This is my new Ghost Trap project. I am making it as close to a Hero version as possible with lots of metal parts and other perfectly interlocking parts. It will by the first Ghost Trap that I actually plan to finish! --AJ Quick (talk)

Build Log

@#$% Silicone Broke

I was making maybe my 6-7 cast of the fronts piece and the silicone on the mold ripped off on one part. It isn't that big of a deal as the mold had a ton of problems. There were airpockets in the silicone and spots where air was getting trapped. The silicone ultimately failed because it just wasn't thick enough in the spot where it ripped. I will be redoing it, and making it better.. a very good learning expirence. --AJ Quick (talk) 20:18 March 27, 2008 (MDT)

Resin Cast Frontspiece

I just got done casting the first frontspiece for the Ghost Trap. I am having major issues with airbubbles in the cast, because I forgot that there was a flat spot. The casts are ending up needing major work but I am planning on making 5 Ghost Traps. Here is a picture of a Ghost trap that is just fitted together. [img]http://www.gbfans.com/images/fans/props/1118_1194525005.jpg[/img] --AJ Quick (talk) 22:15 March 23, 2008 (MDT)

Casting the Ghost Trap, Part 2

I couldn't wait for the gallon of resin that I ordered yesterday to arrive before I do a few test casts. I ran to the local Dick Blick Art store and [b]luckily[/b] they just started to carry Smooth-On's Smooth Cast 300. I was ready to buy a $50 Smooth-On starter kit just to get the resin. But instead $19 on a pint or two of resin was much better. [img]http://www.gbfans.com/images/fans/props/1118_1143272441.jpg[/img] I found out with one botched casting that I needed to support the main mold box with walls to prevent them from bowing out. A quick fix with a foam core box... and all the future casts are going to be perfect. For those wondering.. no.. these are not for sale. Not now.. and not in the kit form. --AJ Quick (talk) 20:26 March 21, 2008 (MDT)

Casting the Ghost Trap

I just finished casting the cassette and the top in silicone. Man.. did it take a long time, and a LOT of silicone. I think I ended up using about half a gallon to do the two items. It wasn't that bad, it just look a lot of mixing and pouring of different bottles of silicone. I really should get a gallon sized containers. I made up forms from foam core board, and secured them to the bases. The boxes work really well for the silicone and they are really easy to rip apart later to get the mold out. I painted the parts a bright green as I feel it makes it really easy to find imperfections on the surface of the parts, and goes on really thick to make everything smooth. [img]http://www.gbfans.com/images/fans/props/1118_1111381023.jpg[/img] The green smudges inside the cassette are from my fingers and wet paint. [img]http://www.gbfans.com/images/fans/props/1118_1350753892.jpg[/img] --AJ Quick (talk) 22:35 March 20, 2008 (MDT)

Finished the Fronts Piece

This is what I have been calling the "fronts piece" ala [i]Arrested Development[/i]. It was made to be castable from the start, and hallow at the same time with a passage for electrical wires into the cassette. I am really happy with how this turned out and can't wait to attempt to cast it... it will be a chore! [img]http://www.gbfans.com/images/fans/props/1118_1362336608.jpg[/img] --AJ Quick (talk) 18:40 March 20, 2008 (MDT)

Accent and Detail Pieces

After a lot of sanding and wood filler, the cassette is finally looking good and it is time to add the detail pieces. I cut out two grills for the sides of the cassette from 1/8" bass wood, and made the slots on the milling machine. Since 1/8" would have been too thick to just mount on the side, I also used the mill to counter sink the shape so only ~ 1/32" is exposed. Check it out! [img]http://www.gbfans.com/images/fans/props/1118_1295640714.jpg[/img] [img]http://www.gbfans.com/images/fans/props/1118_1162068790.jpg[/img] I also started cutting out the shape for the front nose part (the one that houses the LED bar). It is made to fit inside the cassette, and then the top part fits on over the other part. --AJ Quick (talk) 19:18 March 19, 2008 (MDT)

CAD Mixup... fixed dimensions

I had a few problems with my CAD dimensions. While everything was fitting together okay in the CAD system, I noticed that the trap was disproportionate to the real Hero trap, as well as Stefan's Plans. A few measurements on the cassette were off by about 1/8". It was no problem to just throw the cassette in the milling machine and remove wood to add a thicker piece of wood back in. Everything ended up being straighter and more accurate than it was. Perfect! Next up was the top piece of cassette. It was no problem to cut out the general size on the bandsaw, and then mill out the center. Everything ended up perfectly in the end.. despite cracking the thin basswood in a few spots. Glue and reinforcement strips fixed that, and now it is just as good and as strong as it out have been otherwise. Will get pictures soon. --AJ Quick (talk) 18:14 March 18, 2008 (MDT)

Starting on a new Ghost Trap

I just began working on a new Ghost Trap. This project is going to be a great one, it is the first Ghost Trap that I have had the determination to actually work on and finish. You will see on my other props that I never have really finished any of the ones I started.. but this time I have a concrete set of plans that I know are accurate and won't have any discrepancies. So far I have finished the main "cassette" of the trap (the part that has the doors and the fronts piece on it), and everything has turned out exactly as I want it. I designed every part via CAD so I know as long as I make it out I designed it.. everything will fit together perfectly, and match the real hero ghost trap exactly. I hope to make one that has a ghost smoke effect with a water fogger, and one that has full electronics (minus activated doors) that will make a good display piece. I don't want to make a trap that is meant to be worn on the belt or brought along to a convention.. as this one will just be too nice to do so. --AJ Quick (talk) 12:30 March 16, 2008 (MDT)