Nightwing Batons

[mkwelshie]

Hi Guys,

Random question but you'll have to stick with me for a little while.

I'm going to attempt to make the above Nightwing Batons however after my imagination went of the rails a little i was wondering whether or not it would be possible to create a miniture tesla coil at the top of the batons to give the impresion of shock sticks?

The idea would be to use a plastic tube with batteries inside feeding the coils at the top with then a buttons on it to fire them up.

I'm no expert in electronics or anything but wondered if there was anyone out there who could suggest if this would work?

 

[xl97]

I doubt any kind of 'tesla coil'...

but illuminated?...for sure.


or if you are really set on a 'coil effect'.. maybe some wound/spaghetti'd EL wire?

 

[Dave Porter]

You could mount 3 or 4 LEDs in a row, and power them with a 555 timer and a 4017 decade counter, so that the light would move down the row, and simulate a tesla coil.

Or, if you have the space, use an arduino nano or mini, and program it to do the same. With the arduino, you could even program it to go faster as time goes on, building up a 'charge', so to speak.

It would easily run off a few coin batteries.

 

[mkwelshie]

Dave Porter - I like the idea of the using the mini-arduino to program the lights and make it go faster. might look into this.

 

[Dave Porter]

You can make a simple sketch that cycles the light, and by adding a loop to it, the interval can get shorter and shorter. Then at the end, make a flash, and you are good to go.

Or even better, get a button involved, and write it so that once you activate it and it gets to the fast cycling, that all the LEDs flash at once when you hit the button.

Just an idea. I've been playing with Arduinos for the last little while, so I have a lot of ideas floating around in my head.

 

[mkwelshie]

I figure if i use an Arduino to program an attiny85 with the above it shouldnt really take up that much room or weight

 

[xl97]

you gotta get some 'crackle/sizzle' sound FX coming out there!

ad you will have a "TON" of room inside those 'hilts/tubes'.. so your 'run time' will be long on whatever you decide to do..

(but you dont need to limit yourself to an ATtiny thats for sure)

you could even use some premade sound boards that have inter-changable sounds (housed on a SD card)..

that has an accelerometer and plays sound effects on 'swings' and 'clashes'..

(usually used in higher end light saber props...but with the interchangeable sounds you could put any sounds you want on the board and use it)..
you'd need 2 though...

it even comes with some LED effects.. to make the led you use shimmer, flicker..etc..

matter of fact I would alot of the same materials and approached "AS" the lightsaber builder use for this.

hmm..this could end up being a really fun project!!

 

[mkwelshie]

xl97 - i'm not really overly worried about sounds unless its like a crackling of electricity just to give it a little bit extra. i'm more worried about the weight then the size. i'm also looking for the two batons to be able to twist and lock together to make a staff. i'm thinking if both batons are between 2.5 and 3 feet in length it would be a pretty good length.

 

[xl97]

hi-

there are some sound fonts already like that..that can be used for your project.

SABERFONT.com - SABER FONT PAGE (The one stop shop, for all your soundfont needs)

Lightwhip
Necrovolt..

(maybe others)

but if audio isnt a concern.. then no worries.

they look rather ont he skinny side...

so I dont think weight will be an issues..

outside of finding a 'decent/acceptable' locking solution.. I dont think these would be hard to make at all.. (including, lights & sound effects..etc)

what is the OD you are shooting for on these?

1.25" OD?

maybe 24" in length.. (not including the head/top that lights up portion)

too bad my lathe bed isnt that long..

maybe some PVC for the main hilt/baton portion..

(ever since I saw this thread I have been kicking around the idea to make my own set too!)

 

[mkwelshie]

I think a PVC tubing would work well. as is the length your speaking of.

what do you mean by OD? sorry this is my first prop project as normally do costumes so rather ambitous first

will also be looking at activating both sets of LED's (on both batons) when they are locked together so will have to design a circuit to do this (which i dont think will be to difficult.

I'm also looking at the PEP files created on here (http://www.therpf.com/f24/batman-ac-pepakura-development-139793/index8.html) as a design template and working around that

 

[xl97]

OD = outer diameter

ID = inner diameter



my 'personal' approach would be this:

1.) PVC base using the OD and length that feels comfortable/right

2.) (Since I have access to tools/machines).. I'd be making some metal (aluminum) accents, overlays rings/sections, the pommel/end..etc..

3.) Top section(s) I would do exactly as is done in the 'lightsaber' prop building scene.. with a high powered led lighting up some polyc tubing..etc.. (again with an aluminum top/head cap..etc


at least thats how I have been thinking about it..


for the electronics... Id do separate circuits.. with switches in each one..


I need to surf around for some better pics, different angles..etc more too..

 

[mkwelshie]

I think a mixture of PV tubing base with aluminium would work fantastic and would give it a better structure. will also look for reference photos.

will also have a think of how best to connect the two batons. i think a screw top would be to slow. maybe a sort of spring clip?

 

[mkwelshie]

The only reference pictures i've found were these and thats not much to go on

 

[eko2184]

This thread is more amazing as it goes, I can't wait to see what you come up with. Good luck with the build and I'll be following this one with great anticipation cheers!

 

[The Boy Wonder]

You could probably make grooves inside of the batons. Depending on what you use to build, they most likely have tools that can make the grooves. That way you could take them and then twist them together. This would most likely be the most stable way to do it. Also, if you use tubes that aren't hollow, you could hollow from the top and stop at the bottom which allows for a sturdy prop. Also, I'm building the same batons except without the whole electric part. I am making mine Dick Grayson's Robin.

 

[Project RedWolf]

I'm sold on making one now... my brother loves escrima sticks and would like a set of these. i'll be watching this thread