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 Posted 8/26/2016 6:19:40 PM |
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Has NO LIFE!!
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HOW TO BUILD PROXY TIRES; tire substitutes and why would I want to?
Think of a proxy tire/wheel as a stand in double for a real tire and wheel.
There are several benefits to using proxy tires/wheels.
You can make a cheap stand-in for the movie original tires/wheels out
of wood and mount it on your donor/build vehicle instead of buying the
real tires/wheels for thousands of dollars and then maybe finding out
they are not suitable to your build. The second benefit is that proxy
tires/wheels allow you to fit and build around them. I will be using a
set of proxy tires/wheels on my TUMBLER to set front axle lengths,
wheels/tires, and nose assembly clearances, as I will be substituting
Mickey Thompsons for the Hoosier dirt tires. I will also use Proxy
tires/wheels on my BvS DOJ Batmobile, once I have my donor Dodge Ram
1500 truck stripped down to build around. The third reason to use
proxy tires/wheels instead of the real tires/wheels when building
around the tires is to avoid accidental damage to the real tires. It
does not take much; a grinder/saw/screwdriver/punch/drill/welding
torch/hot metal slip into a tire sidewall could destroy a tire costing
hundreds of dollars. I hope to build a set of proxy tires for my
Tumbler front this weekend and will photograph the process for those
of you who don’t already know how to build proxy tires.
vertigo
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| Posted 8/28/2016 6:00:27 PM |
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Has NO LIFE!!
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Cut out the wood parts for my Tumbler's front proxy tires. Measuring and cutting took about 2-1/2 hours. Expect to have 3-hours, or so in each proxy tire/wheel before I'm finished. Same process will be used for my DOJ Batmobile's tires. Will assemble them tomorrow. Once assembled I will cover the tread and inside wheel area with cardboard since they are for just for operational clearance measuring and checking. The one's I build for the DOJ will have the tread and inside wheel area covered with sheet metal roof flashing since I will be welding around them. vertigo
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| Posted 8/29/2016 6:31:22 PM |
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Has NO LIFE!!
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Assembled the proxy wheel frames. One big advantage to the proxy wheel is that you are free to experiment with wheel backsets before ordering a custom wheel/tire. You may even find the tire/wheel you were considering was totally useless. A proxy wheel costs 25-30.00 each to build. A small price to experiment with tires/wheels before buying the real tires/wheels which likely would be in the thousands.
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| Posted 8/30/2016 4:48:59 PM |
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Has NO LIFE!!
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Since we are on the subject of PROXY BUILDING TECHNIQUES, might as
well cover another. Once I have stripped down my Dodge Ram 1500 donor
vehicle I will be using other aspects of the PROXY METHOD. I am
currently planning to build a proxy frame on my donor vehicle out of
wood. Once I’m satisfied with the frame design in wood, I will conform
it into steel; exchanging wood for metal. The B v S DOJ Batmobile will
require a complex, above and below frame, built around the donor Dodge
Ram’s frame. I would much rather experiment, design/re-design, and
correct my mistakes in wood than steel. This way I should only have to
cut my steel parts one time; conforming them to the fitted wood
pieces. Using PROXY building techniques in this case will not increase
the time needed to build this vehicle, rather they will shorten the
build time, if all those errors, that will surely be made, are in wood
instead of steel. I most likely will not build the wood frame to
completion, before conforming into metal, but rather complete the
PROXY wood building in logical sections, conforming them in steel as I
go along. vertigo
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| Posted 9/5/2016 6:17:48 PM |
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Has NO LIFE!!
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Proxy tires covered in cardboard.
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| Posted 9/21/2016 6:15:12 PM |
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Has NO LIFE!!
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I put a copy of this post on this thread because of the material relevancy of foam rubber and latex to other project building.
SO, WHAT IS THE LIFE EXPECTANCY OF THESE FOAM RUBBER AND LATEX FIGURES
There are many opinions online that range between two and twenty five years.
Here is what I have taken from the debate.
Because latex is an organic rubber, it will break down over time with
exposure to heat, UV light, and oils. Display these statues out of
direct and indirect sunlight, while avoiding artificial UV lighting.
Try to keep the temperature around seventy degrees and the humidity
around 50%. Quite a few said to avoid contamination from animal,
vegetable, and petroleum oils and to avoid excessive touching of the
figures but did not elaborate further on that implication.
