TK560.com Blog

2011-11-28T08:42:00.001-08:00

Check out some of the items I have available for sale. New stuff is listed all the time. I'm having to use ebay for now, I hope to get my catalog page back up soon.

ebay auctions by jegner

Found some stuff for sale

2011-11-10T14:57:00.001-08:00

During the move out of the studio, I boxed up a few misc. items, and I hope to have some of them available in the coming weeks for sale. Please stand by. I don't have many copies, but I do have some neat items. I may end up listing them on ebay just to make it easy on me. Stay tuned.

More Pics from JPRS

2011-10-26T18:34:00.001-07:00

Pics from JPRS

2011-10-26T18:29:00.000-07:00

Life's curve ball!

2011-09-03T08:53:00.001-07:00

Well, life has thrown me a major cure ball, something I thought would never happen. I can't go into details, but things are changing, and I don't know what will happen next. Stay tuned, and as I can add details, I will.

Things are changing!

2011-08-16T12:33:00.000-07:00

There are some things going on right now at the TK560.com studios, and for now, at least, I won't be updating too often. A big announcement will be forthcoming I hope very soon. So stay tuned as I work on the next big thing.

Redneck AC

2011-08-06T15:28:00.000-07:00

My next gadget project is a 'redneck AC' and is run off a solar power cell/battery. Fill the cooler with ice, turn the fan on, and out blows nice cool air!

Busy Weekend

2011-08-06T15:27:00.000-07:00

Today I worked on 3 projects. Since it's been 100 degrees F. for the last, oh, I don't know month, I decided to make some cheap fun and educational gadgets.

Here is the first, a Zeer pot, or Flower Pot refrigerator.

Made a folding buck saw...easy!

2011-07-19T12:05:00.000-07:00

This all started when I got the idea to make some gifts for some fellow campers. This is a prototype, and the final version will be even more streamlined, and lightweight.

Summer hiatus.

2011-07-13T20:37:00.000-07:00

Well, it's been 100 degrees F. here for so long now, and my yard is dead, burnt to a crisp. I'm having to take some time off from prop and costume making to work on other projects. I should be able to work about one day a month until the end of August. Forgive me if it takes a long time to get things done.

Finishing touches

2011-04-18T07:51:00.001-07:00

Well, I am finishing the rebuild on the RFT blaster, and should have some molds done soon. I have some time this week to work on it, and I hope to have a prototype ready by the end of the weekend.

US military adopts 1911 as official side arm 100 years ago today.

2011-03-29T09:31:00.001-07:00

New month, new project

2011-03-07T14:49:00.000-08:00

Well, March is here, and in a few days, I'm off for Spring Break. I'll be pretty busy, with a bathroom remodel, some downtime with my buds, and a new prop project too.

The DH-17, or Rebel Fleet Trooper Blaster is going to be done up next. By request from the good folks over on the Rebel Legion board, the process is as follows:

Step One: Make silicone mold of my converted Hasbro nerf gun.
Step Two: Cast a tooling resin from the new mold.
Step Three: Modify tooling resin casting with my own Sterling L2A3 Endcap and grip assembly. [Remember I use to sell the E-11 kits, back a few years ago, and still have my original E-11 built from all real parts to take molds off of]
Step Four: Chop up the Hasbro casting, stretching it in the proper places.
Step Five: Resculpt the trigger guard to be less dorky looking than the film version, but more robust than the original Sterling L2A3.
Step Six: Redesign the scope's clear front tip so that it can be cast in a clear resin, then glued on.
Step Seven: Make new silicone mold of the scope tip, and blaster.
Step Eight: Cast new version.

Thats going to basically be the process. Stay tuned!

First batch are in the mail.

2011-01-21T06:16:00.001-08:00

The first batch of these bunker buster prop kits are in the mail. I have done some more research on the cryptic runes that appear on the back side of this prop, and I should have a download graphic ready in a day or two.

For more info and ordering these, I should have them added to the regular catalog page in a few days, but for now, you can get your own here:

TK560's catalog page

Bunker Busters are almost ready for 'prime time'

2011-01-03T06:34:00.000-08:00

Well, I have made some progress, and am happy with the mold. I did several test castings, and to be honest none of them are exactly what I wanted to use in this application.

1 FlexFoam-It V is cool, but forget trying to make anything out of it with any sort of surface detail. Works great for Nerf foam balls, and fake scenery, but stinks for this applications.

2. Foam-It-8 is a cool product, and I can see lots of uses for it, might even cast a lightweight blaster from the stuff, but, I expect these 'Bunker Busters' to be tossed around a lot, and stuck on cars, doors, and such and these do break pretty easily. [I tested one with my 5 year old. Did not survive a few tosses] If we want to do some feather weight ones, this can be used for sure, but can not be tossed around or it will break easily.

