Semi transparent plastic for glowing FX - Yea, Iron Man related :(

[Fetts.Sobriquet]

What plastic are you guys using to get the diffused effect for your Iron Man eyes/ Arc reactor? How do you see through he eyes in the helmet, is there a slit at the bottom of the plastic you peer through?

Thanks, any help is appreciated!

 

[koobecafees]

What plastic are you guys using to get the diffused effect for your Iron Man eyes/ Arc reactor? How do you see through he eyes in the helmet, is there a slit at the bottom of the plastic you peer through?

Thanks, any help is appreciated!

You are right about the eyes. Most people set it up so the light is above the eye slits and directed at an angle pointing down. This light is reflected off a barrier that covers your eyes so you won't be blinded by the light. You should leave enough room on the bottom of the barrier so you can still see through.

​

 

[Fetts.Sobriquet]

You are right about the eyes. Most people set it up so the light is above the eye slits and directed at an angle pointing down. This light is reflected off a barrier that covers your eyes so you won't be blinded by the light. You should leave enough room on the bottom of the barrier so you can still see through.

​

Sweet! The drawing is perfect.

Any idea about what plastic to use?

 

[koobecafees]

Sweet! The drawing is perfect.

Any idea about what plastic to use?

I'm not sure about the plastic. I think it has to be somewhat opaque, somewhat like frosted glass, in order to obtain the diffused light effect. I know they sell semi-transparent frosted glass sheets that you can stick on to things, for example glass or clear plastic. If you have the light coming from inside the plastic, I think you can obtain the same effect for diffused light for the arc reactor. However for the eyes, you will not be able to see through the eye slits if you place frosted glass over the opening. Instead for the eyes, you should have a layer of clear plastic to cover the eye slits, and add the frosted glass tape to the barrier. The light should reflect diffused light from the barrier and give the eyes the diffused light effect.

 

[jaymay023]

Most people use a reveal slot at the bottom. There is an old theatrical trick called peppers ghost. You could use a two way mirror, bounce the light off the mirrors using Electroluminescent panel or diffused LEDs. This would allow you to see more then just a small reveal at the bottom of the panel.

The same effect is used in the haunted mansion and Tower of terror in Disneyland..

For right now I've used plastic measuring cups (like the 16oz. one at the end), cut strips and added LEDs behind it, then painted a backing that is flat black to block the light out and keeping from blinding ya. . Just few options. Hope this helps

Cheers,

-Jay

 

[Fetts.Sobriquet]

I found some sheets of frosted sheet plastic at Hobby Lobby in the stained glass section that should do nicely.

Thanks for all the help guys!

 

[DaddyfromNaboo]

I found some sheets of frosted sheet plastic at Hobby Lobby in the stained glass section that should do nicely.

Thanks for all the help guys!

You can also use clear acrylic and frost it all by yourself by simply sanding it with, say, a 400 grit sandpaper.

 

[PAULFIERCE]

hopefully this is easy to understand.

Also the best straws that work for this are from the sandwich store SUBWAY. LOL. and if you want to do the RED eyes for war machine. get the RED slurpee straw from 7-11. hehehe =)

 

[PAULFIERCE]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhGy3nHQTV8



check out my eye light video using this method.

 

[Fetts.Sobriquet]

hopefully this is easy to understand.

That is very cool. thanks!

 

[Capn_Jack_Savvy]

http://www.facebook.com/v/1395760608292

check out my eye light video using this method.

Viddie Unavailable error message!:cry

 

[tk1055]

Wow that "low tech" idea is great! I may have to use that one when my helmet is done.

 

[PAULFIERCE]

Wow that "low tech" idea is great! I may have to use that one when my helmet is done.

Thank you TK all I want is acknowledgment for the info. Not like other war machine builders out there.. :lol

 

[PAULFIERCE]

Also I would like to add the following tips.

If you are planning to wear and show off your armor in the day time. The eye lights wont be effective. You will probably get a lot of people taking pictures of you with camera phones. So... this is what I did for daytime wear.

I installed some old sunglasses in the eyes, and attach some white reflective strip as you can see. it really gives a good effect in the day time.

and when you get indoors or at night, you can replace it with the straws.

