Tony Stark Arc Reactor - wearable
- Thread starter Zendragon
- Start date
Neon Sentry
Sr Member
I haven't seen one yet that wasn't just a bashed together one-off piece.
I did a cheapo one for halloween that just went under my shirt and was an LED pushlight with a "template" over it...
Neon Sentry
Sr Member
OP, quick question: Are you going for the Ver.1 "Afghanistan" Reactor or the Ver.2 "Malibu" Reactor?
I could probably whip up a template (3-D model+Pepakura=win) to build a reasonably accurate wearable Arc using sheet styrene or cardstock along with a simple LED lighting guide to make it entirely self-contained... it wouldn't cost more than $10 to build it yourself at the most basic level.
I plan on making one myself, so it wouldn't be any prob for me.
I could probably whip up a template (3-D model+Pepakura=win) to build a reasonably accurate wearable Arc using sheet styrene or cardstock along with a simple LED lighting guide to make it entirely self-contained... it wouldn't cost more than $10 to build it yourself at the most basic level.
I plan on making one myself, so it wouldn't be any prob for me.
UltimateGBfan
Active Member
I dunno about the OP,but I would love to have a template like that,I've been looking to make my own Arc Reactor to be used as both display and wearable.
Neon Sentry
Sr Member
Alright then, I've already got some work done on the first version, I'll just add the second one to my list since there's at least one person interested in building these. 
Fluxcapacitor
Well-Known Member
Someone on another board built one that looked darn good and he might be making kits but it's up in the air at the moment I think.
Neon Sentry
Sr Member
It gets the point across, but it isn't very accurate.
Okay folks, I need your help. I have Iron Man on DVD but can't find it. I've got more than enough reference already on the "box o' scraps" Reactor, but I need screengrabs of the second Arc Reactor he built. Standard res is fine, but Blu-Ray would be even better.
If anyone could provide it'd be much appreciated!
I think there are a few in this thread. These are Blue Ray grabs.
http://www.therpf.com/showthread.php?t=49732&highlight=iron+man+screen
http://www.therpf.com/showthread.php?t=49732&highlight=iron+man+screen
Neon Sentry
Sr Member
Thanks for the link, I should be able to get what I need from those and what I already have. :thumbsup
Mainly the Afghanistan, not overly picky... would be interested for sure.
UltimateGBfan
Active Member
Neon Sentry,thanks for providing this for us man,I really appreciate it.
Neon Sentry
Sr Member
I've more or less completed the initial model of the Ver.1 Reactor, now I just need to edit it with construction in mind. Once done, the model will imported into a program called Pepakura and then uploaded here for you guys.
Pepakura is a program for paper model makers, which basically "unfolds" a 3-D model into a 2-D pattern that can be printed. The printed paper or cardstock can then be used to recreate the object, or it can be used as a pattern for making the object in other materials.
Progress so far on the Ver.1 Reactor:
There are a few placeholder shapes here and there, mostly for those who want to build the thing out of cardstock for a quick Halloween costume instead of going all out and putting copper wiring on there and the like, but any suggestions or critiques are more than welcome!
Pepakura is a program for paper model makers, which basically "unfolds" a 3-D model into a 2-D pattern that can be printed. The printed paper or cardstock can then be used to recreate the object, or it can be used as a pattern for making the object in other materials.
Progress so far on the Ver.1 Reactor:
There are a few placeholder shapes here and there, mostly for those who want to build the thing out of cardstock for a quick Halloween costume instead of going all out and putting copper wiring on there and the like, but any suggestions or critiques are more than welcome!
TK1536
Sr Member
Looks nice!
I recently put together one of Rick's amazing Arc reactors (bought it second-hand as a kit). It took a few weeks and some trial and error, but I figured out how to wire up the LEDs so that I could potentially duplicate a similar, yet less complex design for something wearable. Rick disassembled a LED flashlight for the center lights and the AAA batteries were housed in the base. You could run that along a long set of wires to the battery unit in your back pocket. The outer ring LEDs were just wired off the center set of LEDs, but Rick made custom "defuser rings" to soften the bright light. The other day, I was in Advance Auto Parts and they had some cheap, yet very similar LED flash lights for about $5.00. They would make an excellent power source to start with.
