Mini Darth Vader costume completed: page 6 pics, pg 7 new con pics

[TK171]

Need help here. Yes, I'm crazy. Haven't finished the trooper yet and now taking on a mini Vader. Nothing too fancy for my 3.5 yr old, but better than store bought or rubies

Stopped at radio shack and picked up 2 black project boxes in a 2x3x1 size. Going to be the belt boxes. I also picked up 2 red LEDs with resistor built in. My question is, I ran the red to red and black to black on a 9 volt connector. Lit up just fine. I also ran a little white bulb off it. Was going to mount that inside and just have 2 cutouts with green plexi over the holes. But, I noticed the 9 volt got hot running the two together. Then I realized that the white bulb said 12 volt. Im assuming that's no good and or will burn the battery quick.

If I got a white light that runs 9 volt and still run the two together, am I going to still have this problem? Do I need to run a bigger pack with like multiple double A's?

I also got an on off switch that worked, but I just don't know if I need to just run more juice. Is it bad to have more power/juice like 12 volt battery pack running to a 9 volt led (or two lights)?

 

[TK171]

Re: Electronic help. Vader belt boxes

just prep and messing around a bit.

 

[tubachris85x]

Re: Electronic help. Vader belt boxes

I'd say keep them on seperate battery packs but the same switch. You should either get a double-pole, double-throw or a tripple, depending on how many lights you need running.

 

[TK171]

Re: Electronic help. Vader belt boxes

Just don't want to run much or too many packs. The boxes are small as it is, but suppose I could run to rear of belt

Does having too much power like a 12 volt pack running to LEDs burn them quicker? Or If there is a resistor built in, doesn't it matter? I don't even really know what the led is/takes to power it. just the white bulb said 12 volt. Maybe that was the issue because it's a bulb and not an led with resistor?

 

[tubachris85x]

Re: Electronic help. Vader belt boxes

Your just using the standard resistor on the LED? You have to use the proper rated resistor with the power source or it won't work as it's supposed to. There are numerous calculators to determine the proper resistor you'll need online.

The purpose of the resistor is to counter and or dissipate excess current. If you want to run the led and bulb, your going to have to have the proper number of volts going to it. Too much and they'll burn or blow out, too less and they will not illuminate bright enough. The bulb needs 12v and that's what it's going to try and draw. I'm not sure how many Volta your led needs but it certainly does not need 12v unless you have multiples on a series.

Just calculate it

 

[TK171]

Re: Electronic help. Vader belt boxes

Gotcha. Thanks, that makes sense.

The round led I got, wasn't just the led with two metal wires out of the actual bulb. It's got a red case around it- resistor built in, red and black wire coming out and a threaded base with nut. Basically just drill the hole, plop it in and run connector. No volts like 9 or 12 listed. Had something like 20mA or something with a min/max which confused me.

Never had a problem with running a series of LEDs to a 9 volt before. But when it got hot I thought that wasn't good. I'm sure the 12 volt white bulb is the issue, as it has no resistor and was trying to pull the 12 out of the 9 volt battery. Will look to get just a white led and not an actual mini bulb and just run the two in a series. That should work I think. Just need the two LEDs per box.

Thank for the help- I think my bulb went off and makes sense now. :lol

 

[decaturvader]

Re: Electronic help. Vader belt boxes

Here's what I did last weekend to my home-made boxes.
Took out the old bulbs and C Cell batteries.
Got two of those cap visor LED lamps.
Each clipon has three super bright LEDs in it.

Gutted it.
Hot glued the chrome bells in place.
Wired it all up as seen.
Cut down the battery housing a bit.

 

[TK171]

Re: Electronic help. Vader belt boxes

Awesome. I didn't think of that, but have 2 of those cap lights. $4.99 is cheap, considering the switch, and three LEDs all ready to use. Even could uses the push button for blinking effect if needed flavor added. :lol

 

[decaturvader]

Re: Electronic help. Vader belt boxes

yessir...very affordable and super easy to mod. Plus the batteries last forever it seems lol

 

[TK171]

Re: Electronic help. Vader belt boxes

Just got some threaded steel spacers for the six buttons. After megamind is over and boys are in bed, time to go to town.

 

[TK171]

Re: Electronic help. Vader belt boxes

Heres a couple of progress pics of my 3 1/2 yr olds Vader costume I just started. Up first-Belt boxes. I'm not going to put a ton of money into this costume (so i think), so it's not going to be anywhere near "screen accurate" before anyone asks. Need a few square/rectangle peices of scrap plexiglass to put over the green LEDs and the belt boxes are done. Any good sources for green plexi? So far into it, about $20 for the belt boxes with electronics, buckle in front and extra LED and battery holder to light up the chest box.