The quality of the foam rubber and latex is also a major factor. If
the Chinese manufacturer went very cheap on the stuff the figure may
not last five years, no matter what you do to protect it from
environmental insults. vertigo
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| Posted 9/22/2016 6:18:50 PM |
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Has NO LIFE!!
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I put a copy of this post on this thread because of the material
relevancy of plastic durability and life expectancy characteristics to
other project building. vertigo
After reading about the life expectancy of foam and latex life sized
Batman related figures I decided to take a look at all the other
figure materials and life expectancies.
LIFESPAN OF MINIATURES, FIGURES, MODELS, AND TOYS MADE FROM PLASTICS,
RESINS, AND SIMILAR MATERIALS. By Jimmy Joutaporas
“This isn't strictly related to figures as such, but since many of
those are made of plastic some might find this interesting. And I'm
most likely not the only one here who also collects collectible toys.
So, I was just trying to find information about deterioration of
Mattel MOTC-line and I came up with this disturbing information.
Even though plastic models might last like 50-60 years or more, there
are some things that are a bit worrying and all this made me think
about the future of my number one hobby; my miniatures and figures.
Some of them are made of metal but since there are lots of plastic
models, I'm just curious how all this could affect painted plastic
collections. Slightly relieving thing is that the layers of paint
could actually protect plastic models. And many figures are made of
harder plastic than soft PVC. It is bad enough to learn about this
kind of a new and existing threat that might face your toy collection.
I just wish it wouldn't effect to "everything" so easily. Then again,
how foolish to think that plastic or other materials (save some few)
would last "forever". Most likely nothing does. Though I kind of hoped
that I could pass at least some of my best works and favorite
collectibles to a future generation, preferably to my children (should
I ever have any, and not to mention that they would even care the same
stuff as their dad does).
Obviously different paints and other coatings might have their own
impact (good and bad). And who knows how well different paints and
sealers will eventually hold, but at least then you will be able to
paint the model again, if the model itself is ok (though in some cases
that would be a feat for heroes or the mad only).
Doesn't this really depend on the quality of the material used to make
the piece and manufacturers using combinations of different materials
to cut costs? Most of the figures and models mentioned in articles are
not really that old and some companies in recent years have said
manufacturing processes are getting more expensive, so they use cheap
crap to increase their profit margins. Often mass produced stuff of
the last two decades seems to be more effected by this than anything
else, so obviously major release Marvel and DC figures are at more
risk to suffer a lot more than your old GI Joes or your more recent
collector series Hell Raiser figures.
My transformers are also mostly 26 to 28 years old, and minus the
normal sticker wear etc. I have not seen any actual deterioration.
That is always a good sign. It is just a shame that some manufacturers
are using such crappy materials. For most of that stuff is very
collector oriented, so as a collector I would assume to get quality
products. Hopefully my more expensive TF-toys and Sideshow 12" G.I.
Joes are made from better materials. Can't really always say what
materials these figure manufacturers using these days.”
Jimmy Joutaporas
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| Posted 9/23/2016 7:32:14 PM |
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Has NO LIFE!!
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I put a copy of this post on this thread because of the material
relevancy of plastic durability and life expectancy characteristics to
other project building. vertigo
The Mystery of the Plastic Mist
Jimmy Joutaporas
“I was digging out some of the DCUC and Movie Masters figures the
other day and found several of them–particularly Deathstroke,
Nightwing and Movie Masters Batman Begins Batman–were covered with
that oily, misty substance. There was a lot of discussion of this
after DCUC Wave 3–apparently the worst offender for this issue and in
doing some research, I came across this informative Fwoosh post by
user BigGuido. Now, I can’t vouch for the accuracy of his claims, but
it sounds plausible, and it’s the closest thing I’ve ever read to a
decent explanation of what’s going on.”
Fwoosh post by BigGuido
“All plastics are petroleum derived products and as such they are
sensitive to heat, cold and UV light. Plastic over time depolymerizes
(i.e. decomposes) and becomes brittle and discolored. How long this
takes depends on how and where you store the item and what the quality
of the plastic was in the first place. Eventually, all of our
collections of plastic toys are going to end up turning to crap. It is
just a question of when.
