crashmann Posted March 3, 2015 Share Posted March 3, 2015 Since the oval hard shell cold weather faucet covers are no longer available, I've been on the hunt for a replacement for the Sandtrooper Backpack Kits. Also, with the instructions from George Lucas that the troopers have a field backpack for desert conditions, one of the first things you would bring is a canteen. ============= The For Sale thread is here: http://forum.mepd.net/index.php?showtopic=13661 $35 plus shipping via USPS ============= I've found a canteen that is very close in size to the faucet covers: Plus, it's already got the shape where the hose/antenna sticks out! You can't just vacuum form directly over the canteen. It needs to be formed one half at a time, otherwise the canteen would be trapped in the plastic due to the undercuts. So I built a riser to taper off the sides of the bottom half of the canteen. Here's the top level Then the lower levels all stacked up Then I glued it all together Tonight I sanded the sides smooth I've pulled a few tonight for my backpack customers, and I'll be using these first pulls to cast the production molds. Once I've got the production molds working, I'll offer the new canteens to MEPD troopers. Charlie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darthz Posted March 3, 2015 Share Posted March 3, 2015 definitely need it thanks for making it !!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghoulcinder@hotmail.co.uk Posted March 3, 2015 Share Posted March 3, 2015 Looks cool Charlie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrainWreck Posted March 3, 2015 Share Posted March 3, 2015 Right on! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robster Posted March 3, 2015 Share Posted March 3, 2015 awesome i would love one of these. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCRIBBLER Posted March 3, 2015 Share Posted March 3, 2015 @ Charlie - OUTSTANDING! Looking forward to a run of these, Brother! Nice work! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DontWashMeTrooper Posted March 3, 2015 Share Posted March 3, 2015 Yes!! I'm in. Thanks for doing all this work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FIVE Posted March 3, 2015 Share Posted March 3, 2015 Very nice looking stuff man!It's stuff like this that makes us (the MEPD) such a great detachment! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandtrooper Posted March 3, 2015 Share Posted March 3, 2015 Thanks for doing this. Looks like a lot of work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bdgr Posted March 4, 2015 Share Posted March 4, 2015 Nice work. Can't wait to purchase one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scootch Posted March 5, 2015 Share Posted March 5, 2015 Very nice!!!!!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desert Rat Posted March 5, 2015 Share Posted March 5, 2015 I'm up for a couple of these Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DirtyBoy Posted March 6, 2015 Share Posted March 6, 2015 Awesome! Let's go! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DirtyBoy Posted March 6, 2015 Share Posted March 6, 2015 What are we looking at for cost? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crashmann Posted March 6, 2015 Author Share Posted March 6, 2015 I'm not happy with the lumps from the canteen deforming as I was pulling plastic over them, so I'm going to make a silicone mold, then cast resin into that to create the production molds. It'll be a few more days to complete that process. The price will be around $25 including shipping in the US. A little more for overseas. Charlie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DirtyBoy Posted March 6, 2015 Share Posted March 6, 2015 Sounds good. You can count me in for 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crashmann Posted March 8, 2015 Author Share Posted March 8, 2015 Continuing on with our Canteen for the Stinger build log, and now moving into phase 2 of the production. Build a box for your canteen: Troop a local Cub Scout Blue and Gold dinner (Sorry, no Sandtroopers, but that's me in the Imperial Officer uniform doing duckface): Now take your spare canteen, and fill in all of the imperfections with non sulfur based oil clay. It is important to fill in areas that will allow the silicone to flow in and get trapped: Be sure to fill in the concave bottom and make it nice and smooth: Also fill in the shoulder strap holes and the neck where it meets the lid: De-gas your silicone in a vacuum chamber, being careful not have it spill over the sides of your bowl: Begin the "warm sticky goo phase" by pouring the silicone into the box, then drop in the canteen: Now we play the waiting game. Charlie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DontWashMeTrooper Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 Awesome! Eagerly awaiting the outcome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phoenix Posted March 9, 2015 Share Posted March 9, 2015 Looks good; your attention to detail and willingness to make a good product is appreciated. -Todd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crashmann Posted March 10, 2015 Author Share Posted March 10, 2015 The silicone was a little old, and was acting weird as I was scooping it out of the container, so I gave extra time to cure. Finally, I pulled out the canteen last night: So then I stirred up the vacuum forming resin for making the production mold and poured it into the silicone: This morning, I extracted the casting and was very pleased with the results! Next I'll cast another half of the canteen, then it's off to the vac table! Charlie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DirtyBoy Posted March 11, 2015 Share Posted March 11, 2015 Woo hooo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghoulcinder@hotmail.co.uk Posted March 11, 2015 Share Posted March 11, 2015 That's neat! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crashmann Posted March 15, 2015 Author Share Posted March 15, 2015 The other day, I extracted the second mold from the silicone: Then I checked the reference photos and realized the canteen lid was totally wrong! So I cut off the lid of the mold Then I took one of the stinger caps and split it in half and tested the fit A glop of E-6000 to connect the caps to the body, and some extra long clamps, and they should be ready to form tomorrow! Charlie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghoulcinder@hotmail.co.uk Posted March 15, 2015 Share Posted March 15, 2015 Looks awesome Charlie! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desertfox45 Posted March 15, 2015 Share Posted March 15, 2015 A work of art! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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