Tom DeSanto's Approved Life Size Cylon Costume

BlueSquad2001 · April 25th, 2006, 03:24 PM

The Begining of a whole new thread. DeSanto's Continuation Version of the Cylon Centurion!
After begining the sculpt for the Cylon figure which is near completion, I decided to contact Tom about going forward with the full size Cylon outfits, and accessories! The helmet, will make it's public debut at Wonderfest this yarhen, and the full size costume, with individually molded parts and working light beams will see the light of day by late Aug or Sept!

Tom is thrilled about these and cannot wait to have one standing in his office. I'm thrilled to have a good friend like Tom and he has sent me unbelieveable amounts of pics and sketches of the FINAL, and DEFINITIVE designs on these, as well as the new Cylon laser rifles!!!! These will also be produced!
So...without further blah blah blahs'! Here are the bones that i'm throwing you, and you can get more pics and more on this story over at Sandy's awesome Galactica site!

And for fun! An idea of how the light may look installed!

These will be up for order, as they are already fully sculpted, and awaitng final kit details, and getting a primer before the molding gets started! Rob over at Sci-fi Models will be casting these, and payment will be made through us directly at teripop@yahoo.com
This is gonna be a great year for Galactica props and models....
WE GUARANTEE IT!!! LOTS MORE TO COME!

And a word of caution, no one but Terri and I have permission, nor will be given permission to create these, or copy, without permission. I will promise all that Tom would, and will come after all that try.

Sept17th · April 25th, 2006, 03:37 PM

Quote:

...and the full size costume, with individually molded parts and working light beams will see the light of day by late Aug or Sept!

Hmmmm shiny! Mike, I have a film shooting around that time...I'll be back in Oklahomie thursday night we'll talk soon.

BlueSquad2001 · April 25th, 2006, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sept17th

Hmmmm shiny! Mike, I have a film shooting around that time...I'll be back in Oklahomie thursday night we'll talk soon.

You got it buddy. Look forward to hearing from you bud.

dilbertman · April 25th, 2006, 03:47 PM

New Cylon laser rifle. Cool.

Like the eye FX.

When your done, I can play the fat Cylon. HAHAHA.

Any plans to do the pilot helmet?

Jim

Hey I'm your only buddy, if not I'll came over with some of my boyz and

.

BlueSquad2001 · April 25th, 2006, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dilbertman

New Cylon laser rifle. Cool.

Like the eye FX.

When your done, I can play the fat Cylon. HAHAHA.

Any plans to do the pilot helmet?

Jim

Hey I'm your only buddy, if not I'll came over with some of my boyz and

.

YES! We are doing a pilots helmet and suit! AND....we are the ONLY ONES!

dilbertman · April 25th, 2006, 03:50 PM

COOL!

Jim

April 25th, 2006, 03:55 PM

Wow. This is going to be killer.

How were the DeSanto Cylons finished anyway? Would they have ended up using the chrome finish, or gone with something else?

spcglider · April 25th, 2006, 04:01 PM

I'd make some lame comment like "Wow, Mike. Great job!" but

A) It will do nothing to disguise my brimming jealousy

and

B) Its pretty redundant!

Michael is kicking serious arse.

-G

TwoBrainedCylon · April 25th, 2006, 04:52 PM

As Mike said, articles on this and other fan projects are hitting AllGalactica PDQ.

Great job on this Mike!!!

Sandy

dilbertman · April 25th, 2006, 07:21 PM

Hey Mike

DONE YET?

Jim

BlueSquad2001 · April 25th, 2006, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jjrakman

Wow. This is going to be killer.

How were the DeSanto Cylons finished anyway? Would they have ended up using the chrome finish, or gone with something else?

Hey JJ! Yes you bettcha! Tom's Cylon forces are going to be colored various alien hues of a "gunmetal type" finish. It is very alien in looks and I have color swatches to match it up.
Also there will be odd Gold and Copper toned leaders and a very interesting (Lucifer) that we will also do in a very limited run of only 5.

The pilots are an altogether different color of plating.

jewels · April 25th, 2006, 08:12 PM

it's totally cool that he's letting you do this. both this and the viper look very well done.

jewels

April 25th, 2006, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Tom's Cylon forces are going to be colored various alien hues of a "gunmetal type" finish.

That should look pretty cool.

I'm wondering, have you already, or will you tackle any of the TOS ships or Cylons?

Scale models of the Cylons?

How about any of the Vincent Guastini stuff, like the Imperious Leader in my avatar?

