October UFO Sightings in the Workshop

I'm back in the shop after all of the madness of Maker Faire and Wasteland Weekend.  More on that once I'm done processing all of the photos and stories.

As usual, I came back to the shop to find a solid scattering of works in progress.  In addition to a couple of projects I can't talk about just yet, I have a typical array of UnFinished Objects (UFOs) stacking up in the shop and just itching for some completion.

Here's just a few of the things I get to work on in the coming weeks and months...

Here's just a glimpse at one of the benches in the shop:

The big, rusty beast you see there is the current in-progress copy of the T-60 Power Armor out of the same molds we used to make a couple of suits for Season One of Fallout on Amazon Prime.  I'd scrapped much of my original build from those molds in favor of making another lighter, more wearable set.  This way I can have a showroom copy to stand in the office.  

Right now it looks like so:

We had it on display at the Maker Faire, but now the helmet is back in the office while the rest of the suit gets put together:


On an unrelated note, a while back I decided to start collaborating with a few new 3D modelers and got one of them, called CassiusProps, started on this helmet:

This is the Ultimate Ironman helmet from the alternate story arc that came out a few years back.  I didn't know much about it before they released the Marvel Legends figure version of it.  Then I decided I needed to have a wearable version of it.  The helmet came out pretty good, so I got him started on the rest of the armor.  Here's the current state of the 3D model:

This isn't the first thing I've had CassiusProps model for me.  I also had him draw up a Warhammer 40K Aeldari Warlock Sword:

While it's not small in Rachel's hands, it becomes downright massive when you hand it to my eight year old nephew:


It'll go great with the helmet we made a while ago, also modeled by CassiusProps:

While I've been trying out new 3D sculptors, I've also had Jacob Morin (who did a bunch of the modeling for my Techpriest build: LINK) making parts for my Cobra BAT costume:

Jacob has been making quick work of all of the wearable parts of the ensemble.  Here's an in-progress pic of the chest plate:

While he's done all of the modeling for the wearable parts, I also had the pistol modeled by Zander Brandt.  Here's my first test print:


It's a bit of a beast though, so I'm re-printing it in a slightly smaller scale so I don't look like a little kid holding a Desert Eagle.

In completely unrelated news, I've dusted off my Space Marine molds and gotten a start on this exciting new build:

It's going to be a big boy and I can't wait to show off the results of the finished project.

So that's the big stack of UnFinished Objects right now.  We've also got some Combat Garden Gnomes in progress and I'm making occasional progress whittling away at the sequel to my book.

Stay tuned...

Upcoming Appearances in the Real World

I'm still neglecting my bloggage, but in case you follow me here I figured I'd let you know that I've got a couple of things coming up that will get me out of my cave.

First up, this weekend will be the Bay Area Maker Faire over in Vallejo, California at the former Mare Island Naval Shipyard.  Last year I set up a modest display: 


We also had the whole crew there to answer questions, demonstrate a few techniques, and tell you all about all of our build projects over the years.  This year will be similar, but bigger and better with more people walking around in costume.  Stop by, say hi, get a signed copy of my book, and see what we've been up to.  Details about the event here: LINK

Then I'm off to Wasteland Weekend.  If you're there, you'll see me out and about on this contraption:

Flag me down and I'll let you ride my red rocket.

If you've never heard about Wasteland Weekend, you've probably lived a bland and unfulfilling life.  Get yourself right and upgrade your sad existence by clicking here: LINK.

Then, shortly after I get back, I'll be one of the panel of judges for a cosplay & costume model design contest being run by Snapmaker during the lead up to LA Comic Con.  You can see details here: https://space.snapmaker.com/en/contest/3?name=cosplay-costume-model-design-contest

Design your printable cosplay parts, set them up as .3MF files for 3D printing, and show off the finished result.  You get a chance to be judged by me, and there's also prizes including cash or a Snapmaker U1 3D printer and two free passes to LA Comic Con.

Lots of projects in the works lately so hopefully I'll sit down long enough to actually tell you all about our latest builds for Magic Wheelchair, Games Workshop, our own goofy prop and costume projects, and all the other madness along the way.

Stay tuned...

Warhammer 40K Techpriest Cosplays from Space Marine 2

 A couple of years ago I decided to get myself the Xbox Series X.  I'm a pretty awful gamer and don't really have a lot of time to play, but I already had an irresponsibly large flatscreen TV and it seemed like a nice treat to treat myself with a game console.

I didn't even take it out of the box for the first few months.  

Then Space Marine 2 dropped.  It had been thirteen years since the first Space Marine video game had launched and done such an amazing job of capturing the scale and brutaility of the Warhammer 40K universe.  That was one of my all-time favorite video games.  So when the sequel came out I took the next two days off to do nothing else but slash my way through the swarms of Tyranids, bathing in the blood of my enemies and loving every minute of it.

