Introduction: DIY Death Star Clock
Some backstory: I recently got a 2.5' millenium falcon gift that I subsequently hung in my office...
Well, I got a small wall decal of the death star to put on my wall, but that was sort of... lacking... in some ways.
I decided, why not make a 3D-ish Death Star myself instead?
While I was thinking about it, I also figured, why not make it somewhat functional if I can?
Materials (all available through Amazon and/or your local hobby/craft store):
Lightning "Factory Second" Prostyle #1 Driver $6.48 shipped
Clock Movement Quartz Square Straight Black Hand Shaft 3/4" Kit $12.95
(note: if I were to do it again, I would suggest going with the 1/4" or 1/2" kit instead of the 3/4")
Sticky Back Foam Sheets-Basic Colors $9.44 shipped
Black and Grey Spray paint about $4-5?
Optional but recommended: carbon paper - about $5 as well for 10 sheets
Well, I got a small wall decal of the death star to put on my wall, but that was sort of... lacking... in some ways.
I decided, why not make a 3D-ish Death Star myself instead?
While I was thinking about it, I also figured, why not make it somewhat functional if I can?
Materials (all available through Amazon and/or your local hobby/craft store):
Lightning "Factory Second" Prostyle #1 Driver $6.48 shipped
Clock Movement Quartz Square Straight Black Hand Shaft 3/4" Kit $12.95
(note: if I were to do it again, I would suggest going with the 1/4" or 1/2" kit instead of the 3/4")
Sticky Back Foam Sheets-Basic Colors $9.44 shipped
Black and Grey Spray paint about $4-5?
Optional but recommended: carbon paper - about $5 as well for 10 sheets
Step 1:
So to start off with, I resized and printed out an internet photo of the death star.
Using the carbon paper, I traced the outlines onto the frisbee.
Using the carbon paper, I traced the outlines onto the frisbee.
Step 2:
(side note: if I were to do this again, I would next use my dremel tool and sand away the "emitter / focusing disc" portion as well as dremel in the curved lines -- on this run I did the sanding after I put the foam blocks on and had a few missteps which you'll see on the close up photos below)
Step 3:
Next, I used that same printout photo and traced the outlines onto a sheet of the adhesive backed white foam sheet. Using a scalpel / X-acto knife, I then cut out the blocks and stuck them to the frisbee, using the outlines as a guide to where they should go.
Step 4:
then spray painted the whole thing in semi gloss black (but any black will work I think) - paint was still wet in this image. The textural difference between the foam blocks and the frisbee was quite nice once the paint was on.
Step 5:
I used a strip of 1/4" tape to mask the center groove / canyon area, then lightly misted some gray primer to highlight some of the areas and provide contrast.
Step 6:
I then drilled a small hole for the clock nubbin to stick through and attached the clock arms.
Here it is mounted next to my shop clock for comparison
Here it is mounted next to my shop clock for comparison
Step 7:
total cost: about $38-39
and the final result hanging in my office next to the falcon and TIE fighter:
and the final result hanging in my office next to the falcon and TIE fighter: