Cobra Base, Stickers, and lots of other stuff...

fat_kids_joes · **Posted:** Thu Feb 24, 2011 9:46 am

J_Man wrote:

To put it out there, cardboard looks cheap to me and I'd feel like a jerk making them. Haha, I mean I build out ideas in cardboard to see how it'll work and get templates. It just looks bad.

The plastic would be great and would allow some redesigning to make it look even better than it did. It would even fly and would stand up to bumps a little better. It just wouldn't allow for the glider to be lower in cost. That's the main thing I'm looking at. The Cobra Base is expensive due to the plastic, material for the designs, plus the materials to build it. I'd hate to run up an expense bill on the glider and have to pass it along.

That's why I was mostly looking at the styrofoam. IF it works out and I can build a die, I can punch them out. In theory I could make replacement gliders along with full sets. That way people could just buy the styrofoam glider and put their original parts on the new one. Or just get a full new one and it would be ready to go. Something else I'd like to do is work with one of these repro people to maybe get them to offer a sticker sheet (or if anybody on the list is doing repro). The machine I have makes a little more than just stickers, plus I don't have a machine to precut so they can just be peeled and stuck. Also it's yet another expense I could cut out. If it works, all that would be required is the plastic clip, the large glider, and the 2 fins. It's still all an idea for now.

As someone who might potentially buy one of these (and plans On buying a base someday) I don't think $30 is too bad for what I be getting. A repo that's better than the 30 year old factory version. Especially when you consider what it would cost to get a vintage one.

DarkJedi · **Posted:** Thu Feb 24, 2011 2:09 pm

J_Man wrote:

To put it out there, cardboard looks cheap to me and I'd feel like a jerk making them. Haha, I mean I build out ideas in cardboard to see how it'll work and get templates. It just looks bad.

The plastic would be great and would allow some redesigning to make it look even better than it did. It would even fly and would stand up to bumps a little better. It just wouldn't allow for the glider to be lower in cost. That's the main thing I'm looking at. The Cobra Base is expensive due to the plastic, material for the designs, plus the materials to build it. I'd hate to run up an expense bill on the glider and have to pass it along...

Well it looks like I'm not the only one that has expressed interest in the gliders.

Right now it seems you are in the considering it/brainstorming phase.

That's good for now.

You might not even come up with a viable solution, but now when you go to make something else the creative juices will be working and getting you thinking more on how to cost effectively make them.

It's a start.

J_Man · **Posted:** Thu Feb 24, 2011 7:55 pm

Yeah I'm thinking on the glider and the flight pod landing plateform that you had suggested too. I've got an idea on that one and should have something designed by next week.

All that's holding me back on the glider is just deciding on the material to use and how to cut them out. Beyond that I have a pretty good idea for getting something started with that one.

Then of course there's a few other ideas. One idea I got last night while watching Sons of Guns on Discovery. Something that I think will be really cool for people that has a lot of spare weapons. I'm throwing something together on that too over the weekend. That along with trying to complete a few more bases to ship.

Lots of stuff, but it's fun!

J_Man · **Posted:** Sun Feb 27, 2011 4:03 pm

Anybody have the measurements of the Falcon Glider? From one side to the other is all I need and from top of fin down to the insert tag for the fins.

I think I have something figured out and it will be more durable that the old foam, plus it'll fly. I'm looking at a material that's used for RC airplanes. It's like foamcore sort of but has a plastic top and bottom with foam int he center. Very strong stuff. It's also a material that I've used in the past for outdoor light weight signs.

cabanajack · **Posted:** Sun Feb 27, 2011 9:27 pm

Joe, I have the gliders. Once we move into the new house I'll be able to unpack mine and bring it up there.

J_Man · **Posted:** Mon Feb 28, 2011 1:42 am

That'll work. I've got both versions, but they're both put away and hard to get to right now. But yeah you can just measure it and that'll work too. I gotta redraw up a template any way I do it.

On to 2 other ideas I was working on. I got something together. First up is a peg board gun wall display. This one will be something that'll allow a nice background for displaying your favorite guns. Maurader, Hasbro, or whichever ones. I'm currently trying to find something that would be like minature pegs for the peg board, but right now I just have needles stuck in. The plastic I use will let you easily put a needle, thumbtack, or anything like that in. Just line up the pin to where the "hole" is on the board and it'll look as good as a real peg wall with guns on it. Once I get something good to use for pegs I'll paint up the details and shoot more shots before adding it on the site.

Next we have the Flight Pod landing station. This one was a request by DarkJedi and I was trying to figure out something that would work. This is fresh out of the workshop and not 100% sanded down or painted. I figure that the "production version" will be blue with the designs rather than the white background. What the idea is, it's to have something for the pod to sit on and hold it in place. I didn't want it to be too big and I also wanted it to be versatile. I'm not 100% sure if the landing struts should be attached to the base or positionable.

DarkJedi · **Posted:** Mon Feb 28, 2011 2:07 am

J_Man wrote:

Next we have the Flight Pod landing station. This one was a request by DarkJedi and I was trying to figure out something that would work. This is fresh out of the workshop and not 100% sanded down or painted. I figure that the "production version" will be blue with the designs rather than the white background. What the idea is, it's to have something for the pod to sit on and hold it in place. I didn't want it to be too big and I also wanted it to be versatile. I'm not 100% sure if the landing struts should be attached to the base or positionable.

