Han Solo in Carbonite: A novice build

[Defenestrator]

I'm finally getting ready to start my HIC, and I just know that this thread is going to be a great resource.

I've read sooooo many during my preparations, but the photo detail here has been meticulous, and I just wanted to say thanks for documenting everything so well. Not to mention taking the time to write it all up so thoroughly.

Oh, and it really looks fantastic, too!

 

[QCWolf]

I'm finally getting ready to start my HIC, and I just know that this thread is going to be a great resource.

I've read sooooo many during my preparations, but the photo detail here has been meticulous, and I just wanted to say thanks for documenting everything so well. Not to mention taking the time to write it all up so thoroughly.

Oh, and it really looks fantastic, too!

Thank you very much! I did the same thing you are doing by reading as many threads on this subject as I could find. I wanted to make sure that I showed everything I did (even the mistakes) so that others could get a sense of this project's scope. I took ideas from several other sources and used what I liked and discarded what I didn't. There are things that I wish I had done differently even now. Jedifyfe said that on a scale of difficulty from 1 to 10, the HIC is about a 5. I agree with him there. It's not that difficult but it is VERY time consuming. I've been working on this for a little over 2 months. I'm basically finished but I'm just waiting to hang him. I plan on doing that this week and I will definitely post photos of that process.

Please make a thread of your own build. I love to follow other HIC builders.

 

[Westies14]

Everyone builds it out a little bit differently and having your attempt documented so thoroughly is kind of like learning what works and what doesn't alongside you. Thanks for taking the time to do this thread!

I do have one question after reading through everything. What did you mean by this, early on?

"I elected not to add the angled element to the side panels. For my skill level, it seemed like a lot of effort for little payoff."

The angle as far as I can tell is all in the volvo casting, and it's apparent on your build. Is there an aspect I'm missing?

Thanks again!

 

[QCWolf]

Everyone builds it out a little bit differently and having your attempt documented so thoroughly is kind of like learning what works and what doesn't alongside you. Thanks for taking the time to do this thread!

I do have one question after reading through everything. What did you mean by this, early on?

"I elected not to add the angled element to the side panels. For my skill level, it seemed like a lot of effort for little payoff."

The angle as far as I can tell is all in the volvo casting, and it's apparent on your build. Is there an aspect I'm missing?

Thanks again!

I was referring to some reference material that I have seen. Others have added an extra interior angled backing to the panels to give them a more significant slant. You can see here in these drawings in the lower right corner what I mean:



Here's a bit closer view:



Here's a photo that another builder posted of the incorporated angled backing:



Since I ordered the box kit from Zenix, the panel holes were pre-cut and did not include the cut out pieces. I didn't think I had the wherewithal to cut and match the cutouts exactly with the tools I have on hand so I elected to just screw and glue some thin plywood pieces behind the holes to offer a flat back.

Here is mine:



I didn't think that it was a big enough alteration for anyone but me to ever notice so I went with the flat back.

 

[Westies14]

I think I see - technically your panels are sitting on the wall at its angle, when the original prop mounted them on a surface perpendicular to the back wall?

 

[QCWolf]

I think I see - technically your panels are sitting on the wall at its angle, when the original prop mounted them on a surface perpendicular to the back wall?

I think so. I think the original just decreased the angle slightly. I'm not sure why. I decided to skip it.

 

[Westies14]

In that drawing, it looks like they removed .5 degrees from the angle to make the panel protrude evenly from the side wall all the way around. I think I kind of like their surface being at a steeper angle than the block's wall, the way you've done it! It kind of puts the panels on display more from the front.

 

[QCWolf]

In that drawing, it looks like they removed .5 degrees from the angle to make the panel protrude evenly from the side wall all the way around. I think I kind of like their surface being at a steeper angle than the block's wall, the way you've done it! It kind of puts the panels on display more from the front.