Weee.. have lights!!

 

[TK171]

Re: Electronic help-thanks. Vader belt boxes-almost done. mini vader costume progress

found some of the larger green square LEDs at our Axeman surplus store. Going to just cut those down as they alreday have a nice recess in the middle after doing that, sand them up and throw over the top of the smaller round LEDs... Like so:

 

[TK171]

Re: Electronic help-thanks. Vader belt boxes-almost done. mini vader costume progress

posted in another thread, but might as well keep it all in one place.

Just decided to get going on the helmet.

Started with a halloween buck for collecting candy. It's in 2 peices, so I split it apart. Cut bottom out to fit the neck, and cut eye holes for a quick test to see if it was too small or not. Back up plan was to cut it and do a Vader revealed lower peice he could wear.

One Bucket uncut, one split and eyes quickly cut for test:

Had this cheap kids helmet with face guard (old Knight armor type helmet). Stipped off the face mask part and cut the dome down. Zap gap and a few rivots to hold in place:

Still need a few strip to cover the side gaps up, then add the mini mohawk detail from front to rear, some bondo, sanding and painting.. got a chore a head of me, but I think it'll turn out pretty good.

And, my little one won't look like a feaking bobblehead.

Heres a quick pick next to the boys Rubies/Hasbro whatever it is with the voice changer in the chest box. Chest box is ripped off, as I'm modding that with light for his costume.

 

[decaturvader]

Re: Electronic help-thanks. Vader belt boxes-almost done. mini vader costume progress

lol this is too cute.
reminds me of that VW commercial haha
Can't wait to see it all done.

 

[TK171]

Re: Electronic help-thanks. Vader belt boxes-almost done. mini vader costume progress

It'll be a while yet, but she's coming along.

back to playing around some today:

Maybe I should have done the revealed? I think he looks more like a mini "old" Anakin, that Jake did...:lol
but he is excited...this is coming together. Best part, it's helping the potty training as I"m using it against him. Big potty, daddy works on costume. :love

now, if he'd just take it off.. maybe I could keep going on it

 

[tictoc]

Re: Electronic help-thanks. Vader belt boxes-almost done. mini vader costume progress

Cool. Keep going!

 

[TK171]

Re: Electronic help-thanks. Vader belt boxes-almost done. mini vader costume progress

So yesterday on the way home, I said Cape or Cod?

Stopped at the Fabric store to get materials for both- regardless.

materials for Last nights project:
1- 3x2ft 1/4 inch foam- From Axeman "greeblie central" surplus ($1.29)
1- Grained Leather "look"- pleather with fabric backing 1/2 yrd (overkill- $3.99)
1- can Locktite Spray adhesive ($9.99- I think)

Started at roughly 8:15pm with a ruler and pen on the foam, and then cut out the shape:

20 Mins later....... DIng-Check please.

just need to add a strap to hold it on, but didn't think of that while I was at Jo-Ann. I may have something laying around in the garage.

next up- Cape

 

[TK171]

Re: Electronic help-thanks. Vader belt boxes-almost done. mini vader costume progress

not as much time as I hoped tonight, but started on the cape.

Laid out:

Cut out:

Neck Trim (with Spray Adhesive)- will stitch up when I hem up the length and sides (where I ran out of time tonight):

 

[sskunky]

Re: Electronic help-thanks. Vader belt boxes-almost done. mini vader costume progress

Ha, this is coming along nicely. Can't wait to see it finished. :thumbsup

 

[TK171]

Re: Electronic help-thanks. Vader belt boxes-almost done. mini vader costume progress

Thanks! It's been a fun project. Never thought I'd do a Vader, as I just don't have the height. The hard part is, While I say that it's just for my 3 yr old and I don't want to get uber accurate or spend too much on it... it may end up moreso that way, as I'm too picky and probably spending too much time on it. Though, it's just a few hours a night when it's late and kids/wife go to bed, so It may take a while- but coming along nice.

all in all, I haven't spent that much yet as I have alot of junk laying around that I'm using, and the fact that the helmet is a modded $2.99 bucket and some plastic signage and a helmet the kids already had that I'd savaged, it's just moreso the time involved in it than anything- which my wife might mind, but I'm loving it again.

I'm guessing in the end, I'll have about $100 into it- which in my book is about perfect.

More pics as it progresses.