 

[mrfister]

Most people use a reveal slot at the bottom. There is an old theatrical trick called peppers ghost. You could use a two way mirror, bounce the light off the mirrors using Electroluminescent panel or diffused LEDs. This would allow you to see more then just a small reveal at the bottom of the panel.

The same effect is used in the haunted mansion and Tower of terror in Disneyland..

For right now I've used plastic measuring cups (like the 16oz. one at the end), cut strips and added LEDs behind it, then painted a backing that is flat black to block the light out and keeping from blinding ya. . Just few options. Hope this helps

Cheers,

-Jay

That's the method I'm using for my war machine build. There are several companies that will ship you a sample of two way plastic mirror for under $10. Seek out "cut and shape" E.L. sheets, they run just under $30. Inverters are around $10. Granted this set up costs a bit

more, but it gives great visibility and is suprisingly bright.

Let me know what model of helmet you're using. I can make you a template based on the pep you are using.

**Note**
I am also using a small servo to slip a red lighting gel under the white electroluminescent sheet to switch from white to red. Its overkill, but the effect should be worth it.

Mr.

 

[Fetts.Sobriquet]

Let me know what model of helmet you're using. I can make you a template based on the pep you are using.

**Note**
I am also using a small servo to slip a red lighting gel under the white electroluminescent sheet to switch from white to red. Its overkill, but the effect should be worth it.

Mr.

1 - You are brilliant sir! I can't wait to see your color changing war machine eyes. I'm playing around with the same concept but I'm putting white and red LEDs on the same board but on different circuits, so I can switch between the two colors. This is just for a war machine helmet, I'm not doing a WM suit...yet. I think your electroluminescent sheet will look better than my plan. I'm not using a pep helmet so no templates but I'm winging it with good results. :thumbsup

2- Your user name is awesome. :lol

 

[TMP]

We tested this out. For us this did not work out to well. The problem was the angle of the lense. The light reflects of from the lightsource and the angle of the lense. But if you look at the lense from a different angle it will not reflect the light the same way.

 

[Fetts.Sobriquet]

We tested this out. For us this did not work out to well. The problem was the angle of the lense. The light reflects of from the lightsource and the angle of the lense. But if you look at the lense from a different angle it will not reflect the light the same way.

I tested this out today and got the same results; if you're referring to the two-way mirror/pepper's ghost illusion. The light from the LEDs seemed to move around on the lens depending on what angle you're viewing it from. I think if I were to diffuse it significantly more it will be less noticeable, but for now I'll just place LEDs above the lens and not use a two way mirror.

 

[Dark asylum]

Ok for the eyes best way to get the glowing effect is a full lense shaped like the eye piece the sheets and slanted eyes just don't have the same effect for me I like the shaped eye lense look.

if you want a effect similar to this effect you just need a clear sheet fogged or finely sanded on the inside leaving the outside of it glossy smooth then box around the inside about a quarter of and inch or less with a white/mirrored reflective surface inside at the back then put a few LEDs above the eyes pointing down from the top so it reflects off the white/mirrored surface glowing as it hit's the fogged inside area the more LEDs the brighter this helmet only had 1 per eye was plenty bright, just make sure you box in the LED's and eye peice so no Light escapes inside the helmet and leave enough slit under the eyes to see out of and there you have it hope this helps.

 

[Fetts.Sobriquet]

Ok for the eyes best way to get the glowing effect is a full lense shaped like the eye piece the sheets and slanted eyes just don't have the same effect for me I like the shaped eye lense look.


if you want a effect similar to this effect you just need a clear sheet fogged or finely sanded on the inside leaving the outside of it glossy smooth then box around the inside about a quarter of and inch or less with a white/mirrored reflective surface inside at the back then put a few LEDs above the eyes pointing down from the top so it reflects off the white/mirrored surface glowing as it hit's the fogged inside area the more LEDs the brighter this helmet only had 1 per eye was plenty bright, just make sure you box in the LED's and eye peice so no Light escapes inside the helmet and leave enough slit under the eyes to see out of and there you have it hope this helps.

Awesome, this is pretty much what I'm going for.

Thanks Dark!