Tony Stark Arc Reactor Question

[Filandrius]

I think the blobs turned out pretty decent!

I certainly think so. In person they look exactly like real solder (and exactly as shoddy as if I would've made real welds myself )

That is my plan too. I liked building props that are weathered or “shoddy” because it’s harder to screw up haha

You've said it! "Perfect" or pristine props are SO hard to pull off... No margin for error. And they don't look as nice. They look fake, somehow. There's no weathering like real weathering!

 

[xl97]

That is my plan too. I liked building props that are weathered or “shoddy” because it’s harder to screw up haha

HA!.. I have also said.. that 'HERO' (non-weathered) props are more difficult!

But the 'weathered' look tends to make the prop more 'believable' sometimes!

 

[LTsmash1200]

I dont recall...

did yours have the 'bumps/holes' (nubs) on the black plastic "U" shapes?

I cant really see it that close... but they look like they came out pretty good.

It did. I sanded them off, then used little clippings of brass binder things to solder the wires to. That ended up just being a mess though. They were too small to get anything to hold on to them to solder them, when trying to solder them after being glued down, the glue just came undone. It did make me realize how badly I need to get new helping hands though. The fancy new kind with 4+ flexible arms are way better than the crappy old one I have, but I've always just been able to make that work...not the case this time.

It was a mess. You can't see because I didn't want to take a picture close enough to show how embarrassingly bad the solder looks, haha. I work on guitars on the side, so I'm pretty solid at soldering, but this looks like somebody who's never held a soldering iron and can't see out of one eye did it....luckily from a few feet away nobody is going to notice...also...as somebody said before, Tony built it in a cave, so...it's probably fine.

For mine I made fake welds from Amazing GOOP painted with a silver pen. They look appropriately shoddy, I think.

About the plug: my kit came with the incorrect (MK2) version. Anyone has a source for the accurate plug for the MK1?

That looks great. If I ever feel like it I may order another and do that. I just left the plug off of mine. The one Pepper gives him in the movie doesn't seem to have it attached.

 

[benhs1898]

The plus is accurate to the mk1 as well. You see it in the scene where she pulls it out. The photos of the prop must feature a replacement or the metal part fell off. I don’t believe she removed the plug as he uses the reactor later in the movie when Obadiah steals the mk2

 

[Filandrius]

Well I’ll be damned! I guess I’ll keep the plug after all.

I tried something with the welded copper wires... I just went over them (carefully) with a gold paint pen. And... Voilà! Instant brass wires. Take a look:

 

[Sundowner]

I used some 5 min epoxy to create the soldering. I’m pretty happy with them

 

[NeoRutty]

There are SO many of these, but looking to buy. I've tried reading through this thread, but not sure I still have an idea if there are good/bad versions, or if these are ALL the same, just a game of who to buy from...

For example, since I've been looking, my instagram and facebook are ALL about them.. they vary in price (plus I'm canadian) but here's an example:

projectholo.tech

Cuz in the end I want the full case, and I want the MAch 1.... but all metal parts (or metal for what can be metal)

So this one would be $169 but also doesn't seem to be shipping from China (assuming they have the same kits)

Thoughts? Are there cheaper for this exact metal set?

Thanks guys!

 

[Sundowner]

Honestly I just gambled. The second one I tried to buy was a MKII and I got a MKI. I can’t complain because it was free. Side note I tried contacting the seller but they don’t seem to exist anymore

 

[LTsmash1200]

There are SO many of these, but looking to buy. I've tried reading through this thread, but not sure I still have an idea if there are good/bad versions, or if these are ALL the same, just a game of who to buy from...

For example, since I've been looking, my instagram and facebook are ALL about them.. they vary in price (plus I'm canadian) but here's an example:

projectholo.tech

Cuz in the end I want the full case, and I want the MAch 1.... but all metal parts (or metal for what can be metal)

So this one would be $169 but also doesn't seem to be shipping from China (assuming they have the same kits)

Thoughts? Are there cheaper for this exact metal set?

Thanks guys!

That honestly looks like the same ones they sell on Wish/eBay, just way more expensive. I'd just search on Wish, find one that specifically lets you pick MK 1, and order that. They offer standard or metal upgrades on a lot of them. They're all the same kit as far as I can tell. One thing though, the acrylic case you get is kind of crappy. The base itself is fine (although it came black, I painted mine silver).

