Modding the Iron Man 2 Arc from sideshow

**ComedicHistory** · May 12, 2012

Damn that's coming along great so far! I was so disappointed with how their version came out, it wasn't even close and didn't have lighted eyes either...which is ridiculous in this day and age considering how cheap LED's are. Thanks for the breakdown of how you modded the IM2 Arc, I've always wanted one but again, I was disappointed with the finished product. Plus I need a project to work on :-D So for the inner ring surrounding the center light(s) you just used the transparent blue from that file folder thingy? I just went shopping with a friend of mine and saw those and thought they would be great for something, never thought they could be used for this application...cheers!

**RPF Support**

**Kroenen77** · May 12, 2012

Thank you...no problem.

For people with absolute no skills,Museums Replicas is really the wrong adress for props.

BUT for people with a little skill,its a great source,because they are making most in real metal and not plastic or fiberglas...thats why I like this props..the IM helmet is really heavy steel and cold armor feeling..not like all the fiberglasversions out there.And real brushed metal feels and looks complete different as painted plastic.But that is only my personal taste.And when I finished my helmet, its a lot more screenacurate.I would only buy a fiberglas IM-Helmet,when it comes from the screenused mold...and I´ve heared the new EFX Avengers IM helmet is the one for me.

Oh,for the inside blue I used a darker blue plastic foil.My arc has 3 layers...2 in the soft blue and one in the dark blue BEHIND the white milky glass.First a thin clear plastik on the LEDS,then the dark blue in triangleform cutted out in the middle..the milky glass,a complete baby blue over the milky glass,painted triangleelements,babyblue part in triangleform over the complete middle,curved glass over it...ready for the deployment.

**nexnox** · May 12, 2012

That Is the same 'green' I was talking about. I think you are correct going for the blue though. To the naked eye is real ones do light up greenish. But on camera they are blue. This is because the white balance is adjusting for the tungsten based lighting. Btw I think the green is a tamiya paint.

Your mod is looking good!

Here is a little treat for you guys. Something I was working on yesterday. Real deal.

**Kroenen77** · May 12, 2012

Thanks,man you are back.

Wow,that is awesome...is it the original pattern for the IM 2 arc?

Do you wanna build one for yourself ore selling the parts?When the cover is would fitting my mod..I would buy it from you.Do you wanna make the triangle parts in metal,too?

**nexnox** · May 12, 2012

Yes from IM2, but not for sale. Jut for a little viewing pleasure. Nor can I make parts for anyone.

**Kroenen77** · May 12, 2012

Ok,I understand..please torture me more.

One of this original covers would complete my mod.The shape of the mod cover is sadly not perfekt and I have not the machines to cut metal like this.

**Chris27989** · May 13, 2012

that darker blue looks so much better and screen acurate

**Kroenen77** · May 13, 2012

Here is a comparsion...the softblue vs the darker blue(a cover for a textbook):

make a own thread for this...but look,the new lower jaw is in...before left and after:

**Chris27989** · May 13, 2012

that helmet looks awesome with the brushed effect, are you going to add light up eyes ?

**Kroenen77** · May 13, 2012

Thanks...and yes...I will install EL-sheet in the eyes.But I still have not all parts together.So I hope in 2 weeks the helmet is complete finsished.Then I will make a thread here,what I´ve done for the mod.

I looked on the cover again after nexnox posted a pic of his original...the windless cover is not bad in shape...the only thing what lacks are the edges.What a machine can make the edges?A turning machine?Look..the comparsion..I would do it with a dremel,but it must be absolute smooth in one line..and that is impossible with free hand working:

**Chris27989** · May 13, 2012

I see what you mean there no way by hand I could get the line that smooth and straight. maybe sanding or filling down, but that would take a very long time!

**fire10** · May 13, 2012

I am loving this thread, thats a great job you have done with the helmet. I wouldnt have ahd the bottle to do it for worry of ruining it but you pulled it off

**Kroenen77** · May 13, 2012

fire10 said:

I am loving this thread, thats a great job you have done with the helmet. I wouldnt have ahd the bottle to do it for worry of ruining it but you pulled it off

Thank you...yes,brushing with hand over a curved face is not so easy to do.So I´m a little bit pride that my brush is not a desaster.

@Chris27989:Yes..by hand is really no option.I´m very unhappy with the edges after I saw nexnox´s covers!

