Official Rangefinder Post/Stalk Thread

[Migrate from As You Wish]

Originally posted by fettcicle:

Its my granny's , but looks can be deceiving. I think it is a little small to be the rangefinder, but looking similar. The bottom portion can be totally removed by taking out some screws leaving it completely hollow. Like I said before I think it is the end that attaches to the record player itself , and not the tip, that would be the rangefinder (just guessing here)

 

[Migrate from As You Wish]

Originally posted by TK1028:

WOOOOO HOOOOO, I think you're all really onto something here. Ritchie, Fettcicle, BB-- you're all AWESOME.
Look at those holes on ZB27 what if we found one that had holes just in the right place for LEDs, would be proof positive!

BB, do you think we are looking for the shell, or the head? Maybe it's the head:

Chris Skidmore
"I'm just a simple man trying to make my way in the universe"
SergeantTK1028@aol.com

 

[Migrate from As You Wish]

Originally posted by imprissonedfett:

So as I said ZB27 looks pretty close. Correct? Ill check out some auntique stores or pawn shops friday, saturday, and sunday.

http://pub82.ezboard.com/basyouwish><img​

 

[Migrate from As You Wish]

Originally posted by SITHcamaro:

If you think about it...ZB-52 looks like the piece that the back of the right gauntlet where the hose connects. I spotted it because I installed a cable screw in port in mine to help hold the hose...it looks just like my piece now.

 

[Migrate from As You Wish]

Originally posted by Slave1:

I'll post my observation here as well as the RPF . . .



Hey thanks for posting that pic. It illustrates one of the things I noted at MOM yesterday . . . the MOM rangefinder is lacking the squarish box part on the bottom. In its place are three raised lines.

Also, you look at those pics. Where'd the red and blue little LEDs on the stalk come from? Is there any end to the variations on this costume?

 

[Migrate from As You Wish]

Did anyone ever decide if the rangefinder really was made from an arm from a record player?

Mark
mafight@tampabay.rr.com

 

[Migrate from As You Wish]

As requested, here is the pic of the guts of my Rangefinder.

http://forum.thedentedhelmet.com/viewtopic.php?topic=897&forum=2

Between the two sets of Batts, are two green flashing LED's
in case you can't see them clearly.

The Mercury Switch is "Very Tiny" and is in the bottom left hand corner of the pic. Used super glue to mount run the wire securely. The circuit board in the top right is a flasher, only because I didn't have any green blinking led's on me at the time, so you really don't need this part if you get blinkers. The Red Led's in the Lid of the finder are blinkers, and they are painted black from behind, so no red shows through the bottom where only green is flashing in the down position on the visor of the helmet.

The bottom of the finder has semi clear diamond pattern plastic installed ,(the stuff used to cover floresent lights in offices) to create a strobe effect when flashing green on the helemt visor.

Anyway, have fun with it. I'm sure there are better idea's out there, but at leat there are no wires running down the stem.

Chris

<IMG SRC=http://www.ezshots.com/members/fettpride/images/fettpride-15.jpg>

<IMG SRC=http://www.ezshots.com/members/fettpride/images/fettpride-16.jpg>

 

[Migrate from As You Wish]

I have reposted this from the RPF at the request of some guys here. Enjoy the pics and movies!!!!!

I just completed this for a fellow RPFer. The electronics upgrade to the helmet include:

1) tilt activated LED and sound board in the rangefinder head.
2) servo motorized rangefinder for automatic up and down action.
3) voice recognition board to control the rangefinder position hands free.
4) button override to manually control the rangefinder.

This was a bear to install, but oh how sweet it is to play with!! Man, I sure wish I had a bad a$$ Fett helmet like this one. I really would like to keep this, but I dont think the owner would like it!

At any rate, here are a few pics of the RF in action:

(Open these up in QUICKTIME)
http://www.hyperdynelabs.com/misc/fett_helmet_working_2.avi (voice mode)
http://www.hyperdynelabs.com/misc/fett_helmet_working_1.avi (button override mode)

And here are a few (big) pics of the install details:

Let me know what you think!!

 

[Migrate from As You Wish]

I can always do more, but there is a price tag attached. The upshot is that most of the install work can be done yourself, saving you some bucks. If you are interested, you can see more about the servo controller board from my site:

http://www.hyperdynelabs.com/servo.htm

I sell the servo controller boards with the servo for $90. The tilt activated RF LED and pinging board costs $55. You can also buy the voice rec board online, but you will have to assemble it yourself. I can do all the assembly for the voice rec board, servo board, and servo for around $200. If you want to run wires from the helmet to the RF head, then the servo board will handle the LEDs. Otherwise if you have a hollow RF head, you can get the tilt activated RF LED board separate and install it.

