3.28.13 Star Trek: Renegades prop fundraiser continues! The Renegades Team would like to thank all our new backers who have helped raise additional funds for new prop designs. So far, we have raised just over $2700.00.
Our design team is coming out with new designs almost daily. Apart from new Federation phaser designs, we also have new communicators, Klingon disruptors, Klingon communicators, door panels, data terminals, and a huge prop (over 6 feet tall!) that is ultra top-secret at the moment (hey, we have to save some surprises for the film!) 
As you can imagine, designing and building a prop from scratch is a long, tedious and expensive process. The first step is the design. This can be the most difficult, according to Renegades Art Director, Scott Nakada. "Star Trek is unique in that it has a certain history behind objects. Keeping the lineage or a look/ design aesthetic can be difficult while simultaneously trying to maintain a look of something fresh and new." It can take anywhere from 3-4 hours, or up to several months to get the design just right. After the design is approved, the construction begins. A full-color shaded image is converted to black and white for cutting guides at a 1:1 scale. The layers are then separated and printed onto adhesive material. Styrene sheets of various thicknesses are cut to give the various parts their correct dimensions. 
The next stage is the mold. RTV silicon rubber is used. RTV is quite expensive ($160 per gallon!) and is the consistency of thick slime. "I am estimating the film could use 10 gallons of the stuff for the various pieces of work," Nakada says. The styrene parts are then placed into small molding containers made from foam core, then the RTV material is poured over them. After 24 hours, the mold is set, and a casting polyurethane resin material (also expensive - $145 for two gallons) is poured into the mold. This step must be done very quickly, as it solidifies in 3 minutes! After about 45 minutes, the prop can be taken out of the mold, but must sit, completely undisturbed for 8-24 hours to reach full hardness. Finally, the prop is painted and sealed. "They are blown free of any surface contaminants, and then painted with a primer layer and several coats of automotive paints, and appropriately colored other paints ranging from acrylics, to airbrush paints of differing types to a simple good old can of Krylon. One prop can use up to 7 different paints and painting techniques," Nakada relates. And if electronics are used, the complexity of the process is increased exponentially. And, of course, the costs of the materials alone are just the tip of the iceberg. There's also equipment, prototyping materials, expendables, etc. 
Please help us create these top-of-the-line, never-before-seen-anywhere-in-Star-Trek props! As you can see, there is much time and effort necessary to do this, and we have a long way to go to reach our $15,000 goal. And there are rewards for your support! From downloads of the Renegades pilot, to DVDs or Blu-Rays to exclusive Renegades Crew t-shirts, to personally autographed cast photos - there's something for everyone. You can even get one of the props! 
Clicking on the link below will take you to the 'Support Us" section of our official website. Plus, if you make a donation, you will have access to exclusive information and supporter forums. Get all the news about Renegades and much more! Click here to support us. You will also be able view Scott Nakada's full description of the making of Renegades props on our website in a few days. 
www.startrekrenegades.com
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Design by Justin R. Durban & Thomas Moore - (Free OGAM OST mp3 download)
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