I recently put together one of Rick's amazing Arc reactors (bought it second-hand as a kit). It took a few weeks and some trial and error, but I figured out how to wire up the LEDs so that I could potentially duplicate a similar, yet less complex design for something wearable. Rick disassembled a LED flashlight for the center lights and the AAA batteries were housed in the base. You could run that along a long set of wires to the battery unit in your back pocket. The outer ring LEDs were just wired off the center set of LEDs, but Rick made custom "defuser rings" to soften the bright light. The other day, I was in Advance Auto Parts and they had some cheap, yet very similar LED flash lights for about $5.00. They would make an excellent power source to start with.
Neon Sentry
Sr Member
Yeah, they sell cheap LED flashlights at the Ace Hardware down the street for $5, with enough diodes to wire up for the Reactor. Good thinking! You'd need to some soldering skills to move the LEDs into position and run the batteries off into a separate pocket (the current model doesn't take into account the electronic side of the prop) but it'd be relatively simple, I imagine.
I'm working on ideas for materials to be used for construction and I think I've figured out how to accomplish the outer ring easily. It needs to be a simple, cheap and accessible solution to keep the cost under $10, and hopefully I'll be able to make that happen.
I'm working on ideas for materials to be used for construction and I think I've figured out how to accomplish the outer ring easily. It needs to be a simple, cheap and accessible solution to keep the cost under $10, and hopefully I'll be able to make that happen.
MattMurdockYLW
Active Member
I would love to see the pep file completed this would be fun!
Neon Sentry
Sr Member
Let me get the sizing straight, IIRC: the Arc Reactor is 4.75" in diameter, not including the ring in Tony's chest it's set into, right?
One of the advantages of building a model using the computer is that even after I've put the files up for you guys, Pepakura Designer has a built-in scaler for you to use. Downey is 5'7", maybe 5'8", which gives us a scaling reference so that your own Reactor doesn't look tiny/ginormous when worn.
The model itself is pretty much done, I just need to modify it for actual building, you know, support struts and the like.
My current thought on the clear ring is to take the cardstock printout and construct it inside out, with the tabs and gluing on the outside, leaving the inside clean. A gloss coat seals it, and then you can squirt (or pour) "thermoform adhesives" into it to cast your ring. Hot glue. I've seen someone actually make Guyver armor with the stuff, it's crazy.
Easy to manipulate, cheap, straightforward, and while not optically clear I'm sure that'll only help, as it would diffuse the diodes. The rest would be constructed with styrene or cardstock, along with a couple of found parts (like a faucet filter screen and copper wiring) and some paint.
Suggestions welcome, if you can think of a better way to do it without breaking the $10 mark, please speak up!
One of the advantages of building a model using the computer is that even after I've put the files up for you guys, Pepakura Designer has a built-in scaler for you to use. Downey is 5'7", maybe 5'8", which gives us a scaling reference so that your own Reactor doesn't look tiny/ginormous when worn.
The model itself is pretty much done, I just need to modify it for actual building, you know, support struts and the like.
My current thought on the clear ring is to take the cardstock printout and construct it inside out, with the tabs and gluing on the outside, leaving the inside clean. A gloss coat seals it, and then you can squirt (or pour) "thermoform adhesives" into it to cast your ring. Hot glue. I've seen someone actually make Guyver armor with the stuff, it's crazy.
Easy to manipulate, cheap, straightforward, and while not optically clear I'm sure that'll only help, as it would diffuse the diodes. The rest would be constructed with styrene or cardstock, along with a couple of found parts (like a faucet filter screen and copper wiring) and some paint.
Suggestions welcome, if you can think of a better way to do it without breaking the $10 mark, please speak up!
Neon Sentry
Sr Member
Double post ahoy!
I went back through my ref material and discovered a folder of HD caps I had forgotten about. I'm going to start the Ver.1 model from scratch again, with buildability in mind from the ground up.
I went back through my ref material and discovered a folder of HD caps I had forgotten about. I'm going to start the Ver.1 model from scratch again, with buildability in mind from the ground up.
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