Category: The Dome

Construction of the dome and lighting.

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Scratch Radar Eye Part I.

Radar Eye Pattern

Scratch building this Radar Eye is not the easiest thing to construct.  You will need the following to do this:

  • Sheet metal
  • tin snips
  • flat bending tools
  • Radar Eye pattern
  • exacto knife
  • clear tape
  • scissors

 

Scratch Radar Eye Tools
Tools used to build a scratch Radar Eye

To start with, cut the pattern out with scissors and tape it to the sheet metal making sure it is secure.  Use an exacto knife to slowly trace around the radar eye circle and etch a line in the sheet metal.  This does not have to be perfect since it will get cut out.

Using  your tin snips, slowly cut the metal on the pattern.  You may want to secure the parts already cut with more tape since they will become loose as you work.  Once all parts are cut from the sheet metal,  use the exacto knife again to etch lines where the bends are supposed to be.

This is the first step in construction of the Radar Eye.  Part II will go over how to cut out the circle and the slot.

 

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Painting Wood Logic Displays to Look Like Real Aluminum

Painted Logic Surround

R2’s Logic Display Surrounds are supposed to be made of metal. What are you supposed to do if yours are made of wood? The answer is simple. Take aluminum paint and fine grit sandpaper or a dremel, then paint, sand, and repeat this process until you see no grain in the wood. Since wood shows grain, the goal is to paint and sand once the paint is dry. The sanding is a light coat to attempt and sand off high spots in the grain of the wood. This process is constantly repeated over and over until the grain can no longer be seen or until you like the look of the “metal”.

Testor’s paint is the first thing I used and wet/dry sandpaper. Keep the sandpaper wet.

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Wooden Rear Logic Display Surround Pt. 2

In the previous post, I discussed how to cut the circular portion of the Wooden Rear Logic Display Surround.  In this part, I will go over cutting the rounded block into two halves and the side portions so the surround can be mounted.  This is not the easiest thing to do and practice will help, not all pieces will come out looking perfectly so you may have to give it a couple of tries until it comes out right.Watch Full Movie Online Streaming Online and Download

I will be using my ruler, miter saw, and some double stick tape to accomplish these not so easy cuts.

Lets start by cutting bevels of the long sides and short sides.  Using the plan for the Rear Logic Display, I marked my piece to give me enough room to cut the bevel to its total length and give the raised portion of the surround its overall thickness.  I used the remaining board and double stick tape to secure the block and hold it in place for cutting.  The bevel is 12° and the miter is 22°.  We do this two times for both halves of the long side.

We do the short side in a similar manner, except the block is a thicker piece of wood,  the bevel is cut to 31°, and the miter is 23°.  These four pieces are glued together to complete the inside portion that is raised above.

I used a similar method to to cut the outside portion that will be used to hold the raised portion to the inside of the dome.  This will be glued to the outside.