On Instagram, @salzmoto asked, "Outside of special effects, what career paths do you see opening up for makers and polymaths in general? How might someone make a career out of collecting hands-on skills in a world so currently obsessed with digital things?" Here's Adam's answer, and if you have a question for Adam, post it in the comments below!
For this week's project, Kayte and Norm experiment with a modelmaking technique using off-the-shelf hairspray as a way to create realistic paint chipping. We apply this to a few test pieces and then to a garage kit from Machination Studio. We couldn't be happier with the results!
It's all come to this. Jeremy and Sean bring the cabinet pieces to Other Ocean for final assembly and to test the software with a very first playthrough. Then, with just days to spare, they fix last minute bugs before unveiling Starlords at California Extreme. But we're not done yet! Stay tuned for one final episode to wrap up the Starlords project!
Bill brings to our office the culmination of a big project: a scratch-modeled interpretation of the Blade Runner blaster prop that he's turned into a kit. We assemble this Replicant Blaster kit to show how it all comes together with real hardware (no glue!) and mechanical action (those darn springs!) Follow along to celebrate Bill's incredible prop-building achievement!
Sean and Jeremy return to the Tested shop to paint and finish the cabinet and do some final testing and trouble shooting of the electronics systems. We're starting to get some funcionality in this machine!
In this Ask Adam, Adam answers ignorantForager's question: "What's the best way to interact with famous people that you might see in public? I don't want to interrupt whatever they're doing, but I also don't want to miss out on a chance to meet them." If YOU have a question for Adam, post it in the comments below!
With the cabinet prototyping refined, it's time to start making the real thing! Sean and Jeremy take their arcade cabinet design plan to Zach Radding's shop, Build Cool Stuff, to CNC all of the main components and test out a few electronic bits that Jeremy has been working on.
Bill brings two castings of his channel's Makonde dagger prop, a design he comissioned to celebrate Punished Props surpassing 250K subscribers this summer. We paint the dagger with two different approaches to show off the sculptural detail.
For the next phase of the project, Sean and Jeremy head back to the Tested shop to begin prototyping the cabinet chassis and electronics. Based off of his 3D printed scale model, Sean makes a foamcore mockup that gives the team a sense of the ergonomics of the machine. (Start from the beginning and watch the first episode of this cabinet build here!)
Every week, Adam takes a question from the Tested Premium Member community in the comments section below or on social media (tagged #AskAdamSavage) and answers here. This week, Adam talks about working with other makers in his shop, who may have varied skillsets.
After a few weeks working independently, Jeremy and Sean return to Other Ocean to meet with Mike and Kevin to check in each other's progress. Sean lays out a proposal for the design of the cabinet, and the shape of the software is starting to form! (Watch the first episode of this cabinet build here!)
Every week, Adam takes a question from the Tested Premium Member community in the comments section below or on social media (tagged #AskAdamSavage) and answers here. This week, Adam talks about using cardboard to prototype projects.
This year's California Extreme saw the debut of Starlords, a new arcade cabinet built over many months by our very own Bits to Atoms team! To embark on this journey, Jeremy and Sean enlisted the help of the software developers (and video game historians) at Other Ocean Interactive to code this game from scratch. Follow along this build from game design to cabinet fabrication--the most ambitious Bits to Atoms project yet! (Second episode is here!)
Every week, Adam takes a question from the Tested Premium Member community in the comments section below or on social media (tagged #AskAdamSavage) and answers here. This week, Adam talks about which of his favorite movies he wished he could have worked on and why.
We pass the baton on this TIE Fighter diorama build to Kayte as it's time to build out the scenery around this crashed model. Kayte and Norm experiment with making foam rocks, landscape, and foliage using a variety of materials from our local hobby store. Watch the first part of this project here.
Every week, Adam takes a question from the Tested Premium Member community in the comments section below or on social media (tagged #AskAdamSavage) and answers here. This week, Adam answers the question of what he would rush to save if there was ever a fire in his shop!
This is a project we've wanted to do for a long time: take an off-the-shelf toy like this Hasbro TIE Fighter and modify it to look as if it's crashed onto a planet! Bill and Norm take on the first part of this build by deconstructing this massive toy, grinding pieces off and telling the story of its crash. Watch part two of this project here.
Every week, Adam takes a question from the Tested Premium Member community in the comments section below or on social media (tagged #AskAdamSavage) and answers here. This week, Adam talks about whether he's ever thrown away a cosplay and his solutions for costume storage in the cave!
Time to put together another garage kit! Bill brings a kit featuring a pretty sweet mash-up: baby Groot at 1:1 scale frozen in carbonite. We use this kit as an opportunity to practice some oil washes, as well as install a lighting kit. This was the project that put us in contact with VoodoFX!
Every week, Adam takes a question from the Tested Premium Member community in the comments section below or on social media (tagged #AskAdamSavage) and answers here. This week, Adam talks about the problem of finding a good working stool to use in his shop!
