a Dremel, so be careful) don't worry too much...makes for great weathering!


Soon I'll be ready to drill the holes in the discs and do a dry fitting, just to make sure everything lines up. Then I'll glue everything together and begin work on the AC to DC power conversion so I can test this beastie.


Oh, BTW...I just got my chest/butt armor in the mail today! Couldn't resist posting a few pics:









-Josh "Fordo" Ford
(a.k.a. Mand'alor on TDH forums)

Sub-Project Alpha

'Sup folks.

I've begun work on Mereel's primary weapon, the Merr-Sonn Munitions, Inc. Z-6 Rotary Blaster Cannon (featured in the Clone Wars microseries and Karen Traviss' novel Republic Commando: Triple Zero). Here's a screenshot from the microseries for your viewing pleasure:

Obviously, I'll be streamlining the design a bit...adapting it from the somewhat crude (yet fantastic) animation of the cartoon. And that's leaving out the practical reasons! I'll be utilizing a Black & Decker BV2500 leaf blower as the base component (pics below):

Here's a concept sketch of what I hope the Z-6 will look like when I've finished:

(No need to needle me on the barrels...I already know they're 'bent'. I guess more art classes are in order, eh?) I'll be working on the internal modifications next, as well as the 'joystick' handgrip (and the trigger mechanism to fit inside it) and the power supply conversion (from AC to DC). After that, the barrel assembly will be up at bat. More pics and/or updates coming soon.

-Josh "Fordo" Ford

(a.k.a. Mand'alor on TDH forums)

Su'cuy!

Greetings, folks!

This happens to be the inaugural post of my effort to document this...uh...project. That is, my first attempt to create a suit of Mandalorian armor. But (and this is an important 'but', so pay attention!) this not just any Mandalorian armor... this is an extensive extrapolation of a character featured in the novel Republic Commando: Triple Zero, by Karen Traviss.

His designation was Null ARC Trooper Lieutenant N-7, a.k.a. "Mereel." A black-ops soldier in the Grand Army of the Republic, his fate is not officially known beyond the currently released novels (lucky for me, eh?). This is where my 'extrapolation project' begins. I have created a continuation of Mereel's story...a sequel, if you will:

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Immediately prior to the conclusion of the Clone Wars, Null-7 (Mereel) accompanied Kal Skirata and his fellow Null ARCs on the hunt for Ko Sai and the data on clone aging. When Kal Skirata (a.k.a Kal'buir, or "Papa Kal") and the Nulls located Ko Sai and the data, they were able to adapt the information to a workable medical application (hormone treatments) that decellerated the clones' aging process. After the transmission of Order 66, Skirata and the Nulls went to ground, as they did not wish to assassinate the Jedi they had come to respect, if not obey. Following the Clone Wars, N-7 Mereel, with the help of Kal Skirata, crafted a suit of black and blue Mandalorian armor...which closely resembled the ARC Lieutenant's armor he had worn during the Clone Wars.

He, like many of his brothers who survived the war, became a bounty hunter in the Mandalorian tradition. While most of Mereel's contracts remained intentionally shrouded in secrecy, a tendency that hailed back to his black-ops training, Mandalore Boba Fett eventually learned (albeit indirectly) of his existence while searching for the aging cure, himself. Whether or not the two will meet remains to be seen.

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Taking inspiration from Karen Traviss' novel(s), as well as from many Mando'ade of the past, I will be crafting a set of armor and various accessories unlike any seen previously in the Mando community.

Of course, that's a whole lot of talk. The real test will be seeing how far I get before gray matter begins to dribble from my earholes.

But seriously, folks...I'd appreciate any thoughts and/or comments you might have along the way. This is going to be a long, arduous journey...but also an enjoyable one.

If I don't crack my fiberglass butt-plate in half on the first day.

*Grin*

In any case, thanks for your interest.


Sincerely,

Josh "Fordo" Ford
(a.k.a. Mand'alor on TDH forums)