ROTJ lenses re bubbled

[riveting]

As I like a choice of colours to look through, I thought I'd have a go at making some bubbled lenses.

 

Here's the lense strip that a couple of ppl here sell, AFIK

 

 

using an old mrce lense as a rough template, mark out the desired shape & cut with a small hand saw

 

 

 

Pre heat the oven to gas mark 140

 

 

make a rough mount for the lenses

 

[riveting]

Pop the lenses ontop of the mount & bake for 5-6 min's, keeping a check on how they are bending over the mount.

 

have the lid somewhere close by & ready for the insert.

 

 

Check the lenses with some tweezer for the desired flexability & when happy quick as a flash take them out of the oven & pop them into the lid.

 

 

 

to get the desired bubblyness I used a wooden file handle & exherting a small force push the lenses into the socket.

 

[riveting]

To save me from spending needless time hanging round for them to cool, remove them from the lid & throw them in a cup of cold water.

 

 

this was an afterthought during the process, so I ditched the Tea & did'nt bother rinsing the cup out

 

Once cool, about 30 sec's remove & look at the acute bends your handy work has created

 

 

Now pop the lenses into the lid & glue, or however you want to stick them in there.

 

[riveting]

repeate the process for the other eye socket & pop that into the lid aswell.

 

 

here's a pic shot outside with a flash

 

 

 

 

& here's the same minus the flash

 

 

last one in doors with a flash close up

 

 

please ignore the spelling <_< & grammer I hope you just enjoy the pic's

[troopermaster]

Nice one Steve

[MandalorianWarrior87]

Very nice! Looks great.

[Daetrin[Admin]]

Dude - that's awesome!!

 

Good looking ROTJs are very hard to find (most IMHO aren't that great). I'm excited to see you taking this on.

[Smitty]

Fantastic job! That little wooden handle is a terrific idea!

[TK8280]

Perfection Brother!

[missingpieces[501st]]

nice work!

[Murray1134[501st]]

Wow! So simple, but works perfectly and looks great.

 

I know I never would've thought of that.

[riveting]

Thanks Guy's I hope it's given some more options for folks making ANH Hero lenses too?

 

It's also possible using this method to make a long strip with both lenses attached, thats if you want to miss out the measuring & cutting stage & or is lazy but you will need two small wooden file handles & a very long Cup for the cold water

[JoeR]

Great work, they look fantastic, thats a great looking ROTJ bucket.

 

Joe

[Murray1134[501st]]

Do you have any distortion when looking out of them? I was thinking about putting bubble lenses in my MRCE.

 

Also, is this the thicker acetate strip or the thinner more plastic-y style?

[langy]

has anybody in the u.k. got any of this lense material ready cut for a MRCE?..(stunt)

 

I'm gonna be needing a set very soon.

[Ghost]

I love these cooking threads

 

Awesome work as always Steve

[ThayNerd[TK]]

Those look great Steve.

[TK-1422]

has anybody in the u.k. got any of this lense material ready cut for a MRCE?..(stunt)

 

I can cut and ship you a ready cut MR CE set, if you'd like.

[john danter]

Dude try it with a spoon, not a wooden handle

 

I used to use a ladies Obsession perfume bottle top. Perfect fit

 

[john danter]

has anybody in the u.k. got any of this lense material ready cut for a MRCE?..(stunt)

 

I'm gonna be needing a set very soon.

 

I got loads of this stuff dude. but it comes in strip form. Not pre cut

[Billhag]

Dude try it with a spoon, not a wooden handle

 

I used to use a ladies Obsession perfume bottle top. Perfect fit

 

 

 

John

No wonder you always smelled bloody nice!!

 

[riveting]

Dude try it with a spoon, not a wooden handle

 

I used to use a ladies Obsession perfume bottle top. Perfect fit

 

 

Thanks but

 

I have tried it with all manner of things inc several spoon's & the little wooden handle was the best thing I found out of all of them, but I guess you can get similar reults with all manner of different objects, I just found that the handle worked for me for the end look I was after. A that fact the wood did'nt contuct any heat was just a bonus aswell!

 

BTW for those trying this: If anything goes wrong first time around just bang the lenses back into the oven & re heat, any kink's will work out again as the plastic returns to it's original state.

 

So you get to have as many goes to perfect to your preference, that includes excellent see through visabilty when looking head on, try it when you experiment when making the lenses.

[NAZGÛL]

Wanted to give a thanks for this perfect tutorial! Helped alot!

[riveting]

Hey Matti,

 

I'm real happy that it helped out your situation but for other's who've been in contact!! about ROTJ or HERO bubbled lenses Alert alert alert! if you have a thin & or flimsy lid? from either materials or build?

 

pls pm me first for an update, untill I get the free time to offer the alternative way of doing lenses without compromising your hard earned $$$ & or lid.

 

nxt update to follow over the nxt weekend for all troopers, HERO's or ROTJ's.

 

it will cost you 2-3 bucks for lenses and not much skill

[NAZGÛL]

Hi!

 

I was a bit worried as the lid is made of HIPS. Therefore I took some leftover plastic from the trimming and tested if there would be trouble. It was no problem at all, thank god... The faceplate plastic is thicker compaired to my ATA, so I guess that could be a good thing.

 

I suggest people try on something else before doing the lid (thats a good advice in many cases).

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Edited May 18, 2022 by gmrhodes13
link removed no longer working