27 replies to this topic

[ice]

Hey, haven't posted here in quite a while. A few years back, when longshots where the thing everyone was modifying, there was always a request for stronger or at least more readily available bolt sleds, that never seemed to get fulfilled. I'm aware that there are ways of getting new boltsleds, as offered by OMW and other companies, but they where typically very expensive, or could only be bought with a kit. In my absence from nerf, I've gotten into casting and molding, and now have the ability to make custom parts, or simply recast existing parts out of much stronger plastics. I would like to know if there's still interest in stronger boltsleds, or any highly needed part for that matter, as I have the means to make small quantities in my workshop.

In order for this to be cost efficient, I would have to sell at least ~10 boltsleds, or which ever requested part, although these molds have a long library life and I could continue casting from them for years if people still want anything I have molded. The price point would be around $30 shipped for a boltsled, which I realize is alot for this community, but if I had a high volume of orders, say more then 25 people requesting them, then I could sell them for a bit less, maybe $25 each.

Basically what I would like to know is is this something the community would be interested in? What other parts would you suggest for molding?


On a more technical note, This is the casting plastic that would be used. Although I don't have an exact comparison percentage to the actual nerf plastics, I estimate that it's nearly twice as strong, and displays very similar strength and flexibility properties as polycarbonate, though someone with exact numbers on the nerf plastic specs can correct me on this.

Demo video of casting plastic:

Edited by ice, 10 October 2013 - 06:53 PM.

[CoolpantsMcgee]

If anything can make my "ironhide killer" longshot (it's a w.I.p) better it would be a strong boltsled. I will probably buy one but only if it is as strong if not stronger than OMWs immortal kit boltsleds. So for now I'm in.

[Coop]

I would definitely buy one assuming it's made to the same size specs as the stock boltsled. It would be sweet to be able to have them dyed a custom color, too. My understanding of molding is limited, but I don't think that would be too hard for you to manage for an extra few bucks?

[ice]

They would normally be cast in white, but the casting resin I use can be dyed in any opaque color. I can't do clear or translucent castings, as the only non-industrial clear casting material that I'm aware of wouldn't have nearly enough strength to hold a rigid shape like this. It would be the same size specs as a normal boltsled, but it would be reshaped a slight bit for more structural support, such as filling in the slots in the front half, and adding a bit more material to the slope where the L joint is.

Edited by ice, 09 October 2013 - 02:23 PM.

[CoolpantsMcgee]

I would definitely buy one assuming it's made to the same size specs as the stock boltsled. It would be sweet to be able to have them dyed a custom color, too. My understanding of molding is limited, but I don't think that would be too hard for you to manage for an extra few bucks?

Agreed, I would love to have one or two purple and green boltsleds.

[Coop]

They would normally be cast in white, but the casting resin I use can be dyed in any opaque color. I can't do clear or translucent castings, as the only non-industrial clear casting material that I'm aware of wouldn't have nearly enough strength to hold a rigid shape like this. It would be the same size specs as a normal boltsled, but it would be reshaped a slight bit for more structural support, such as filling in the slots in the front half, and adding a bit more material to the slope where the L joint is.

Then count me in for at least 1 hot pink bolt sled

[azrael]

Very cool, I would be down. for two probably.

[pinhead52]

I just set aside money for two. If not just for modding, to fund the idea. I don't know that we have anyone readily available to recast products like this, and if you were to get some of the more asked for re-issues from the older years, I know you would have a captive audience. Of course, knowing how the prop community is about recasting, Hasbro might have some issues, but I wouldn't mind dealing with them.

[ice]

Of course, knowing how the prop community is about recasting, Hasbro might have some issues, but I wouldn't mind dealing with them.

I'm glad you brought that up. As earlier stated, it's not going to be a direct re-cast, but a modified boltsled, and in-since Hasbro hasn't made the longshot in a number of years, the parts won't be identical, and it will have a relatively small amount of castings, I seriously doubt this would be a problem.

[Coop]

Of course, knowing how the prop community is about recasting, Hasbro might have some issues, but I wouldn't mind dealing with them.

If Orange Mod Works hasn't been sued yet, Ice definitely won't run into legal problems casting <150 components.

[pinhead52]

I wasn't so much talking about the components, as trying to push the conversation towards discontinued shells.

[ice]

I wasn't so much talking about the components, as trying to push the conversation towards discontinued shells.

Casting a whole shell? Because of the size and complexity, the mold would have to be much larger, and multi layered to get both sides in full detail so it would look how it should and internals will fit into place correctly. Casting something like a Maverick wouldn't be too bad, but it would NEVER be cost efficient. I'd have to ask at least $50 for a shell that size, and around $150 for a shell around a crossbow size.

[Steampunkzombie]

I would be totally interested in buying one when you start selling them!

