The WoodChuck

WoodChuck here. I found a wooden barrel set in my storage bin for the T-21 Lewis Gun. A trooper from Norway asked me to use it and build him my version of the BFG. Does anyone know someone who has a wood lathe and could turn some of these barrel sets at a cheap price? 3D printed versions would probably be too brittle.

Woodchuck here. I am seeking someone with a wood lathe who can turn parts down to precise measurements. Must be willing to duplicate same parts over and over.

I have had several requests to use exotic hard woods to create custom-made, high end Jenga blocks, but this is extreme:

Never leave a SWTOR pistol AND a Modified Bryar pistol out on the work bench over night. After hearing strange noises all night long, this is what I found when I turned on the lights in the workshop:

WoodChuck here. My daughter lives in Sacramento, CA. Her BFF lost her husband on July 21st in a tragic automobile accident. He was an avid STAR WARS collector. He didn't have a costume, but he loved collecting STAR WARS items. His wife asked my daughter if she knew where she could purchase an urn that was STAR WARS themed. When I received the request, I dropped everything to build this urn for her. I wanted it to be unique, respectful, and something she would cherish. The local STAR WRS squad offered to suit up and present it to her, but she is grieving, and said it would be too much for her to bear. I also told her that this is a gift from the entire Star Wars family.

The tusken raider named the baby bantha Bella and shipped her to a planet called Rancho-Obiwan.

I went out to see what was happening after the mama bantha hurled me into the bushes. There was no sign of any animal anywhere, so I figured it was safe to walk or hobble around a little while. I still had my camera, and was hoping to find new tracks, or something as further proof of their visits. Then I heard a rustling sound, and saw a small shadow behind the hedge line. I took my camera and aimed for the spot where the bushes were shaking and got this shot: I don't speak "Tusken" but I'm pretty sure "GRRYETWURTGRRTE" translates to "Have you seen my baby bantha?"

WoodChuck here. I got a photo, well sort of......... I hid my camera in my sleeve and went out to the bait pile where the baby bantha was slurping up some of the blue milk. I was all set to take the shot, when all of a sudden, the mama bantha appeared out of thin air and swished her long hairy tail right at me. I did manage to get this EXTREME CLOSE UP of the baby bantha's face as I went flying into the bushes.... That's going to leave a mark................Stay tuned!

WoodChuck here. A new wrinkle in my baby bantha sighting. This morning I was awakened by a strange snorting sound just outside my bedroom window. My wife thought I was snoring..............another story. Anyway, I looked out the window and all I could see was a dark shadow. When my eyes focused, I realized it was a HUGE wall of weird looking fur. Looked more like dread locks then fur . I ran outside and came almost face to face with the Mama Bantha. A..........I think it was the mamma. She was sniffing the spot on the grass where I have been leaving the carrots and blue milk. When she realized I was there, she spun around, snorted at me, and I swear, I think she winked at me !? Then thunder roared and the ground shook as she ran off into the trees. Did you know that the mature banthas have a very long tail that drags along the ground? From what I saw, it seems to be sweeping away any trace of their tracks so they are harder to find.

WoodChuck here. Today i tried using blue milk as bait. I am trying my best to get a photo, but even though the baby now comes closer to me, as soon as I do anything, like reaching for my camera or cell phone, it spooks it and it's gone in a flash. I'm thinking about trying to hide in the bushes, but it would be hard to stay down wind. Thirsty little bugger, it drank all the blue milk then licked the big bowl I had it in. Hmm, still haven't seen the mama or papa Bantha, what's up with that?

The baby bantha came back very early this morning. It is shy and way too fast for me to get close. It left these impressions as it stepped off the driveway onto the grass.

WoodChuck here. When I went out to get the mail this morning, I think I saw a baby bantha grazing on the lawn. By the time I got close enough to verify it's identity, it scurried off into the woods. I'm concerned that Mama bantha could be close by. Are banthas mean? i am going to try to get a photo if I see it again. Hey, maybe I can find some tracks. What should I use for bait? Do baby banthas eat carrots?

WoodChuck here………….Who cut the cheese?

