Nautilus Mod

The Nautilus Mod is a double-sided, non-writing mod by BurningFinger. It measures 20.5 cm without tips or 22 cm with tips and weighs 16 g. Construction is difficult and time-consuming.

Construction

Parts needed

• 2 Pentel Color Twin barrels and 2 small caps
• 2 Pilot Dr. Grip Shaker springs and inner plastic barrels, plus the Dr. Grip ink tubes used as axles
• 2 Uni-ball Signo Broad caps, tips, and small rubber pieces
• 1 Sailor Gel grip with 4 lines, split into two 2-line sections
• Electrical tape
• Forceps, a pin or other small sharp tool, pliers, a knife, ruler, and an ink tube or long stick for assembly
• Optional: lighter for heating the knife to open the Dr. Grip barrels; sandpaper for smoothing

Alternatively, use one Color Twin body with an extra small cap, following the illustrated layout.

Text tutorial

Refer to the assembly diagrams for exact cut shapes and tight internal fits before cutting or pressing parts together.

1. Disassemble both Dr. Grip Shakers. Heat a knife to cut around the colored barrel section, then remove the spring and inner plastic barrel. A long stick can help push out the inner barrel, but it can break.

   

2. Prepare the Dr. Grip ink-tube axle pieces as shown. Make angled cuts of about 15–30 degrees. Wrap roughly 3–4 layers of electrical tape over a 3–4 mm section on one side.
3. Measure from the end of the Dr. Grip inner plastic barrel and cut the short sections shown in the diagrams: 0.8 cm, 1.1 cm, 0.3 cm, and 0.8 cm. Wrap slightly more than one layer of tape around the 0.3 cm piece.
4. Disassemble each Signo Broad cap, including its colored insert. Remove the Signo tip and the small rubber piece inside the cap head.
5. Cut each Signo Broad cap to 5.2 cm at its indent. Add 4 mm-wide tape at both ends for decoration if desired. Remove the small rubber piece with forceps if it is still seated in the cap.
6. Pierce each rubber piece with a pin, then widen the hole only enough for the Dr. Grip axle tube to pass through snugly; the opening must not be larger than the tube’s outside diameter.
7. Thread the axle tube through the rubber piece. Orient the rubber piece with its flat side against the electrical-tape wrap and its dimpled side facing outward.

   

8. Prepare both Color Twin barrels and plastic tips using the cut, file, and tape positions in the diagrams. File the marked ends before wrapping them. Slightly widen the holes in the plastic tips so the axle tubes can move freely. Split the four-line Sailor Gel grip into two 2-line sections.

   

9. Measure 0.7 cm from the end of each small Color Twin cap and cut around it as shown; do not use the hot-knife method for this cut. Wrap the cut section with 5–6 layers of 0.6 cm-wide electrical tape.

   

10. Make a small hole in each prepared cap, slightly smaller than the axle tube’s outside diameter so the tube is held firmly.

    

11. File the four small internal bumps inside each cap and seat a Signo tip in it. Check the prepared pieces against the assembly diagram before assembly.

    

12. Push the taped 3 mm plastic piece into the Color Twin barrel and make sure it is secure.
13. Assemble the prepared barrel-side parts in the order shown in the diagram below.

    

14. Fit the 8 mm plastic piece into the Color Twin tip, then insert the prepared axle tube as shown.

    

15. Join the parts from the barrel and tip assemblies. Press the tip inward to the approximately 4–5 mm depth shown; the fit is very tight. Repeated insertion can widen the small-cap hole, loosen the joint, and reduce the reverse-bumper effect.

    

16. Build the second side the same way. Use an ink tube or long stick to guide and push the axle carefully; this side is especially difficult to align. A double-plug alternative uses an extra Color Twin tip. Avoid glue when following the main method, as it makes repairs difficult.

    

17. Neatly pack the two 2-line Sailor grip sections at the ends; forceps may help.
18. Insert both prepared end assemblies to complete the mod.