TD-4242 Posted January 2, 2006 Share Posted January 2, 2006 I bought the molds for this a few weeks ago and this is the first prototype Task 15 rotocast ridged foam reinforced lewis gun out of them. I just put it together and slapped some primer on it (still drying) It looks great and the best part: 5.96lbs (2.7kg) total. I'll be offering these up for sale as I get the kits completed. They are far more accurate and detailed then most of the wood/pvc versions seen about. As light as the hyperfirm but cheaper!! Stronger than the solid resin and comparable in price. Interested and ready to buy, First run should be ready on Monday 1/30 1)avatar_man - Contacted 2)HELMET HEAD 3)TD1529 4)chuckrick 5)TD-1654 @ the disco! 6)kinrik 7) TD 8733 PS. To thwart the recaster comments I did buy these molds and the master from the original maker. While not my original work I do have full rights to reproduce them. Some may recognize it as the original maker did make and sell several of them in solid resin weighing about 25lbs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TD-4242 Posted January 2, 2006 Author Share Posted January 2, 2006 Moved pictures from first post down here to help maintain the list of interested people more easily: Edit: More pictures added All Parts layed out First part. The receiver Attached ribbed section of barrel Should paint first, but this is the PVC section of barrel The but stock is put on then the business end of the barrel The top of the receiver This is how the site attaches This is the small half circle section (not sure what it is or called) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daetrin Posted January 2, 2006 Share Posted January 2, 2006 Awesome! Noticed the other two firearms - are you going to mold/sell these as well? Will you be selling them raw or finished? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TD-4242 Posted January 2, 2006 Author Share Posted January 2, 2006 I'm not exacly sure if it will be kit or complete yet. I could definatly sell them raw they are 7 large pices and 2 small detail pices. It all fits together really well and requires very little sanding. I used JB Kwik Weld to put the prototype together. Pretty much a full tube. Here is a list of the features that this gun has: Task 15 rotocast resin from Smooth-on for large parts. (no secrets about what it's made from) Black tinted so scratches and scuffs wont show white. This is the thing I hate about most resin cast weapons. When trooping it is going to get scratched. A bottle of black resin tint is only about $4 and will do 10-15 guns. Why don't people use this???? small parts will be cast in black tinted resin (probably smooth cast or similar I'd rather have something stronger and not as brittle) I'd use Task 15 but it is a little thick and hard to pour into small molds. Foam-it 15 rigid foam from smooth-on as reinforcment to insure the thin cast Task 15 is extreamly strong yet light. (This is the secret to getting it extreamlly light. Prototype was 6lbs. Production will probably less than 5) Able to break it down in half for storage and transport. The big guns never seem to fit in my tubs. With the ability to break this one down into two halves it will be much more transportable. Feel free to ask me any questions. I'd be glad to fill in. Also any requests or ideas for how to cast or build it up. I've done a quite a bit of research and found the current matirials If anyone knows of more things or better matirials I'm always willing to listen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TD-4242 Posted January 2, 2006 Author Share Posted January 2, 2006 I had some questions about the strenght of Task 15. Task is a high performance resin from Smooth-on that costs 2-3x as much as the regular resins most people make props from. Task 15 is special formulated to be cast from 1/16" - 1/2" thick and is not brittle the way regular resins are. It cures to something much more similar to the ABS plastic used in the building of armor. It is flexable yet still holds it's shape really well. I just took a bad cast reciever that I had made from Task 15 and beat it on my band saw table really really hard. I then took it out in the street and threw it down the road. Only some small scuff marks. No damage. I have two videos 1.2M and 2.1M it if you'd like to see email me wwarner42@cox.net (anyone know of a place that'll host small video clips?) This stuff is strong. Read technical information about it here: http://smoothon.com/plastics.asp#task Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TD-3150 Posted January 2, 2006 Share Posted January 2, 2006 Well I, for one, would definitely be interested in one of these as long as it's in my price range at the time. My homemade wood and pvc one is seriously lacking due to my limited artistic ability (I'm a construction worker, not Picasso), plus it weighs a ton. And I would probably just want the kit as that should be cheaper and still allow me some pride in assembly, weathering, etc. So keep us updated.........btw, looks freakin sweet!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TD4549 Posted January 2, 2006 Share Posted January 2, 2006 I too would be very much interested. Looks great and love the weight. Please keep us posted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theGreatSot Posted January 2, 2006 Share Posted January 2, 2006 I would love to buy a raw lewis kit from you, definitely keep us all posted. - Zac Sotman / TK 6753 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TD-4242 Posted January 3, 2006 Author Share Posted January 3, 2006 Well, I'm funding this project with Ab and Knee plate sales, so keep buying them up. The wife says I can keep going as long as I don't have to use work money to pay for this stuff. I may have to sell of some other projects. I have 2 stunt helmets, RT Mod version, that I don't think I'm ever going to get put together if anyone wants one, or two. I only want what I paid for them $200. -Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robster Posted January 3, 2006 Share Posted January 3, 2006 Bill those looks really good and i too would love to get one. For those of you who don't have any of bill's stuff grab some he does good work!! Let's help him out so he can help us!!! Rob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SandtrooperScout Posted January 3, 2006 Share Posted January 3, 2006 I'd be interested too! Hoping the mailman is nice to me this week! