Painting and Detailing Jen’s Book Nook Diorama!

Posted on by Norman Chan

Jen’s back with another book nook project, this time decking out her diorama design with paints, fabrics, and a variety of modelmaking materials! Using her “World in Your Closet” book nook diorama kit, Jen walks us through her process of staining, painting, and weathering the laser-cut wood, using different paint techniques to augment the illusion of depth, and layering in textures with fabric swatches. Follow along if you’re building your own book nook for inspiration and tips to detail these charming miniature worlds.

Find Jen’s Book Nook designs and kits here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/JenSchachter?ref=seller-platform-mcnav&section_id=28510743

Shot by Jen Schachter and edited by Norman Chan

Forever Baby Yoda – This is Only a Test 577 – 12/3/20

Posted on by Norman Chan

We’re back from a remote Thanksgiving holiday to catch up on two weeks of news, including the unveiling of Super Mario World at Universal Japan, Wonder Woman 1984’s upcoming debut on HBO Max, and a new desktop holographic display from Looking Glass. Plus, we recap this past week’s awesome Mandalorian episode–revelations and spoilers within!

Links: Looking Glass Portrait Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/lookingglass/looking-glass-portrait
New Wave Toys Replicade: https://newwavetoys.com/
Disney Ride Pack VR: https://joe-jet.itch.io/disney-ride-pack-in-vr

Thanks to Nick Donnelly for creating this week’s intro theme music, and Justin Hunt for our outro piece today!

Tested in 2020: Kayte’s Favorite Things!

Posted on by Norman Chan

Modelmaker, fabricator, and host of our Model Behavior series Kayte shares a few of her favorite things from the year, including a few materials for modelmaking projects, a satirical tabletop card game, and a way to support local bookstores and maker spaces from home!

Shellac Amber: https://amzn.to/2I3HXJs
Bondo Glazing & Spot Putty: https://amzn.to/33CDzsl
Side Effects: https://amzn.to/36ub8P3 (Email hello@pillboxgames.com for the new game Mud!)
Workshop SF: http://www.workshopsf.org
Bookshop: http://www.bookshop.org

Adam Savage’s One Day Builds: Chewbacca’s Bowcaster!

Posted on by Norman Chan

For Halloween this year, Adam needed a bowcaster replica for his Chewbacca costume, so it was time to put this prop together using parts and pieces he had sourced and uncovered over the years of researching this prop. It’s a comfort build Adam originally intended to do just for himself, so its accuracy to any specific film is less important than the experience of putting it together and using it for cosplay!

Shot by Adam Savage and edited by Gunther Kirsch

Tested in 2020: Ariel’s Favorite Things!

Posted on by Norman Chan

Ariel brings in a recommendation for an accessible and power starter microscope, as well as a way to adapt your phone to capture photos and videos from its eyepiece! Plus, a recommendation for a book to fuel your new microscopy obsession, and accessories to help you uncover the unseen microscopic world all around us. And check out her TED Talk! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVgq4b9Tag8

American Optical Series 160 Microscope (professionally refurbished): https://www.martinmicroscope.com/product/american-optical-reichert-160-used/
SE Dial Caliper: https://amzn.to/35AQsBi
Life at the Edge of Sight: A Photographic Exploration of the Microbial World: https://amzn.to/2Jxu7z8
LabCam: https://www.ilabcam.com/collections/labcam-and-labcam-pro/products/labcam-for-iphone
iFixit Kit: https://amzn.to/36nyzJN
Microscope Accessories:
• Slide Making Kit: https://labproinc.com/collections/microscopy/products/microscope-slide-making-set-mssg12?variant=37110309945513
• Sample Handling Kit: https://labproinc.com/products/economy-plasticware-kit-plkit20?variant=37110265020585
Join your local Microscopy Society!
• San Francisco Microscopical Society: https://sfmicrosociety.org
• New York Microscopical Society: https://www.nyms.org/

Greg Munson – The Adam Savage Project – 11/24/20

Posted on by Norman Chan

BattleBots is back this week! We’re joined by the show’s co-creator, executive producer, and robot combat veteren Greg Munson to talk about the process of producing a season of BattleBots during lockdown, the roster of competitors and robots appearing this year, and what how he and the BattleBots team are thinking about ways to evolve and refine the glorious sport of robot combat! Thanks to Greg for joining us this week–watch BattleBots when it preimeres this Thursday on Discovery: https://battlebots.com/

Adam Savage’s Favorite Tools: All About Awls!

Posted on by Norman Chan

In showing off the usefulness of a small awl for marking your materials and punching holes in fabric and leather, Adam gets to share a tool that was handed down to him from his father. Even though an awl is basically a sharp point with a handle, they come in many formfactors and are used in the shop on almost a daily basis. How many awl-based puns can you come up with?

$9 Awl: https://amzn.to/2JpkanJ
Birdcage awl: https://amzn.to/39wJfrt
Punch set: https://amzn.to/3msAL8r