My Rocketeer Jetpack build progress thread
- Thread starter themanwoaname
- Start date
themanwoaname
Sr Member
nothing major to report from the pack, other than "more bondo, and more sanding."
here's progress pictures from the first time i sanded today. the bottom pic covered in tape, waht you dont see, is that i got it bondoed and sanded to a point where i think its acceptable before i go nuts and redo it. after i get what i need done with the tape, i'll take more pictures.
bottom of the upside down T where a centered circle vent goes.
center of the pack. you can see to the left there's a turd of bondo, i had to build that side up a little to match the right side.
here you can see where i had to add towards the bottom of the center shaft to make it symmetrical. its still not quite even here on the left side. also, you can see in the center hole, that one side is wider than the other, i sanded that down to match as close as i could, before i got sick of it.
this is the side where i had to add to, and in that little crevice, is tons of debris. i already can imagine the hard time it'll be clearing that out. :/ oh, dont worry, both sides look that bad.
top vent
the black gaff tape is where i put a thiiiiiiin layer of bondo, and the masking tape is where its safe if any bondo falls. after i lightly sand and remove the tape i'll have kind of a "lip" to make "cosmetic plates"
ps. i neglected to make a layer of black gaff for a cosmetic plate from each side of black gaff... oh well. next week.
im also papercrafting a rocketeer helmet. its going pretty good so far. i have a template, but im also making it up as i go as far as constructing it.. i'll post a pic when its done right now its liek "wha?"
i figure by the end of the year, i'll have made 3 rocketeer helmets, two by pep, one by making it up as i go. i figure im going to abandon my first one. there's to much work that needs to be redone to it that its easier just to start from scratch.
HeroWorship
Well-Known Member
Amazing ingenuity bringing together all those acquired parts. Can't wait to see the finished product!
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themanwoaname
Sr Member
sorry fellas, its been ridiculously hot outside, ive been working on a pep rocketeer bucket in the mean time. i have a few weeks off between school, i hope to tackle some more of the pack during that time.
Galactica53
Member
Its been mighty hot here in Alabama as well. Your JP is looking really good I do believe Im gonna have a try at doing one of these myself after reading your entire post:cool keep up the grat work..
Cameron
Cameron
dualedge
Sr Member
Re: My Rocketeer Jetpack
That photo is from one of the Disney auctions about 10 years ago. That was one of the "functioning" all-metal rocketpacks that actually shot fire out of the engine nozzles. It weighed a ton from what I've heard... like 60 pounds or something like that if memory serves. Of course they wound up using vfx to enhance what was created by the pack. I *think* there were only two of those (?). Then there were regular hero style packs and assorted stunt packs.
The opening to that hole in the center at the top on the other side isn't just square though - it's got a beveled opening as I recall but you probably already know that. I've been slack in keeping track of discussions and participating just from lack of time (and lack of money doesn't help either.)
There are other guys that know a lot more about the rocketpacks than I do though.
What you've got is looking great! Anybody willing to tackle a fan-build of a rocketpack gets a lot of respect from me!
Dunno if any of that helps...
Rob
edit: i keep forgetting abuot this one
see how the thin parts of the vent are wider spaced and there are less than the one above, and the hole i nthe solid thing is larger? these conflicting pictures are driving me nuts. i know one is the kit, i know the other "might be a stunt pack sold on ebay years ago" what should i do? i really dont want to have to make 8 more of those thinner vents if the real one doesnt have that many.
would anyone have any idea how far the individual thinner pieces of that thing are spaced? im thinking they're about 1/2" but if that doesnt work im going to go as close as 1/4".
That photo is from one of the Disney auctions about 10 years ago. That was one of the "functioning" all-metal rocketpacks that actually shot fire out of the engine nozzles. It weighed a ton from what I've heard... like 60 pounds or something like that if memory serves. Of course they wound up using vfx to enhance what was created by the pack. I *think* there were only two of those (?). Then there were regular hero style packs and assorted stunt packs.
