DeathProof's ROTJ Fett: BH-32794
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DeathProof
Active Hunter
I installed the chest lights. Overnight I epoxied the visor plate to the chest plate using clamps so it fit the curve.
Then I did a few test strips of duct tape, until I got it where I wanted. Then I secured it with...MORE duct tape!
I'm having some issues with my gauntlets however. While I wait for my hoses to stain from a sink full of DECAF coffee (had to be good for something...) I have been trying to size and secure my left gauntlet. This thing weighs quite a bit considering what's in there. I hooked up the battery pack for the flamethrower lights, so now there are TWO 9v battery packs in there along with the metal rocket and flamethrowers (which unfortunately are too far out...yesterday I was doing so many things I didn't think to trim Dakota's nozzles to fit properly. They are epoxied and I've gotten over it
The nozzles needed a little more air anyway...)
The big issue is that with all the weight, the gauntlet is sliding around. I tried temporarily shoving a bunch of foam in there (which worked great for the right gauntlet) but there is so little room, it makes it difficult for the gauntlet to open and get my arm in. Even then, I can't seem to get the gauntlet to stay put. In addition, the flap that I need to open to actually get my arm in (seen with velcro) pops out a bit and isn't flush which kinda irks me.
Bit of a road block. What do you guys think? How do you secure your gauntlets to your arm? Velcro on the flight suit? Snaps?
Then I did a few test strips of duct tape, until I got it where I wanted. Then I secured it with...MORE duct tape!
I'm having some issues with my gauntlets however. While I wait for my hoses to stain from a sink full of DECAF coffee (had to be good for something...) I have been trying to size and secure my left gauntlet. This thing weighs quite a bit considering what's in there. I hooked up the battery pack for the flamethrower lights, so now there are TWO 9v battery packs in there along with the metal rocket and flamethrowers (which unfortunately are too far out...yesterday I was doing so many things I didn't think to trim Dakota's nozzles to fit properly. They are epoxied and I've gotten over it
The nozzles needed a little more air anyway...)The big issue is that with all the weight, the gauntlet is sliding around. I tried temporarily shoving a bunch of foam in there (which worked great for the right gauntlet) but there is so little room, it makes it difficult for the gauntlet to open and get my arm in. Even then, I can't seem to get the gauntlet to stay put. In addition, the flap that I need to open to actually get my arm in (seen with velcro) pops out a bit and isn't flush which kinda irks me.
Bit of a road block. What do you guys think? How do you secure your gauntlets to your arm? Velcro on the flight suit? Snaps?
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DeathProof
Active Hunter
I don't have a resin missile yet. Should be in the mail.
I tried wearing it with my sweater sleeve pulled through and that seemed to be more comfortable. I might just have to spot glue some foam.
I tried wearing it with my sweater sleeve pulled through and that seemed to be more comfortable. I might just have to spot glue some foam.
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RichardJones
Active Hunter
Love the paint! did you hand paint the yellow(DUH, didnt see the second page! -__- )
I too did the black tape behind the lights. over time the tape started to lift around the edges, so i sealed the border of the tape with hot glue and that seemed to keep everything down. i used the same method of velcro and saw your image and thought of this...
the black would be velcro and red is gauntlet/ plastic strip(or whatever material), it reminds me of how my old Batninja neck seal closed.
I too did the black tape behind the lights. over time the tape started to lift around the edges, so i sealed the border of the tape with hot glue and that seemed to keep everything down. i used the same method of velcro and saw your image and thought of this...
the black would be velcro and red is gauntlet/ plastic strip(or whatever material), it reminds me of how my old Batninja neck seal closed.
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crumdum
Active Hunter
Aaron,
I have a set of Boba Trooper guantlets...they are hinged but I went with a magnet approach to closing my gauntlets. I got some really thin, really powerful rare earth magnets 3mm X 15 mm X 5 mm with 5 lbs of pull strength and they work great. Snaps in every time to the correct position and are invisible to the outside. My guantlets are hinged on one side...but there is no reason why you couldn't do it on both sides. The key to the magnets I used was that they were REALLY thin, so I got a great surface area to glue to without using up a lot of arm space.
