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Russell's K-9

Started by russellsuthern, Apr 21, 2020, 03:38 pm

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russellsuthern

Thanks for the kind words, guys!

Karst: You know if you have a console you have to have a K-9 to sit under it!

Kit-Kat: Welcome to the club! Contact has been made... Looking forward to seeing what you come up with!

Hobo: Your tail looks great!


Russ


Volpone

The grey is looking good!  It needs just a hint of sheen, but pretty spot-on.  I wonder if a coat of magic clear laquer would make the grey shine enough. 
"My dear Litefoot, I've got a lantern and a pair of waders, and possibly the most fearsome piece of hand artillery in all England. What could possibly go wrong?"
-The Doctor.

russellsuthern

Hi Volpone.

Thanks for your comment.

This may be of interest:

Thanks to Tony, who put me in right direction, I was able to contact the legend that is Mat Irvine regarding the colour they used on the actual original prop!
He very kindly sent me this information:

"The Mk I - 'The Invisible Enemy' through to 'The Invasion of Time' was a basic primer grey. This would be matt finish, or at the most satin, he was never 'gloss'. The spray was likely from Halfords - we tended to get all our sprays from Halfords!"

This bears out my own theory that they did NOT use a metallic paint, or go too shiny, (which often looks worse on screen than in real life as it is too reflective.)

So, I am probably in the right ball park with the colour I have at the moment (although I still feel it could go a touch darker.)

But I have not yet completely discounted going metallic as it just looks so damn cool!!

We shall see....

Cheers,

Russ


No More

How did you decide on the neck curve and angle?

It looks like you're going for the upwards curve; there seems to be a fair bit of variation over the years so I assume it's whatever combination of "looks right" and "can pull off successfully" is the right balance for you.

I'm asking because this build made me look back (wistfully) at my photos from DWE and I notice the static prop there (I lose track of which one it is, or what rebuilt hybrid of moulds taken from which props) had a dead-straight neck fitted, on an upwards diagonal, which is simpler to do (don't need as flexible a gaitor, etc).  Looking at http://tardisbuilders.com/index.php?topic=1818.0 it seems like there are times when the neck has looked straight onscreen, which I can't put down to being just "head up" vs "head down" - I don't know if they're differences between hero and stunt props?

superrichi1a

Russ, this is looking absolutely incredible and really coming together nicely. I especially like the creativity on the tail and just how neat he looks, almost like a fibreglass casting!
I might also add that I'd brilliant to see those two K9s sitting next to each other! The colour difference really sets each one off nicely. :)

Very, very interesting re: Halfords primer. I think it's safe to say that it's at least a satin finish, you can see the sheen easily in most pictures of him. That would make it unlikely that they were using any actual primer, and that it was a paint from the car range. I remember I experimented a little with Halfords paints and really thought that the Ford Polaris Grey colour was a stunningly good match to the classic K9, a dark, satin, slightly metal-looking grey. Indeed, I then got hesitant as it didn't look metallic enough and so I over sprayed some Rover Amethyst, which was a mistake. Ironically I then found that misted-on Halfords primer gave me the desired New Series blue hue.

I'm sure you'll be a much better judge of colour and the look that you want than I ever was, but if you do decide to go further down the Halfords route, I hope that that gives you at least a partial line of enquiry to have a mooch at ;)
Isn't it how ironic that we have to think of solutions out of the box, in order to build our boxes a lot of the time?

aaron63

Quote from: russellsuthern on May 09, 2020, 07:37 am
Btw: I  was trawling the Internet for K-9 images & found this company: "Iconic Studio Creations" I had not heard of them before.
They make TARDISes, Daleks & K-9s for commercial sale, so I assume they are an American version of TPE?
Russell


Quote from: karsthotep on May 09, 2020, 06:45 pm
I have heard of that k-9' replica company.  The prices are crazy,  they also don't have a very good reputation for delivering.  Happy to take your money but It's ages until you finally get something. From what I have heard there have been several complaints filed against them.  Yours will be just as good with the added bonus of being created by you.  Keep it up man looking so good


Casual lurker here but spotted this. I actually ordered a K9 from Iconic Studios (They're an Australian company) and it was a pretty painful experience. It was about $7k (AUD) all up with all the features and I think I paid half of it up front. Then I heard nothing...and then month after month the deadline was pushed back until about 6 months passed and I had to get pretty angry to get a full refund of my deposit. Moral of the story is: avoid like the plague.

