Adam’s been wanting to build this kit for years: a decal set that allows him to make a 1/10 scale shipping container like the 40-foot ones that move freight around the world on massive container ships. Adam’s scaled-down version will be four feet long, and make for an awesome bench and storage box in the workshop. And of course it sits on casters!
The Boys Season 2 SPOILERCAST – The Adam Savage Project – 9/29/20
Tested’s head of production Joey Fameli joins us this week as we discuss the second season of the show The Boys! We talk about how the show’s unique portrayal of superheroes goes even further this season, the incredible effects that have us wincing, and our hopes for the rest of the season. Spoiler-free discussion is at the top with full spoilers mid-way through!
Adam Savage’s Favorite Tools: Optical Center Punch!
Adam shows off a machining tool that allows you to make a punched mark in an exact location on a piece of material–especially when precision matters. An optical center punch lets you make a mark right on target, much more accurately than making a mark with just the naked eye. It’s a fantastic gift for a machinist or maker in your life!
How ILM Made The Mandalorian’s Razor Crest Motion-Controlled Miniature!
For the first season of The Mandalorian, ILM went back to their roots to make a scale miniature of the Razor Crest ship and filmed it with a custom-designed and machined motion control camera system. Adam Savage chats with his former colleagues–Visual Effects Supervisor John Knoll and veteren modelmaker John Goodson–to learn how they revived this classic Star Wars filming technology and what it brought to the look of the show.
Adam Savage’s One Day Builds: Table Saw Fence Upgrade!
Adam spends the day fixing and upgrading his Powermatic 66 table saw with a new table saw fence system. The table saw is equipped with an Accu-Fence, but its sides were damaged in recent use. Adam replaces those sides with a beautiful set found online, and even got some tips to install them direct from the manufacturer! Keep an eye out for a cameo appearance of a Scottish soda sent in from a fan, complete with kilt bottle cozy!
How To Light 1/6 Scale Figures Without Batteries
Norm wraps up the week with a show and tell demoing a power conversion kit that replaces finicky batteries in 1/6 scale and 1/4 scale figures with a wired central power supply. We take a look at the Soap Reactor kit, install it in the Hot Toys Iron Man Mark III, and disassemble the wired batteries to modify their size and show how they work. Now these figures can stay lit up in display cases without draining batteries!
Tested: VR Simulator Cockpit Rig Build!
In anticipation of Star Wars: Squadrons, Norm puts together and tests a flight simulator cockpit kit from Next Level Racing. Made for driving and flight sims, this racing seat works with the Buttkicker bass shaker, our favorite HOTAS and racing wheel, and can be assembled in under two hours. Here’s how a sim rig increases the immersion for VR cockpit sims, and we highly recommend it for VR games like Elite Dangerous, Project Cars 3, and Vox Machinae!
Episode 568 – Gradual, Imperceptible Change – 9/24/20
We have a full crew this week to review the Netflix documentary The Social Dilemma, unpack John Carmack’s talk about the Oculus Quest 2, and dive into the science of Tesla’s battery day news. Plus, Norm dons a Hololens 2 and shares some impressions, and we blitz through a whirlwind of pop culture updates.
Adam Savage Sets Up His Sailrite Sewing Machine!
In this members-only video, Adam unboxes and sets up his brand-new Sailrite Ultrafeed LSZ‑1 PLUS Walking Foot sewing machine (and table), explaining why he decided to invest in a professional grade sewing machine! (And ICYMI, watch Adam customize his new cut-and-sew station in this One Day Build.)
Adam Savage’s One Day Builds: Car Seat Dog Bed!
For an upcoming road trip, Adam will be joined by his dog Maggie, who is a delightful travel companion. To help her better enjoy the long drive, Adam makes a custom fitted dog bed platform that fits over the folded seat of his car! It’s a build that begins with cardboard prototyping and transforms sheets of plywood into a beautifully bolstered doggie bed!