[nisaburo]

Have you considered shrinkage for the part? I didn't see any information for it on the product page you provided. We are not dealing with super tight tolerances in most of these parts but I could see a little shrinkage resulting in a bolt sled not securly staying on its intended rails.

Also, it might be worthwhile to look into over-molding so you could have a metal or wire armature for the heavy stress points.

[ice]

Have you considered shrinkage for the part? I didn't see any information for it on the product page you provided. We are not dealing with super tight tolerances in most of these parts but I could see a little shrinkage resulting in a bolt sled not securly staying on its intended rails.

Also, it might be worthwhile to look into over-molding so you could have a metal or wire armature for the heavy stress points.

Shrinkage is next to non-existence for this material, as I can clearly attest by the other things I've made with it.

Running a metal wire or something of the like through the center is an interesting idea, however, because the sides of a boltsled are only 0.11 inches thick (just measured), I don't think it would be of any help. Say inserting a .05 metal rod in the center of each post, I doubt it would make any difference at all, and any thicker then that and it would compromise the outer walls of the plastic, and more then likely just pop out under stress. For thicker parts though, I can see this as a possibility, although it's something I would have to experiment with.

[CoolpantsMcgee]

If you could mold 5k shells and other rare vintage shells that would be awesome! I personally would love to make an stOVER9000 like ahtanie made without cutting up a vintage blaster that is near and dear to my heart. You have something going here, and I like it!

[Hammy]

Yes the community need a supplier for a strong longshot boltsled.

We also need a supply of the piece that goes into the boltsled, and is glued onto the breech (for the case of a brass breech longshot).

Iwould be glad to buy if these were made available at a reasonable cost.

Would you ship to Asia, lots of modded longshots here.

[PBZ]

A little different situation than the longshot, but what about stampede internals? i am looking for a better set of internals for both of mine that are overvolted and im a little worried about the internals breaking down.

[Asamere]

I also would be fascinated with re-casting of discontinued blasters... Namely as they wouldn't have to be 100 percent to the originals... Small things such as larger handles, longer stocks, and other minor things. Or the inverse... Miniaturize some of the larger blasters. I myself am not familiar with casting processes other than usually the making of a mold... But making new shells for distribution would be pretty cool.

Edited by Asamere, 10 October 2013 - 04:19 PM.

[KaneTheMediocre]

Ryan and I looked into this stuff for casting handles, and were quite disappointed. Even the stuff that claimed to be flexible was very inflexible and brittle. It was marginally acceptable for the solid handles we wanted to cast, but for intricate parts with thin walls and features (like the shells and boltsleds you want to make) it won't be strong enough, and won't even be close to the strength of ABS.

We didn't try EVERY polyurethane casting kit for sale, so it's possible there's a formula that would work for your purposes. If there is, I want to know about it and use it for other stuff. But it's CRITICAL that you try the stuff before heavily investing or taking orders, and do NOT trust the supplier specifications regarding material properties. Even if the specs are accurate, simple measurements like "strength" or "hardness" don't tell the whole story for durability. ABS, the #1 material for injection molded parts, is a remarkably tough material in our usage, and it will be very tough to match.

[ice]

As previously stated, I do have a good bit of experience with this material, it's pretty tough. I've been using it for over a year, and even poured it into nerf shells when doing integrations for structural integrity, it's always done the job. It's not quite as rigid as the plastic used in nerf parts, but instead has a very slight flex under high pressure, making it un-shatterable, and I have yet to crack a piece under pressure. Although I'm also looking into other casting resins, incase I find something better, but I doubt I will.

[ice]

Added a plastic demo to the first post showing the casting plastic I use.
Please keep posting what you would be interested in seeing molded.

[KaneTheMediocre]

Added a plastic demo to the first post showing the casting plastic I use.
Please keep posting what you would be interested in seeing molded.

Watched the video. Now I want some of this stuff.

The "ultra-flexible" polyurethane that Ryan bought had roughly the same flexibility as glass, so this is definitely a huge improvement.

[Hammy]

The bolt-sled would be a good start, and please don't forget the nub as well since it is also under a lot of stress and breaks

Edited by Hammy, 11 October 2013 - 09:44 PM.

[Duke Wintermaul]

This idea has been bumping around some 3D printers, with horrible results. I got to thinking that the only way to make them is through casting.

You should whip up a mold of the ZombieStrike Sledgefire Shells. I doubt there will much interest here on the Haven, but the casual/hvz nerfing communities will go apeshit for a reliable shell.

The current 3D printed version of this shell gets awful airseal, thanks to the nature of 3D printing. With a cast/molding, the airseal problem should be solved.

You could stand to make some scratch, the Sledgefire is a hot commodity right now and a lot of people are itching for these shells.