A Stylized MAG - A Scratch Build - Almost Complete

[cavx]

UPDATE:

After round 2 of the Shoe Goo make over, I think they are looking better. Maybe a 3rd go might end this.

Anyway, what is concerning me right now is that the side of the mis-soles are looking a bit flat.

Do I build this up with some EVA foam? I am going to have to repaint the mid-soles and re-do the splat anyway.

 

[cavx]

UPDATE:

Well they might look a bit ugly on the toe, but they are full wearable

Just need the SWOOSH, NIKE for the strap and so something with the lights and MAG on the Heel Cup and I think I am done with this.

 

[Michael Bergeron]

Add working power laces and nobody will care what they look like. :lol

Too bad about the toe. Learn as you go though!

The average person at a Con won't notice, I'm sure. At the very least you gained a new respect for folks that do this for a living!

 

[cavx]

Add working power laces and nobody will care what they look like.

I don't think power laces will ever become a 'reality', certainly not the way we see them in the film where the Ankle Strap pulls tight first. Even NIKEs' own Patent application only shows the toothed belt thing on the 4 main straps. There is nothing on the Ankle Strap.

Today, whilst in a K-Mart, I found this...

This is the adjuster on a bike helmet.
Top image is loose and bottom is tightened up. This skid lids cost about $12.50 each, so for $25.00, a lace system as close 'power' as you can get. This reminds me of what PUMA DISC released back in 1991.

My thought would be to take the 4 straps [that should go from the base of each side of the upper] and join them to this plastic strap [which would tuck inside the shoe] and as you wound this up, it would clamp down on your foot. It would be secure and have no batteries.

A battery-less solution means:

1. no flat batteries when you need to get these off your feet - think medical emergency.
2. no issue with water and electronics
3. no issue with air port security or air mail due to "metal or "explosives" and why all the 2011 MAGs were road shipped to their owners.

The other thing I thought about are those ratchet styled lace systems on In-Line Skates. You can buy a pair of them from as little $40 now.

Too bad about the toe. Learn as you go though![

It was dumb mistake. I should have just stitched them inside out.
I even made a point about that before cutting the uppers off the K-MAGs.

The average person at a Con won't notice, I'm sure. At the very least you gained a new respect for folks that do this for a living!

I had respect for them from the time I started this project. Your right about who might notice as I shot some 720P HD and it only bothered me because I knew what it was. In some shots you didn't even see it. I'll get a portable light and re-shoot in 1080P and see how that looks.

Might have to add the BTTF music as well

 

[AlexBC]

For your first pair these are looking really good! I can understand some of the points you feel unhappy about but I can see a second pair looking perfect.

 

[cavx]

For your first pair these are looking really good!

Thanks AlexBC. The positive feed back is most welcome.

I can understand some of the points you feel unhappy about but I can see a second pair looking perfect.

A massive learning curve for sure. I've made notes about all the things I would do different [strike]if[/strike] when I do another pair. The next pair will be cloth over foam I think purely on a cost basis. The leather was free, but this build still managed to break $500.00 (almost $300 of that on the clear soles) and ideally, a pair of these should be no more than $150~200.

 

[cavx]

UPDATE:

Faking the EL.

This is simple and was done using a NIKE logo (I don't have the true font, and IMPACT in Italic with a slight mod looks OK to me) printed onto a clear film and placed over the 3M reflective tape.

Hopefully they will distract from the mess I made of the toe :behave

 

[AlexBC]

You're welcome. Got my soles on the way so I will be starting my pair soon. Still working on this bloody proton pack.

 

[Michael Bergeron]

I don't think power laces will ever become a 'reality', certainly not the way we see them in the film where the Ankle Strap pulls tight first. Even NIKEs' own Patent application only shows the toothed belt thing on the 4 main straps. There is nothing on the Ankle Strap.

Give it time. I'm sure it's possible.

 

[cavx]

You're welcome. Got my soles on the way so I will be starting my pair soon. Still working on this bloody proton pack.

Cool. Looking forward to seeing what you come up with.

Give it time. I'm sure it's possible.

