11/19/2022 - Projects Update.
During a past visit, my daughter created the 3D print file for a pair of kunai she thought would go well with my latest Mushi sword. At long last, after two moves and considerable time, the kunai are finished! The body was painted the same ice color as the icy hand guard of the Mushi sword and the handles wrapped in matching color.
The kunai are now hanging from the hand guard of the Mushi katana on my new Wall of Swords.
Speaking of handle wrap (ito-wrap), I was finally able to locate this same color and type on Amazon. After the supplier I usually used disappeared from eBay, I found it impossible to locate the stuff, but I kept doing searches over time. I needed two more rolls for the swords I have yet to complete. Then lo-and-behold, success on Amazon! I put in an order immediately, the wait time will be about a month but I am so relieved to finally find what I was looking for.
Meanwhile, since moved into a small one bedroom apartment, I was able to carve out a small shop area to work. It is a fraction of the size I am used to, as a consequence work goes very slowly. Currently I am working on printing and assembling a small number of chakram sets for the character Axel in Kingdom Hearts to sell in my Etsy store (coolmodelguy). The yellow and grey chakram on my work table is one of a pair I am preparing for fine finishing and a full paint job. The blue pair are fully assembled in rough finish, which simply means that the assembly work has been done but no finishing work. The print layer lines and print artifacts need to be sanded, filled with putty or gap filling primer, then painted by the buyer.
To finish up the last of the filament on my last roll of PLA plastic, I printed two sets of Homestuck Gamzee horns, now covered in Bondo glazing putty and calling the print table of the printer home for a little while. These I will finish and paint for my Etsy store.
This is how I am finishing out 2022. The remaining two Mushi katana’s are in need of blade painting and handle wraps. Since all painting will most likely need to be done outdoors, I will have to wait for the “opportune moment” when the weather cooperates. There are some ideas about creating a painting space in our bay window so I can paint indoors, if I can create the proper ventilation I would prefer that.
Happy New Year everyone!













