Kmikzeken's Wip (Pic Heavy)

[KmikzeKen]

Thanks everybody!  More progress on the electronics end.  I changed my mind again and ditched the LEDs and went back to real lasers for the bio.  Took some time to get right but well worth it...

The sound system is also coming along.  I threw together a Wave Shield and mounted it on top of an Arduino Uno.  I'm running 8 sounds off of the wave shield and plan to run 7 of them from push buttons on the gauntlet and run 1 off a switch on my finger.   As of today a speaker has been mounted inside of the backpack.  The speaker is connected to a Velleman 3w Mono Amp to boost the sound as the default onboard amp on the wave shield just wouldn't cut it.  The amp runs a wire that connects to the arduino stack via 1/4" audio plug. 

I decided against cutting a big hole for the speaker and instead used the dremel + cutting wheel to carve into the details already present on the backpack.  I then used a small engraving tool and started to make other glyphs.  The screws in use are place holders and will be hidden better in the future. 

The speaker/amp. 

Here is a quick video to show the basic idea of my set up.  Apologies for the small video, I used an app on the phone to merge 3 videos together and it decided to shrink the picture even more when compiling the footage...These sounds are all done at half-volume.  I can crank the volume louder and it sounds good on some of the clips, but others sound like garbage.  The first sound, for those not familiar, is a taunt I ripped from the 2010 AVP game. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpH8JDLWayE

That's all for now, thanks for looking!

 

[Justin sic]

Lol I love the clicking! Nice work buddy!

 

[HAL1138]

Can you make sure you take really good pictures of the finger switch. I'm planning on doing that for my Pred and would like to see how you make yours. Thanks. This build is really looking good!!!

 

[hannay07]

Nice!!

 

[cripledpredator]

Sweet

 

[paitan]

Whoa!!! this is insane! I can't wait to see how the suit with the sounds in action!

 

[KmikzeKen]

Thanks everyone!

Can you make sure you take really good pictures of the finger switch. I'm planning on doing that for my Pred and would like to see how you make yours. Thanks. This build is really looking good!!!

Will do.  I'm actually going to try to recreate mine like the one found on http://www.brenorbrophy.com/HG/head_set_ptt.htm .  Seems simple enough, though looks are often deceiving with these damn electronics...

 

[UneekOne]

Wow !!Awesome work. Thanks for sharing. I've learned alot from just reading your WIP. Cant wait to see more.

 

[KmikzeKen]

Can you make sure you take really good pictures of the finger switch. I'm planning on doing that for my Pred and would like to see how you make yours. Thanks. This build is really looking good!!!

Ok so I tackled this bit today.  First things first, soldering whatever wires/header pins to your tactile switch.  Test via multimeter or by hooking the switch up to your system to verify you have soldered the wires to the correct legs on the tactile switch.  As you only need to use 2 of the 4 legs on the switch, I cut the unused legs off and bent the wired one so that the switch lays flat. 

Heat shrink added to connections.  As this is the one switch that will be the most exposed to sweat, I encased the switch itself with larger heat shrink and focused the heat on the ends to close it  up.  I didn't shrink it completely so I can still press the button without problems.  I then wrapped both ends in a heavy amount of electrical tape.

Next I cut a length of hook velcro that would wrap around my finger twice.  I cut the loop velcro a length about 1.5 inches shorter.  Both hook and loop velcro strips were sewn together BACK to BACK.  I then cut a small square out of the center of the extra hook velcro (the square is about the size of the tactile switch).  This allows the switch to be exposed so that I can press it easily.  I then folded the extra bit of hook velcro over onto itself (NOT over and onto the loop velcro) and sewed it to the rest of the strip, leaving a small pocket for me to put the switch into.  Then I hot glued the switch in place and everything works as it should. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eV03jPIgDs&list=UUs_TKu7aHHygYx30-qmyh0w This video shows the finger switch in action.  Hopefully the explanation is somewhat easy to understand...I can try to take better pictures if not. 

