WORLDCON SIDKIT NEW BUILD W/ BLACK PAINTED GRIP FRAMES.

[panzerrune]

I had originally posted my new build here http://propsummit.com/viewtopic.php?t=1176&start=0 a few days ago. Since than i have been convinced through photo evidence that the inner and outer metal grip frame is black. I went back and removed the grips from my SIDKIT and painted the frames a gloss black, weathered them a tad and i have no regrets whatsoever! As i suspected it would happen, the amber grips took on a much deeper tone that i really like. The underlying black has helped remove any orange tinge that was evident before in the grip color. I am even happier now with this build and my next step is back to the serial number on the bulldog frame (still needing to know that 5th digit in the number before i can engrave)!

Here is a few photos of my kit now and a photo of the WC heroprop comparing the amber color of my kit grips and how very very close it comes to the WC heroprop grips. The residue buildup is also very close as the black painted frames even altered slightly the color of the residue simulation.

Thanks.

[clutch]

Looks good! You'll also need to replace those phillips screws with flat-head ones and switch out those hollow trigger pins for solid ones.

[panzerrune]

[andy]

Looks Great.

I would also think about filling in the hole in the front of the outer grip with bondo and paint over it. At first glance though it looks like the real thing.

Andy

[panzerrune]

[andy]

The really Big kidney shaped whole right behind the finger notches.

Andy

[clutch]

Well, it'll be more than just replacing screws if you want accuracy. You'd have to fill the bottom hole in back because it doesn't exist on the hero gun. Replace the screw above it with a steel-colored flathead screw. The screw toward the front needs to be replaced with a pin.

I filled the bottom hole on mine with solder. It almost turned into disaster, but I got it looking pretty decent. There's pics of it somewhere in here.

BTW, did you paint the inner grip black or chemically blacken it?

[panzerrune]

[panzerrune]

[phase pistol]

I too got the impression that the grip frame inside there was painted black.

Taking the red plate out of the RGB photo shows the interior of the grip the best... it does seem that there's black below the zigzag there.




At Worldcon I tried to probe into the grips by firing the flash at an angle. These are spme of the better of those shots.

[joberg]

Yes Panzerrune good work on the grip; that black paint makes it very accurate!

[andy]

Something that the Japanese "Tomenosuke" version did NOT get right.

Andy

[panzerrune]

[panzerrune]

[andy]

Well I am glad I could help.

And thank you again Karl for those photos they are beautiful. It also makes me rethink my feeling about the grips being acrylic, they do look more like resin in those angles flash shots.

Andy

[phase pistol]

[phase pistol]

[andy]

The bubbles in the pics above means it was probably poured instead of injection molded, or specifically cut from a block of acrylic which I had theorized. I found some similar looking and colored blocks and sheets of acrylic. The color and clarity of the material also reminds me very much of handles on screwdrivers, which are injection molded acrylic I believe.

I was veering away from Resin on the grips originally because of the look of the resin cast grips on the stunt versions of the gun like the one in the Seattle Sci-Fi Museum. Also the ones that Shapestorm had on Ebay that were screen-made.

Before you showed the pics above I had not seen any bubbles in the hero grips, at least not that clearly. I was not sure if it was flashback or crazing because of age.

Andy

[BeastMaster]

[andy]

The Kidney shaped hole in the Tomenosuke was put in there because they cast the grip outer frame, and a solid piece of metal would not cool evenly and would end up misshapen. The same goes for why Sid probably did it. Look at Karl's pics above. I had also posted pics showing no "kidney hole". The original outer grip frame was cut from a block of (aluminum I think?) and unless they were trying to reduce weight there would be no reason to cut it out. It is not a found part.

Andy