There's a lot of gorgous elements to the game and I ended up with a whole new cosplay build list.  For some reason, I decided to start with these guys:

Here's the finished result:

To see how we maked them, read on...

SEAL Gnomes, Ready to Deploy!

Combat Garden Gnomes are always developing new ways to bring the fight to their enemies.  As their adversaries evolve and operational conditions change, it's more important than ever to have gnomes that can operate in any environment on SEa, Air, and Land.  

Enter the GNOME SEALS:

Gnome SEa, Air, and Land (SEAL) Teams, commonly known as Gnome SEALs, are the Combat Garden Gnomes' primary special operations force under the Commander of Gnome Special Warfare, or "COMGNOMESPECWAR" for short. Among the Gnome SEAL's main functions are conducting small-unit special operation missions in pond, lake, puddle, garden, jungle, patio, sidewalk, arctic, mountainous, and desert environments. Gnome SEALs are typically tasked with capturing or killing high-level targets, surveying beaches prior to amphibious landings, or gathering intelligence behind enemy lines.

This little operator is posed just coming ashore, having deployed from a highly classified underwater asset.  He's kneeling in the surf with his rebreather regulator still in his mouth and his swim fins hooked on his left wrist so he can rapidly redeploy back into the sea without a moment's hesitation.

Combat Garden Gnomes are scaled to stand just under a foot tall.  They weigh around four pounds.  These guys are posed in a kneeling firing position, so they're right around eight inches tall.  These ones come armed with a silenced MP5SD submachine gun for rapid fire, close quarters, room clearing action.  

Order one (or a whole platoon) today at thorssoli.etsy.com

If the Etsy shop is too cluttered, you're looking for this listing: LINK

More silliness to come, stay tuned.

Building the Storefront Facade for Kepler Kritters

So last month we wrapped up the mad rush to build a bunch of little alien pets to sell at our vendor booth at Neotropolis.  The only thing that was missing for the cute little alien pet store was the store itself. 

While I could've possibly gotten away with making it work on the cheap with some draping and shelves to replicate an old-world street market or bazaar aesthetic, I really wanted to class it up quite a bit more.  I needed something that would pass for a proper brick and mortar storefront.

I'd spent most of the month saying at least once a day, "I should really get started on that storefront build," while also not actually getting started on it every single day.  It finally came down to the Thursday of the week before the event when I finally said, "Oh golly, I'm almost out of time."  

That's not an exact quote, but you get the idea.

If there's one thing I've learned over the years it's that if you wait until the last minute, it'll only take a minute to get it done.  While the other, more vital parts of the project were given plenty of time to come to life and get all the polishing they needed, the storefront would be a much quicker build with the appropriate application of elbow grease and stress sweat.

So around 1pm I got started with a small pile of lumber and a big pile of grit and set to work.

Here's how you make a storefront from scratch in an afternoon...

Step 1: Cut you some wood.

I used 1x3 Douglas Fir for framing lumber.  No reason to get too fancy, especially since nobody will ever get to see the framing again once it's all said and done.

Step 2: Frame up a doorway panel.

Cause ain't nobody coming in to buy shit if they can't come in.

Step 3: put some skin on that biatch!

Biatches love skin.  In this case, the skin is 1/4" underlayment plywood.  It's cheap and smooth and lightweight.  Just like I like 'em.

With the skin glued and stapled in place, I use a router with a panel trim bit to cut the excess bit of skin off of the edges.

Step 4: rip some wiggle wood on the table saw.

Wiggle wood,  also known as Curve-Ply, Flexply, Wacky Wood, is made out of veneers with the layers all running in one direction, this allows bend-ability to the panel and can be applied on a curved radius.

With a bit of care, you can bend it to fit some pretty tight corners. 

Step 5: flip that doorway biatch!

Step 6: find middle on the wiggle wood strip.

That middle.

Step 7: glue and staple wiggle wood at points of tangency to give that doorway a little sci-fi shizz.

I started this process by stapling the middle of the wiggle wood strip to the middle of the doorway opening frame.  Then pushed one side up against the side of the frame until it looked like the curve was about circular.  Then I pinned it in place on that side.  Then I measured from the corner to the point of tangency on the side.  Then from the point of tangency to the end of the wiggle wood strip.  Those two measurements were copied for the other side to ensure that, even if I didn't make a proper quarter of a circle, at least the sides would be symmetrical.

To keep the arch in place and keep me from waiting, I use CA glue to hold the wiggle wood to the skin underneath:


I can go back and staple the wiggle wood in place if I'm worried about extra strength, but it probably won't be neccessary.

I use a lot of this glue.

Step 8: realize that you don't have any sheet stock the same thickness as the wiggle wood and trim the area below it with whatever bullshit you can find in the scrap bin.

I'm off by about 1/32" here, but I won't tell anybody if you don't.

Step 9: skin that biatch again.

Since people will see these panels from both sides, we don't get to leave the framing exposed.

