Blade Gaunt ... Vid Update & Rough Shroud

[wonko]

Yeah it's pretty quick I can't wait to get two blades on it. I like yours buddy what did you make your blades out of? I've just had my acylic turn up, it feels very brittle. I'm not to sure how tall it gonna be, probably similar to yours about 2 1/2 inches but mines gonna be about 11 inches long give or take. I say It's pretty quick and I bloody hurt my thumb earlier playing with it. I must of retracted and popped it forward a hundred times, just for fun.
 

My blades are carved out of 1/4" poplar.  They're extremely light, and pretty tough and rigid.  I was going to go with the acrylic, but the poplar was so much easier to carve, and when it comes to things like shaping/sanding I always try and make it as easy as possible (I really, REALLY hate sanding!!!).  I based my length measurement off of my forearm.  I didn't want it to go past my elbow, and if it gets too far over the wrist it's impossible to do anything with your hand.  Good luck with your build buddy!

Brian 

 

[Eaglewood]

I have actually used the fiberglass bandages for a mother mold-- works great--love those things!!!!

 

[AlphaTech686]

This is really coming together. I'm assuming you will use some sort of cable to your wrist to release it? 

 

[AlphaTech686]

Hey Dude, here's a couple of pictures of one I did back in the 90's that seams similar. Maybe you can springboard off of it for some 
ideas.

 

[Lowdmekon]

Cheers Alphatec686, superb. I like the pull back mechanism and thanks for the pictures. I had a tinker last night and after dropping it when it rammed into my thumb, I had to build another blade and repair the old crapy one with cello tape just to see wheat it looked like. Deffo need to space the blades further part. There's a a bit of trimming and refining to do and the I'll transfer it all onto a better more slidey runner. But I won't do that until I've got it just were I want it. I like the base plate on yours wonko, just what I was planning for the lid of mine. I wanna hinge it on one side so I can get my arm in then make some kind of clasp or may be just resin some nuts on the inside and screw bolts in. Also same as you Wonko use magnets to hold the shroud/cover top part to hide all the mechanics. As my nan used today to me "All good things come to thee that wait" or something.

I also had a fettle with the acrylic and started on one side of shaping the blade. I made sure when the cutting was done they were taped together so the will be the same shape. There only 12" long. I'll see how it goes with them and maybe get some longer ones at a later date. And I installed a pice of pictures hanging wire. Again see how that goes.........

 

[wonko]

The hinging is a good idea.  The problem I'm running into is having the thing stay in place now that it's  more top heavy.  I'm trying to work out a way to fasten it to my arm better without having to mangle/destroy/rebuild the original gaunt I already have.  If I do end up making a new gaunt, I'll use straps to hold it on my arm, and make a 'cover' to go over the straps to hide them and complete the look.  Anyway, things are looking good so far...can't wait to see this bad boy all done!

Brian 

 

[Lowdmekon]

Bud, the joy with the hinge is as you close it down you can add a pice of shaped foam, like your doing now but kind of close it on your arm for a snug fit. I've made mine off round more elliptical so it's holds my arm more. But I will deffo be making and insert piece of foam to grip it to mi arm. Anther way to go is the expanding foam stuff on the Inside and then cut or sculpt or dare I say it sand it back to yor arm shape. Then you could have a round outside but the inner is more elliptical.

What did you make your shroud for the mechs out of? Looks killer mate.

I'm waiting for some more dremmel sanding drums so I can complete the blades.

 

[wonko]

Your plan with the hinge and foam sound perfect...wish I had done that in the first place.  The shroud is made from polystyrene sheet that I then fiber glassed over (not shown in the pics).  Unfortunately, I don't have pics of the fiber glassing, as I work alone and wasn't about to get resin all over my camera.  The base is 1/8" acrylic mounted to a cut off piece of flat fiber glass sheet that I make here at home.  I'm at the stage right now where i have all the details done out of foamies and plastic model greeblies, and have 1 coat of thinned down PVA on it.  I'll update my own thread once I get some more time to sit down and upload some pics.  Thanks for the kind words my friend!

Brian

 

[AlphaTech686]

Hey Dude this build is coming along. As for attach these to your forearm I alway choose to hinge mine at the back (check my current build) as I feel safer walking around with it know that even if it opens it won't fall off as it still has to slide off over my hand. It takes a little more effort but I feel it is worth it.

 

[Lowdmekon]

Bit of an update.

I'd say mechanics are 80% done. Just need to work on the blade release latch again and the cable release part. I also need to flush off the bolts holding it on or use rivets once its we're I'm 100% happy with it. I've gone for a side hinge and a screw fixing at the min. I need to work on a way of forming a release latch. I have a screw at the min which is a two man job to get in and out of it.

 

[Lowdmekon]

Oh and the blade top part of the mech is removable. It was part of the new runners/slides I got hold of. Very handy for cons and storage. I also used a fence holder for the blade supports.

I still got a bit if fetteling to do, I'll update when I'm there or if I change anything else.

 

[wonko]

This keeps getting better with each update.  The blades look great, and it looks like you've got the thing figured out.  For me, working out all the "bugs" and getting the adjustment just right was fiddly and agitating... hope you's goes better  .  Are you planning to run the pull cable underneath or down the side?

Brian 

 

[Lowdmekon]

This keeps getting better with each update.  The blades look great, and it looks like you've got the thing figured out.  For me, working out all the "bugs" and getting the adjustment just right was fiddly and agitating... hope you's goes better  .  Are you planning to run the pull cable underneath or down the side?
 
Brian 

Hi buddy, went with side mounting but my hay to rethink as its no good with a gloved hand on. Mechs are now 90% there. I must of spent 7 or 8 hrs fetteling around to get it right, new springs, new brackets etc, various holes. And being a plank I put it on to show my wife last night forgetting all the sharp fresh cut bolts on the inside. My arms and hands are scratched and cut to ribbons. Well this project is making me bleed for the cause.

I'll try and get a vid of it later. With the new parts it only moves 5 1/4 inches. So I've lost 1 inch but this set up is far more robust and doesn't move when the blades are out. Well just a bit of bounce on the spring.

I'm gonna have a go at constructing a casing like Jeff, Topknot. Some top tips there buddy.

EDIT. .....Oh yeah it's manual retraction. And as I type I'm wearing the gaunt.

 

[Lowdmekon]

A little vid' of the blades in action.

 

[Lowdmekon]

Had a play today with some card and tape. Just to get a rough idea of what it could look like. But I may go down a different route for the shroud. It kinda not a million mile away from my original drawings.