3. Smooth-Cast 65D is an awesome material. Very resistant to chips, and breaks, and may become my new 'go-to' resin for general casting. Down side is, that even hollow, it's still heavier than the foam version.

4. Smooth-Cast 45D is another awesome material, and it can take a dye, if we wanted to do these in black. It is also very resistant to chips or cracks.

5. Feather Light. I am still testing this. Cure time is a bummer, 2 hours. Strength is not yet determined. Weight is still unknown.

Here are some pics of the test so far:

Mold is done! Started test castings.

2010-12-24T12:23:00.000-08:00

Well, the mold is done, and I have made a couple of test castings. So far so good, but these will be a composite, and I don't yet have a good feel of the proper materials. Currently I am using Foam-It 8 for the core and SmoothCast45D for the bottom ring.

Sneak peek at the Commando Bunker Buster

2010-12-19T12:25:00.001-08:00

Here is a sneak peek at the mold pattern for the Commando Bunker Buster prop.

Maybe this weekend

2010-12-10T06:54:00.000-08:00

Well, I am lining out some options to remake the mold, and maybe this weekend I will find the time to get that done. If not, maybe in the coming weeks.

More work to do

2010-10-20T18:37:00.000-07:00

Wel, that didn't work. I'm trying to combine a couple of molds into one, to simplify the casting and assembly, and it is eating my lunch! If all goes well, I should have a real working prototype by Halloween, assuming my other projects don't get in my way. Pics coming soon!

Not so fast!

2010-10-14T13:21:00.000-07:00

Well, the silicone molds were poured for the Rebel Commando detonator charge, but the hollow cylinder mold failed. Back to the drawing board. I thought I could vac form it, but that did not work. Too much webbing. Then, I thought I could make a rubber mold, but I tried to over simplify it, and that failed. Now, I have to make a 2-3 part mold. Getting closer, maybe this weekend, I can have a prototype done.

Almost done!

2010-09-27T14:36:00.000-07:00

Well the Commando Detonator project is almost done. The masters have been made, and silicone molds are being poured this week. I should have a vac-form tooling mold ready in a few days. If that does not work, I will have the silicone mold for casting resin versions, so either way, I've got it covered.

I hope to have a cost estimate in a few weeks. This will be a nifty additon to the Rebel Commando costume. I think with a little creativity, these could also make nifty refrigerator maganets!

Another Prop

2010-08-27T12:12:00.000-07:00

This time, it's another prop requested a few months ago from my buddy Don T. It's a recreation of a detonator charge from RTOJ, the kind you saw the rebels use against the bunker on Endor. This is a total scratch build using a fragile sample as a scale guide and reference, but all the parts are going to be made for either vacuum forming, or as a resin cast, I have not decided which way to try and go with it.

Thanks about all for now.

Back from Alaska!

2010-08-19T08:13:00.000-07:00

We just got back from a nice vacation trip to Alaska. Lots of wildlife, beautiful scenery, and great fishing! Here are some pictures:

For more pictures, visit: Alaska 2010

Downtime

2010-07-31T05:43:00.000-07:00

Now and until August 11, I will will not be able to do much on the site or to fill any orders placed after July 28.

Been busy

2010-07-22T07:53:00.000-07:00

Wow, June is gone and July is almost over. I am still working on the 'super secret' project. I can't give you too many clues as to what is is, but I think the 'commandos' are going to like it.

Bruce Campbell soup can labels

2010-06-23T13:29:00.000-07:00

I don't usually post too much about 'paper' props, but I thought these were cute.

More here: http://scifiwire.com/pics/BruceCampbellsSoupLabels-scifiwire.pdf

Starting a new project

2010-06-21T08:33:00.000-07:00

Well, time to get started on a new project, and this time it's going to be the bomb/mine used in RTOJ by the Endor Commandos to blow up the shield generator. The Sunrider Base has been kind enough to allow me to examine one of theirs, a kit that was in poor condition and it is my intention to use this as a scale reference only. And to recreate that prop from the ground up. Stay tuned as I chronicle this process.

Testing new templates

2010-06-11T10:05:00.001-07:00

Well, it looks like Blogger has changed the page templates right in the middle of me working on this site. So I'm still having issues with the look of the site. I was pretty close to what I wanted, then things changed.

2010-06-07T08:56:00.000-07:00

Here is my video of how to vacuum form:

2010-06-07T08:55:00.002-07:00

Here is my video on RTV silicone mold making:

2010-06-07T08:55:00.001-07:00

Here is my video of resin casting:

2010-06-07T08:53:00.000-07:00

Here is my video of the MDF mold making.

First post

2010-06-04T11:09:00.000-07:00

Well, after over 5 years on line, www.tk560.com has started using blogger. Watch here for updates. Until I get things set up, please check out my YouTube Page. Thanks! And I hope to be adding lots of content very soon.