Thanks! I agree. I stood Han up the other day so I could flip him over to install the mounting hardware and looking at it from the front, he's giant. I liked being able to see the panels protruding from the side and I feel like it adds to the overall look. Like you said, each HIC is slightly different and I have certainly taken some liberties with mine. I can't wait to hang it!

 

[Jedifyfe]

Thanks! I agree. I stood Han up the other day so I could flip him over to install the mounting hardware and looking at it from the front, he's giant.

Right? It's not until you stand him up in a normal sized room that you see how big this thing is. Mine doesn't have the side panels on it yet which adds another 4-6 inches on each side...

 

[QCWolf]

Right? It's not until you stand him up in a normal sized room that you see how big this thing is. Mine doesn't have the side panels on it yet which adds another 4-6 inches on each side...

I must admit that it gives me a great sense of pride that I was able to complete this amazing prop. I get all geeky every time I look at it. I find myself going out to the garage for no other reason than to gaze upon it. I need to get this thing moved inside pronto!

 

[NeoRutty]

I must admit that it gives me a great sense of pride that I was able to complete this amazing prop. I get all geeky every time I look at it. I find myself going out to the garage for no other reason than to gaze upon it. I need to get this thing moved inside pronto!

I'm stoked to get going on mine... these builds you guys have been doing are going to be researched and noted thoroughly.

When you can get a kit like on these boards, and do it all yourself, it seems crazy to spend 8 grand on the licensed one.

 

[QCWolf]

When you can get a kit like on these boards, and do it all yourself, it seems crazy to spend 8 grand on the licensed one.

Exactly! I love the idea of getting my hands dirty and creating something from nothing and owning a piece of pop culture. I dig it. I don't know what I'd do without the RPF in my life.

 

[Jedifyfe]

Yep, me too. I sit back and look at mine from time to time.

- - - Updated - - -

When you can get a kit like on these boards, and do it all yourself, it seems crazy to spend 8 grand on the licensed one.

exaclty. What's the old adage?..."those who can, do and those who can't, buy the overpriced licensed version". Or it's something like that.

 

[QCWolf]

I'm preparing to move this beast inside and I took a couple of "behind the scenes" photos. I had to cut out the panel backs to accommodate the wiring so that it would not get smashed or crimped and potentially cause a short. I know the cutouts are not as pretty as they could be, but since no one will ever see them, I don't mind.




The white lights on the Hero Panel suddenly stopped working. I did some extensive troubleshooting and couldn't figure out what was happening. I finally realized that a single drop of super glue had hardened between the two leads of one of the LEDs and caused a short. I scraped away the glue and it's good as new. You can also see here the "sign white" plastic backing that I used for the LEDs on this panel. I got the sample sized squares from "Tap Plastics". It was just a few dollars with shipping and I didn't have to buy the more expensive, larger squares.

 

[mugatu]

I imagine that is what the hero HIC looked like from the inside as well. How in the world did you ever find out it was a drop of superglue shorting the circuit? Good eyes, man.

 

[QCWolf]

I imagine that is what the hero HIC looked like from the inside as well. How in the world did you ever find out it was a drop of superglue shorting the circuit? Good eyes, man.

I quite literally tried everything. I was monkeying with my exact-o knife and a spare LED I had lying around and realized the leads were getting power right up until they reached the dead LED. I scored the base of the LED and realized there was some glue residue there and I removed it and viola! Pure dumb luck. Of course I congratulated myself on my electrical engineering skills and did a Wylde Stallions air guitar to celebrate.

 

[mugatu]

Dumb luck or not, I congratulate you too! This is turning out very well.

 

[Sean Hebein]

Great work! Now I want to build a HIC. My wife hates you!

 

[Chaank]

I don't think I've ever commented on a HIC but I must have checked out everyone of them. Such a sweet prop. This build is awesome man and you thread is really detailed. Cheers for whacking it up here. If I ever get to do one of these it's got to be hiding a secret door! lol

 

[Jedifyfe]

Great work! Now I want to build a HIC. My wife hates you!

I can help. .....Build it that is....not hate you.