I'm pretty sure they took measurements from the 'School Reunion' prop or potentially one of the replicas produced for the exhibitions, so it was not accurate to the 'Classic' K9 anyway.

Awesome job on yours though! Can't wait to see it finished :)

Lantern of Gallifrey

You have inspired me to start my own.  I just have one question, what did you use as filler?

Volpone

Quote from: russellsuthern on May 10, 2020, 07:47 am
..."The Mk I - 'The Invisible Enemy' through to 'The Invasion of Time' was a basic primer grey. This would be matt finish, or at the most satin, he was never 'gloss'. The spray was likely from Halfords - we tended to get all our sprays from Halfords!"

This bears out my own theory that they did NOT use a metallic paint, or go too shiny, (which often looks worse on screen than in real life as it is too reflective.)...

One last minute caveat to my (possibly moot) "you can always go silver if you don't like the grey" comment (that is also related to my van build experience): ...as long as the paint is compatible.  From my limited research, modern 2-stage basecoat/clearcoat automotive paint is very harsh, so if you use pre-1980s/inexpensive DiY automotive paints, you need to sand everything off before switching to basecoat/clearcoat.  And for the black on the van, I used even more inexpensive Rustoleum metal paint from the hardware store.  I'd hesitate before shooting even a lacquer single stage automotive paint on that. 

And then back to my experience with seeing some of the "Star Trek: The Next Generation" props:  The toy comm-badges Playmates sold were much better looking than the actual ones used on the show.  The toy ones were chromed plastic.  The actual ones were gold and silver spraypaint.  Because metallic spraypaint looks like polished metal (at least on 1980s television) while actual polished metal would just be a huge pain in the butt to light and shoot--"CUT!  We just got a terrible lens flare from the stage lights on Riker's comm-badge and you can see the the cameraman's reflection in Picard's during the closeup.  Set up for Take 3244." 

Very clever of Tony to suggest contacting a primary source. 
"My dear Litefoot, I've got a lantern and a pair of waders, and possibly the most fearsome piece of hand artillery in all England. What could possibly go wrong?"
-The Doctor.

russellsuthern

May 10, 2020, 04:02 pm #113 Last Edit: May 10, 2020, 04:39 pm by russellsuthern
Thanks as always for your comments.

No More:  Regarding the neck, I drew out a few options & picked the one I like best.
My neck tube is very flexible, so I can get a good curve in, as I too dislike the "straight up at a 45% angle neck". I like curves!
As for the head positioning, I don't like the head too droopy as I think it gives him a "hang dog" expression, so I mounted the head as high as possible without him looking as if he's looking upwards.
I think the original prop had a movable neck which explains his head being in different positions in different photos?
I'm sure I have seen scenes where the head is moving up & down?

Rich:  Thanks for your kind words- the photos are quite flattering! Next week I'm going to see if Wickes is open. They sell quite good reasonably priced paints. I'll let you know how I get on.

Aaron: Sorry to hear about your bad experience, but a good warning to us all.... >:(

Lantern: Welcome to the club!!  I just used cheapo exterior filler from the local hardware store. It's not as good as car body filler, but it's cheap & it does the job!

