02-13-2010, 11:08 AM
(01-22-2010, 02:56 AM)PB BB1 Wrote: Thanks Cobra, but I'd like to follow up with you on a few specifics I'm hazy on. I need help as I am getting close to making molds.
Right, the Pyro fuselage master pattern is made from the Hero parts, BUT the nosecone was attached to that master. I am only using hero reference to derive the most accurate shape of the cone. Also, Red 3 has a styrene bottom... further evidence the pyro master was made from the same parts utilized for the earlier Hero versions. This is good news for me as the reference I have is consistent... Hero models all have... styrene bottoms... always that grey color on top... so I can count on parts I am seeing on each bird representing a part that came from one source. But I am having a hard time making comparisons, specifically with panel lines. I guess I'm wondering what poor guy spent his time etching them into the tops and bottoms of all these parts. At least enough bucks for confirmed moco miniatures. As far as I can tell they are all the same, with the exception of Blue Leader/Red 2, but like you said we know this bird was separated from the rest for full-size reference and deviates from the standard design. So I guess what I want to see is variation in panel lines on the standard Heroes. If there is no variation then I will etch the panel lines into my masters. If this is not the case I guess I'll have to consider deviating from replicas of original parts in favor of practicality.
Is there any value to casting in the same type of polyurethane used back then? At the very least I would like to try to match the color. Has it been confirmed that this was the material used, and is it certain the hero fuselages is aluminum impregnated epoxy? Given their original learning curve I would like to think I could tackle these processes at home... but the aluminum makes this sort of a wild card.
A photo update is in the works. Thanks for the read.
First off,let me set your mind at ease. These were initially supposed to have had polyurethane fuselage bottoms,but after the fiaso with the mould it was decided to use a polystyrene fuselage,but this had its' problems too. These warped when glued,as the hot lights from the studios prevented polystrene from being used. This was cast from the styrene bottom in urethane resin instead. This followed the incorrect shape of the styrene fuselage. The only one that survived with this styrene was the converted master that was auctioned off.
This was reinforced with J.B. Weld inside because it wouldn't stop splitting (separated from the top),so it had to be glued in some way to keep it from doing this again. This is why you see the so called "pyro master" in the auction,as this was unusable. The Polyurethane that was used is also sold on another website. I'll PM the URL when I find it -it's on my favourites. The top of the first few fuselages was made from a polyurethane that would foam,but when mixed,and put under pressure wouldn't have the expansion that modern expanding foam has,as this was treated with a hardener. Contrary to what is believed on the RPF -this is why NONE of the pyro models have styrene on them,and none of the subsequent hero models have a styrene bottom either!
All the scribe lines were all the same,and were scribed by Grant McCune,and Lorne Peterson. The only things that were different were the chip panels (greeblies) all along the sides of the fuselages. From all the ILM modelers I've talked with past,and present - not one of the pyro models,or hero models ever used a styrene bottom.