Steampunk Ironman Helmet WIP - 5/31 update

Re: Steampunk Ironman Helmet WIP - 11/29 Hinge Test Video

Good job you have some eye protection on, wise decision, least till you make it a little user friendly, lessen the blinding risk.

Still, you have come a mighty long way from taking some concept art, skateboard helmet and a whole lot of filler.
 
Re: Steampunk Ironman Helmet WIP - 11/29 Hinge Test Video

as i watched video i would sugest moving hinged on head a little bib forvard to get more clearance and making U shaped part longer on one end that goes from center to face plate
 
Re: Steampunk Ironman Helmet WIP - 11/29 Hinge Test Video

as i watched video i would sugest moving hinged on head a little bib forvard to get more clearance and making U shaped part longer on one end that goes from center to face plate

Not sure I got that... Can you sketch a picture of what you're talking about? I'm always up for advice and/or ideas, so anything you come up with, please do share.

Also, anyone interested in the MINI-LED bulbs I used in the 'test' lens I worked up, is in luck. I just found (and bought three sets for myself) sets of these at Big Lots! HURRAH!!! :):thumbsup

Now, I can build up the second lens and get these puppies wired up! :love
 
Re: Steampunk Ironman Helmet WIP - 11/29 Hinge Test Video

Looking really nice man. I said to you I was going to do you some scretches but as you are close enough to what I had in mind I will just add my little extra idea. The lip you added for the visor to rest on seems to be one of the contributing factors to visor movement restriction.Have you thought of cutting 2 groves into it to alow the hinges to move further back? They won't be seen as the visor covers them. This will mean you won't need such large hinges and the visor will raise up more flat on top of the helmet.

Also is there any way the hinges can be moved more to the sides as well? If you feel the angle they will be moved to may makes things arkward then I do have an idea for that and can knock up a sketch of what I have in mind if you like.
 
Re: Steampunk Ironman Helmet WIP - 11/29 Hinge Test Video

something like this. where one side of hinge is longer then other. sorry for crapy draing, dont have my pc right now
 
Re: Steampunk Ironman Helmet WIP - 11/29 Hinge Test Video

Thanks for all the ideas and encouragement. I've been really struggling with how to attack this problem and what elements to take on first. :unsure

One of the things that I have been seriously considering is the 'cheek' section of the helmet. The MORE that I look at the photo, the more I believe this piece could/should be separate from the body/faceplate of the helmet.

Think of this as a 'Bane-style' mouth piece with the hard body and faceplate of the helmet covering it. Here is a quick/rough sketch of what I'm thinking about...

8298284327_2f7f0f18ee.jpg


8298285965_aee157ac61.jpg


Now, this would require me to actually get a pretty close mold of Digitizit's head and then model in clay in other pieces this section. That would then be cast and modeled in latex (again with some parts in resin).

Here is the reference images again....
7411994090_8b00fea972.jpg


What do you think? :confused
 
Re: Steampunk Ironman Helmet WIP - Cheek Detail Concepts

I kinda feel that the whole thing with Iron Man's movable faceplate is that when it opens you see his face. The sketch you did was cool, but doesn't feel like Iron Man, cause it's like, helm opens and respirator mask, not Stark's face
 
Re: Steampunk Ironman Helmet WIP - Cheek Detail Concepts

I kinda feel that the whole thing with Iron Man's movable faceplate is that when it opens you see his face. The sketch you did was cool, but doesn't feel like Iron Man, cause it's like, helm opens and respirator mask, not Stark's face

You've got a good point. The other reference sketch from the original artwork doesn't include a 'respirator mask' in it. But it sorta does still look like the cheek part is separate from the helmet. Take a look...

8299285445_d0f5a7d075.jpg


So, maybe something like this?

8300365798_0c80beb4a8.jpg
 
Re: Steampunk Ironman Helmet WIP - Cheek Detail Concepts

I really like the idea of the new jaw detail you are think about and this would also lend to having the jaw move down as the helmet opens. If you could incorporate some kind of moving mechanism on the out side for aesthetics so when the jaw drops a cog turns or a piston extends, or both, that would look cool.

I know it's ambitious but a nice touch would be to have CO2 expell as well but I realise that could be taking things a little too far :)
 
Re: Steampunk Ironman Helmet WIP - Cheek Detail Concepts

You could have the gas mask drop down to reveal the face. Sort of like the chin dropping down on the movie iron man.
 