If it is okay wit J_Man, I'd like to include my original pitch to him from a PM about the Flight Pod landing station...

"Got another idea for you.

I just opened my 25th Ram/Flight Pod set and realized I've now got several Flight Pods that really don't sit flat on a surface.

I think they need a cradle of sorts for when they are parked on a flight line (sorta like the JUMP has the square base) before missions.

I also think they need some kind of small base that will elevate the Trouble Bubbles a tad for when they are in use in the field. Maybe something like they are waiting for the Baroness to run out and tear of her disguise before jumping into a Trouble Bubble and taking off laughing like in the cartoon.

Not sure if a in flight slightly leaning forward stand (about 9 inches up) could be possible, but if that can be worked out, then I'd love to see an option base for 2-3 TB's in attack formation."

That said, the idea was that there could be a designated flight pad spot (like in a hanger or at the Silent Castle) so the operators can land on one spot. TIE Fighters have launch racks in Star Wars and I was trying to come up with something that Cobra would actually have in operation with the Trouble Bubbles. There might even be an external control stand/power unit/charging station/fueling station to one side prior to launch.

I was also thinking there could be other 'field' stands to simulate an area where the Pods might land while out in the field, as in the Baroness reference.

Something simple, yet it would look cool on a desk or shelf someplace.

Nice work, J_Man. I really like it.

J_Man · **Posted:** Mon Feb 28, 2011 2:17 am

Yeah everything I was coming up with, it just seemed to lean toward being a JUMP backpack type launching station. I was looking at something that would have been more compact, but nothing was looking right. So I ended up cutting a 5 1/2" square to start with. I had a hand full of ideas from there but the whole "keep it simple" moto came into play. I just gave it legs and steps with struts for the pod to sit and it looked fine. Wihout the struts it could easily hold a FANG too. That's the main reason I'm thinking about not attaching the struts. Anybody that gets it could always glue the struts down if they really would prefer it that way anyways.

Mysterious Stranger · **Posted:** Mon Feb 28, 2011 2:47 pm

I was planning to do something like the Flight Pod stand using the Kotobukiya Chain Bases but haven't gotten around to it yet. I like yours better though. The flexibility of being able to use it for either the Flight Pod, a FANG or even as a JUMP platform is a really nice touch.

J_Man · **Posted:** Mon Feb 28, 2011 3:08 pm

Thanks. Yeah I wanted it to be able to be more than just a Flight Pod stand. I figure it'll ship with the struts to park the pod on and whoever gets it can easily glue it down if they really want to, but otherwise it'll be able to be used for multiple things, including other figure lines. I kept the missile base in mind too so that it would look good sitting along side that.

ajaman · **Posted:** Mon Feb 28, 2011 4:45 pm

I was actually looking at your site the other day, thinking a little display that actually held guns would be really cool, but probably incredibly difficult to mass produce. Apparently not as hard as I thought. That looks pretty sweet.

The landing base is absolutely awesome, though. Not something I ever thought I needed until I saw it.

J_Man · **Posted:** Mon Feb 28, 2011 9:36 pm

ajaman wrote:

I was actually looking at your site the other day, thinking a little display that actually held guns would be really cool, but probably incredibly difficult to mass produce. Apparently not as hard as I thought. That looks pretty sweet.

The landing base is absolutely awesome, though. Not something I ever thought I needed until I saw it.

Thanks. I figure there will be a version for 6" and 12" figures too. It has the keyhole slots on the back to hang on the wall.

The landing base is fun. A very simple design but works very well. I'll be remaking it in it's final form and get more shots. It has a little fine tuning to go.

Flophouse · **Joined:** Tue Jun 26, 2007 10:19 am

J Man, I would buy one of each glider if they get produced (Joe & Cobra). If they can look just like the
originals I'm interested. You would just need to get the camo patterns on your material. J.Ruben already sells
repro decals for the Cobra Glider and I'm sure he can get the Joe ones made.

I'm still waiting on that Cobra Base I ordered some time ago, but I'm definitely good for gliders too
if you go ahead with them.

J_Man · **Posted:** Wed Mar 02, 2011 1:56 am

Shouldn't be much longer on the base. All the delays have pretty much let up. Well aside from I ran out of material and it's still on backorder... Always something, but I'm in hopes of that being taken care of.

Yeah I might rely on one of the repro people to provide the decals. I'm really leaning toward using this other material for the gliders rather than the foam. I hope to try both. It's mostly up to being able to colorized the material I use to get a green or blue glider.

justinm · **Joined:** Mon Jun 16, 2008 9:20 pm

J_Man wrote:

Shouldn't be much longer on the base. All the delays have pretty much let up. Well aside from I ran out of material and it's still on backorder... Always something, but I'm in hopes of that being taken care of.

Yeah I might rely on one of the repro people to provide the decals. I'm really leaning toward using this other material for the gliders rather than the foam. I hope to try both. It's mostly up to being able to colorized the material I use to get a green or blue glider.

Would you also be able to do otherglider paint schemes, like all blue, crimson guard, night force(and or night watch) or something along those lines, I think that would be pretty interesting(and AWESOME!!! :brawlin:

)

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