I think of religions as franchise operations. Like chicken franchise operations. But that doesn't mean there's no chicken, right? WILLIAM GIBSON, No Maps for These Territories I know...I know..... I have been busy with the EK build,but trust me,things have been going on in the back ground. Namely....painting the GPU blocks and the XSPC AX rads. The blocks started out clear and originally were just due a copper flake dusting and a clearcoat,sadly i underestimated the drag clear would have on flake and it pulled it. So that means a sand back and going with the case colours. In this instance,black metallic,deep candy blue and copper flake. The STRIX logo was infilled with copper electrode film. They still need a little cutting back but the 1k Smart Acrylic I use takes an age to fully cure. The rads got the same treatment too. The EK build is due to finish very soon so I can get back to this beauty. I have to make the copper backplates and wrap overs yet for the GPU's,but at least I can block the cards now . On the subject of paint,I have been asked a few times now for a spraying guide,I have just ordered a new LVLP gun which could be brilliant for hobby painters,low compressor requirements and very low material loss being the highlights. When it comes,I will demo it.
So,now HeretEK is finished and fettled,my attention turns to IDORU. While polishing the res,I thought I would look at the matt black acrylic parts HEXGEAR sent to replace the unwanted white panels. Looks bloody evil,If I was buying one,black on black is where its at.... Had my week off now its BACK TO WORK!!
Hi BN, love the copper, always a sucker for some Cu action! Also, thanks for getting me back to William Gibson ... I read a bunch of his cyberpunk books in the 90s, all hand me downs from a mate who read daily on the tube [sadly, he emigrated...]. So, your quotes intrigued me, I've read and enjoyed Pattern Recognition, and am now into Spook Country, which had a shaky start. I was reading too late at night, and had to re read the first 6 chapters as I wasn't getting into it - didn't take in enough info and it made more sense when I started again! Looking forward to seeing the Hexgear progress. Cheers
I have been going great guns with the etching/patination for IDORU's GPU backplates. Didnt come out exactly as planned,the mask was to small in some places to resist the chem assault and there was some bleeding during the deep etch process. To make my life a bit simpler,Im going to do it the other way around,having the font and figure as the etched pieces and scaling them up more. This should prevent mask loss. The next,and hopefully final,set of back plates will be lasercut rather than the handcut ones I made,I also need to get them cut from the same sheet,one plate was done in 2 hrs...the other is still 'cooking' now.....20hrs later. This can only mean the copper grades were significantly different,something I wish to avoid. As a proof of concept,im liking the effect,will look significantly better once there is a deep gloss clear over the whole piece,it will give depth. Chemicals used: 32% HCL with a 3% Peroxide kicker for the etching (50/50). 25% Ammonia and sea salt for the patination. The polished plates ready for the dip. 'Flush yaw rads meester?' You can see the bleeding from the HCL,nice if you want the antiqued effect but I want a clean,purposeful look.
The final plates are being made ready for CNC,I will get a few made so I can experiment a little more I think. I really do like the patination effect,just not in such a large expanse,it really suits detail....for me anyway.
Thanks...as is well known in modding world,Copper is <3 Thanking you my always welcome buddy Bloody dangerous technique,its rusted the workbench it was sitting on. HCL loves a bit of stainless. The good thing about this technique is that the etchant gets better the more copper it eats,it doesnt fade off. And isnt an environmental disaster like Ferric Chloride after use. The final plates will have all that lovely patination under a monster coat of clear,im etching it first to sink it into plate so when I drown it and cut it back ,it will be completely level with the polished finished copper with all the detail preserved. The Ammonia and sea salt give the blue finish if anyone didnt make the chemistry leap,damn stuff is vile at 25% too....
Your off the rails with our painting techniques! Your screwing up the grading curve for the rest of us! Brilliant