VQ's WIP - concrit, please! (Pics!)

[virusq]

You know, I don't know.  It's a stop sign.  ^^;

[Slade Kel (Marrok)]

If it started as a stop sign, then it's 14 gauge; that's the general standard. I assume you're using some kind of vice and clamp set up for bending it, but like I said, aluminum and bending usually don't mix. Try to bend it to much, and it can even break, which has fortunately only happened to me once, on a smallish part. Hammering them out is a tedious, somewhat labor intensive task, but it's the best way to get the job done.

If you check out Beviin Verhayc's video tutorials on youtube (I think the links are still in the Tutorial/Templates section) he goes through what you need and how to do the whole dishing, planishing and finishing process for metal plates. I also have pretty well all the tools I use for my metal armor working pictured here: http://mercs.firespray.net/forum/index.php?topic=32629.msg461125#msg461125. I've done full sets just with what's in the picture, though for cutting thicker metal, open throat shears or a dremel and a crap-ton of cutting discs are a must.

[virusq]

My dad is actually a metallurgist.  He has an entire machine shop in his garage.  He had the stop sign aluminum and, after I lost the argument about using plastic, he cut out the pieces with a nibbler.  He shaped most of them with a pneumatic press and pieces, such as the chest plates and back plate, were fed through steel-rolling press until they were too curved, then mounted in a very large vice and hammered on until they were the appropriate shape.

It's not his first set of armor.  He has an entire set of SCA armor hand made out of titanium, which was even more of a pain to work with.  The difference is that he has the shop available to continually tweak pieces and I do not.

I have, in the year past, acquired a giant roll of black ABS that I can cut with heavy-duty shears, a dremel tool with plastic bits, and an actual heat gun.  I'm pretty sure I'll be starting on a brand new set of armor right after I finish this one and chalk it up as a failure.  LOL

[Slade Kel (Marrok)]

Yeah, titanium is a stone cold shabuir to work, I'd never want to make a whole set of armor out of it. With access to that much ABS, you might as well put it to use; some parts are simply easier to make out of plastic than they are out of metal.

[virusq]

My Vornskr.  Let me show you it.



 

[Slade Kel (Marrok)]

I like it .

[virusq]

Well, thank you! 

[Tassone Phoenix]

You are making some excellent progress.  I love the shoulders and your Vornskr looks cool.  You have poured in some major work in your kit.  I hope things stop going wrong for you so you can finish.  I know what it feels like to get discouraged with a kit, but stick with it.  Your hard work will pay off in the end

[Remo Jadd]

i like it too 

[virusq]

More Vornskr spam.  Inked.  Printed.  Ready to go on my breasplate. 



(Or, armadillo lizard, as we're calling it...)

[Ter-n Solo]

being trained as a machinist myself i too know a thing or two about metals as well ,and your dad is right about the memory of the alluminum especially when talking about stamped metal the stamping proccess is part of what gives the metal its memory it is actually a violent proccess.
 try useing a low heat torch to "aneil"the metal a bit this will remove the memory of the alluminum but it must air dry to prevent brittleness .
you want it to get hot almost red hot but not glowing red.
also use a good automtive paint after making sure to clean the metal with light sanding and an acitone bath it will give you the best paint adhesion possible

[Lucas McCoy]

great job on that stencil

[redkraytdragon]

Bending it would just make nasty creases in it anyway, and you don't want that