C-3PO EYE COLOR/COLOUR

[ob1al]

A quick question; I currently have orange LED's in the eyes of my Threepio helmet but after checking out the DVD's again, I'm wondering if perhaps the eye lights were white, the 'orange' hue being a result of the reflection from the plating inside the eyes?

Does anyone have cast-iron (no pun intended) knowledge of exactly what type and color of lights were used in the OT 3PO?

Thanks

Al

 

[Atom Crasher]

The real eyes have tiny bulbs in them, I think, not LEDs.
So I guess they're a kind of yellow / white colour.

 

[Trooper TK409]

good question. Terryhan's right. Firsthand accounts say they are regular small light bulbs shining through a cloudy eyepiece, rather than orange LEDs. Apparently, the warm glow of the plain lightbulb through a hazy lens is what gives it the yellow/orange appearance. Other screenshots support this idea. The pics below show how different stage/outdoor lighting affects the look of the eyes, but looking at other shots in the films, the eyes almost always appear yellow/white. Has anyone determined the actual size or type of bulb yet? Here's a link to a miniature bulb dealer:
http://www.topbulb.com/find/miniaturebulbs.asp

Having said all that - until I find a better long-lasting light solution, I'm using orange LEDs in mine.

 

[ob1al]

Great comparison shots, thanks for posting those.

So the next question is, how best to replicate that? The minature bulbs idea is worth pursuing, for sure - but how about white LED's rather than orange? I wonder how close that would look? The orange LED's look good in person, but they are overly orange/ bright for a truly accurate look IMO - here's mine:

 

[hyperdyne]

I use yellow LEDs in my 3p0 (each LED turned sideways and separated 120 degrees). I think that looks more accurate with respect to the original bulbs than a true orange color. I have tried orange, white, and yellow LEDs and concluded that the yellow represented the effect I was after.

I dont have a good shot of the eyes only, but here are a couple different pics.

Hope that helps....

 

[Trooper TK409]

Good info Jim. I think white LEDs would work if your resin eyepiece is yellowish or off-white cloudy. Zorg's are clear, so you might also try putting a colored backing (paper, or piece of plastic, etc) on your eyepieces inside the helmet so the leds can reflect off the paper and mix with the eyepiece color. Does that make sense?

 

[zorg]

i use water clear resin for the eye pieces

z

 

[ob1al]

Yeah, that makes sense about the coloured piece inside the eyes, behind the eye pieces (I have zorg eyepieces in my 3PO ). That might be worth experimenting with.

hyperdyne, thanks for the info and pics - your 3po display looks top-drawer BTW.

Al

 

[STEVE THE SWEDE]

The only way you'll have that true movie look is to use small bulbs and a clear (uncolored) eye piece like zorg makes em. No disrespect to people who uses LED's but IMO I've never seen a "LED Threepio" that look as good as a bulb one. I'm only reffering to the eyes here, not the rest.

The original heads had bulbs and not LED's. I've done eyes with both LED's and bulbs, never achived a good look with LED's. Here's a comperison pic, one uses white LED's (painted with clear amber) and the other one has bulbs mounted side ways. Both were backed with gold mylar. I hope this helps.

[image]http://www.wackychimp.com/uploads/LEDS-VS-BULBS.jpg[/image]

Here's a couple of pics how my bulb eyes were made.

[image]http://www.wackychimp.com/uploads/threepio-eye-set-up.jpg[/image]

[image]http://www.wackychimp.com/uploads/threepio-eye-1.jpg[/image]

Finally, here's one how the bulb eyes look mounted inside my weathered Threepio.

[image]http://www.wackychimp.com/uploads/Threepio-black.jpg[/image]

Steve.

 

[Trooper TK409]

Outstanding Steve. Were your bulbs prewired like that? Where did you get them? Any details on bulb size, type, name or kit would be even more helpful.
Thanks for the great photos.

 

[STEVE THE SWEDE]

Thanks.

Tough questions. :lol You see, I only mounted them and made the backing and such. All the wire/solder work was done by my brother. He ordered all the electronics from a big tech company here in Sweden. If I remember correctly the bulbs are 6V dashboard lights. They are roughly 7mm tall and shines bright enough without getting to hot. We made a small run of these (installed into the eyes) for a few board members but it's nothing we plan to to again. Since my brother moved out of town I only see him twise a year.