The opening to that hole in the center at the top on the other side isn't just square though - it's got a beveled opening as I recall but you probably already know that. I've been slack in keeping track of discussions and participating just from lack of time (and lack of money doesn't help either.)
There are other guys that know a lot more about the rocketpacks than I do though.
What you've got is looking great! Anybody willing to tackle a fan-build of a rocketpack gets a lot of respect from me!
Dunno if any of that helps...
Rob
themanwoaname
Sr Member
lol, thank you for your help. i decided to wing that part, make it a square hole/channel and remake the vents that i had made already.
i did manage to go out side and work on this thing for a bit today because my work bench was a disaster and needed some organizing. there's no REAL major thing to report other than i taped off the bottom curve and top to the center cosmetic plate that's bothered me since the last update with pictures.
if im feeling dangerous this evening i might go out and try that papertowel / fiberglass resin idea i saw here to make the actual plate itself. that also helps, because that way i can actually make the vent cover the fan too, which also is a gigantic relief for me.
does anyone know if fiberglass resin will stick to masking tape and gaffers tape? ideally, id like this thing to come off so i can sand it with out maneuvering a giant pack around, but its not a big deal if it doesnt.
and any ideas for the actual straps for it would be great, so far im thinking a vintage seatbelt buckle, but when it comes to the harness itself im having a difficult time finding something that would be comfortable and look pretty good. also not sure if its 3 pt, 4 pt or however many points a harness can be.
i did manage to go out side and work on this thing for a bit today because my work bench was a disaster and needed some organizing. there's no REAL major thing to report other than i taped off the bottom curve and top to the center cosmetic plate that's bothered me since the last update with pictures.
if im feeling dangerous this evening i might go out and try that papertowel / fiberglass resin idea i saw here to make the actual plate itself. that also helps, because that way i can actually make the vent cover the fan too, which also is a gigantic relief for me.
does anyone know if fiberglass resin will stick to masking tape and gaffers tape? ideally, id like this thing to come off so i can sand it with out maneuvering a giant pack around, but its not a big deal if it doesnt.
and any ideas for the actual straps for it would be great, so far im thinking a vintage seatbelt buckle, but when it comes to the harness itself im having a difficult time finding something that would be comfortable and look pretty good. also not sure if its 3 pt, 4 pt or however many points a harness can be.
themanwoaname
Sr Member
my day consisted of 3 hours. because im not having any more of it.
this is how my day went.
first, i want to throw out all the "to dos" about preparing for working on a project. you know you're going to have to get things in order before you set out on whatever it is you're working on. thats going to get some time. i thought i had everything in order, so i began reading the instructions on the side of the resin container.
for the sake of honesty, its the bondo brand, and really, i ignored the instructions 1-3,5-6. i didnt get to 9-14. what i did, was anyhting that pertained to the mixing ratio, and actually doing the resin, which is basically 4, 7-8..
and 8's really about hardening. really, having ignored all those instructions, nothing was really outside of the normalcy im used to when i dealt with fiberglass in the past.
i heard some where online that a paper towel is a good substitute for fiberglass mat(i'll get to this later, its unrelated at this moment) and i wanted to experiment with that, on top of, trying my hand at fiberglassing (technically, its not really traditional fiberglass, but apparently saying "im fiberglassing this jetpack thing" is a usable term, even though im not making a fiberglass mold out of it.) now, what frustrates me, is i forgot to bring out my 2" masking tape. so, i went to get it and i tripped over a dog.
then i got the tape. and tripped over another dog. and remember to take off my ring, and get a soda. after i did that, and came back out side.
what did the dogs get into now?
a rat. its not totally dead either, and they dont know what to do with it, other than let its lower half wiggle in their mouth. after freaking out at a possible rabies scare that you'll have to have a chat with your family about later because both dogs were near it, you finally get the idea to get a bag and throw it out.
