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Sulaco Airlock: a found-item build
http://forum.alienslegacy.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=12007		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  retrogarde [ Tue Sep 25, 2012 10:48 pm ]
Post subject:  Sulaco Airlock: a found-item build
So if you want to see how to accurately recreate the Sulaco Airlock, please enjoy this thread right here:
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=4573

I was recently "gifted" this hunk of metal from my work:

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After looking at it for a bit I had the idea to turn it upside down, add a handle and try to make it look like the Sulaco Airlock!

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It won't be even 75% Screen Accurate, but it makes a very satisfying KA-CHUNK sound and is sturdy as hell.

Here's a quick shot of it with a few of the text bits laid out:

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The next step is to paint it black, add the text bits, paint the area behind the handle red, and THEN worry about the stuff that goes on the right! :mrgreen:

Not a bad project for the weekend, right?
Author:  Dropshipbob [ Wed Sep 26, 2012 3:43 pm ]
Post subject: 
I like! I was just thinking the other day about how cool it would be to remodel my garage to look like the Sulaco hanger deck.
Author:  retrogarde [ Wed Sep 26, 2012 4:11 pm ]
Post subject: 
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I gave it a coat of paint and started looking for stuff to replicate the old TV panel that makes up the detailing on the right side. This will do for the middle (once I paint it red), now I just need to find buttons etc.

I have the two bolts for beneath the handle. I'll paint them yellow but first I need to figure out if I'm punching a hole through the metal, cutting them down to just their heads to glue them on, or recasting the heads. It sounds like a stupid amount of effort no matter which way I go about it, so I may just go with the brute force method. How thick can the metal be afterall! :twisted:
Author:  Dropshipbob [ Fri Sep 28, 2012 3:41 pm ]
Post subject: 
I think it's looking great! How did you do the text and graphics?
Author:  retrogarde [ Fri Sep 28, 2012 8:44 pm ]
Post subject: 
They're just printed in color on regular paper and glued on. I used PhotoShop to recreate the text and graphics as well as I could. Again, not 100% but pretty close. I worked on it last night so I'll post more photos soon!
Author:  retrogarde [ Mon Oct 01, 2012 4:23 pm ]
Post subject: 
I've done some more work on the righthand side of the airlock. To recreate the top "third" I found a metal binder name plate to use as the border. The opaque area at the top will be represented by a pice of a plastic milk jug. The part below it I can't quite match so I'm using part of a model tank and I will paint the vertical lines on. I'm still looking for the top two buttons, but for the three round buttons at the bottom I'm using rubber dots:

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Painting the bottom of the dots orange and the other bits red. Making the three stylized letters (V O X?), but I'm having to shift their position due to space constraints.

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A test fitting. The orange buttons look pretty good! The word HOLD will go over the milk jug piece; I printed it out on clear plastic and will sandwich them together.

I recreated the rectangular logo in the upper righthand corner too.

I still need to trim and clean up a few areas, but the build is nearly done. I'll be weathering this a fair bit too.

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And yes, that is a floppy drive port at the very bottom on the right. I had it kicking around and thought it might be funny to add, especially with there being one on the locker widget.
Author:  Dropshipbob [ Mon Oct 01, 2012 5:27 pm ]
Post subject: 
LOVE. IT.
Author:  retrogarde [ Tue Oct 02, 2012 5:03 pm ]
Post subject: 
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A little further along. I know those are supposed to be slots under the word HOLD, but painting them in black gives a similar look. More painting to be done and still need to make the two large buttons, but this is pretty much it!
Author:  TECKNO VIKING [ Tue Oct 02, 2012 6:56 pm ]
Post subject: 
Oh YES that is excellent and works well :D

Who`s to say all ships of the fleet have the same set up after all ;)

Great Job :D
Author:  retrogarde [ Fri Oct 05, 2012 2:31 pm ]
Post subject: 
With the red and blue buttons finished and a bit of light weathering, I think this prop is almost done! I still need to finish painting around the handle a little bit though. I used SteelStik to reinforce the handle and the metal gray of it is bugging me!


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final.jpg
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Once I get it mounted on the wall I'll snap one last photo of the thing. Thanks for looking!
Author:  Hudson [ Sat Oct 06, 2012 2:54 pm ]
Post subject: 
Wow, I love it! Great work!
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