WoodChuck here. It's that time of year when we all need to pause and reflect on what we have to be thankful for. All of the friends I have made here in the SW community are near the top of my list. I am a retired veteran, working in a tiny "Hole-In-The-Wall" workshop. I look forward each day to creating the props all of you have asked me to build for you. HAPPY THANKSGIVING !!!! Oh, and speaking of friends, my FaceBook name is Chuck Bowman

Woodchuck here. Just my 2cents worth: Wiring should be kept as simple as possible. You can extend the connections on the LED by using 24 gauge stranded copper wire. Just be careful and keep the heat away from the LED. Use one color wire, usually RED for the + side of the LED, and a different color, usually BLACK, for the (-) side of the LED. Then you can run the wires down the tube and know which is which when you get to the other end of the tube. Be sure to use a current limiting resistor is series with the + side of the LED. these are usually around 100 - 330 ohms, 1/4 watt. The ON/OFF switch should have terminals that accept solder. The battery case also should have either wires or terminals that accept solder. Solder doesn't go bad. It's just rosin, lead and tin. It is unsafe to use the side of the long tube to conduct current. If the battery shorts out, it will get very hot, possibly explode. That solves the different metal soldering issue. Hope that helps. Chuck

Woodchuck here. I started building the molds for this giant helmet for SPUD TROOPER from Mr. Potato Head years ago. The project got put on the back burner when I had to sell my big vac forming table. I found this today while cleaning the shop and thought everyone could use a laugh.

WoodChuck here. Many of you know I am a magician as well as a replica prop arms dealer. Magicians use illusion all the time to enhance their seemingly impossible feats of magic. Sound is a great item for illusions. The human mind will compensate and tell itself the source of a sound is coming from where the eyes see the action happening. For instance, if you are in the audience, and you see a trooper raise his blaster and squeeze the trigger, your mind expects something to happen. Usually a bright blue LED flashes, and perhaps some sounds are emitted from the blaster. What if you have a pistol that is too small to fit a sound board in? You can try this, and the eyes will see the blue LED flash, the ears will hear the sound, and the brain will compensate and say it is coming from the blaster, when the sound is actually coming from the utility belt: If you mounted the sound board, buttons and speaker in a small box , say on your belt, you could have the hand that isn't holding the pistol resting on your belt, over the box. That hand could press each of the sound buttons as your other hand points the pistol and squeezes the trigger. the audience would see the bright blue LED flash, and hear the sounds as you press the buttons. It would look and sound like the sound is coming from the pistol. Triktoys makes a programmable sound board for $99. You could have one sound board that could sound like four different blasters.

My son-in-law Spud Trooper and I wanted to create something special for the gift exchange at the Makaze Squad Christmas party. Here is the result: BH, Mando's, Dark side, Rebel legion, it doesn't matter who you are. If you have a bucket, lid, or helmet, it can be displayed here. WE call it "The Generic Helmet Stand - One size fits all. Oh, and it reflects the latest status of Lucas Films. Happy Holidays.

WoodChuck here. I know the holiday season is fast approaching, but i didn't expect this. I was putting the finishing touches on two butt stocks for the Republic Squad Rifle and sat them on the work bench. OMG, they turned into Nutcracker boots !!??

WoodChuck here. A fellow Makaze Squad member just purchased this squad logo:

WoodChuck here. Wonder if they take trades??? ( Falls over, face down on keyboard after reading the price.)

WoodChuck here. Never forget, that for whatever reason, she is seeking revenge against you. That is overriding her ability to think of your child, or to think like his mother should. As long as you have the legal system on your side, you will come out OK.

WoodChuck here. I know the guy who plays Indy in the Raiders of the Lost Ark show at Disney World. He asked me to make this hidden easter egg. You have to admire the creativity of Lucas and Spielberg. R2D2 & C3P0 hidden on the post to Indy's right as he is in the tomb, surrounded by snakes.

Yoda's Hover Chair was my secret project for CVI. I demonstrated it 187 times during a three day period at the Rebel Legion area. It was a HUGE success as a great photo op for the kids who wanted to ride it.

WoodChuck here. I just delivered this logo to "Mo" (TB-3245) of the Everglades Squad at CVI. This project was a labor of love. The little probe looks like it is floating above the background.