Once you have everything, all you have to do is install it in your helmet. Feel free to email me if you have any questions!

 

[Migrate from As You Wish]

The rangefinder is the black thing on top. Do you need the measurements for that or for the stalk (the long metal piece)?

EDIT: Okay, my resin rangefinder is:
2-11/16" long (top view looking down at it),
1-1/4" wide (same view, at each end) with the middle (fatter) section being 1-1/2",
1" tall (thick end by stalk) tapering down to
5/16" tall (thin end).

Now don't forget that the ESB helmet has a two smaller tiers on the bottom of the rangefinder, while the ROTJ version only has one. The stalk is 5-5/16" tall from the top of the ear cap to the bottom of the rangefinder. The total length is more, but I'd have to pop my ear cap & rangefinder off to get that total measurement.

I hope I explained this clear enough.

 

[Feth Milo]

Anyone with a RA aluminum antenna stalk, please, read on.

How does one attach the new metal stalk to the original rangefinder? The part that actually connects to the rangefinder seems to be too tall. Any help would be great, thanks.

 

[fettpride]

Hey Feth,

I trimmed the top and used the stud method. After trimming the top, I drilled holes, inserted 8x1 machine screws, and then drilled two holes in the bottom of the RF and then secured with nuts from the inside.

<IMG SRC=http://www.ezshots.com/members/fettpride/images/fettpride-59.jpg>


The EASIER way, is to NOT trim the stalk, and cut a hole in the bottom of the hollow rangefinder, and stick the stalk through it from the top (so the stalk goes in bottom first), and the top angular portion of the stalk should nest in there nicely. Glue or epoxy to suit. If you will be putting electronics in, I suggest the first method.


<IMG SRC=http://www.ezshots.com/members/fettpride/images/fettpride-60.jpg>


Of course, neither of these methods will work if you have a Solid resin rangefinder for your alum stalk. If it is resin, you have to "Hog" out the bottom of the Resin RF (Rotary Tool, and Drill), trim the Alum Stalk and insert the Stalk up inside it. I don't have pics of this method though.


Hope this helps with some ideas.

Chris

 

[Feth Milo]

Very much. I plan on putting LED's into the RF, so I'll use the first method. BTW, how did you cut the aluminum? What did you use? Thanks again.

 

[fettpride]

I used a Dremel to cut the stalk, believe it or not

It took two heavy duty "Cut Off Discs" but it worked. Just wear eye protection. I really don't recommend doing it that way though. It's dangerous. If you have a "Chop Saw/MiterSaw" you can get blade for it that specially made for cutting steel. That way it would be a swift, quick, and plenty safer cut.

I can't emphasize it enough, Be careful

Chris

 

[Feth Milo]

I hear ya. I was stupidly cutting a peice of sintra with my dremel with nothing on my eyes. And. Murphy's Law, a peice of hot plastic shot into my eye. I got it out, but it could have been worse. Thanks for the help.

 

[METALBOY]

OK GUYS I MADE MY HELMET OUT OF ALUMINUM. nOW AS for the
range finder well i also made mines out metal brass for the long part and aluminum for the top piece. Now i don't know if you guys might of seened my aluminum helmet it was posted here but now no longer i don't know what happened to the pics.
If you guys truly want just the rangefinder made out of metal i might be able to help by making them myself . I'll do my best and remember they will be made by hand no machinery .

 

[BobaFettish]

Just to clarify this, the stalk/antenna is the long metal piece that is attached to the right earpiece, and the rangefinder is the black square shaped piece that sits on top of the stalk. Now back to your regularly scheduled program.....

 

[Bountys Hunted]

I'm beginning work on the rangefinder. Trying to decide on two blinking led's (is that correct?) and or a working laser!

Would that be cool or what?!

Opinions wanted!

 

[Tyler Durden]

Ahhhhhhh blinking lights indeed.....

http://www.thedentedhelmet.com/bbt/esb_rf_display_animation.htm

 

[Fetthunter]

Hmmm... how about a working YAG (Yytrium Aluminum Garnet) laser? It's a nice red color and will cut metal! BWAHAHAhahaahahahaaaaa... :evil

Actually, YAG lasers require a flash coil and other components that would never fit in the rangefinder housing. It would have to be a solid-state laser diode (like a Helium/Neon diode) like those commonly found in "laser pointers"... It won't cut metal, but it might scare a few people! I've got way too much free time on my hands...