Daft Punk Thomas Bangalter helmet build - FINAL p.20!
Grey
Sr Member
Re: Daft Punk Thomas Bangalter helmet build
That video's been posted a few times, and if you read back a bit you can see where Volpin talks about the ears.
During the Discovery-era there were two lighting setups in the ear, one had 3 colors and the other had 4.
That video's been posted a few times, and if you read back a bit you can see where Volpin talks about the ears.
During the Discovery-era there were two lighting setups in the ear, one had 3 colors and the other had 4.
Re: Daft Punk Thomas Bangalter helmet build
I've been on and off about whether or not to do the ears. If they do go in, they won't be animated or coded to blink/flash/chase/etc. Likely, they'll just be solid on.
I know how I'd make them if I actually decide to do it, but I'm still on the fence about whether or not I even like the aesthetic. Some goes for the "smiley" mouth. While I know its canon, I've never liked the look and might just go with lights in the "square" mouth instead.
Time will tell.
I've been on and off about whether or not to do the ears. If they do go in, they won't be animated or coded to blink/flash/chase/etc. Likely, they'll just be solid on.
I know how I'd make them if I actually decide to do it, but I'm still on the fence about whether or not I even like the aesthetic. Some goes for the "smiley" mouth. While I know its canon, I've never liked the look and might just go with lights in the "square" mouth instead.
Time will tell.
Re: Daft Punk Thomas Bangalter helmet build
Been out of the world a stretch - first on a hellish week-long business trip, then helping my parents move up from Florida. Sore, tired, and missing my shop these days... but should be getting back into the swing of things this week!
I sent off orders for the final, final, FINAL PCB boards this morning. batchpcb.com takes about 15-20 business days for delivery of printed components, but I've got plenty to occupy myself with in the meantime. Components and LEDs are ready to go as well (total cost of electronics was less than I anticipated, but still added up quick!) so as soon as the boards come in they get populated.
Matrix driver boards were made slightly larger to include mounting screw holes. I also moved a couple of components around and gave myself more space between the jumper terminals and the driver chip.
The shift register board for driving the side lights changed the most. I completely forgot the resistor array that is needed for the pull up transistors, so those had to be added in. To keep the board as small as possible, I switched to an SMD 595 and resistor chip. These things are TINY!
Lastly, the side lights boards. I have one for each side, mirrored. They're about 2" x 2.45" and have simple animations along with an on/off solid feature as well. These are just accessories to the main event though, so there won't be a ton of options for their animation.
So, now that I'm back in town, I'll be working on my visor assembly and mounting rig. Good to be back in the shop again!
Been out of the world a stretch - first on a hellish week-long business trip, then helping my parents move up from Florida. Sore, tired, and missing my shop these days... but should be getting back into the swing of things this week!
I sent off orders for the final, final, FINAL PCB boards this morning. batchpcb.com takes about 15-20 business days for delivery of printed components, but I've got plenty to occupy myself with in the meantime. Components and LEDs are ready to go as well (total cost of electronics was less than I anticipated, but still added up quick!) so as soon as the boards come in they get populated.
Matrix driver boards were made slightly larger to include mounting screw holes. I also moved a couple of components around and gave myself more space between the jumper terminals and the driver chip.
The shift register board for driving the side lights changed the most. I completely forgot the resistor array that is needed for the pull up transistors, so those had to be added in. To keep the board as small as possible, I switched to an SMD 595 and resistor chip. These things are TINY!
Lastly, the side lights boards. I have one for each side, mirrored. They're about 2" x 2.45" and have simple animations along with an on/off solid feature as well. These are just accessories to the main event though, so there won't be a ton of options for their animation.
So, now that I'm back in town, I'll be working on my visor assembly and mounting rig. Good to be back in the shop again!
scottmale24
New Member
Re: Daft Punk Thomas Bangalter helmet build
I am just... wow. I am fairly new to these boards, and I've seen your work all over the place, but to see the whole process like this is just... overwhelming.
Seriously, man. Massive kudos to you.
I am just... wow. I am fairly new to these boards, and I've seen your work all over the place, but to see the whole process like this is just... overwhelming.
Seriously, man. Massive kudos to you.
Draphin
Sr Member
Rabid Irish
Active Member
Re: Daft Punk Thomas Bangalter helmet build
So when you are casting how do you know how much resin to use per cast? Do you apply it in small layers/ batches, and lastly when is it safe to remove the mold from the fresh cast?
So when you are casting how do you know how much resin to use per cast? Do you apply it in small layers/ batches, and lastly when is it safe to remove the mold from the fresh cast?
Re: Daft Punk Thomas Bangalter helmet build
Sort of? Its something I had to get used to. My first pull was quite thick, but I was able to gage the amount needed more and more accurately as I made multiples. I don't ever go "1/4 cup for the visor, 1/2 cup for the dome" etc, but I can tell how thick things are getting and what area needs more resin.
I guess its sort of like sculpting. After a little while, you just get the feel for it.
...
Live eBay auction links aren't allowed outside of the JY, but I would like to note that I am selling one of the Thomas castings with ears and other add-ons currently. 100% of the proceeds are going to the Japan disaster relief fund. Search "Daft Punk Thomas Bangalter replica helmet casting" if you're interested.
Sort of? Its something I had to get used to. My first pull was quite thick, but I was able to gage the amount needed more and more accurately as I made multiples. I don't ever go "1/4 cup for the visor, 1/2 cup for the dome" etc, but I can tell how thick things are getting and what area needs more resin.
I guess its sort of like sculpting. After a little while, you just get the feel for it.
...