Re: Steampunk Ironman Helmet WIP - Cheek Detail Concepts

The chin drop the other guys mentioned sounds good, a nice touch
 
Re: Steampunk Ironman Helmet WIP - Cheek Detail Concepts

I think that it fits for a technology of it's technological era especially if it's a steam driven type of system a respirator of some sort is needed to keep it's wearer from suffocating on heat. You'd have ta think about th' what's possible /w/ th' technology available for it to be believable otherwise it comes off as a total rip off. That's my2 cents
 
Re: Steampunk Ironman Helmet WIP - Cheek Detail Concepts

Had a break-through last night on the faceplate hinge!!!!

As noted, I've worked on double-action side hinges (like Mockle's standard IM design). I also worked up a single hinge located at the center of the forehead.
8346569908_bfe9b3e712_m.jpg



But I simply could NOT get any of these to work well. That led Digitizit and I to a bit of a brainstorming session where he brought up a 'rail' or 'sliding track' system for opening the faceplate. I tinkered with several versions of that while I was on vacation in FL this holiday, but was still far from a working model... until last night.

I had an evening off and after several frustrating hours, I finally ended up with something that looks VERY promising! :love

The idea is pretty simple... You glue a section of hard plastic tube along the inside of the helmet from the brow-ridge toward the crown of the head. You affix a 12ga. wire to the 'nose' section of the faceplate that runs up between the eyes of the faceplate and into the plastic tube (track). When you pull on the wire that extends past the track (inside the helmet), it pulls the lower part of the faceplate where the wire it attached toward the top of the helmet face opening. Since the wire/faceplate attachment is hinged, it allows the faceplace to rotate in a way that allows it to move up and back toward the top of the helmet.

The up-sides of this design is that there are almost NO impact to the head-room inside the helmet. There are also no visible parts and a very simple movement system (no double or sliding hinges). But the down side will be the tension within the system that is necessary to snap the faceplate down into it's grooved place in the 'closed' position. The wire MUST be under some pressure to keep it down in place but not enough to prevent it from pulling itself out of position and up into the 'open' position.

I also haven't worked out the control system for stabilizing the faceplate-to-wire connection through this hinged motion, but I feel like I'm very close to having a workable solution!

Here's the video of my first tests...


After this video was taken, I did extend the movement to get the faceplate to open wider. I'm now going to try to work on a couple of methods to stabilize the hinge on the faceplate as well as the wire through it's full movement.

Thoughts?
 
Re: Steampunk Ironman Helmet WIP - 1/4/13 WORKING HINGE VIDEO!!!

:thumbsup
Nice motion, looks like it has good potential
 
Re: Steampunk Ironman Helmet WIP - 1/4/13 WORKING HINGE VIDEO!!!

:thumbsup
Nice motion, looks like it has good potential

Thanks! I definitely think this is the best option I've come up with so far.

Here is a video update on the hinge - it now opens wider.



As I mention in the video, I'm working on replacing the 12 gauge wire and plastic tube with a flat band of metal and some custom made 'clips' that will act as guides that the new band of metal will slide through.

Ultimately, this move will reduce the unstable rotation that happens with the round wire in the round plastic tube.

Here's a picture of the wire and new replacement bar.
8352625094_0370291976.jpg


And here's a picture of what I'm starting with for a roughly worked up 'clip' or 'guide' for the new control track.
8351556735_99a72f25a7.jpg


Once I have this cleaned up and the bottom rounded a bit to better fit the curve of the helmet, I'll have Digitizit cast half a dozen of these in resin. That should be enough to control the movement, but also to reduce the friction/tension on the control track - which should make the overall movement smoother.
 
Re: Steampunk Ironman Helmet WIP - 1/6/13 WORKING HINGE VIDEO!!!

That is great! I am still deep into my War Machine but really excited to get rolling on the Steam Punk Iron Man! Love this track system and I'm looking forward to more info on it and the sides of the jaw as well. Beats the heck outta my idea! I was thinking of splitting the face plate in half and having it open like a cuckoo clock lol!:behave:facepalm:lol JK! Still one of the most exciting builds! Any progress on the body armor?:popcorn
Can you show how you are attaching the rod/ slide mech to the face shield?
Thanks my friend!
M
 
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