I ordered the magnets from http://www.supermagnetman.net/index.php?cPath=39&page=2 There are a whole bunch you can choose from with varying strengths.
Another thing to consider with the light is you can get an LED installed which uses a simple CR2032 battery which is simple and easy to install (and takes up far less space than the current battery you are using) for the guantlet light. It will also reduce weight (since the battery weighs a lot less).
I have a set of Boba Trooper guantlets...they are hinged but I went with a magnet approach to closing my gauntlets. I got some really thin, really powerful rare earth magnets 3mm X 15 mm X 5 mm with 5 lbs of pull strength and they work great. Snaps in every time to the correct position and are invisible to the outside. My guantlets are hinged on one side...but there is no reason why you couldn't do it on both sides. The key to the magnets I used was that they were REALLY thin, so I got a great surface area to glue to without using up a lot of arm space.
I ordered the magnets from http://www.supermagnetman.net/index.php?cPath=39&page=2 There are a whole bunch you can choose from with varying strengths.
Another thing to consider with the light is you can get an LED installed which uses a simple CR2032 battery which is simple and easy to install (and takes up far less space than the current battery you are using) for the guantlet light. It will also reduce weight (since the battery weighs a lot less).
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This stuff is coming out killer man! Great job on all of it! Love the thumb tacks on the JP straps...nice idea!
I tried magnets on one of my sets of gauntlets once..it was a disaster for me. Because of all the padding in the gauntlets, and the fabric of the jumpsuit they would pop open when i made certain movements. I like my gaunts to fit snug so they dont move around..just didnt work for me :/
maybe heat the edge of the bottom a bit and curve it inward a bit more? If you do it by putting it between 2 paint stirrers it will keep the plastic from warping.
I tried magnets on one of my sets of gauntlets once..it was a disaster for me. Because of all the padding in the gauntlets, and the fabric of the jumpsuit they would pop open when i made certain movements. I like my gaunts to fit snug so they dont move around..just didnt work for me :/
maybe heat the edge of the bottom a bit and curve it inward a bit more? If you do it by putting it between 2 paint stirrers it will keep the plastic from warping.
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crumdum
Active Hunter
Yea, that's why I suggested getting STRONG thin rare earth magnets...I might put a 4th set in along the edge...but the ones I am using are so strong I am worried I will have problem literally taking them off. Its tough with the current ones I have.
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i used ones with a 15lb pull strength..same ones i used to put in the top part of the rocket on my jetpack..and could lift the pack by the rocket! It was just too much padding in there i think.
lol i can just see it now...someone help me get these things off of me!!! lol
lol i can just see it now...someone help me get these things off of me!!! lol
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DeathProof
Active Hunter
Justin:
I used 4 slips (two at the top, two at the bottom) to make the black straps adjustable - I didn't want to permanently fix them until I knew how tight I needed it. Because the slips hold the strap in place nicely I might keep it like this, but there is some extra strap that dangles. I can glue/sew that if I need to. The straps at the top of the metal harness go to the rings at the bottom and the belt is just from one ring to the other, with the diver's buckle in the middle (so there is a separation in the black strapping for the belt)
Lance:
I might try that velcro method. If it's not too bulky, it doesn't bulge out...but it needs to be bulky for me to keep the gauntlet up. Bah.
Crumdum:
I don't think I'll go with magnets or hinges. I think it's just going to be a matter of figuring out where to place the padding. I will look into possibly changing the battery though. Both of them take up so much room.
Lou - I've already tried heating it with a hair dryer and some clamps to keep the shape....it did make a little difference but not much. I could try it again. I don't have a heat gun.
Thanks everyone for the support
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crumdum
Active Hunter
Aaron,
Whatever works for you mate, I honestly LOVE the hinge magnet thing...I can feel it snap right into place correctly every time without even looking at it. It's AWESOME. I completely understand where you are coming from...its a preference thing.
Whatever works for you mate, I honestly LOVE the hinge magnet thing...I can feel it snap right into place correctly every time without even looking at it. It's AWESOME. I completely understand where you are coming from...its a preference thing.