I guess I'm just curious as to what you all have on the drawing board for the future, and what you might already have currently available.

dilbertman · April 25th, 2006, 08:33 PM

Lucifer! COOL!

Put me down for one.

Jim

BlueSquad2001 · April 25th, 2006, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jjrakman

That should look pretty cool.

I'm wondering, have you already, or will you tackle any of the TOS ships or Cylons?

Scale models of the Cylons?

How about any of the Vincent Guastini stuff, like the Imperious Leader in my avatar?

I guess I'm just curious as to what you all have on the drawing board for the future, and what you might already have currently available.

TOS is not being covered properly, and in that idea, there are things of great interest that is worth taking the time to sculpt and mold and cast, and others do not generate enough interest to outweigh the major price you'll pay for doing those things that have little interest. That being said, at Wonderfest, an ( ENORMOUS!!) item will be revealed at a price that will not cause people to mortgage their homes and pimp the wife!

And it'll be BEYOND anything ayone has yet done for Galactica! I'm sure that Sandy, and Dilbertman can also tell ya...it'll be BIG!

But I'm not revealing here and now.
If I see enough interest to do the Imperious leader, then yes, I would sculpt the entire throne room. I think Tom would like me maybe to re-sculpt the full size Imperious Leader. Possibly.

You can bet that the DeSanto Basestar is coming! And a lil' more info is that it'll be a little over 3ft in diameter.
That's all I'm spilling for now. Go to sleep you restless Warriors!

BlueSquad2001 · April 26th, 2006, 12:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jewels

it's totally cool that he's letting you do this. both this and the viper look very well done.

jewels

Hi Jewels!

Although we have yet to speak, or get to know each other, I really can say that I feel honored to have you compliment my work, and I thank you.

I have read numerous postings and contributions of yours here and know that it is a fact, that you are a great contribution to the TRUE continuation of Battlestar Galactica, and deserve to be recognised as such. I hope that i get the opportunity to call you a friend.

And to all on another note, off subject for a micron.
I have just caefully listened to the 1st c.d. in Russell Sanders, a.k.a. ( two-brained-cylon!) The Exodus Series!
It is FANTASTIC.....PRO DONE!
Get your hands on this adventure, forget G.I.N.O. and begin an entirely new of love for this epic saga. Russell has opened new doors and discoveries for us all as fans of TOS!
It is without a doubt, inspiring and a true work of ART!

Thank you Sandy, for bringing us the story which we have all longed to hear! I cannot salute you enough!

peter noble · April 26th, 2006, 12:46 AM

So, is Michael now officially The Fastest Sculptor/Modeller Alive?

Does he have a special spandex suit?

Does he ever sleep?

Frankly his talent sickens me!

Best,

Peter

BlueSquad2001 · April 26th, 2006, 01:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peter noble

So, is Michael now officially The Fastest Sculptor/Modeller Alive?

Does he have a special spandex suit?

Does he ever sleep?

Frankly his talent sickens me!

Best,

Peter

LOL!!!

Peter, glad ta see ya in here tonight! Or at least in my time over here.

It was gettng too lonely for an artist. I'm in my 2nd art studio now finishing up my Colonial Warriors Recruit poster. I don't wear spandex, but mostly leather jeans! I sleep probably 5 to 14 hours a day, depending on how long it takes me to recharge from the last go around.
The fastest sculptor, artist or modeler, or even all? NO!

I used to be able to pencil a life like portrait in 10 min, or less. I guaranteed that to my clients, now it takes me about 25 or less, I've gotten out of practice. It was a novelty to do that in pubs and restaurants, it was a bet that at $25.00 for an 11x14, I'd have a detailed and look just like the one I was drawing, portrait, or it was free! I met LOTS of women this way

and the more I did, and the faster I did it, drew large crowds and even more money. Time is money!!!!
On the actualy work table in my other shop, I am working on the following.
1. young female warrior firing a blaster, same scale as the cylon statue that I'm doing, and in TOS outfit as well as the DeSanto suit.
2. cylon pilot DeSanto model
3. cylon DeSanto statue (about to be molded)
4. Colonial shuttle (all correct angle and detail!!!!!)
5. 1/72 scale DeSanto Viper
6. 1/24th scale DeSanto Raider, both of us working together on final design
7. 1/24th scale Raider interior with pilots, a slight variation for the Commander
8. DeSanto viper landing gears
9. Improved DeSanto 1/24th pilot (affordable upgrade!)
10. DeSanto full size Cylon suit
11. DeSanto Cylon laser rifle
12. I can't tell you the rest because I cannot announce them yet, but each will have a thread all of it's own! When the world and time is ready.