Step 10: cut some little woods.

Most people with little wood won't show it to you, but I have no shame.

Step 11: frame you up a snazzy window-havin' panel.

You want windows, so the people outside the store can see the people inside the store and feel all left out.  Losers.

Step 12: skin that biatch too.

Step 13: chase down Geri the asshole when he wanders out the gate.

Step 14: repeat steps 11 and 12 until you have enough window panels.  In this case, two is enough.

Somewhere in there I realized that the little glue bottle I was using was holding me back from reaching my full potential.  So I went to the cabinet and took out the big bottle.  This, truly, is the glue bottle of the Gods...

Step 15: flip those muthafuggin windows panels!

It's time to make the window holes cooler looking and you can't do that with the skin in the way.

Step 16: rip some more bullshit on the table saw.

Step 17: use wiggle wood and tangency and bullshit and brawn and racetrack-shape them sunsabitches!

The window holes were made into racetrack shapes, the same way the top of the doorway was done.  The main difference being that they were smaller and I had to round off the top and bottom ends.

This I did twice.  On account of having two windows.  

I'm smart like that.

Step 18: skin. Biatches!

Step 19: put that business up on sawhorses because it'll prolly stay flat now and ow, my back and knees!

No idea why I didn't do this sooner.  Maybe I'm not so bright after all.

Step 20: Dine!

Fuel for the fight!  This is how we win.

Step 21: decide the wall should be tall and cut more woods.

Step 22: frame up skinny little window bastard.

Above the door there will be a big ole window with the store name stuck to it so folks can know what we're all about.  Supposing them folks can read.

Step 23: skin that biatch with some leftover biatch skin scraps.

This panel was exactly the wrong size to be able to skin it on both sides with one sheet of plywood.  So I opted instead to use whatever off-cuts we had handy and bondo over the ugly bits later.

Step 24: racetrack like a boss, you basterd!

By now I pretty much had this whole round-ended hole thing dialed.

Step 25: Skin sign panel side two with more bullshit.

Step 26: the top piece isn't as wide as the bottom three. So you have to frame up two even smaller basterds.

Idiot.

But really, the whole storefront would come out to ten feet wide.  So making the upper section in three parts made them easy to pack and store and transport and handle and also meant the seams in the upper section would not align with the seams in the lower section.  This makes for a sturdier finished piece.  Like brickwork.

Step 27: skin them little basterd biatches.

It'll be hard to paint the surface if there is no surface.

Step 28: dinnertime for the puptards.

As long as there's a pause in productivity, don't forget to hydrate!

Step 29: stab a biatch.

Sometimes they're just asking for it.

Step 30: get ye the mighty panel trimming bit, fire up the router, and make that fucker earn its pay.

Step 31: window Mofo!


Do the same for the other side:

I absolutely love this router bit.  It does a great job of making you look like you really know what you're doing.

Step 32: do that window cutout thing with the doorway, mofo!

Yeah.


Oh yeah.


OH MY GOD, YEAH!


Repeat for the other side of the doorway.


Nobody is going to be satisfied if you only do it once.

At least that's been my experience.

Step 33: Upper window, Mofo!

Since there was a gap in middle of the skin on this piece, you don't have to stab it.


You can if you want to, it's just not necessary.



Step 34: Upper window, Mofo!

At this point, you are done making sawdust.  Sweep the floor, you slob.

Step 35: stack the pieces, marvel at the progress, and dream up tomorrow's plan for completion.


So that was about five or six hours worth of work to design and build the storfront facade pieces.  

A couple days later, the pieces got a quick pass with bondo and sanding to fill in the staple holes and cover the raw edges of the plywood inside the door and window holes:


We also covered over the ugly seams in the window panel, as promised.

'Cause around here, we keep our promises, dammit.

Once the bondo and sanding was done, the parts got a coat of primer.  The plan was to do this outside, but then the rain said, "no.  Not today.  I don't think so."

So each piece was primed and then set up on sawhorses to dry.


Of course, I don't have room in the woodshop for each piece to get its own set of sawhorses, so they were all stacked on the same pair of sawhorses with a gap between them for airflow.




To keep them from tipping over and making me sad, I screwed a scrap of plywood to one end of them to they could lovingly support one another.


It took three coats of primer.


Before that, the wood was soaking up so much material that the color would never look right.


Once the primer was dry, the outside faces were painted a very light grey.


The last thing we had time for before we had to pack up and head to Neotropolis was to put the lettering on the sign window.  Here's the vinyl lettering all cut out and weeded.


Here's the look in the middle of the transfer process.


And the final sign panel with all of the backing paper removed.


There's still a lot of improvement, but when you consider that the whole thing was designed, built, painted, and lettered up in less than ten total man-hours, I'm pretty happy with the end result.

Next year we'll be making some upgrades.  But for now, we have wall.

Stay tuned...