 

[HAL1138]

Awesome!  Thanks so much on the instrutions for the finger switch.  The video showed the position and function perfectly.  Glad you mentioned the warning of not over shrinking the heat shrink.  Knowing me, I would have over done it being used to getting the tighter seal on my other projects. LOL

 

[Imaika Tachiri]

It looks awesome man. You'r paint ups are really good, and the details are awesome. Its nice to see a costume done like this and then explained in detail with all the pictures. The lasers look great, and going the extra mile with the electrics is awesome. I'm learning a lot by just reading this and seeing the pictures, and i'm not the only one. Awesome work man

I loved the feet, they looked really cool, the colours on the skin were really well done too.

Overall, really awesome costume so far.
 

 

[TriLaser]

Great build man!

 

[KmikzeKen]

Wedding season is in full swing right now and time has been scarce, however I have been making some progress.  I have some older pictures to add that were taken weeks ago of the painted up gauntlets that I never got around to posting.  I have also completely repainted the backpack/cannon and still have a bit more weathering to add to those.  My main focus for the past few weeks was to get the electronics up and running and more or less complete.  I did a test fit with electronics today to ensure I have proper wire length and mobility, as well as to see how the electronics will hold up under stress. 

Anyway, here are some photos.  First, the painted gauntlets.  I used the same paints to paint these as I did with the bio helmet.

The backpack/cannon received an upgraded paint job as well.  I ran out of the nice silver paint I was using on the gauntlets so I picked up some hammered silver to hit the cannon/backpack.  I have some more weathering to do on them as well as add some purples and blues, but this is how it stands currently.  The other chest piece shows the original color. 

Another thing I chose to do with the electronics was put some LEDs into the cannon that are also run on a finger switch.  I didn't snap any WIP shots of the installation but you can see the wire coming out of the cannon and running down through the backpack.  I ran those wires through more heat shrink to protect from sweat and the switch will be on the blade gauntlet hand. 

Here is another quick video I did of the test fit for the electronics.  None of the armor pieces are secured on me, but obviously will be on the actual suit.  I had a few snags with the suit up, but nothing a little bit more work won't fix.  Thanks for continuing to follow my build!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xgw6IU961U0

 

[Justin sic]

Dang bro! Looking sweet! I can't wait to see a pic of the body with the armor on!!

 

[scanff]

How are you getting that hammered weathered look on the chest plate, it's bloody awesome.

Thanks for sharing the finger switch idea I'm going to try it for the sound effects board I have.

 

[KmikzeKen]

How are you getting that hammered weathered look on the chest plate, it's bloody awesome.

Thanks for sharing the finger switch idea I'm going to try it for the sound effects board I have.

Thanks!

The silver hammered metal paint was sprayed straight from a rustoleum rattle can.  A few heavy-ish layers left all the smooth surfaces looking like this, which I thought looked cool.

For the rest of the armor that has the holes/dents/dimples (which I didn't add, they were already present in the piece), the weathering that was done was browns/blacks sprayed on with the airbrush then almost immediately wiped clean.  The paint filled the holes and wasn't pulled away when I wiped the paint off.  Here's a close up, you can see the hammered paint effect between the holes (looks like cracks in the paint)...it's a cool effect, but sadly not too noticeable unless you get really close. 

I hope that helps answer your question!

 

[Tok Cha]

lasers look great but doubt I could do that but good build

 

[KmikzeKen]

lasers look great but doubt I could do that but good build

Thanks!  All it takes is a little patience, and then a lot more patience, lol.  Stick with it and you can do it!


Small update today.  Slow progress has been made regarding attaching/wearing armor pieces...that chest/backpack/cannon is just soooooo heavy.  I also primed up all of my dread beads for painting. 

Not long ago, my friend Billy came over and decided he wanted to help be apart of this build.

Now, he may not be much to look at, but he has one hell of a spine...ok terrible joke is over.  This is my incredibly heavy, very cool looking Billy Trophy.  Today I covered it from head to tail-bone in latex and toilet tissue to help add a bit more gruesome texture to it. 

And then, the blood..

That's all, thanks for looking!

 

[scanff]

That's gross!! Haha nice work.

 

[HAL1138]

Since Billy is over at your place helping with the build, kindly remind him he still owes me 50 bucks. :/