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View Full Version : Mach's entry for the Novint Falcon Grip Challenge



Mach
07-30-2010, 12:30 AM
So I've had a Falcon for awhile. I bought it thinking it'd look very cool decked out in brass and copper. Then Barsarkar-gang jumped to the front of the modding line. So the Falcon went into the modding project closet.

This contest is a good excuse to dig it back out. I've got a few ideas for where I want to take this. The first idea was a glove that looks like a cross between steampunk and Freddy Kruger but looks like mofo has that idea well in hand (pardon the pun).

So I spent an evening this week playing with the Falcon using the intro games. Very, very cool device. I was pretty impressed with the textures especially the molasses ball. That being said after a couple of hours of game play my hand was cramping up. So my first attempt was to model a more ergonomic grip. I covered the original grip in painter's tape and modeled a new grip with clay. Next step was to make a mold.
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_UdQdiSb7gT4/TFJHafyJHRI/AAAAAAAAKv4/iQ6QIk-OkRQ/s640/IMG_7980.JPG


I say was because I found a different grip that brings me back to something more inline with why I bought the Falcon in the first.
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_UdQdiSb7gT4/TFJHftJgJwI/AAAAAAAAKv8/3ruveotZxxc/s640/IMG_7974.JPG


I found a 3" hollow copper float online that is just about the right weight, size, and is certainly the right materials.
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_UdQdiSb7gT4/TFJG7sSezGI/AAAAAAAAKvw/EeaWvfdFHZ4/s640/IMG_7986.JPG


It's a good size for my hand, I've got a got a few ideas for the switches but more on that next time. Consider me in this one and thanks for the extension.
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_UdQdiSb7gT4/TFJHUSWDecI/AAAAAAAAKvs/MwIi0rFj3eY/s640/IMG_7988.JPG

Mach
08-12-2010, 11:50 PM
Another part arrived this week, a three inch birch ball
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_UdQdiSb7gT4/TGSsXu6N-DI/AAAAAAAAKyM/ZFqE8u7qE7I/s640/IMG_8027.JPG
A little Durham's water putty. It's gypsum based but is harder than plaster
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_UdQdiSb7gT4/TGS_MaKMAVI/AAAAAAAAKz4/fTkrtWrFjCA/s640/IMG_8023.JPG
Mixed to a batter like consistency
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_UdQdiSb7gT4/TGSsrYSBjvI/AAAAAAAAKyQ/jcjxrlHVB0c/s640/IMG_7991.JPG
Water putty has a slightly longer working time that plaster so I left it setup for awhile
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_UdQdiSb7gT4/TGSs8zPxxGI/AAAAAAAAKyU/_veXDY-yBqI/s640/IMG_8002.JPG
Then I partially submerged the copper float in the half hardened mix. The tape is keeping it in place.
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_UdQdiSb7gT4/TGSs9L0m8MI/AAAAAAAAKyY/Xdx72ghv7Vk/s640/IMG_8007.JPG
While that's curing, ponder this…. :)
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_UdQdiSb7gT4/TGS_VE0rwMI/AAAAAAAAKz8/-gsA1KE7eac/s640/novint.jpg

Drum Thumper
08-13-2010, 01:45 AM
I like where this is going. You should make another Bioshock 2 logo for this as well!

x88x
08-13-2010, 03:18 AM
Hmm, interesting. Well, yours will definitely be prettier than mine. :D

Mach
08-15-2010, 10:45 PM
I like where this is going. You should make another Bioshock 2 logo for this as well!
Thanks :). Who knows I may turn this into a Bioshock Infinite mod when I get my other mod finished.


Hmm, interesting. Well, yours will definitely be prettier than mine. :D
We'll have to wait to see who get finished and who doesn't (emphasis on me). I think yours will be easier to play. I went for the form over function on this one.

Cured and after a quick trip to the belt sander
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_UdQdiSb7gT4/TGigQn8YM7I/AAAAAAAAK0s/iBHemxHULFI/s640/IMG_8278.JPG

A little painters tape for a layer of protection
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_UdQdiSb7gT4/TGigQ7kx34I/AAAAAAAAK0w/Kvlo2B_W2y4/s640/IMG_8282.JPG

The birch ball in place. The rock putty base acts as a holder for the ball and a mold
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_UdQdiSb7gT4/TGigRVQf4WI/AAAAAAAAK00/UimW_gWxK4Q/s640/IMG_8289.JPG

A mold for the brass that is. By heating the brass to red hot and then quenching it repeatedly, the brass is softened enough to mold to the ball.
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_UdQdiSb7gT4/TGigSB6PPXI/AAAAAAAAK04/7zM_U4da8MI/s640/IMG_8291.JPG

That is after quite alot of heating and hammering.
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_UdQdiSb7gT4/TGigSYXiACI/AAAAAAAAK08/tPDiZh7kX-A/s640/IMG_8292.JPG

Not too bad for a rough in. Not sure if I'll be able to get it to be smooth enough so may fall back to a peened finish or something else.
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_UdQdiSb7gT4/TGigSv8wadI/AAAAAAAAK1A/5VjKq47LTQE/s640/IMG_8295.JPG

Still another hour or so of hammering should do it. Then on to the sanding and cutting.
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_UdQdiSb7gT4/TGigTEIVY3I/AAAAAAAAK1E/rcGroVvggzI/s640/IMG_8297.JPG

x88x
08-15-2010, 11:31 PM
Oooh... that is not at all what I thought you would do. Interesting. :D

d_stilgar
08-16-2010, 12:25 AM
Nice! I'm liking this.