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DeathProof
Active Hunter
There is a local flag and tent store that sells all kinds of attachment pieces in metal and plastic. Here are some I found online just now:
http://www.strapworks.com/Metal_Slides_p/ms-f.htm
http://www.strapworks.com/Metal_Slides_p/ms-f.htm
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DeathProof
Active Hunter
Update :: Some Assembly Required
Ok! So, my vest came back from my seamstress and it's perfect - button holes match the back armor and the jetpack harness bar, along with the pocket for the chest lights. Here are a few pics showing the armor setup. If you ever doubted chicago screws....well...just don't
I also got around to attaching the hoses. Ok....so staining the hoses in coffee was taking too long and I wasn't going to put Audrey through a disgusting sink of coffee for a week (which apparently it takes to properly stain plastic). I took out the hoses after 24 hours and it was barely faded. Too speed up the process I did some acrylic washes. I had to be very careful since I still wanted it to be transparent enough to see the braids in the hose. Depending on the light, you can see the weathering better/worse. I stitched elastic into my upper sleeve to hold a carabiner that attaches to a key ring around the hoses. Works perfectly...and it's actually something that I can attach on my own without any help...I'm needing SO much help from Audrey getting suited up. Haven't done a full run through yet, but I imagine it's going to be at least 15 minutes, especially with the smoke unit setup.
The left gauntlet is still being squirrely with me. I finally bit the bullet and just maneuvered some foam and it fits fine now. It's tight, but that's fine. Problem is that in putting my arm in for a test, I ripped out the bulb for the little gauntlet light and broke the bulb. I went to two different hobby shops today looking for replacements. I think what's gonna happen from my conversations with them is that I'd like to be able to hook both the flamethrower lights AND the gauntlet light up to ONE 9v battery box. I think they called it a "parallel connection" ? I feel like such an idiot going into electronics stores because I know NOTHING about it. I've daisy chained stuff before...But I don't even know if that worked properly. I'll give it a go and cross my fingers. It may suck the battery faster, but by how much...really...like these little guys can't be using that much juice....and I'd rather have the extra space seeing that one battery box is big enough.
I also sewed on the white jetpack straps tonight (I've done more sewing on this than I ever thought I would...crazy). So with those marked, I was able to mark where the top jetpack hooks should be - so I will drill and attach those tomorrow. Again, huge thanks to Audrey for doing all this while I stand there checking out everything in the mirror.
Anyone else sensing that I'm delaying the helmet? Hah...I know I know. I wanna get to it. But I think I need to finish off all the assembly of everything else just to call it done. I keep finding things that I need to do and if I start the helmet, it won't be finished completely. I think after I'm done fixing this gauntlet light and attaching the top jetpack hooks I should be good to prime and silver the helmet.
Until next time!
Ok! So, my vest came back from my seamstress and it's perfect - button holes match the back armor and the jetpack harness bar, along with the pocket for the chest lights. Here are a few pics showing the armor setup. If you ever doubted chicago screws....well...just don't
I also got around to attaching the hoses. Ok....so staining the hoses in coffee was taking too long and I wasn't going to put Audrey through a disgusting sink of coffee for a week (which apparently it takes to properly stain plastic). I took out the hoses after 24 hours and it was barely faded. Too speed up the process I did some acrylic washes. I had to be very careful since I still wanted it to be transparent enough to see the braids in the hose. Depending on the light, you can see the weathering better/worse. I stitched elastic into my upper sleeve to hold a carabiner that attaches to a key ring around the hoses. Works perfectly...and it's actually something that I can attach on my own without any help...I'm needing SO much help from Audrey getting suited up. Haven't done a full run through yet, but I imagine it's going to be at least 15 minutes, especially with the smoke unit setup.
