Paintchucker
05-08-2005, 04:13 AM
Still a work in progress, but making some good headway...
http://www.ionowners.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=39
This is not as easy as a $10 can of Bondo and a $4 can of spray paint, albeit both methods require some time, patience and a little skill. This is some complex stuff. Mixing in catalyst in exacting ratios, certain pot lifes for certain materials(get your mind out of the gutter for a moment child... Pot life in casting has to do with how long your stuff can sit in the the mixing bowl before it becomes unusable) Of course you have to mix up Bondo too, but this way, you are mixing up about $60 worth of silicone rubber mold material that you hope is going to go right, and you don't get a second chance... Not with that $60 anyway... I have probably over the price of a new ION in mold making materials, books, dvds, different types of mold making rubber, casting resin, mold release, liquid plastics, catalysts, mold release agents, dremel tool attachments, sand paper, etc. etc. I have invested 75+ hours over the last 3 weeks paying my dues and learning the trade. All that for 9 sets of grips, 1 useable foregrip, and 2 bodies. Oh, I almost forgot: 2 reusable body molds, a reusable foregrip mold and a reusable grip mold :) I am about to the point of something fairly presentable in addition to being unlike anything most people have seen.
This last mold/body is much easier to deal with than my first one. I made a new center core and it was much easier to get on the gun. I still have 3 hours sanding, but may be able to reduce that with an even better mold core. BTW, most of the examples on the internet show you a nice 2 piece mold. Because we need a hollow tube, I am doing a 3 piece mold. It works, but trial and error led me to it, and being a "newbie" there is probably a better way to do it that I haven't discovered yet.
But the body does go on the gun. I have another hour or so in cleanup to get fitting correct. Also note the amber translucent "stock ION" body! I am using a black rubber/plastic tool dip product to do the rubber webbing. On the body on the gun, the webbing is the same height as stock gun, but the other parts are exploded (hence the name radiatION).
The resin once cured is easily cut, carved, sanded, etc. Maybe as easy as wood. If this body had too many curves, you could cut/sand it all down one level and shape it like the Bondos if you wanted to... I wanted something a little more. No offense, but most of those look like the pinewood derby car I made back in the 1960's in Scouts. When I get time, I will try some bondo on the resin to see if it sticks. You could potentially take one of these and Bondo it up, rather than cutting up and bondoing your original body.
But here is the kicker, ask the Bondo Guys if they can do this????
http://www.ionowners.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=40
BTW, the glow is from a candle behind the body/gun ... And yes, I have considered adding lights, but not doing the mod... Wouldn't you have to send me your gun? I might install the LED with long enough wires for leads to where it needs to connect though!
I still love my two Emags, and the Minimag... But this is a fun gun to play with... Literally... LOL... I am thinking about taking one of my ION bodies and trying to put it onto a mag next, just for kicks.
If you are interested, here is my running history thread over on IONowners.com:
<<< Paintchucker's Resin ION Body Experiments LINK >>> (http://www.ionowners.com/showthread.php?t=444)
http://www.ionowners.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=39
This is not as easy as a $10 can of Bondo and a $4 can of spray paint, albeit both methods require some time, patience and a little skill. This is some complex stuff. Mixing in catalyst in exacting ratios, certain pot lifes for certain materials(get your mind out of the gutter for a moment child... Pot life in casting has to do with how long your stuff can sit in the the mixing bowl before it becomes unusable) Of course you have to mix up Bondo too, but this way, you are mixing up about $60 worth of silicone rubber mold material that you hope is going to go right, and you don't get a second chance... Not with that $60 anyway... I have probably over the price of a new ION in mold making materials, books, dvds, different types of mold making rubber, casting resin, mold release, liquid plastics, catalysts, mold release agents, dremel tool attachments, sand paper, etc. etc. I have invested 75+ hours over the last 3 weeks paying my dues and learning the trade. All that for 9 sets of grips, 1 useable foregrip, and 2 bodies. Oh, I almost forgot: 2 reusable body molds, a reusable foregrip mold and a reusable grip mold :) I am about to the point of something fairly presentable in addition to being unlike anything most people have seen.
This last mold/body is much easier to deal with than my first one. I made a new center core and it was much easier to get on the gun. I still have 3 hours sanding, but may be able to reduce that with an even better mold core. BTW, most of the examples on the internet show you a nice 2 piece mold. Because we need a hollow tube, I am doing a 3 piece mold. It works, but trial and error led me to it, and being a "newbie" there is probably a better way to do it that I haven't discovered yet.
But the body does go on the gun. I have another hour or so in cleanup to get fitting correct. Also note the amber translucent "stock ION" body! I am using a black rubber/plastic tool dip product to do the rubber webbing. On the body on the gun, the webbing is the same height as stock gun, but the other parts are exploded (hence the name radiatION).
The resin once cured is easily cut, carved, sanded, etc. Maybe as easy as wood. If this body had too many curves, you could cut/sand it all down one level and shape it like the Bondos if you wanted to... I wanted something a little more. No offense, but most of those look like the pinewood derby car I made back in the 1960's in Scouts. When I get time, I will try some bondo on the resin to see if it sticks. You could potentially take one of these and Bondo it up, rather than cutting up and bondoing your original body.
But here is the kicker, ask the Bondo Guys if they can do this????
http://www.ionowners.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=40
BTW, the glow is from a candle behind the body/gun ... And yes, I have considered adding lights, but not doing the mod... Wouldn't you have to send me your gun? I might install the LED with long enough wires for leads to where it needs to connect though!
I still love my two Emags, and the Minimag... But this is a fun gun to play with... Literally... LOL... I am thinking about taking one of my ION bodies and trying to put it onto a mag next, just for kicks.
If you are interested, here is my running history thread over on IONowners.com:
<<< Paintchucker's Resin ION Body Experiments LINK >>> (http://www.ionowners.com/showthread.php?t=444)