About 6 others in the making.
Thanks for being sickened at my talent, or whatever it is that guides my hands to make these things.

Be lookin' for ya Peter.
All our best, Mike and Terri

TwoBrainedCylon · April 26th, 2006, 03:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlueSquad2001

I have just caefully listened to the 1st c.d. in Russell Sanders, a.k.a. ( two-brained-cylon!) The Exodus Series!
It is FANTASTIC.....PRO DONE!
Get your hands on this adventure, forget G.I.N.O. and begin an entirely new of love for this epic saga. Russell has opened new doors and discoveries for us all as fans of TOS!
It is without a doubt, inspiring and a true work of ART!

Thank you Sandy, for bringing us the story which we have all longed to hear! I cannot salute you enough!

Mike,

Glad you liked it and I hope everyone who does spreads the word like this to others.

It was and continues to be a team effort and more and more I find myself sitting in the shadow of other's talent.

Episode 2 is shaping up really nicely.

Sandy

peter noble · April 26th, 2006, 03:24 AM

Michael,

Are the larger items going to be made of resin? I imagine they'd weight quite a bit if they were.

Best,

P

BlueSquad2001 · April 26th, 2006, 03:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peter noble

Michael,

Are the larger items going to be made of resin? I imagine they'd weight quite a bit if they were.

Best,

P

Yes, but they will be roto-cast. Which will be fantastic in reducing the weight below half of what it would be, saving people on shipping as well as making the adding of lights perfect!

peter noble · April 26th, 2006, 03:49 AM

Okay, now you've got to explain roto-casting!

CommanderTaggart · April 26th, 2006, 05:23 AM

BlueSquad2001 · April 26th, 2006, 05:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CommanderTaggart

Thank You, and I greatly appreciate that from you also Bill!
Please, stay in touch. You've got my e-mail and number.

BlueSquad2001 · April 26th, 2006, 06:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peter noble

Okay, now you've got to explain roto-casting!

Okay, the simplified version.
A mold is made of the subject, and then partially filled with resin. At that point it is placed upon a table that spins the mold forcing the resin against the cavity wall. And you end up with a hollow casting.
TA DA!!!!
Later Peter.

peter noble · April 26th, 2006, 06:13 AM

Thanks Michael!

P

spcglider · April 26th, 2006, 07:53 AM

Allow me to elucidate:

You make a CLOSE-ABLE mold of your object (lets say a helmet). It has to be seal-able so the resin you put in doesn't come spilling out. Usually, it's a silicone mold with a hard outer jacket (fiberglass works well, its light and tough and can be bolted together if you make flanges around the perimeter).

The rotocasting rig is a bit more than just a spinniing table. It is a double frame that is geared to spin on two axis at once. I have a small version here that I can post images of if you'd like to see. The mold is clamped in the center of the innermost frame and allowed to double-axis rotate until the resin sets up.

My machine is very small. It will take a mold that is only 5x7. But I have seen very large versions that fill half a room. Once again, its a very specialized piece of equipment for a very specialized task.

Of course, you don't NEED a machine to tumble a closed mold full of resin. You can certainly do it by hand if you have the stamina! I know I have done that many times in the past for lack of a machine.

We did a commercial for GoldNPlump Chicken that required us to make hollow eggs that would crack apart on command in front of the camera. We rotocast white resin in an oversized egg mold to create shells, cut them apart, re-assembled them with candle wax, and spongepainted the exterior with white latex house paint. Worked like a charm! It was the "cracking" rig that caused us to get ulcers. I can tell that nightmare story some other time.

But anyway, roto-casting is a great way to get a hollow shell object if you're not too picky about wall thickness and uniformity. If you insist on uniform wall thickness, you'd better look into fiberglass laminate.

For a helmet, where you can get inside and grind away offending thickness or drips, rotocasting is a great process. It doesn't provide you with the toughness of fiberglass, but for costume and prop uses you usually don't care about or even need that. If you use a proper amount of resin, the resin wall thickness will make it quite sturdy.

And there you have it. All the secrets of rotocasting in 1/2 hour or less.

-Gordon

peter noble · April 26th, 2006, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spcglider

The rotocasting rig is a bit more than just a spinniing table. It is a double frame that is geared to spin on two axis at once.

Sort of like a gyroscopic action?

P

spcglider · April 26th, 2006, 10:03 AM

Not precisely, but very close.

-G

peter noble · April 27th, 2006, 08:35 AM

Okay G, if this isn't too personal, how big's your vac-former?