You know,german accuracy!

**hikarub** · May 13, 2012

Ahh, wish I had joined this thread sooner...

Here are a couple of shots of the mark IV arc reactor that prop master Russell Bobbitt had with him at the Iron Man 2 / LG event a while back:

Sorry the pictures aren't very clear. But, as you can see, there is another edge along the sides of the arc "face".

But seriously... What I don't understand is why they don't bother to come out with authentic replicas of these movie props? The so-called official stuff released by these licensed companies can't even hold a candle to some the mods and kits created by the talented guys and girls in the RPF.

Why is that?

**Kroenen77** · May 13, 2012

Thanks for the pics,but what a arc is it?A screenacurate/screenused one?The metal looks very dark or weathered.
It looks like the middle of the triangle is green...hm...and the other blue.

**hikarub** · May 14, 2012

I would assume they were the ones used in the film. There were 2 mark IVs there: one on the stand which I guess is the one used in the screenshot you guys posted before. The one on the table is probably the one put in RDJ's chest. (I'm guessing of course).

The photo of the arc reactor on the stand was taken with a flash and the other photo looks like it was taken without, which may explain why it looks so dark.

**Kroenen77** · May 14, 2012

Ah,yes...very cool.The weathering on the arc looks like a blue texture...a little bit too much under normal lights...but I used a little bit blue paint on my arc,too...looks a lot more like steel..do you have only this 2 pics of the arcs?:

Ok,guys...here are 2 awesome shots...I think my color is really good..but I think there were 2 arcs...one is the more blue and very bright one on the stand with only green in the middle..the other one is the darker one..this one is more green or looks more green,because the LEDS are not so bright behind the colored glass...:

**scottcoates** · May 14, 2012

you must have big balls to start playing with these or loads of cash. but they both look amazing.

**Kroenen77** · May 14, 2012

Thank you...and I would say "balls of steel"....

**JKKS** · May 15, 2012

Received my arc today.
I'm gonna start doing this mod as soon as I can.
Kroenen77, your thread is a great inspiration and I'll carefully follow almost all the steps of your wonderful mod.

**Kroenen77** · May 15, 2012

Thanks,man.It makes me pride,that so many people like my mod and helped me,to complete it.Feel free to post all you have here about the Arc from IM2 and your mods...because you know...a perfect mod is never finished!

Mine is in my glass cabinet for now...but I plan a only Ironman glass cabinet with both arcs and my new moded Mark 3 helmet inside.

**JKKS** · May 15, 2012

Damn, I already have one question.
How did you get rid of the rough finish of the original cover. Did you just paint over the original layer of paint or did you sanded it prior to painting ? And if so what kind of material dis you use ?

Thanks for your help.

Edit: Nevermind, I found a great chemical in my garage that disolved that horrendous layer of paint and unveiled the great brush metal lying under. Too bad it's a bit too irregular now and I have to repaint it because I would have kept it that way.

**JKKS** · May 15, 2012

Finally I think that I'm just gonna go with the bare brushed metal look.
I polished i a bit using some fiberglass I found in my garage (yeah there's a lot of stuff in my garage I don't even know about

). Here's where I am at day 1:

Tomorrow I'm gonna have a new glass lens cut to replace the awful cloudy plastic one that originally came my the arc. In the mean time I'm probably gonna work on the cover screws (but still have to figure out how i'm gonna do it).

I hope it'll be finished by the end of the month.

**Kroenen77** · May 15, 2012

I sanded it only a little bit with 2000 sandpaper(very fine) and painted over the original paint.When you destroyed the original paintjob with a chemical..and you can see the blank metal,you must remove all paint and use a metal primer before you paint it again.If you don´t do that,the paintjob is will not be very long-living.
Don´t forget to sanding on the metalprimer with the very fine sandpaper,too...you need a very smooth surface before you spray the paint on it.Hope that helps.

about the pic:Ah,that looks cool.But you need to do that with all parts to match the color all together.What did you used to remove the color?The only problem is,that you don´t know what a metal it is...and without a primer on it you can become very fast rust on it.

**JKKS** · May 15, 2012

It's probably aluminium or an aluminium based alloy since it's non magnetic.

But i'll probably put a layer of clear coat on it just for safety.

Modding the Iron Man 2 Arc from sideshow

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