thats 30 minutes into the start of what should be your greatest propping afternoon since june. JUNE. its been pouring rain every day, and if it wasnt doing that, it was hot as balls. i even dicked around as much as possible, to make sure it wasnt going to rain, or get hotter, and EVEN WATCHED A WEATHER REPORT. i never watch the weather!
so, after getting over the "adventures of what next!?"
i taped down paper towel to the pattern of the center cosmetic plate
i finished taping off the center cosmetic plate, and then i thought "hey, spray paint it black so when you fiber glass, you can see what you're fiberglassing!"
i just wish i thought of that the first time i fiberglassed it.
seriously.
thats what a fiberglassed solid piece of paper towel looks like! that is the underside of the "plate."
this is the top view, the face view of the cosmetic plate.
pretty neat huh? except that it didnt follow the shape of the object, and it decided to crease. but thats alright, i knew from the start that i should have done it in pieces with resin on them, but "i just wanted to see" because really, this was mostly about experimentation. funny how it looks like a chicken's skin.
"why did you make the vent solid again?" you know over this?
well, i didnt. especially not since id toiled so damn much on it trying to get it as perfectly centered as i could and then smooth around it(thats an older picture, its alot smoother under that layer of masking and gaff tape, even the flat area at the bottom between the boosters is smooth now). my intention is to take the cosmetic plate, trace the inside of the circle vent, count how many vent lines i need, and then cut them out from the back side of it. the plate itself is one piece, this is how IM going to go about doing this. its probably the easier way, for those of you that are gifted with working with fiberglass and expensive materials i can only dream of owning, you probably have a different approach that id be welcome to knowing.
by the way, today's "retrogress" looks like ****. so, i know im not going the route of a solid paper towel, let alone, the ripped paper towel if i can get out of it. i feel the bumps from the towel through the resin, i dont like that.
but wait there's more! it doesnt look like i have much of a choice though other than to try my hand again at using a paper towel... this is why!:
whats that white sheet crap on the clothes line? oh, that? its just the fiberglass mat i had sitting in a bucket that filled with water. imagine my surprise when i put it up there, and a drip went in my eye! yes! possible infections rule! its not like i really wanted to get anything done today anway! i mean, having the real thing just waiting to be used when i figured out that papertowels werent going to work, so i can fall back on that and really get some progress here is only a PIPE DREAM.
so, getting fiberglass mat water in my eye being the nail in the coffin, or the cherry on top, or final straw, or that thing that broke the camels back of my 3 hour thursday, i started cleaning up. i'll try again tomorrow weather and stupid permitting.
its red dead redemption and pepakura rocketeer helmet time.
this is how my day went.
first, i want to throw out all the "to dos" about preparing for working on a project. you know you're going to have to get things in order before you set out on whatever it is you're working on. thats going to get some time. i thought i had everything in order, so i began reading the instructions on the side of the resin container.
for the sake of honesty, its the bondo brand, and really, i ignored the instructions 1-3,5-6. i didnt get to 9-14. what i did, was anyhting that pertained to the mixing ratio, and actually doing the resin, which is basically 4, 7-8..
and 8's really about hardening. really, having ignored all those instructions, nothing was really outside of the normalcy im used to when i dealt with fiberglass in the past.
i heard some where online that a paper towel is a good substitute for fiberglass mat(i'll get to this later, its unrelated at this moment) and i wanted to experiment with that, on top of, trying my hand at fiberglassing (technically, its not really traditional fiberglass, but apparently saying "im fiberglassing this jetpack thing" is a usable term, even though im not making a fiberglass mold out of it.) now, what frustrates me, is i forgot to bring out my 2" masking tape. so, i went to get it and i tripped over a dog.
then i got the tape. and tripped over another dog. and remember to take off my ring, and get a soda. after i did that, and came back out side.
what did the dogs get into now?
a rat. its not totally dead either, and they dont know what to do with it, other than let its lower half wiggle in their mouth. after freaking out at a possible rabies scare that you'll have to have a chat with your family about later because both dogs were near it, you finally get the idea to get a bag and throw it out.
