Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Project: Angelus Rising Part I


A step beyond scribing.  While the JinX percolates, and the Qan[T] in limbo, I've started on a new project that involves more of my trademark functional modifications, and this time, engraving on plastic.  I've chosen an angelic/demonic/gothic theme for this build (hence the title), and has so far tested my patience and dexterity more than any of my previous builds.

This build has been more than a year in the making.  After that initial concept I did a year ago, I basically scrapped the idea and went on doing other stuff.  Until now.

Anyways, here's a sneak peak.  I penciled out the design DIRECTLY on the plastic, lightly sanded so the graphite has something to bite into.  I then used a knife to score the plastic, then deepened the grooves with a needlepoint bit mounted on my pin vise.  I used my rotary tool and the needlepoint engraver bit to remove material to achieve what is illustrated below.

I then went back to my other needlepoint and engraved the streaks, then sanded the surface to make the engraving stand out.



Tools of the Trade.  To execute this "painful" process, you'll need:
A] Sharp knife blade; for smooth gliding scoring on bare plastic.
B] Blunt knife blade; for deepening the scores on the plastic (I have had this blade for over a year).
C] Engraving needle bit mounted on a Rotary tool.  This helps speed up the engraving process.
D] Engraving bit mounted on a pin vise, for engraving the "african tribe scar tattoo" texture.


The Revelation this weekend.

9 comments:

Zircor said...

Looking good so far. Curious as to why you went with the cutting/grinding approach, though... would it not have been easier to cut some plaplate in the appropriate shapes and glue it on top of the pieces?

Matanglawin said...

I could, but where's the fun in that? Though that technique is ideal for flat and regularly-shaped surfaces, it's not for irregular surfaces.

Also, I tend to do things the hard way to find out how I can make it easier.

Gaijin Gunpla said...

Top quality work! Gundam Guy referred me to this blog and I can see why! I look forward to seeing more and trying techniques myself.

Matanglawin said...

Thanks!

Syful said...

If i could only get that drill vice... I can follow up to your teaching... Great job dude..

*fellow vocalist*

Matanglawin said...

I believe you can order that online. The one I am using is the heavy duty type Tamiya pin vise which can hold drill bits from 0.1mm to 3.5mm.

LEon said...

impressive and a neat work!

John Sheridan said...

He's right... You have several brand choices of Pin vices; General (you can buy this in T. Alonzo in Manila and I've had mine for overu a decade), Starret (a bit pricey but good - you get that at Yale Hardware), Tamiya (you get this at Lil's in trinoma and Megamall and Futaba at Park Square 1), and Gunze (you get this at STC and Hobbitoi).

Jun
IPMS Manila

Matanglawin said...

I got mine from Lil's Park Square and planning to get another one (because it's so darned annoying having to switch chuck all the time). I believe Sylful is from Indonesia , so he can probably order one online if he can't find any at his local shops.

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