Iron Man Lights thread

[Dumontrudisel]

So for any of you avid Iron Man costume builders, one big part of any Iron Man costume is to have lights on it (repulsors, arc reactor, eyes etc.). What did you guys use for both a light source and a materil to diffuse the light? All I was able to do was get some car replacement lights (battery was almost dead. Its usually way brighter)


This was the final result for my mark 42 forearm Tony Stark escapes captivity costume. It looks good on camera, but in person the light doesnt diffuse very well. What did you guys use?

 

[Kevin Gossett]

I always use styrene. The key for diffusion is to make sure there is enough space between the lights and the diffuser, so you don't get hotspots.

 

[Dumontrudisel]

Someone told me I should use clear 5mm acrylic with each side finely sanded

 

[zorprime]

I used standard LED lights hooked straight to a 9 volt batter (yeah I know they burn out quick but it makes them really bright I've had them on for a total of 12 hours and no batter replacements yet. I also used InstaMorph plastic beads, you heat them up with a heat gun wet your hands and mold them into whatever shape you need. They are great light diffusers, I used them for the eyes, arc reactor, and the palms as well.

Amazon.com: InstaMorph - Moldable Plastic - 6 oz: Arts, Crafts & Sewing

 

[DRG]

All I was able to do was get some car replacement lights View attachment 272860View attachment 272861 (battery was almost dead. Its usually way brighter)

I bought those exact same lights for the same purpose. Can I ask, what type of battery setup are you using to power yours?

 

[Dumontrudisel]

I bought those exact same lights for the same purpose. Can I ask, what type of battery setup are you using to power yours?

This particular light set up, I used the light with a bottle cap over it as a repulsor on my palm, and 2 wired running from the prongs down past my wrist to my forearm piece where I glued a 9V battery in

 

[Artimis]

I have the same lights as well and ran a 9v to a dc-dc step up converter calibrated for 12v output (New DC DC Adjustable Step Up Power Supply Voltage Converter Module Output 5V 35V | eBay)

I routed the oupt to both a switch and resistor. The output flows through the resistor allowing for a dim idle light. I can tap the switch with my thumb to bypass the resistor to fully light upthe LEDs and make it look like the repulsor fired .

For diffusion, you could try using vellum paper and/or sanding an acrylic sheet with fine grit sandpaper