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Dune Board Game Piece Upgrade

Ok where to start with this one…this might be one of the nerdiest things I have ever done. Back in the 70s there was a great Avalon Hill Dune board game, it was a lot of fun, and I remember playing it once at a friends house because his dad had a copy. As a HUGE dune fan (see this site for more of my Dune work), I have been looking to get my hands on a copy for years. Fast forward to last year and Gale Force Nine released a slightly updated but still very faithful version of the game. Both games used cardboard pieces, and even though they were beautiful, they are cardboard. One of the pieces that you use in the new game is a small marker to keep track of what player is next, the problem in the new version is that your player marker looks an awful lot like the other chits used in the game, so its easy to get them mixed up, so I decided to carve and cast in lead free pewter a marker for each of the 6 factions in the game. The Harkonnen, the Atreides, the Guide, The Bene Gesserit, The Fremen, and The Emperor.  Want to upgrade your board game?  Buy a set here.

From top to bottom, left to right. Harkonnen, Guild, Atredies, Fremen, Bene Gesserit, Emperor.

 

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Dune Fremen Crysknife Earrings (Hand Carved And Cast)

Technically you are not supposed to show these unless you are willing to get blood on them, but if you got your ears pierced that should count right?  Show your Fremen cred with these adorable worm teeth (hand carved and cast in lead free pewter).  They are small enough to be light and dangle freely.   (if you have no idea what I am talking about see here), if you would like to purchase a pair click here.

(Stainless steel ear wires, silver jump ring, hand carved and cast lead free pewter dangles )

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Corrino Lion Crest From Dune

Worn by the The Padishah Emperor Shaddam IV and his Sardaukar troopers. This crest identifies the Corrino, a golden lion crest.

“My father, the Padishah Emperor, was 72 yet looked no more than 35 the year he
encompassed the death of Duke Leto and gave Arrakis back to the Harkonnens. He
seldom appeared in public wearing other than a Sardaukar uniform and a Burseg’s
black helmet with the imperial lion in gold upon its crest. The uniform was an
open reminder of where his power lay. He was not always that blatant, though.
When he wanted, he could radiate charm and sincerity, but I often wonder in
these later days if anything about him was as it seemed. I think now he was a
man fighting constantly to escape the bars of an invisible cage. You must
remember that he was an emperor, father-head of a dynasty that reached back into
the dimmest history. But we denied him a legal son. Was this not the most
terrible defeat a ruler ever suffered? My mother obeyed her Sister Superiors
where the Lady Jessica disobeyed. Which of them was the stronger? History
already has answered.
-“In My Father’s House” by the Princess Irulan”

Hand carved and cast in lead free pewter. Perfect for Cosplay, or if you just want to put a sweet Dune inspired piece of jewelry on your jacket or other heavy sweater. (not recommended for light fabrics as it has some weight to it)

See how they were made and more pictures here: If you really like it you can buy it here

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Dune Pewter Journal Cover

This is a project that I have been working on for almost two years now.  Just spending a little time on it here and there.  It started as an idea to make a custom journal, and has been the most complicated wax carving and casting project.

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Dune Cuff Links

As any fremen out on the town knows, its the cuff links that make the suit. These stylish cuff links come in Sandworm/ Shai Hulud, and Atreides Hawk Crest.  Hand carved from wax, and then cast in lead free pewter.  If you like them you can buy them here

 

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Thing A Week 12: Dune Enamel Pin

I wanted to get a Dune themed enamel pin, and I couldn’t find anyone selling what I wanted.  I looked into making your own DIY enamel pins, and EVERY single page I went to was not instructions on how to make your own, but instead instructions on how to order them from companies in china who make enamel pins.

So like many things in my life, instead of paying someone else to do it, I just decided to do it myself.

 

I did some research and found that most enamel pins are just copper or nickle plated pewter.  I have experience casting pewter so I figured, lets just go for it!

 

Step one was design something in illustrator, print it out and glue it to some matt’s wax carving wax.

I used an X-acto knife to cut the design onto the wax

Using my home made wax carving tools I carefully removed about 2 mm deep of wax.

Next I used a drill bit in my hand to slowly remove a hole for the backing pin.

I didn’t want the pin to weigh a million pounds so I used a file to taper the back of the pin down towards the backing pin.

Next I used Mold Max 60 from Smooth On, to create a small two part mold.  See other projects for details on the casting process.

I used a hobby knife to clean up any flashing, as well as cutting in the pour spout and the air vents.  I places a pin in the small pin hole on the left, and then poured the pewter.

I melted and poured the pewter.

after sanding the top surface was uniformly smooth.

The tiny lip of the backing pin is now solidly embedded into the body of the pin, very sturdy.

I used Testors brand enamel paint to fill in the spaces, using two different color schemes.

After it hardened, I again gently sanded the pin to clean up the lines.

I like it!  I think i might go with a different color scheme for the next one, and perhaps put an epoxy coating over the top, or even try to electroplate the pin before I paint it, but overall it came out better than I thought it would!

 

If you like things like this check out my etsy store.

 

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