Volpone:  Yes, Tony is a very clever man.
             As usual, the more advice & information I get regarding paint choices, the more difficulty I have making my mind up!
            Keep it coming!!  :D


Best regards,

Russell

tony farrell

May 10, 2020, 04:33 pm #114 Last Edit: May 10, 2020, 04:53 pm by Tony Farrell
Quote from: russellsuthern on May 10, 2020, 07:47 am
This bears out my own theory that they did NOT use a metallic paint, or go too shiny, (which often looks worse on screen than in real life as it is too reflective.)
But I have not yet completely discounted going metallic as it just looks so damn cool!!


This isn't as irrelevant as it might seem but, I'd suggest you watch "Day of the Daleks" and "Planet of the Daleks":

When the Dalek casings were refurbished for "Day", they were re-sprayed in a dark blue/grey metallic finish. I believe this refurbishment was actually carried out at Pinewood Studios (rather than in-house by the BBC) - our own James/Dr Hue will correct me if I'm wrong on this point. (James took some photos of the refurbishment and these photos are - I believe - the last ever colour photos of the Dalek casings in their original silver-grey and blue livery!)
 
This new metallic dark blue/grey finish looks particularly impressive in the filmed sequences for "Planet" - especially in the scene where a Dalek is man-handled into the ice volcano; in this scene the Dalek really does look as if it were made of metal!

The other thing I noticed from "Planet" is that one of the Dalek's blue/grey paintwork was starting to peel - the metallic lacquer top coat had begun to flake off revealing the base colour underneath. These un-lacquered patches appear to be a lighter grey than than where the top coat has remained un-damaged/intact.

So, as Volpone states, this just goes to show how important it is to provide a good 'key' for each paint layer.

And, as Russ states, as well as looking "so damn cool", the act of spraying on a clear metallic top coat/lacquer, serves to darken the grey of the base coat underneath.

Maybe Russ, you should take Mat Irvine's advice and take a trip to Halfords and try out a clear top coat on a spare piece of grey-painted hardboard! If you're not happy, you'll only have wasted a fiver; if you are happy with the result, Robert is - as they say - your uncle!  :)

T

russellsuthern

May 10, 2020, 04:38 pm #115 Last Edit: May 10, 2020, 06:16 pm by russellsuthern
Tony:

          Good advice as always.  I'm going to have a good look round, see what shops are open, what's in stock & decide from there.
          Interesting that you mention "Planet of the Daleks."  I personally love the dark metallic look, & think they have never looked
            better.
          It's the look I was going for with my grey goon Dalek- although I got it completely wrong!!! :o  


Cheers,

Russ

russellsuthern

Hi all!

Quite a windy day today, but dry enough to get out & make a base for my K-9 into which I set some wheels.

I estimate there will be half an inch clearance once the bumpers go on, but the wheels are adjustable, I can raise or lower them by simply adding or subtracting some washers, until I get it to just the height I want.

I painted the base black & attached it to K-9's body.

You will notice I also painted his insides white, just to tidy him up a bit...

ko1.jpg

ko2.jpg

ko3.jpg


Hope you are all well,

Best regards,

Russell

davidnagel

Ooooo! Thats a neat idea, the base and adjustable wheels.

*adds to thinking list

*looks at K9 head

*looks at wood waiting to be cut into K9 shapes

"One day my beauties... one day..."
Regards
David

superrichi1a

Well I must say your K9 has a very nice undercarriage. Very neat and professional looking, and the height-adjustable wheels are an excellent idea. Those casters look excellent, for the record, very sturdy and should give your K9 some excellent rollicity (that's a technical term, by the way).

Can't wait to see more!

Dammit, you're making me soooo want to build another! As you are with half the forum, it seems ;D
Isn't it how ironic that we have to think of solutions out of the box, in order to build our boxes a lot of the time?

russellsuthern

Thanks guys!

I was pleased with the base.

But now I'm in the middle of sanding down the grey to a smooth surface for the final topcoat (whatever it turns out to be!!)
Worst - job - ever....

I'm glad my little build is inspiring others to have a crack.

If we get enough people building, we'll have to change the sites name to K-9Builders!!! :o

Cheers,

Russ