Fan of star trek? always wanted to own a prop from the show? well, nows your chance, I recently purchased seasons 3 and 4 of voyager, and have slowly been working my way through them. When i noticed what would make for a great remake, one of the P.A.D.D devices that they use.
I did some googling, and found the easiest way was to use three layers of material (plastic or card) simple cut out, sprayed, and stuck together.
I set out planning to trace some screen shots/web images, to make a template, however, along the way i stumbled accross, Matt Munson who had a wide range of templates free for personal use.
Update - Matt Munson commented on this Instructable with the news that he had been prompted to add the files to his site again.
You can access all the templates here - www.mattmunson.com/props/
Thank you Matt, for allowing access again, so everyone can make what is one of the best props out there.
I am not providing the templates here, as he explains that he had previous problems with people using the templates for professional gain.
So, here is how i did it.
You need,
I did some googling, and found the easiest way was to use three layers of material (plastic or card) simple cut out, sprayed, and stuck together.
I set out planning to trace some screen shots/web images, to make a template, however, along the way i stumbled accross, Matt Munson who had a wide range of templates free for personal use.
Update - Matt Munson commented on this Instructable with the news that he had been prompted to add the files to his site again.
You can access all the templates here - www.mattmunson.com/props/
Thank you Matt, for allowing access again, so everyone can make what is one of the best props out there.
I am not providing the templates here, as he explains that he had previous problems with people using the templates for professional gain.
So, here is how i did it.
You need,
- Some world famous, gmjboard (super dense thick strawboard/cardboard)
- Some thin plastic transparencies
- a household inkjet printer
- a good scalpel and stanley knife
- Some double sided tape
- a sharpie
- some silver spray paint
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Signing UpStep 1: Get cutting.
Firstly we need to gather are materials,
Print out some of the templates, or design your own if your feeling creative, Its very easy to draw a simple design.
Stick the paper templates down to your selected board, My suggestions are to use either card, or plastiboard/styrene, both these can be cut using the stanley knife. Though the card is a much easier material to work with, it does give a slightly more rough finish.
Take your time with the cutting, many strokes, and less pressure is the way to go.
The corners are most difficult, but i found if i used the scalpel, and slowly nipped away around the corner it gave a cleaner better cut.
Print out some of the templates, or design your own if your feeling creative, Its very easy to draw a simple design.
Stick the paper templates down to your selected board, My suggestions are to use either card, or plastiboard/styrene, both these can be cut using the stanley knife. Though the card is a much easier material to work with, it does give a slightly more rough finish.
Take your time with the cutting, many strokes, and less pressure is the way to go.
The corners are most difficult, but i found if i used the scalpel, and slowly nipped away around the corner it gave a cleaner better cut.
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Someone pointed me to this discussion, and I have re-posted all of my templates for ALL of the padds I ever drew, and also put up a bunch of graphics that I made over the years.
As always, my only request is that these are used for personal use, not financial gain.
you can find everything you need here:
www.mattmunson.com/props/
I forget what the various thicknesses are for the different padds. If I figure that out, or can find my notes somewhere, I will post that too.
Thanks again for all of the interest in my templates. I hope you make great use of them!!!
I had read and seen the trouble you originally had with people stealing your designs and selling them, which is why I specifically chose not to report the files here. Instead telling people to go to your site.
Its great that you have decided to re-host the templates.
Thanks again,
gmjhowe
thats the kind of nice comment i was on about! keep it up.
:D Have fun!!!!!!!
thanks
Sean
No, on second thought, the pinnacle would be to make a working padd.