Right Shoulder Bell

[youngling]

Well Here is what I got so far just a few pics that I edited on Paint. I am sorry for the fact that I am not very good in Paint so you will have to live wiht it sorry.


I have looke at the basic shape an dnoticed that some have a sharp corner while others have a rounded corner. So I guess the point beyond here is hwat do you prefer. Now I am open to suggestions Here if you see anything wrong with what I have done please tell me.

[admin]

I'm actually going to start working on one of these soon. I'm starting up a Seatrooper project this year, and the big part of that is sculpting the basic shapes in foam. So as a proof-of-concept, I'm going to shape out this right shoulder bell, and then cover it in bondo/spackle, add the ridges, and probably do a fiberglass version of it. The good thing about it is that you can do the rounded shape on it if you wish. Personally, I'm probably going to do a very slight rounded corner to match Mike's BARC shoulder bell.

[youngling]

I can understand a Slightly rounded corner but the amount the have rounded on some of thos pics is just rediculous. But my opinion is if you make the molds stratght you can always just cut the plastic to have rounded corners.

But Hey Captain My thought was making these about the same size of so Biker scout shoulder bells with bigger sides. I know that you are using some oversized Biker Scout bells as yours right now would you say they are about the right size or do they need to be bigger smaller?

[mandoman]

I agree, they should probably be made with a sharp corner, so people can round them off if they want to.

[Deleted]

I was just looking at that first reference pic where someone had drawn in the lines of the ridges...The marine on the left in the little square...If you look at him on the flickr page (this page's pic almost looks distorted) it looks like FOUR ridges...Maybe I am wrong here, I could swear that I remember hearing people say that there are THREE ridges...You can see it clearly on the flickr pic page...

Also, one other question about the right shoulder bell...I know that everyone says (and agrees on (myself included)) that the right and left shoulder bells are completely different...But are the basic vacuumformed SHAPES at least the same? Like could you take 2 of the same [correct] shoulder bells and just ADD the ridges, or are the two bells different shapes OVERALL as well?

[admin]

No, the shapes are different. The right shoulder bell is unique to the GM, and is shaped more like an FX-style TK shoulder bell, and the left one is a BARC shoulder bell.

And the number of ridges has yet to be determined. Our best bet for determining the number of ridges is the Hasbro figure. Hasbro does have official references to work from, and since all pics for us are fuzzy in this area, we can trust them in at least showing the general look of it. I'm imagining it's not a number of lines issue, since I'm beginning to think that each "pair" of lines is actually connected with half-circles at the top and bottom.

Like this:
._______________ <--ignore the period, it's just for spacing
(_______________)

Instead of this:
_______________
_______________

If I'm correct, we only need to determine the number of "loops" that go around the shoulder bell (I estimate 4 or 5).

[pghfett]

I'd say 4 Capt. If you were to go off the center of the bell - 4 would be right based on the frontal view. Perhaps the fig when it hits will show more.

[Deleted]

I agree with pghfett...It looks like four total...If you look, the middle two that you can see look like the middle with one more on each side...I can't imagine that hasbro would release something that is asymetrical (in this case at least)...Human nature/normalcy tends to drift towards symertrism and conforming...

[Anrev]

It looks like 5 in the pics of the figure.

[snowflake]

i believe the corner is sharp, infact where you see a curved corner it is a CG bug where things fuse togheter. After months of looking at the reference i'm convinced there is only one model (the withe one is the best) and the differences we see here and there are all cg bugs (seen in picture where the gm is walking or in a dynamic pose)

[youngling]

I believe the corner is sharp with a slight round off so that it is still sharp just not cut yourself on it sharp.

[admin]

I started something the other day. Youngling, this is the same process you were questioning me about a few days back. I glued together several pieces of 3/4" thick insulation foam board with some wood glue (very strong hold!), and I'm shaping it with my power sander. It's a slow-ish process, but it's allowing me to perfect the shape very slowly. I'll be covering this is spackle putty and then smoothing it over with bondo. I haven't yet decided how I'm going to do the ridges, but they'll likely be done with wire or some sort.

[youngling]

Wow that is truly incredible captain. I am using floral foam and it just sands down like nothing else. I am using 320 grit sand paper and I can shape it really fast. right now I am working on the forearms. I got this stuff for my biceps that is a really hard foam it is kinda like a rock hard foam it is hard to explain. But hey if you would return my PM I could get started on that too.

But seriously that is looking REALLY GOOD .

[Deleted]

yeah captain that IS really cool...For the ridges you could also use small wooden dowel...you can get some REALLY small sized wooden dowel at menards/lowes/home depot/michaels...Stuff is neat...Also, might want to check michaels or hobby lobby for CURVED pieces so you can do the curves of the ridges...

OR you could get small refrigerator copper tubing (they make some REALLY small) and get a tubing bender to make the bends perfect...OR if you want to do the metal theme for the ridges, you could just get regular steel rods and bend them to the shape(s) you need...Just a few thoughts...

[admin]

Materials don't matter. It's just a mold for making FG copies later.

Youngling. I replied, but please don't outright ask me to do so on the forum. I'll answer PMs when I get the chance.