LAST FLIGHT OF RED BARON

[CandyLand]

Flying in low over the trees...Let's get started. Edited May 20, 2021 by CandyLand

[CandyLand]

As an overview...It is a Red Baron, in a Scrach built Star Wars cab (with modification)... obviously a 25" vector to fit the cab, but also Lumilor electric light paint, as graphics and side art...Wing struts are going to added to give it the airplane feel, and the seat, (Strangly my favorite part of this build) Will be done up in red Kevlar...Thats right boys...Bulletproof.😜

[Arcade King]

any progress pics?

[CandyLand]

This is one of 3 parts machines that will be victim to this insanity...

[CandyLand]

any progress pics?

 

Well yes...Yes I do, Hold on.

Edited May 20, 2021 by CandyLand

[CandyLand]

Here is the steel, for the wing strut modification, Dont worry I won't use all of it, That Star wars cab is actually not very big...But I want to recess this strut into the panel, and be incorporated as a canopy support..

[CandyLand]

Here Is me welding it, I was using my TIG welder for that...And a fine wire.

[CandyLand]

In fact here is the welder I used...It is a A/zon bargain machine, but it works so well I sold my Miller, and pretty much just use this anymore...Highly recommend if you guys are in the market, it does require an argon tank however.

[CandyLand]

If you notice the end caps are actually 1/4"...Thats more meat for radi on the corners, The tubing itself is only 1/8"...You have to drill the backplate holes before you cap it however, or the shavings will get encased in the sealed tube...*Pro tip.😉

[CandyLand]

What you are actually looking at is is the side art of a Red Baron cockpit, Done in steel...These will be painted red (on a white Laminate cab)...and hit on one end with the Lumilor.

[CandyLand]

Speaking of that Lumilor...I have never shot it before, and quite nervous of the prospect, I am a good painter fully capable of it, but still it is 8 layers at around 50.00/inch of electric paint...I did upgrade the gun to a pps 2.0 disposable cup system however (long story) but basically it is a heavy solids and have to store the gun upside-down between coats, or it will clog the tip, Still need the blacklights for the booth...But that's where that is at for now.

[CandyLand]

The cabinet is low tac templates...I am currently stretching everything 2- 1/2" for the strut recess...and the backplates.

[CandyLand]

I am actually kinda surprised nobody was even a little curious about a 25" Color vector in this day and age, Pehaps its just nobody ever reads these sub fourms anymore... I think I will go grab that tube today, (middle shelf, top right), and give it a test it for emissions.

Edited May 20, 2021 by CandyLand

[CandyLand]

I have ran into a problem with this...That Lumilor aparently is a "primer" grey, when off, To make it invisible (and enhance color when on) I am going to have to bury it under candy, (possably Grant7 concentrate, around 3/1, I am thinking, if you guys are painters)... But OMG candy man, "gonna shoot some candy, Love me some candy man, Stuff has such a stigma to it, and it is so horrible to spray...Especially backlit like this could wind up being like the perfect candy disaster, dude...Lol🙄

[CandyLand]

Thinking to put a hold on color, for a bit...The lumilor, is coming out with a Gen2, and that gives me a chance to do a color match, and a step test on the candy...Not to mention getting another gallon of Deltron (500.00us),😳...Looks as if Missy will be eating popcorn for awhile...But to keep this project moving forward I did order the power brick rebuild kit, and the coin door, More on that later.

[CandyLand]

Oh, and the new square hole broach showed up yesterday, for the carriage bolts,, We will be pressing it on a 20ton air/hydraulic. Edited May 22, 2021 by CandyLand

[CandyLand]

This one in fact, (Although upgraded with air ram)...Part of it hasn't showed up yet, still on backorder, so be aware of that if you guys order one.

[CandyLand]

Historically speaking, I have always used a arbor press, and a homemade hss tool steel broach, it worked but the edges curled in under pressure, So this is a upgrade, including a floating 1/2" reciever die...Should be fun. Edited May 22, 2021 by CandyLand

[CandyLand]

Curious problem today... Blacklights for the booth, Like exposure units and metal halide, there is a specific wavelength of light that is most effective, Well aparently blacklight is considered a "party" lighting reviewed mostly by Dj's and such, I find this odd, since it is also a UV light and really would think blasting it around at people not such a good idea, The bandwidth is not really a big concern in this scope I guess and would venture a guess it is at a lower end of the scale, Like exposure units it is also measured in watts (and lumins) for covering an area in terms of power...Bottom line, The booth needs blacklight to excite the paint while spraying and check for coverage, but in what spectrum? Today I ordered four 30 watt party lights for the initial test...Fingers crossed. Edited May 24, 2021 by CandyLand

[CandyLand]

The templates gave me some issues, But it is finally starting to clean up, (Dance, Dance)...What you guys are actually looking at, is both sides (3/4") and two 1/4" registry plates screwed together for a total of 2" blocks.

[CandyLand]

Thanks guys...You can see up on the top repaired damage from undercut from a jig saw, and the bottom was crooked and was patched also...Templates are important but often overlooked, this is where all the damage and putty belongs, not on the finished parts.

[CandyLand]

Here is a few other pics of the adventure....

[CandyLand]

Finally got one of the templates close...Glued together with thickend epoxy, and shaped, there was a problem where that purple is, that had to be sectioned out, moved, and filled with cat hair as to match the other side if the coin door (design error on my part, this was done in my head not on paper)...The wing struts are getting final fit, and now I can match the other 3 plates to it (Parts are cut) and are on the left there respectively in the pic...These are far from finished however, all 4 plates need to be matched, then the 2 registration plates modified again for the laminate and Lumilor.

Edited August 25, 2021 by CandyLand

[CandyLand]

Here is a close up of the modification... you can now see what happened...This is far from finished however, once mated to those other plates the edges will all be matched together, final finished, sealed, and painted before use...Remember guys these are just the templates not the finished panels, and this is where all the putty and damage goes...And trust, They are earning their salt on absorbing the damage on such a complex design, a incredible amount of work to be sure.

Edited August 25, 2021 by CandyLand

[CandyLand]

In other news...The press that was on backorder (for like 5 months) got a call from Jenn, told them to pound sand, I did however manage to get a floor model of a different machine (still a 20 ton), but needs substantial upgrades to be effective for our needs in punching the square holes...The whole top end is being replaced with thicker steel, the ram upgraded to 2" stainless, and a mounting plate added for the air/hydraulic upgrade...It sounds extravagant I know, but every time I build a machine I like to upgrade the tooling as good carma on future projects...And this is the shop upgrade for this project 😉....If you guys are curious I will update this too as it progresses if you wish.

Edited August 25, 2021 by CandyLand