Dredd Topper Project

[crsedgar]

I'll use this post as a log for a new side project; I'll be taking a mould from an original Judge Dredd Topper for producing a copy in resin. This will be a more robust form, I can't believe how thin the original is I suspect most example out there are damaged to some degree.

I'll be trying out different metal powders to produce finish that can be buffed up to a high polish as well as a rattle can metallic finish.

So far I've made a mould of one of the claws and produced a master copy, this will be prepared with registration keys for mating up with the main body and a new rubber skin made.

Next up I'll be making a fibreglass two piece case for the main body which will allow a thin rubber skin to be poured.

 

[Julian Hepworth]

I'll use this post as a log for a new side project; I'll be taking a mould from an original Judge Dredd Topper for producing a copy in resin. This will be a more robust form, I can't believe how thin the original is I suspect most example out there are damaged to some degree.

I'll be trying out different metal powders to produce finish that can be buffed up to a high polish as well as a rattle can metallic finish.

So far I've made a mould of one of the claws and produced a master copy, this will be prepared with registration keys for mating up with the main body and a new rubber skin made.

Next up I'll be making a fibreglass two piece case for the main body which will allow a thin rubber skin to be poured.

Impressive stuff.

 

[Pick Holder]

Wow - dedication - well done !

 

[replicas]

Great work Chris.

 

[jack burton]

Very interested in getting one of these when you're finished

 

[johnwhitfield]

Great stuff.

 

[Alan Syson]

There’s an annoying little Welshman, no, not @Poibug , Drew Pritchard & he does a programme called the Restorers. One of the fellas he uses fixes statues amongst other things. Dunno if you’ve seen it, but the techniques he uses look similar to what you’re using.

 

[Paul]

There’s an annoying little Welshman, no, not @Poibug

 

[crsedgar]

There’s an annoying little Welshman, no, not @Poibug , Drew Pritchard & he does a programme called the Restorers. One of the fellas he uses fixes statues amongst other things. Dunno if you’ve seen it, but the techniques he uses look similar to what you’re using.

I'm not aware of that programme mate but will check it out thanks

 

[Alan Syson]

I'm not aware of that programme mate but will check it out thanks

Don’t know how accomplished you are at what you’re doing but I’d be surprised if you didn’t pick up some handy tips. He features in about 10 of the programmes so a trawl through might be in order.
Crack on mate. I’m impressed.

 

[Poibug]

TW@'s

 

[Alan Syson]

Just remembered Mark Squires, @Pinballsurgery , featured in one episode.

 

[crsedgar]

Making progress, its quite a lot of work more than I remember, plus life has a habit of getting in the way, a very enjoyable process nonetheless.

Progress so far, I've backfilled the main piece for structural integrity.

Encased sculpt in a clay layer, after some smoothing out and some shims will be ready to move on to the fibreglass stage.

 

[replicas]

Great work, looking forward to the first finished result.

 

[crsedgar]

Update on progress;

spent a lot of time smoothing out the clay
added shims to create the divider for the two part mould
added funnels for air and pouring of the rubber
added some dove cuts at the base for registration keys

Next task is making the two part fibreglass jacket, starting this tomorrow before the clay dries out and starts cracking

Cheers
Chris

 

[crsedgar]

Gel coat layer applied and a couple of layers of fibre glass on top, I might get away with one more layer before moving onto next stage.

 

[crsedgar]

Fibre glass jacket now finished, time to order up some silicon rubber...

 

[crsedgar]

The initial rubber mould now done (5kg) and looking good especially when you consider no vacuum chamber was used, this silicon product does seem to be great quality.

Next step is make some cuts and extract the original before making a resin master.

Chris

 

[replicas]

Looking good Chris.

 

[crsedgar]

I have now cut the original from the rubber mould and surprisingly it only suffered some minor damage.

The mould is looking really good, fine detail, no air pockets and sits in the fibreglass jacket really good.

Next step; casting a white from this rubber to use as the master copy with the keys for attaching the legs and improve any embellishments copied over from the original.

 

[crsedgar]

First cast out the mould today and really pleased with this, decided I'll take a polyurethane resin master now (this is polyester) will be easier to work as it's white, this polyester will be more suited to use in the final mould.

Went to order more rubber the other day and it's increased by 30%

 

[crsedgar]

Doing some paint tests while I wait on a resin order to arrive.

3 coats of primer and 3 coats of Rust-Oleum Metallic Paint - Elegant Gold , looks very nice wasn't too sure what to expect but I'm pleasantly surprised.

 

[Mikonos]

My suggestion: Chrome it in gold.

Greetings!

 

[carl lawrence]

Amazing work Chris

 

[crsedgar]

Poured a master copy yesterday in polyurethane resin. I'll need to spend some time removing any blemishes copied over from the original and a lot of sanding, once done another mould will be made from this and then onto a production run.

It will be a luxury working on a solid piece those plastic originals are very tricky to work with.

 

[jack burton]

Looking forward to seeing this!

Any idea of cost etc yet?

 

[Balazs]

Great job.
I like it a lot.

 

[Matt Vince]

Superb work!! Watching with interest

 

[node]

Love it, thanks for all the updates. Consider me interesting in coughing up for one if you're making a batch of these for others in the community!

 

[crsedgar]

Apologies folks I missed the alerts on this thread some how.

Thanks for all the interest and positive comments.

The project is definitely active, just been a busy summer working on other jobs. Work resumed on this a couple of weeks ago, I'm still working on the preparing the master for making a new mould, I'll post another update when I have assembled the first piece fro the new mould.

Chris