 

[xl97]

My link I purchased from had NO choice to pick form MK1 or MK2..etc..

Even though they had pics for all variants.. I ended up getting the MK1

One the links I have posted here.. there is actually an option to pick from:

MK1
MK1 - metal
MK2
Display Case

choose what you want and order.....

The metal versions were like $20 more or so if remember correctly.. (case was like another $35-40 bucks!)

 

[NeoRutty]

My link I purchased from had NO choice to pick form MK1 or MK2..etc..

Even though they had pics for all variants.. I ended up getting the MK1

One the links I have posted here.. there is actually an option to pick from:

MK1
MK1 - metal
MK2
Display Case

choose what you want and order.....

The metal versions were like $20 more or so if remember correctly.. (case was like another $35-40 bucks!)

Weird site (Wish)... so many versions. Why have one with a usb plug? weird.

Did anyone actually BUY from Wish? I see a lot of posts discussing, then not sure where they came from.

For $114 canadian (metal mk1 with base) seems pretty good!

I could also have a glass guy I know make a better case based on the measurements.

May have to lock this down this weekend, unless someone here is like "NOOO NOT WISH! GO THIS ONE!"

 

[LTsmash1200]

I bought mine from Wish. Like I said, just search for them and pick one of the links that actually has options for whichever one you want to buy. They all appear to be the same regardless of where you buy them: Wish, eBay, AliExpress...even on Etsy, several of them look like they just ordered the kits from China, assembled them, and are selling them for more. Also, if you put it in your cart on Wish and wait for a bit the price seems to drop a little. It's weird. It's a very odd site...I think total for the reactor and case plus shipping I paid around $75 US.

 

[xl97]

I got mine from WISH as well...

Yes.. as LT mentions.. add item.. remove.. add again.... look at the bottom of the 'add to cart' (usually some 'name' also wants to buy one so you buy together and get 'group' discount).. each time.. I got a lower and lower price.

Also.. there are '2' case styles I have seen so far one looked to be a 'finger' joint style where the case walls fit together.. and another where it looked much better with just 'walls' (no notches or joining of pieces)

I ordered the Acrylic kit.. (couldnt be happier to be honest).. and it was roughly $35 in total ..

there shipping prices are INSANE!.. (guess it makes up for the cheap price for the item?)

I would like a metal one.. but was first time ordering from WISH.. and it looked a little 'suspect'..

I wish we could find the laser cutter files.. I have a laser cutter.. and could make some pieces..


It truly is an intricate kit for the price.

 

[Sundowner]

Weird site (Wish)... so many versions. Why have one with a usb plug? weird.

The usb plug is how its powered. The usb plug gets hidden if you get the case.

 

[LTsmash1200]

Also.. there are '2' case styles I have seen so far one looked to be a 'finger' joint style where the case walls fit together.. and another where it looked much better with just 'walls' (no notches or joining of pieces)

I'd be interested to see if there really are different case styles. I'm like 80% sure the pictures on the one I ordered were the one with just walls that looked good, but I got the other kind that looks kind of crappy...

 

[xl97]

Thats a good point..


The pics do not really 'seal the deal' of what you will get in the end.

I too did not want the crappy one (with the overhanded edges and 'finger joint/slots'..etc)

So I shy'd away from ordering one.

Who here has ordered a case? Sundowner You got one...right? What styles was yours?

 

[DiggsBarklightr]

Thats a good point..


The pics do not really 'seal the deal' of what you will get in the end.

I too did not want the crappy one (with the overhanded edges and 'finger joint/slots'..etc)

So I shy'd away from ordering one.

Who here has ordered a case? Sundowner You got one...right? What styles was yours?

I have a case coming as well, and no clue which one since the picture showed two different versions. Got it for free from the seller on AliExpress so I can’t complain much. We’ll see what it looks like since it’s currently on transit for about a week now.

 

[Sundowner]

Thats a good point..


The pics do not really 'seal the deal' of what you will get in the end.

I too did not want the crappy one (with the overhanded edges and 'finger joint/slots'..etc)

So I shy'd away from ordering one.

Who here has ordered a case? Sundowner You got one...right? What styles was yours?

I got the MK I buy have not ordered a case yet.

 

[xl97]

ahh sorry!

I have a laser cutter if anyone needs something done by the way.. (I truly do not use it enough)

 

[LTsmash1200]

For what it's worth, the base itself looks good. It's just the acrylic case that looks crappy.