thats 30 minutes into the start of what should be your greatest propping afternoon since june. JUNE. its been pouring rain every day, and if it wasnt doing that, it was hot as balls. i even dicked around as much as possible, to make sure it wasnt going to rain, or get hotter, and EVEN WATCHED A WEATHER REPORT. i never watch the weather!
so, after getting over the "adventures of what next!?"
i taped down paper towel to the pattern of the center cosmetic plate
i finished taping off the center cosmetic plate, and then i thought "hey, spray paint it black so when you fiber glass, you can see what you're fiberglassing!"
i just wish i thought of that the first time i fiberglassed it.
seriously.
thats what a fiberglassed solid piece of paper towel looks like! that is the underside of the "plate."
this is the top view, the face view of the cosmetic plate.
pretty neat huh? except that it didnt follow the shape of the object, and it decided to crease. but thats alright, i knew from the start that i should have done it in pieces with resin on them, but "i just wanted to see" because really, this was mostly about experimentation. funny how it looks like a chicken's skin.
"why did you make the vent solid again?" you know over this?
well, i didnt. especially not since id toiled so damn much on it trying to get it as perfectly centered as i could and then smooth around it(thats an older picture, its alot smoother under that layer of masking and gaff tape, even the flat area at the bottom between the boosters is smooth now). my intention is to take the cosmetic plate, trace the inside of the circle vent, count how many vent lines i need, and then cut them out from the back side of it. the plate itself is one piece, this is how IM going to go about doing this. its probably the easier way, for those of you that are gifted with working with fiberglass and expensive materials i can only dream of owning, you probably have a different approach that id be welcome to knowing.
by the way, today's "retrogress" looks like ****. so, i know im not going the route of a solid paper towel, let alone, the ripped paper towel if i can get out of it. i feel the bumps from the towel through the resin, i dont like that.
but wait there's more! it doesnt look like i have much of a choice though other than to try my hand again at using a paper towel... this is why!:
whats that white sheet crap on the clothes line? oh, that? its just the fiberglass mat i had sitting in a bucket that filled with water. imagine my surprise when i put it up there, and a drip went in my eye! yes! possible infections rule! its not like i really wanted to get anything done today anway! i mean, having the real thing just waiting to be used when i figured out that papertowels werent going to work, so i can fall back on that and really get some progress here is only a PIPE DREAM.
so, getting fiberglass mat water in my eye being the nail in the coffin, or the cherry on top, or final straw, or that thing that broke the camels back of my 3 hour thursday, i started cleaning up. i'll try again tomorrow weather and stupid permitting.
its red dead redemption and pepakura rocketeer helmet time.
wow dude
on the bright side when this is all said and done you'll have one kick ass prop and possibly a fashionable eye patch
on the bright side when this is all said and done you'll have one kick ass prop and possibly a fashionable eye patch
Galactica53
Member
Gotta love fiberglass matt water....
Looks like your making progress though, keep it up and maybe you will get it done sooner than later
Cameron
Looks like your making progress though, keep it up and maybe you will get it done sooner than later
Cameron
themanwoaname
Sr Member
its a free ware pep. i searched on 4share for it the file is called rocketeer helmet.pdo .
the fin is mostly a pattern to cut, the eyes need some work, and it doesnt include the side tubes.
i dont mind doing a little extra work. ive already mostly built one, you can see at the beginning of the thread, but after it cracking and being cumbersome i decided to make another one at leisure.
the fin is mostly a pattern to cut, the eyes need some work, and it doesnt include the side tubes.
i dont mind doing a little extra work. ive already mostly built one, you can see at the beginning of the thread, but after it cracking and being cumbersome i decided to make another one at leisure.
themanwoaname
Sr Member
i have a zoo york peacoat that looks like itd be awesome with this costume. ive been trying to find a leather jacket(like cafe racer/motorcycle/vintage) that would look cool.
i dont have the 600 bucks to drop on a jacket that may not be good quality.
im not really concerned with the pants yet, ive eye balled some cargos i have tucked into some boots i made for my comedian costume. im thinking "son of rocketeer" until i have the dispensable income to drop on the costume.
i dont have the 600 bucks to drop on a jacket that may not be good quality.
im not really concerned with the pants yet, ive eye balled some cargos i have tucked into some boots i made for my comedian costume. im thinking "son of rocketeer" until i have the dispensable income to drop on the costume.