I don't think we will see them like this

Back to the Future 2 - Nike Air 2015 Kicks - YouTube

That chick in HK has made power laces and her 3rd attempt seems to even have a pressure switch inside the shoe, but it is not the dynamic "zip" we see in the video.

 

[TheNickFox]

Seeing all this awesome work reminds me...I should really get back to my Mags. It's been quite a fee months since I've worked on them.

Great work, Cavx.

-Nick

 

[Jedifyfe]

This is a lot of work, congrats! This build remoinds me that I'm glad I can squeaze into the Markpoons.

 

[Michael Bergeron]

I don't think we will see them like this

Back to the Future 2 - Nike Air 2015 Kicks - YouTube

That chick in HK has made power laces and her 3rd attempt seems to even have a pressure switch inside the shoe, but it is not the dynamic "zip" we see in the video.

While I have no doubt we one day will. It'll be someone here who does it too, 10 years from now.

 

[TheNickFox]

Honestly, if we're talking power laces, I've been thinking for a LONG time that most of the people trying to replicate them are doing it all wrong.

They all slowly crank the laces down to your feet. Those aren't power laces, those are slow, motorized laces. Then to undo them, most just have a release mechanism that allows you to loosen them by hand.

BUT...

What if you had some sort of spring or elastic band connected to the laces pulled out and kept under tension, then a small mechanical release was triggered, allowing the laces to be pulled tight INSTANTLY? Then to loosen them you just have a motor that stretches the elastic back out.

Hell, you could even do it without a motor, but allowing the user to pull the laces back out until a mechanical catch engaged. Then have the "latch disengage" activated by pressing your heel in.

That technology ALL exists today.

Boom! Solved. Was that so hard? :lol

-Nick

 

[Michael Bergeron]

Boom! Solved. Was that so hard? :lol

-Nick

Looking forward to the run. :lol

 

[cavx]

Seeing all this awesome work reminds me...I should really get back to my Mags. It's been quite a fee months since I've worked on them.

Great work, Cavx.

-Nick

Thanks Nick. I was wondering how you were going with yours.

This is a lot of work, congrats! This build remoinds me that I'm glad I can squeaze into the Markpoons.

I can squeeze into mine too, but no way I could walk 3K as I will be doing in these Wednesday next week for Leukemia research. The even is called Light the Night and no doubt members of the 501st will be all over this. So I will wear my MAGs and I am sure there will be photos and maybe even some video.

While I have no doubt we one day will. It'll be someone here who does it too, 10 years from now.

Give me the R&D funding and I'll get a set working in 6 months.

Honestly, if we're talking power laces, I've been thinking for a LONG time that most of the people trying to replicate them are doing it all wrong.

They all slowly crank the laces down to your feet. Those aren't power laces, those are slow, motorized laces. Then to undo them, most just have a release mechanism that allows you to loosen them by hand.

BUT...

What if you had some sort of spring or elastic band connected to the laces pulled out and kept under tension, then a small mechanical release was triggered, allowing the laces to be pulled tight INSTANTLY? Then to loosen them you just have a motor that stretches the elastic back out.

Hell, you could even do it without a motor, but allowing the user to pull the laces back out until a mechanical catch engaged. Then have the "latch disengage" activated by pressing your heel in.

That technology ALL exists today.

Boom! Solved. Was that so hard? :lol

-Nick

There was a guy who published a cam lever system back in 2010. He seemed fixated on the ankle strap and I suggested he focus on the main straps. I think his idea could work.

Looking forward to the run. :lol

Show me the money :lol

 

[cavx]

UPDATE:

When I added the SWOOSH the other day, I discovered that there are a few different shapes to the round part at the front. The length of the tail also varies as does its thickness.

I did an earlier version based off the actual MAG shoe and it looked wrong.

It looks OK from this angle, but I was not happy with it from the side, so I used the SWOOSH off the PVC K-MAG upper to make these new ones which look much better.

I also made these greeblies up for the PC lights on the Heel Cup.

These will replace the stickers that you can see on the Heel Cup which I am also in the process of making a new version of too.