Republic commando HUD concept...

[Madog]

I've had another idea for customizing my RC helmet. The concept is to make reusable decals of the graphics inside the helmet. They would need to be translucent and it would be great if they were also light reactive. The illumination from the EL wire would cause them to glow slightly. Any one know of someone on the forum that could help with making these, or an online service that could do a short run of this kind of decal.

This is just a quick ruff of the HUD graphics. The bright areas are the pieces that the decals would replicate.

 

[KitSmasher]

What if they were UV reactive, and you put in a blacklight LED inside the helmet?

I dont even know if they make decals like that, but itd be cool

 

[Darth Lars]

While cool, wouldn't the visor be too close to your eyes to allow your eyes to focus on it?

What if they were UV reactive, and you put in a blacklight LED inside the helmet?

The UV radiation would not be safe for your eyes.
I believe that with careful positioning you could use ordinary white LEDs to light the decals without getting any glare directed to the eyes.

BTW. There are guys putting UV leds into everything just because they want purple LEDs and keep saying "I have never had any ill effects", but they are idiots. The purple light is a deliberate side-effect intended to serve as a warning light to tell you when NOT to look at the LED.:rolleyes

 

[Madog]

Yeah the UV option would be out, I agree that a couple of small LED's would be sufficient to light them, which is why I think the EL wire will provide enough illumination if the decals could be phospheresent. As far as the focus, sure there most likely not going to be in focus, but by them being translucent you would be focusing through them any way. They would be part of my idea that a helmet should look as good on the inside as they look on the outside.

 

[Ramiel]

Actually if you use a plexy visor and you could laser-engrave the graphics in the visor, if you could put a light above or below the visor (like a stip of leds) the engraved graphic will light-up... and if you put the ink of a marker in the recessed areas, it should light-up with that color... I don't know if my explanation was clear, if not, I'll make a diagram!

 

[Drago Lordist]

I had started the same thing a while back. I too got the same response that we have too little view area as it is and that it would be too close to your eyes. I still think it would be a cool addition and plan to add one to my RC when I start it and my mando once I have the time. I'd offer to send you the work I've done on it so you're not starting from scratch but I can't seem to find it. guess it's still on the crashed PC. lol good luck!

 

[Madog]

The only problem I see with the etching idea is that most tinted visors are coated from the back side. Etching into the back would make the graphics visible from the outside as well. By making them from a window cling type of material they could be removed and reused if you ever had to replace the visor.

 

[dropshipbob]

Cafepress offers window cling type material that you can have things printed on, but it might not be the right shape...or big enough.