Live eBay auction links aren't allowed outside of the JY, but I would like to note that I am selling one of the Thomas castings with ears and other add-ons currently. 100% of the proceeds are going to the Japan disaster relief fund. Search "Daft Punk Thomas Bangalter replica helmet casting" if you're interested.
Metalgear195
New Member
Re: Daft Punk Thomas Bangalter helmet build
Volpin, I decided to become a member finally. Now, may I ask you a question on the forums here, I think it was about page 4 or so. Your Thomas helmet was solid on the inside, then all of a sudden we began getting pictures of you wearing the helmet. Now for what I know, I was thinking yer helmet still had all this foam and wood inside it, so when/how did it get hollowed out? Is there a separate area where you cover how you hollow out the inside of your masks, or do you mind covering that here? Also, I don't think you mentioned how you did it on the Guy build either.
Volpin, I decided to become a member finally. Now, may I ask you a question on the forums here, I think it was about page 4 or so. Your Thomas helmet was solid on the inside, then all of a sudden we began getting pictures of you wearing the helmet. Now for what I know, I was thinking yer helmet still had all this foam and wood inside it, so when/how did it get hollowed out? Is there a separate area where you cover how you hollow out the inside of your masks, or do you mind covering that here? Also, I don't think you mentioned how you did it on the Guy build either.
Markshmit
New Member
Re: Daft Punk Thomas Bangalter helmet build
Sorry to ask for a little back-up
My english was not very good and i don't understand everything, so i'm sry if the answer was already done but i can't find it alone.
In this pics
Which material you used for the final product (the white)
Sorry for this, thanks
Sorry to ask for a little back-up
My english was not very good and i don't understand everything, so i'm sry if the answer was already done but i can't find it alone.
In this pics
Which material you used for the final product (the white)
Sorry for this, thanks
Re: Daft Punk Thomas Bangalter helmet build
That picture was photoshopped. I'm fairly sure I mentioned setting up a tripod then shooting images of myself, then the helmet, and superimposing one over the other.
If you're missing the section on how I made a hollow helmet, then I think you've skipped over the moldmaking section on pages 7 and 8 of this thread. Put simply, I made a silicone mold of the helmet and slush cast casting resin into the cavity. I've been getting a lot of questions like this recently; I should probably make some sort of video on how to slush cast or something...
Thats smoothcast 300 urethane casting resin.
Boring update, but necessary.
Made a visor template out of Styrene. I know the real helmets have vacuumformed sheets, but I'm thinking bent tinted PET will probably be a much easier solution. As soon as I have some pieces, I'll cut a test strip and embed it into my mockup helmet.
Also made a mockup sub visor. This just looks like some garbage chunks of MDF, mostly because thats what it is, but this ugly duckling is just a test rig. The electronics will be mounted to this rigid piece and installed into the helmet as one assembled unit - making assembly and maintenence much easier. The boards will be mounted to this chassis, and the LEDs will take residence in a drilled PET visor in the front.
It will make more sense later, I promise.
Oddly, the more I work on this project, the more I like the design of the Thomas helmet. Quite the opposite happened when I built Guy
That picture was photoshopped. I'm fairly sure I mentioned setting up a tripod then shooting images of myself, then the helmet, and superimposing one over the other.
If you're missing the section on how I made a hollow helmet, then I think you've skipped over the moldmaking section on pages 7 and 8 of this thread. Put simply, I made a silicone mold of the helmet and slush cast casting resin into the cavity. I've been getting a lot of questions like this recently; I should probably make some sort of video on how to slush cast or something...
Thats smoothcast 300 urethane casting resin.
Boring update, but necessary.
Made a visor template out of Styrene. I know the real helmets have vacuumformed sheets, but I'm thinking bent tinted PET will probably be a much easier solution. As soon as I have some pieces, I'll cut a test strip and embed it into my mockup helmet.
Also made a mockup sub visor. This just looks like some garbage chunks of MDF, mostly because thats what it is, but this ugly duckling is just a test rig. The electronics will be mounted to this rigid piece and installed into the helmet as one assembled unit - making assembly and maintenence much easier. The boards will be mounted to this chassis, and the LEDs will take residence in a drilled PET visor in the front.
It will make more sense later, I promise.
Oddly, the more I work on this project, the more I like the design of the Thomas helmet. Quite the opposite happened when I built Guy
Re: Daft Punk Thomas Bangalter helmet build
Will those front support blocks impede vision?
Also, you say "Mockup sub visor". Will the final sub visor be made of a different material altogether? Maybe with thinner support bars?
Great stuff. Not a a boring post at all!
Nick
Will those front support blocks impede vision?
Also, you say "Mockup sub visor". Will the final sub visor be made of a different material altogether? Maybe with thinner support bars?
Great stuff. Not a a boring post at all!
Nick
Re: Daft Punk Thomas Bangalter helmet build
The MDF blocks are just stand-ins. The actual piece will be laser-cut (hopefully, I may have to go a cheap route and do it myself on my scrollsaw) 1/16" or 1/8" aluminum plate for the upper and lower curved pieces. The support standoffs will be aluminum tube stock with threaded stock inserted.
The MDF blocks are just stand-ins. The actual piece will be laser-cut (hopefully, I may have to go a cheap route and do it myself on my scrollsaw) 1/16" or 1/8" aluminum plate for the upper and lower curved pieces. The support standoffs will be aluminum tube stock with threaded stock inserted.
Thermistor
Active Member
Re: Daft Punk Thomas Bangalter helmet build
If it only curves on one axis that's not a bad idea!
If it only curves on one axis that's not a bad idea!
Muppo
New Member
Re: Daft Punk Thomas Bangalter helmet build
It will be much appreciated if you finally do it.
It will be much appreciated if you finally do it.
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