Sorry I couldn't be of more help.

Steve.

Originally posted by Trooper TK409@Nov 9 2005, 11:15 AM
Outstanding Steve. Were your bulbs prewired like that? Where did you get them? Any details on bulb size, type, name or kit would be even more helpful.
Thanks for the great photos.

[snapback]1112802[/snapback]​

 

[Star Wars Helmets]

Steve's yer man for 3po eyes.

Here's a pic I took last night of my 3po which has his (and his Bro's) eyes

The only thing you should bear in mind is its an internal shot without flash so the white/colour balance could be well out.

[image]http://www.aqpa87.dsl.pipex.com/othr/IMG_0048.JPG[/image]

Cheers

Jez

 

[STEVE THE SWEDE]

Hey, Jez, that's a great looking guy. The eyes looks awesome in that pic. I still smile with joy everytime I see my Threepio helmet, remember all the hassle we went thru before we got them to look the way we wanted. :lol Those were good times.

Steve.

 

[Trooper TK409]

All that work and you aren't making them anymore Steve?? These are dark times... :cry
If you're not going to make any, would you consider a posting a link to the Swedish company where you bought your bulbs and wiring harness? Or is there a chance you might reconsider? I know there are a lot of people that would like them right now. You do such nice work.

 

[Brinn 71]

Originally posted by BingoBongo275@Nov 9 2005, 12:52 PM
Steve's yer man for 3po eyes.

Here's a pic I took last night of my 3po which has his (and his Bro's) eyes

The only thing you should bear in mind is its an internal shot without flash so the white/colour balance could be well out.

[image]http://www.aqpa87.dsl.pipex.com/othr/IMG_0048.JPG[/image]

Cheers

Jez

[snapback]1112919[/snapback]​

YOU WILL GIVE ME THAT 3P0 HEAD.... says waving his hand.

B

 

[Goldenrod]

Very nice steve.
-Goldenrod

Originally posted by STEVE THE SWEDE@Nov 9 2005, 01:33 AM
The only way you'll have that true movie look is to use small bulbs and a clear (uncolored) eye piece like zorg makes em. No disrespect to people who uses LED's but IMO I've never seen a "LED Threepio" that look as good as a bulb one. I'm only reffering to the eyes here, not the rest.

The original heads had bulbs and not LED's. I've done eyes with both LED's and bulbs, never achived a good look with LED's. Here's a comperison pic, one uses white LED's (painted with clear amber) and the other one has bulbs mounted side ways. Both were backed with gold mylar. I hope this helps.

[image]http://www.wackychimp.com/uploads/LEDS-VS-BULBS.jpg[/image]

Here's a couple of pics how my bulb eyes were made.

[image]http://www.wackychimp.com/uploads/threepio-eye-set-up.jpg[/image]

[image]http://www.wackychimp.com/uploads/threepio-eye-1.jpg[/image]

Finally, here's one how the bulb eyes look mounted inside my weathered Threepio.

[image]http://www.wackychimp.com/uploads/Threepio-black.jpg[/image]

Steve.

[snapback]1112780[/snapback]​

 

[jeezycreezy]

Just a stab in the dark here. Feel free to shoot it down. But could something be done with these:

http://www.christmas-decorations-gifts-sto...7/more_info.asp

Might be worth checking out for $1.99? Dunno.

D batteries are huge and heavy, but I'm sure it'd be easy enough to rig up a 9V battery connector.

Just a thought.

Cheers.
TJ

 

[Trooper TK409]

You got me thinking TJ about a pre-wired option. I found this "Florist Wedding" bulb string (not LEDs) on ebay for about $5. It has a switch and runs on 2 AA batteries so it's self-contained. There are 11 clear lights on a strand and they are the PERFECT size. Very tiny, LED sized bulbs. I tried them out and they look great. Photos coming soon. Here's the auction:
http://tinyurl.com/79lbl

 

[Trooper TK409]

Here are my photos with the $5 lights above mounted (wearably) in my helmet. No wiring needed, and they are stand-alone on 2 AA batteries with a switch. I used tin foil (painted gold) to cover he backs of the eye lenses which gives the eyes the yellow-orange glow. They're visible even with a super bright camera flash.

Look at the reflection on the side of the helmet too. This is that UK reflective spray paint - Thanks again Daft Vader.

 

[Trooper TK409]

Bump.