Modifying an Iron Man II Toy Reactor

[Mr.Engineer]

(Mods, I am not sure where to put this, so feel free to relocate. Heh)

Ok, today, I just had the chance to get an Iron Man II Toy Arc Reactor. Somehow, I just felt that to toy having yellow LEDs are so bland. And so, I set up a small tutorial on how to change them to brighter white LEDs.

EDIT: Yes, I know the toy is upside down. Weird things can happen in the bathroom :lol
You can follow this tut on my website. Don't go to my blog for this one:
http://chowfookcheong.com/IM II Arc Toy/Arc 001.htm
http://chowfookcheong.blogspot.com/2001/01/im-ii-arc-toy.html

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[MccTrek]

Thanks for sharing that tutorial. As someone new to electronics, I really appreciate the step-by-step instructions!

 

[nexnox]

Nice mod. not sure why they put yellow LEDs in the toy. It's unfortunate that they shrunk down the toy version because that "silver" bezel in the center of all that red plastic is really all it is.
:ninja watch the latest trailer and you will see that center triangle bit make an appearance :ninja

 

[Mr.Engineer]

Thanks. Initially, I wanted to put a 'ring of lights' around the arc bezel but I think this would kill the batteries in minutes. :lol

Well, hmmm..... why not? :love

 

[tk1055]

does it now stay on or do the lights shut down still?

 

[Mr.Engineer]

Ok, I have done the 'Ring of Lights'.

tk1055
Right now, the lights comes on following the original toy circuit. But I have the idea of giving the user the choice of either following the original circuit or, permanently on. Just a few more days....
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[tk1055]

Great! I just bought another one after seeing this thread.... I won't post the pics of wearing the duel ARCs...

 

[nimitzbrood]

Thanks. Initially, I wanted to put a 'ring of lights' around the arc bezel but I think this would kill the batteries in minutes. :lol

Well, hmmm..... why not? :love

It depends entirely on what LEDs you use and what kind of batteries are in there. Here's my homebrew arc prototype using four-pin LEDs and a ring of copper:

http://www.terminalcore.net/gallery/ar_prototype

It's being powered off the "tap-light" in the center which is 2 AAA batteries. I think I left it on one night and came in the next day to it still lit but much dimmer.

 

[Mr.Engineer]

Whoa! Cool! Never thought of the that!

Yeah, with the current limiting resistors, the LEDs just keep on glowing until the current drops where the LED just dims.

 

[TurboTrey03]

great job, loving the mod

 

[MiamiLoco]

haha, good job!!

 

[Mr.Engineer]

OK, just added one more modification, for those who want to wear it at the premiere and want the lights on without pressing the cover every few seconds.

 

[bladefans]

Do we know if his arc reactor is going to look like this in the movie? Because I noticed there are two different toys, the other of which looks similar to the one in the first movie.

 

[nimitzbrood]

OK, just added one more modification, for those who want to wear it at the premiere and want the lights on without pressing the cover every few seconds.

"They're not breasts they're aetheric beam detectors!"

Okay...I'm sorry.

 

[tk1055]

yes it does look like that, you can see it in the trailer.

 

[tk1055]

Bravo on the tutorial!

 

[nimitzbrood]

Bravo on the tutorial!

Ditto on this. It's damn clear with good pictures. Excellent quality!

 

[bladefans]

yes it does look like that, you can see it in the trailer.

Have there been any screen captures of this?

 

[Mr.Engineer]

I am not really sure if its accurate or not as the trailer did not show it in detail except its round and glows white. I just decided to modify the toy to make it more convincing. Heh. Also, heard from Entertainment Earth there is another Toy Arc Reactor but its triangular shaped.

 

[nexnox]

I don't think you see this one in the trailer, except for the triangle core bit held down by the clamps. You will also notice in the trailer 1 other yet unknown reactor ::hint- it's where stark has the metallic "veins" ::

The round toy is very close to the prop.