The semi-flexible PVC that Toy Biz used for the majority of their
LOTRs toys was pretty much standard stuff in the toy industry. Most of
my figures have held up quite well, but I am pretty careful about
storing them in a climate controlled area. Some of the stuff I have
bought over the last few years, though has actually been degrading
faster than older items. Most of the JLU figures I have bought as well
as the DC Super Friends (both made by Mattel) have had severe chalking
issues. This is a issue you run into with really cheap Polyvinyl
Chloride (PVC). Chalking is the deterioration of the vinyl surface,
thereby exposing the TiO2 particles to the surface. The white powder
chalking that can be wiped from the surface of most vinyl is TiO2
particles mixed with deteriorating vinyl (PVC). TiO2 is titanium
dioxide – a base pigment used in the manufacture of most PVC.
Back when I was living in my old house I had very limited storage save
for an unfinished attic bedroom. This ended up being my toy storage
area and I had a lot of problems like the one you are describing.
Also, different kinds of plastics will react with each other when they
come in contact due to the base solvents that are used in polymerizing
the plastics. When these plastics interact, melting like what you
described will occur. Styrene Plastic and PVC are two plastics that
will do this to each other. If the knife sheath was made of styrene
and the cape PVC then that could be what caused the melting. The best
way to prevent this from happening again is to follow the advice I
mentioned earlier and store the items separately in plastic bags.
Ziploc bags and their ilk are made from polyethylene plastic and they
pretty much don’t react with the majority of plastics used in toy
manufacturing. I believe a less flexible form of polyethylene plastic
is used in making the blister and trays that most action figures are
packaged in – but don’t hold me to that. It would make sense, though
as it would be far less apt to react with the plastic used in the
figure.
Realizing that our collections are all going to decompose into a pile
of crap is a bit of a bummer, but being in my late 40s (I’m old
chronologically, but still a kid at heart) if my collection can make
it another 25 to 30 years then it will no longer be my problem – LOL!
Seriously, it hasn’t been until the last 20 years or so that toy
manufacturers actually started making an effort to manufacture toys
that might last longer than 2 to 5 years. Before that, plastic toys
were just cheap, disposable items that were meant to be played with
and eventually tossed when the child broke or outgrew them.
On a positive note, polymer technologies have come a long way since I
was a kid back in the 60s and 70s. UV inhibitors are a major
advancement and keep a lot of plastics looking good as new for a
decade or more rather than a year or two – of course this depends on
the plastic’s quality and its exposure to UV light. Even then, ALL
PLASTIC DECOMPOSES. It is just a matter of TIME.
One thing you might have noticed is that the chalking doesn’t show up
on PVC parts that have been painted due to the paint actually
protecting the vinyl from deteriorating. Go figure, just like the
primary reason for painting your house is to protect it from the
elements and keeping the underlying wood from rotting, the same holds
true for your action figures. A quick fix for a chalking figure would
be to get a can of matching vinyl spray paint (You can get this at
most auto parts stores – I really like DupliColor Brand paint) and
paint the coat with it (after removing it from the figure). You will
most likely have to paint his arms as well to get them to match. Just
use 3M Blue masking tape to cover the parts you don’t want painted,
and go to town.
DO NOT USE ENAMEL BASED PAINTS ON YOUR FIGURES – it will NEVER DRY and
you will have a sticky, nasty mess on your hands.
If spraying it is too much of a hassle, you can always use Testor’s
Model Master Acryl Paint and a good sable brush to paint it by hand. I
use Winsor Newton Series 7 brushes as they do the best job and lay
down a really smoooooth stroke that leaves virtually no brush strokes
after the paint has dried. Big Guido
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| Posted 9/24/2016 7:10:02 PM |
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Has NO LIFE!!
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I put a copy of this post on this thread because of the material
relevancy of plastic durability, life expectancy, and construction
characteristics to other project building. Vertigo
Figures, statues, toys, etc. made of plastic go back as far as the
late 1800s. Today’s Batman and other action figures collector will
have a collection that is probably all made from plastic. As such, a
good understanding concerning how plastics are made, the different
types of plastic and their numerous properties and applications will
go a long way towards protecting the collection from an early demise.
