Heavy/Scratch: Masterpiece Seeker hands (Shapeways)

Discussion in 'Radicons Customs' started by fakebusker83, Jan 19, 2012.

  1. fakebusker83

    fakebusker83 Radicon

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    Masterpiece Seeker hands 1.5
    Update Jan 20, 2012


    [​IMG]

    Alright, I know a lot of people have been asking for this, and here you have it,
    extra posable hands for the Masterpiece Seeker mold! The original hands are great,
    with one posable index finger and thumb, but I was able to laugh in the face of physics
    and give Starscream a pair of hands will all 4 fingers posable!

    The wrists and thumbs are on ball joints; altogether Starscream is able
    to give a lot of rude, snooty hand signs.

    [​IMG]

    Another feature I like to incorporate into my hands is the ability to hold 5mm peg weapons.
    This is without exception. He can hold the tiny Megatron pistol as well, but not as securely.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    And yes, the new hands fit comfortably in alt mode.

    [​IMG]


    Problems and Issues

    I have tested the hands in both White Strong Detail and Frosted Ultra Detail,
    the latter is because I believe a large number of you guys would want
    clean looking hands for MP figures and would pay the extra costs for FUD.
    As I was designing the hands to work well enough for both types of material,
    there are some idiosyncrasies in material behavior you have to be aware off.
    Please read the relevant section before deciding on which material to print them in.

    White Strong Flexible: Fingers work well enough but may fall out sometimes.
    Thumb ball joint tends to be loose so use super glue to tighten the joint.
    Because of excess powder deposits, the hole in the wrist piece that slides
    onto the forearm screw rod will be very tight. I added some gaps at the
    perimeter of the hole to reduce friction, but you must make sure to clear out
    all the excess powder before attaching the hands to the forearm. Use a dremel if you need to widen the hole.
    I'm not responsible if you force things and break your expensive figure.

    Frosted Ultra Detail: All the wrists and thumb joints work extremely well.
    The wrist screw rod hole is comfortably snug. The only dangerous part is the
    base of the index and pinkie finger joints; my sample broke at those spots.
    I suspect it is because of uneven thicknesses in the joint walls which led to
    excessive flexing on one side. I have since reinforced that area, but I wouldn't
    recommend getting them in FUD until I've verified my next sample.


    You can order the MP Seeker hands here at
    Masterpiece Seeker hands on Shapeways.

    I also did a version with a 5mm peg on the wrist joint for use with other customs.
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    The pegged variant can be found at
    Masterpiece Seeker hands (pegged variant) on Shapeways.

    - Ariel



    Flickr is here.

    Fakebusker's Shapeways Store
     

    Attached Files:

  2. Carpool

    Carpool Well-Known Member

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    I like your honesty. I really appreciate a creator reviewing and discussing the product to the consumer. Im perfectly satisfied with the seeker hands as is but Im sire there are a load of people who would be glad to buy these. My only point here is thanks for being an honest maker of custom parts. Id also like to know if you have ever thought to tackle the handless Devastator? The Clawed appendages dont do the mold justice. A custom head and hands would go a long ways I think. I remember people asking 3rd party companies and customizers from this sight to make them. No one ever did a set for that mold. A chestshield would be possible as well. Im not a sculptor. I dont have a clue how to do this myself but it seems as though you are quite capable. Have a good one.
     
  3. Dawgstar

    Dawgstar Scratch Builder and 3D Designer

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    Very Nice.
     
  4. Stormbringer85

    Stormbringer85 Well-Known Member

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    fantastic! you have solved the final piece of the puzzle in a vast ocean of customizer dilemmas by making these hands, Thanks so much, and like the poster above said, thanks for being honest! will you be refining the formula for FUD to make them stronger at the index finger and less breakable?
     
  5. fakebusker83

    fakebusker83 Radicon

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    I already did. The version up available now on Shapeways is the latest one with the reinforced walls. You can choose to print them in FUD, but I can't offer any assurance until I get my own FUD pair.
     
  6. Stormbringer85

    Stormbringer85 Well-Known Member

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    I see, thanks for the reply I'll definitely be picking some of these up. :) 
     
  7. javaco

    javaco javaco

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    you are a shapeways god.
     
  8. Zildjian

    Zildjian Well-Known Member

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    Awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
     
  9. fakebusker83

    fakebusker83 Radicon

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    Are you referring to the Energon Constructicon Maximus/Classics Devastator?
    I had a vested interest in this idea for a long time, exactly as you described: To create forearms, a head, and maybe 2 whole new figures to replace 2 of the limbs. Kinda like what Fansproject did with Superion and Bruticus.

