Modifying the Original Fallout 4 Pip Boy Edition

Cri7e

Cri7e

Active Member
Hey guys,

Fallout 4 is coming out in just a few days and I am so excited to play the new game! It has been tooooooo long! :)

I already saw the first Unboxings of the Pip Boy Edition on Youtube, and despite the fact that alot of people are compaining about the "poor build quality" (seriously what did you expect for 130€????) I really like the Edition.

I was lucky enough to get my hand on one, when they were still available and would like to make a few modifications to the Pip-Boy.

First one, of coure, is weathering! The thing that makes it look a little bit cheap is the plastic look, but i think we Cosplayer all know good enough, how to make cheap things look nice.
Does anybody have any tips on weathering the thing? Of course black washes first, but maybe some brown washes aswell, and some silver drybrushing to bring out the edges? Let me know what you think!

Also I want to add some lights eventually, especially to the Pip Boy Lamp and the little instruments on the right hand side!

Im happy to hear your thoughts on the project and dont hesitate to share your excitement for Fallout 4 with me, in this thread! :)
 
Even though I am working on making my own, I also have a Pip-Boy edition on the way, which I plan on modifying if possible.

This video is one of the guides I plan on following. He uses rock-salt as a mask for painting rust, and it turns out great. Adam Savage also has a few one day build videos showing how he weathers objects. You can use Rub-and-Buff to get a metal effect, and then dry-brush on blacks and browns.

The guys are Rooster Teeth got their hands on some early Pip-Boys It looks like they weathered theirs with just brown paint.
 
Yes zapwizard , Im following your Pip Boy Build, what incredible work you put into that thing! Its amazing, cannot wait to see the finished thing! Thanks for the links, yeah I saw some of Adams builds on testes, might take them as reference! :)

Im gonna check out rooster teeth aswell! :)
 
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I'm looking into integrating a Raspberry Pi or similar board into my Pip-Boy. By the looks of it some dremeling would have to be done, since the phone bay behind the screen is too shallow for any type of board. The thing seems easy enough te dissasemble, no weird screws or anything.
 
koen2702 said:
I'm looking into integrating a Raspberry Pi or similar board into my Pip-Boy. By the looks of it some dremeling would have to be done, since the phone bay behind the screen is too shallow for any type of board. The thing seems easy enough te dissasemble, no weird screws or anything.
Click to expand...

what do you not like about the phone integration? It works incredibly well for me and I had a spare phone lying around anyway, so Im just gonna keep it that way! Im still excited to see your work though!
 
This weekend I spent some time weathering the Pip Boy, it already looks way better than it did before, but Im still not happy about the general glossiness of the plastic. Looking at the game, the Pip Boy has a matte finish, and I think that would make the thing look way more realistic! Any Idea what color-code that is? Or any Idea of making glossy plastic matte? I think sanding would not give an even enough surface!

Also Im thinking about adding a battery pack to charge my phone while inside the Pip boy, there is enough space and my Phone will last longer.

Check out my pictures below of the weathering:

IMG_20151113_183114.jpg IMG_20151113_191711.jpg IMG_20151113_191808.jpg IMG_20151113_191903.jpg
 
Cri7e said:
what do you not like about the phone integration? It works incredibly well for me and I had a spare phone lying around anyway, so Im just gonna keep it that way! Im still excited to see your work though!
Click to expand...

I wish I had a spare phone laying around... For some reason my phone (HTC One X) does not let me select a display mode. It goes to full screen automatically and there is no setting in the options. It works with my game, but I can't use it with my pip-boy :(

That's not the reason why I wanted to put Pi in it. I'd like it as a standelone gadget where if you power it on, it starts the app and stuff. But I've already run into a problem: The Raspberry Pi does not support android beyond version 2.4 (very well)...

Though I won't be cutting up my pip-boy. We have an Ultimaker 2 at my University that I can use for free! (yes, even the filament). And I found some schematics...
 
koen2702 said:
Though I won't be cutting up my pip-boy. We have an Ultimaker 2 at my University that I can use for free! (yes, even the filament). And I found some schematics...
Click to expand...

Lol I wish my University would let me use their stuff for free, our CNC Laser costs 1€/minute, thats f-ing ridiculous! :D
 
What a great idea, this would also protect the paint from being scratched off easily, im gonna do some more weathering and somr test sprays after, to see if it really dulls the plastic! After that it is probably the Pip Boys turn! ;)

Gesendet von meinem A0001 mit Tapatalk
 
I'm currently going with a used smartphone build as well in my collectors edition, an android Optimus Fuel. Pretty straightforward approach to make it a permanent functional pipboy true to the original in-game model. Wiring some lights to the radio tuner, Geiger counter, and then tethering them all to the "power switch" for a central on and off button. For the phone, an app called piptec exists which you can buy for 3 bucks to get ALL the customization you ever want. And then just load the pipboy companion app and you're good to go! That's my plan anyway, I'll provide some updates as it goes along.
I know there are small circles of people who hate the "new and shiny" look of the collector's edition Pipboy but I personally LOVE it, I want to have that pristine Vaultec pipboy feel to it personally, as if I found it in a case within some vault in the wasteland, perfectly preserved.
 
He did a good job with the paint I have to reference this for the future. I wonder why he masked off the white when it can be completely disconnected from the other parts.
 
I think he did an okay job! It depends on how much rust you want on the pip boy and how much you want to weather it! Me personally, I dont like the color he gave the pip boy, its kind of a greenish tint, which I dont like! Well see how mine will turn out when I add a little more weathering and spray paint it in matte clear coat!
 
zapwizard said:
He did a good job with the paint I have to reference this for the future. I wonder why he masked off the white when it can be completely disconnected from the other parts.
Click to expand...

Yeah I'm definitely going to do that screw replacement technique, no repaint for me though. I love the brand new look it has.
 
oOMEDICOo said:
I weathered mine yesterday,here a link to my process
http://nathan-lange.squarespace.com/fallout4-pip-boy-mkiv/
Click to expand...

Dude I just saw your work on Twitter this morning, Adam Savage retweetet your pics! What a coincidence hahaha!

I think the steel wool did a great job dulling the surface, i might have to try that too! I dont know how matte clear coat will work!

Interested to see more progress in the future! Mine is not done yet either so Ill keep posting pics aswell!

I have the same problem with battery drainage. Also the screen gets quite warm. I dont understand why the screen does not turn of, i mean would be nice! I even installed double tap to wake just to have it working with the pip boy, I then noticed later that the App never turns off the screen! :p
 
Mine heats up quite a lot too, im thankfull it doesnt turn off due to using the pipboy inventory on the fly while in combat,i just wish there was an option for otheres. Contemplating putting holes behind the phone insert for a bit more air, could even put a small PC fan attached to a battery.
 
@EmmaInCandyland yeah I was lucky enought to preorder one when they were still available! It was not even the right version of the game! :D I just wanted the Edition! Best of luck on finding one! Maybe someone will make copies of this one, I dont know. Does not seem to hard to vacuum form! :)
 
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