Remember ALL PLASTIC DECOMPOSES. It is just a matter of TIME. Could be
as little as 1-2 years or as long as 50-60 years. Original materials
used in manufacturing, direct and indirect sunlight, artificial UV
lighting, temperature, humidity, airborne chemicals/fungi, oils from
many sources-even those transferred from your hands, and many others
sources can all lessen the life expectancy.
Plastics 101 Part One
What Is Plastic?
A plastic is a type of synthetic or man-made polymer; similar in many
ways to natural resins found in trees and other plants. Webster's
Dictionary defines polymers as: any of various complex organic
compounds produced by polymerization, capable of being molded,
extruded, cast into various shapes and films, or drawn into filaments
and then used as textile fibers.
History
The history of manufactured plastics goes back more than 100 years;
however, when compared to other materials, plastics are relatively
modern. Their usage over the past century has enabled society to make
huge technological advances. Although plastics are thought of as a
modern invention, there have always been "natural polymers" such as
amber, tortoise shells and animal horns. These materials behaved very
much like today's manufactured plastics and were often used similar to
the way manufactured plastics are currently applied. For example,
before the sixteenth century, animal horns, which become transparent
and pale yellow when heated, were sometimes used to replace glass.
Alexander Parkes unveiled the first man-made plastic at the 1862 Great
International Exhibition in London. This material—which was dubbed
Parkesine, now called celluloid—was an organic material derived from
cellulose that once heated could be molded but retained its shape when
cooled. Parkes claimed that this new material could do anything that
rubber was capable of, yet at a lower price. He had discovered a
material that could be transparent as well as carved into thousands of
different shapes.
In 1907, chemist Leo Hendrik Baekland, while striving to produce a
synthetic varnish, stumbled upon the formula for a new synthetic
polymer originating from coal tar. He subsequently named the new
substance "Bakelite." Bakelite, once formed, could not be melted.
Because of its properties as an electrical insulator, Bakelite was
used in the production of high-tech objects including cameras and
telephones. It was also used in the production of ashtrays and as a
substitute for jade, marble and amber. By 1909, Baekland had coined
"plastics" as the term to describe this completely new category of
materials.
The first patent for polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a substance now used
widely in vinyl siding and water pipes, was registered in 1914.
Cellophane was also discovered during this period.
Plastics did not really take off until after the First World War, with
the use of petroleum, a substance easier to process than coal into raw
materials. Plastics served as substitutes for wood, glass and metal
during the hardship times of World War’s I & II. After World War II,
newer plastics, such as polyurethane, polyester, silicones,
polypropylene, and polycarbonate joined polymethyl methacrylate and
polystyrene and PVC in widespread applications. Many more would follow
and by the 1960s, plastics were within everyone's reach due to their
inexpensive cost. Plastics had thus come to be considered 'common'—a
symbol of the consumer society.
From daily tasks to our most unusual needs, plastics have increasingly
provided the performance characteristics that fulfill consumer needs
at all levels. Plastics are used in such a wide range of applications
because they are uniquely capable of offering many different
properties that offer consumer benefits unsurpassed by other
materials. They are also unique in that their properties may be
customized for each individual end use application.
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| Posted 9/25/2016 5:57:56 PM |
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Has NO LIFE!!
Last Login: 12/4/2023 11:08:55 PM
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I put a copy of this post on this thread because of the material
relevancy of plastic durability, life expectancy, and construction
characteristics to other project building. Vertigo
Figures, statues, toys, etc. made of plastic go back as far as the late 1800s.
This is designed to lend a better understanding concerning how
plastics are made, the different types of plastic and their numerous
properties and applications.
Plastics 101 Part Two
Raw Materials
Oil and natural gas are the major raw materials used to manufacture
plastics. The plastics production process often begins by treating
components of crude oil or natural gas in a "cracking process." This
process results in the conversion of these components into hydrocarbon
monomers such as ethylene and propylene. Further processing leads to a
wider range of monomers such as styrene, vinyl chloride, ethylene
glycol, terephthalic acid and many others. These monomers are then
chemically bonded into chains called polymers. The different
combinations of monomers yield plastics with a wide range of
properties and characteristics.
Plastics
Many common plastics are made from hydrocarbon monomers. These
plastics are made by linking many monomers together into long chains
to form a polymer backbone. Polyethylene, polypropylene and
polystyrene are the most common examples of these. Below is a diagram
of polyethylene, the simplest plastic structure.