EvilRocketeer
Master Member
you can always buy the south beach leather jacket...They are about 145, but I am sure you can talk them down in the price..It is a decent jacket for the price...I can post a picture later today what it looks like....I did a fast rocketeer costume last year just in time for a halloween party. It holds up well, but doesnt compare with the abbyshot or predicta jackets...
I would love a magnoli jacket, but I am waiting for it to have authentic buttons..
For the pants, the website I posted earlier sells them for 100, but I am sure you can use semi baggy khaki pants....maybe dickies...
For the harness buckles, depending on your budget...try looking for parachute buckles...maybe some quick release buckles will come in handy...I'll post the buckle used in the film..I have a production used buckle, a replica buckle, and the upper buckles used for the harness
edit:
Buckle on left is production used buckle, buckle next to it is the infamous replica buckle, than the upper buckle and another memorabilia buckle which has a history of its own
here are the pictures I took last year with the jacket at my brothers house
I would love a magnoli jacket, but I am waiting for it to have authentic buttons..
For the pants, the website I posted earlier sells them for 100, but I am sure you can use semi baggy khaki pants....maybe dickies...
For the harness buckles, depending on your budget...try looking for parachute buckles...maybe some quick release buckles will come in handy...I'll post the buckle used in the film..I have a production used buckle, a replica buckle, and the upper buckles used for the harness
edit:
Buckle on left is production used buckle, buckle next to it is the infamous replica buckle, than the upper buckle and another memorabilia buckle which has a history of its own
here are the pictures I took last year with the jacket at my brothers house
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themanwoaname
Sr Member
i might go the south beach direction when i get some extra money. this year, if i can finish the pack before halloween im going to stick with what i have. that also means i need to doubly get cracking on this pep helmet so i have a decent helmet.
how does that jacket feel when you wear it? does it feel like a leather jacket or like a kids plastic raincoat? i may sell some leather jackets i already own to fund that jacket, if i can get use out of it other than for a costume.
i also started looking for parachute buckles. i emailed a friend of mine who's into sky diving to see if they had anywhere they usually go for stuff like that. do you have a recommendation for the straps?
how does that jacket feel when you wear it? does it feel like a leather jacket or like a kids plastic raincoat? i may sell some leather jackets i already own to fund that jacket, if i can get use out of it other than for a costume.
i also started looking for parachute buckles. i emailed a friend of mine who's into sky diving to see if they had anywhere they usually go for stuff like that. do you have a recommendation for the straps?
Utinni
Sr Member
For the harness buckles it depends how accurate vs. easy of wear you want to go. Since they are usually hidden by the jacket bib, it doesn't really matter what type of buckles you go with. But stay with flat ones so they don't show through the bib!
I use 2 of the upper harness style buckles on my harness right now, but will be making a second one for the replica lower buckle soon
I normally wear my bib buttoned, but have opened it for a couple pictures to show the upper buckle
And here's one for EvilRocketeer for nabbing that production used buckle!!! lol
- Jeff
I use 2 of the upper harness style buckles on my harness right now, but will be making a second one for the replica lower buckle soon
I normally wear my bib buttoned, but have opened it for a couple pictures to show the upper buckle
And here's one for EvilRocketeer for nabbing that production used buckle!!! lol
- Jeff
Galactica53
Member
Nice pictures :cool
themanwoaname
Sr Member
where did you get your buckles utinni?
i have another question to the southbeach jacket, how well does it take dye? if i go that route id want it a darker shade of brown so i can definitely get more use out of it.
i have another question to the southbeach jacket, how well does it take dye? if i go that route id want it a darker shade of brown so i can definitely get more use out of it.