The left gauntlet is still being squirrely with me. I finally bit the bullet and just maneuvered some foam and it fits fine now. It's tight, but that's fine. Problem is that in putting my arm in for a test, I ripped out the bulb for the little gauntlet light and broke the bulb. I went to two different hobby shops today looking for replacements. I think what's gonna happen from my conversations with them is that I'd like to be able to hook both the flamethrower lights AND the gauntlet light up to ONE 9v battery box. I think they called it a "parallel connection" ? I feel like such an idiot going into electronics stores because I know NOTHING about it. I've daisy chained stuff before...But I don't even know if that worked properly. I'll give it a go and cross my fingers. It may suck the battery faster, but by how much...really...like these little guys can't be using that much juice....and I'd rather have the extra space seeing that one battery box is big enough.
I also sewed on the white jetpack straps tonight (I've done more sewing on this than I ever thought I would...crazy). So with those marked, I was able to mark where the top jetpack hooks should be - so I will drill and attach those tomorrow. Again, huge thanks to Audrey for doing all this while I stand there checking out everything in the mirror.
Anyone else sensing that I'm delaying the helmet?
Hah...I know I know. I wanna get to it. But I think I need to finish off all the assembly of everything else just to call it done. I keep finding things that I need to do and if I start the helmet, it won't be finished completely. I think after I'm done fixing this gauntlet light and attaching the top jetpack hooks I should be good to prime and silver the helmet.Until next time!
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DeathProof
Active Hunter
Today was a good day.
I finished the gauntlets. That pesky left gauntlet finally cooperated with me. I sat down for about an hour after lunch again, unsuccessful at being able to get the wiring correct. After a brief photoshoot I had, I came home, mind refreshed, and slowly created a parallel connection between the two lights from the flame thrower and the single bulb on top of the gauntlet. For those of you who know nothing about electronics (like me), what this means is that I took the positives from both the bulb and the flamethrowers and connected it to the positive of the 9v battery box. Did the same things for the negative side. This way, all lights use 9 volts. The battery will probably drain faster, but I'm fine with that considering it enabled me to remove a 9v battery box from my gauntlet, put in the right amount of foam, and now the gauntlet sits on my forearm perfectly. Apologies to those electronic nuts shaking their heads at how simple this was probably....in the words of my mom..."we all have our gifts"....electronics ain't one of mine I think my hands are just too big or fidgety to properly connect cables. Never ask me to be a surgeon or diffuse a bomb.
The other big thing today was the jetpack hooks. They got installed, but with how they were marked last night, I didn't have enough room to put the screws so I blindly moved them down one hook length, marked them, and installed them. Gotta say, they are incredibly nice and strong. This lead me to believe I would have to lengthen my white straps that I sewed on last night....but lucky for me, I didn't permanently fix my black straps. I still have some adjusting to do - did two test fits with Audrey this evening. I'm almost there, then I can sew the remaining black straps.
I also primed and laid down the silver on the helmet. Tomorrow I start the back panels
I finished the gauntlets. That pesky left gauntlet finally cooperated with me. I sat down for about an hour after lunch again, unsuccessful at being able to get the wiring correct. After a brief photoshoot I had, I came home, mind refreshed, and slowly created a parallel connection between the two lights from the flame thrower and the single bulb on top of the gauntlet. For those of you who know nothing about electronics (like me), what this means is that I took the positives from both the bulb and the flamethrowers and connected it to the positive of the 9v battery box. Did the same things for the negative side. This way, all lights use 9 volts. The battery will probably drain faster, but I'm fine with that considering it enabled me to remove a 9v battery box from my gauntlet, put in the right amount of foam, and now the gauntlet sits on my forearm perfectly. Apologies to those electronic nuts shaking their heads at how simple this was probably....in the words of my mom..."we all have our gifts"....electronics ain't one of mine
I think my hands are just too big or fidgety to properly connect cables. Never ask me to be a surgeon or diffuse a bomb.The other big thing today was the jetpack hooks. They got installed, but with how they were marked last night, I didn't have enough room to put the screws so I blindly moved them down one hook length, marked them, and installed them. Gotta say, they are incredibly nice and strong. This lead me to believe I would have to lengthen my white straps that I sewed on last night....but lucky for me, I didn't permanently fix my black straps. I still have some adjusting to do - did two test fits with Audrey this evening. I'm almost there, then I can sew the remaining black straps.
I also primed and laid down the silver on the helmet. Tomorrow I start the back panels
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