Even though the basic makeup of many plastics is carbon and hydrogen,
other elements can also be involved. Oxygen, chlorine, fluorine and
nitrogen are also found in the molecular makeup of many plastics.
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) contains chlorine. Nylon contains nitrogen.
Teflon contains fluorine. Polyester and polycarbonates contain oxygen.
Characteristics of Plastics
Plastics are divided into two distinct groups: thermoplastics and
thermosets. The majority of plastics are thermoplastic, meaning that
once the plastic is formed it can be heated and reformed repeatedly.
Celluloid is a thermoplastic. This property allows for easy processing
and facilitates recycling. The other group, the thermosets, cannot be
re-melted. Once these plastics are formed, reheating will cause the
material to decompose rather than melt. Bakelite, poly phenol
formaldehyde, is a thermoset.
Each plastic has very distinct characteristics, but most plastics have
the following general attributes.
1.
Plastics can be very resistant to chemicals. Consider all the cleaning
fluids in your home that are packaged in plastic. The warning labels
describing what happens when the chemical comes into contact with skin
or eyes or is ingested, emphasizes the chemical resistance of these
materials. While solvents easily dissolve some plastics, other
plastics provide safe, non-breakable packages for aggressive solvents.
2.
Plastics can be both thermal and electrical insulators. A walk through
your house will reinforce this concept. Consider all the electrical
appliances, cords, outlets and wiring that are made or covered with
plastics. Thermal resistance is evident in the kitchen with plastic
pot and pan handles, coffee pot handles, the foam core of
refrigerators and freezers, insulated cups, coolers and microwave
cookware. The thermal underwear that many skiers wear is made of
polypropylene and the fiberfill in many winter jackets is acrylic or
polyester.
3.
Generally, plastics are very light in weight with varying degrees of
strength. Consider the range of applications, from toys to the frame
structure of space stations, or from delicate nylon fiber in pantyhose
to Kevlar®, which is used in bulletproof vests. Some polymers float in
water while others sink. But, compared to the density of stone,
concrete, steel, copper, or aluminum, all plastics are lightweight
materials.
4.
Plastics can be processed in various ways to produce thin fibers or
very intricate parts. Plastics can be molded into bottles or
components of cars, such as dashboards and fenders. Some plastics
stretch and are very flexible. Other plastics, such as polyethylene,
polystyrene (Styrofoam™) and polyurethane, can be foamed. Plastics can
be molded into drums or be mixed with solvents to become adhesives or
paints. Elastomers and some plastics stretch and are very flexible.
5.
Polymers are materials with a seemingly limitless range of
characteristics and colors. Polymers have many inherent properties
that can be further enhanced by a wide range of additives to broaden
their uses and applications. Polymers can be made to mimic cotton,
silk, and wool fibers; porcelain and marble; and aluminum and zinc.
Polymers can also make possible products that do not readily come from
the natural world, such as clear sheets, foamed insulation board, and
flexible films. Plastics may be molded or formed to produce many kinds
of products with application in many major markets.
6.
Polymers are usually made of petroleum, but not always. Many polymers
are made of repeat units derived from natural gas or coal or crude
oil. But building block repeat units can sometimes be made from
renewable materials such as polylactic acid from corn or cellulosics
from cotton linters. Some plastics have always been made from
renewable materials such as cellulose acetate used for screwdriver
handles and gift ribbon. When the building blocks can be made more
economically from renewable materials than from fossil fuels, either
old plastics find new raw materials or new plastics are introduced.
Production Processes
Additives
Many plastics are blended with additives as they are processed into
finished products. The additives are incorporated into plastics to
alter and improve their basic mechanical, physical, or chemical
properties. Additives are used to protect plastics from the degrading
effects of light, heat, or bacteria; to change such plastic
properties, such as melt flow; to provide color; to provide foamed
structure; to provide flame retardancy; and to provide special
characteristics such as improved surface appearance or reduced
tack/friction.
Plasticizers are materials incorporated into certain plastics to
increase flexibility and workability. Plasticizers are found in many
plastic film wraps and in flexible plastic tubing, both of which are
commonly used in food packaging or processing. All plastics used in
food contact, including the additives and plasticizers, are regulated
by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ensure that these
materials are safe.
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