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dirty Trooper Posted January 3, 2006 Share Posted January 3, 2006 How much are they with UK P&P? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TD-4242 Posted January 3, 2006 Author Share Posted January 3, 2006 I'm not sure what shipping would be to UK, but I am going to be trying to keep the overall cost below $275. It is a rather laborious task to make them because I don't have a rotocast machine. 7+ 20-30lbs molds held and rotated by hand for 15-20 minutes each gets tiring fast. One thing I don't do though is take pre-orders. Once I have 2 or 3 made I'll post here with price and everything, It'll be first to come with money first served. Then I'll continue making them until I end up with 1 or 2 left. I do this in case something happens. I don't want to get peoples money for something I haven't yet made. Too many people get into trouble with that. -Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TD1009 Posted January 3, 2006 Share Posted January 3, 2006 Great plan Bill. These look great and I will be sure to give the Moisture Farm Patrol a heads up. I might need that RT mod helmet, I'll PM when I hear back from my buddy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TD5422 Posted January 3, 2006 Share Posted January 3, 2006 I don't suppose you want to cast my MG 15? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stomper Posted January 4, 2006 Share Posted January 4, 2006 I think that is one SMART kit! I love the fact you can break it down for transporting inside one's crate! I'm DEFINATELY IN for one of these babies, as you can see me in my avatar that I'm only lacking a BFG for MEPD deployment!! I have C.I.F. (Cash In Fist) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TD-4242 Posted January 11, 2006 Author Share Posted January 11, 2006 Just an update. I am creating a new mold for part of it as while casting the prototype I tore a portion of the mold. I also wanted to have the reciever and vent sections as one pice rather than two pices for strenth. I should have matrials to start on these tomorrow. I'll still have to finish up this mold but may have one or two ready for sell by the weekend. -Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SandtrooperScout Posted January 11, 2006 Share Posted January 11, 2006 Any idea what the final $$ is gonna be? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TD-4242 Posted January 11, 2006 Author Share Posted January 11, 2006 The first run I think will be $275, shipped in the cont. 48 US and $300 shipped elsewhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stomper Posted January 12, 2006 Share Posted January 12, 2006 Do you think you will still offer the two piece version after you rebuild your molds? I really dig having that option to break it down for transporting! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TD-4242 Posted January 12, 2006 Author Share Posted January 12, 2006 Ohh yes, That is still going to be how it will be put together. I am just cutting it from 7 parts to 6. The receiver will be 3 parts and the barrel will be 3 parts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stomper Posted January 12, 2006 Share Posted January 12, 2006 OK, I get yer meaning now! Just curious, when you ship these out will there be any assembly required, other than putting the two halves together that you show in the earlier pictures and maybe weathering it? No worries either way, just curious. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TD-4242 Posted January 12, 2006 Author Share Posted January 12, 2006 They will require some assembly. I am going to try to tint the resin enough so they don't need to be painted. All the parts I did today came out looking great. I will most likly include the plasti-weld that I have found to be the best for assembling these. The only part that will require painting is the aproxamatly 10" of PVC pipe that covers from the ribbed section of the barrel to the tapper tords the end. The assemlby will be amature to beginner work as all the parts seem to fit really well and should take no more than 2 hours. Weathing will be to your own taste and I don't have a leather strap yet. -Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stomper Posted January 12, 2006 Share Posted January 12, 2006 Hey Bill, Thanks for that info! Consider one of those babies SOLD!! I'll be watching this forum CLOSELY so I can snag one up. I believe I still have your PayPal account in my transaction history from the diamond sniper knee plates I got from you. I also don't mind if you send me one that is totally disassembled, as better than half the fun for me is building and assembling this stuff anyway! Listen to me... talking like I already have one on the way... LOL! Looking forward to POUNCING on one of these! It's the final thing I need for my MEPD deployment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daetrin Posted January 12, 2006 Share Posted January 12, 2006 Listen to me... talking like I already have one on the way... LOL! No need to apologize in this (replica) gun happy forum, especially when it's the *last* thing you need. Been there mate! Bill - I think you have another hit on your hands (I'm not in the market for a Lewis, so it's not sucking up )! Tony - you'll simply have to post pix once you have it assembled and ready to report for duty! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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