    Too bad the promise of this project is fading, since I do not own this set (though I badly wanted one) and Hasbro doesn't seem to be releasing anymore of that mold. Existing sets are becoming rare and expensive, which is bad for what I'm trying to do.

    And thanks for your kind words :) 

    Thanks!

    You're welcome, SB!

    Not really lol...I still have a long way to go before I reach that state of divinity...

    You wanted it, now you have it, bro! :thumb 
    Sorry to keep you waiting for so long!
     
  10. fakebusker83

    fakebusker83 Radicon

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    Hi guys, I have received a request to make a variation of those Seeker hands with the wrist section attach to the forearm with pegs.

    These pegs are 5mm in diameter and 7mm long (peg section), and they are supplied with ridges for sculpts to hold onto.

    [​IMG]

    You can get these at:
    MP Seeker hands (peg variant) on Shapeways
     
  11. Stormbringer85

    Stormbringer85 Well-Known Member

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    oh yeah!!!!
     
  12. G60Force

    G60Force World Smallest Mini-Con

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    damn... you... now I need to order:
    mp03+ghost
    TC+SW
    HasbroG1+SW
    3xConeheads

    So that's 9sets already... would be could If they came in the right colors?
    future seekers... etc.
     
  13. Shwiggie

    Shwiggie Likeable dryskinned biped

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    I have a couple questions regarding these hands, to fakebusker and/or anyone else who has used them.

    I just got a set today (wrist peg version in red strong flexible for a Powermaster Prime figure I'm working on), but I've noticed that the fingers spread quite a bit at the flanges where the fingertips join them. It makes it so that posing the fingers side-by-side is problematic. I assume this is a natural consequence of the variance to be expected of items manufactured this way.

    I started filing down the inside of the flanges on one finger, but I'm not sure how much risk there is in structural compromise. Being that it's my first Shapeways purchase, I've never worked with this material before and am unfamiliar with it. I have noticed that it doesn't want to file down very easily, either. I'm also thinking about drilling the knuckles with a pin vise and putting a wire in there to help hold down the fort. Is this a common practice?

    I love these hands, but I want to make sure to get the best out of them...not to mention that I don't want to lose any parts along the way! Any insight would be welcome.
     
  14. fakebusker83

    fakebusker83 Radicon

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    Yes, due to the limitation of the joint design, most of the hands' fingers will spread out when laid side by side. Funnily enough, these MP hands are designed so the fingers can lay parallel. Since you mentioned using Strong Flexible material, there will always be size variations between prints, and I guess you got the 'thicker' ones. You wouldn't want to sand don't too thinly, because you are right, thin walls will warp under pressure.

    The wire trick is not common, but feel free to try it as it sounds less risky than sanding.
    You might want to use a standard toy pin Hasbro uses, if you have spares lying around. Or thicker wires.

    Ariel
     
  15. Shwiggie

    Shwiggie Likeable dryskinned biped

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    I appreciate the quick response!

    If I go the wire route, I can file the fingertip connections a bit so that the finger flanges don't get too thin in comparison. If I equal out the thicknesses, it should be a matter of drilling down and popping a straightened paper clip in there. While that sounds ghetto, I don't see why it wouldn't work.

    If it goes belly up, I'll just pick up another pair...like I said, I really like what you've done, and I'm thankful that you've made them available. Thanks again!


    EDIT: Here are a couple comparison pictures of one hand with filed and pinned knuckles and one stock. I'm probably going to put a tiny drop of super glue on both sides of each wire to hold them in...since they're slightly sunken and not flush with the sides, it should be flat when done.
     

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  16. mstyger87

    mstyger87 mastercon

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    is it at all possible for you to make gestalt type hands, i mean sort of the size for hercules as i may be in need of some for bruticus custom, cheers for your help
     
  17. unlikelyhero

    unlikelyhero FOX HOUND RETIREE

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    You are Awsome every idea you have and create for is something I want, it's like you can rad my mind. Ps I am sure many others think the same
     
  18. cheetor71

    cheetor71 Autobot

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    They look really nice.
     
  19. haventgrownup

    haventgrownup Procrastinator

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    Is F.U.D. clear? I'd need a clear set.
     
  20. fakebusker83

    fakebusker83 Radicon

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    I found that FUD comes in relatively clear with a yellowish tinge, but gets darker and more opaque after a few weeks. I suspect it's due to exposure to the elements even though I keep my stuff indoors all the time.

    I'm not sure if spraying a clear coat or even a UV resistant clear coat will work but you can try.