I know there are plenty of arc reactors around here that are better looking, but, I've been lurking here for awhile and I finally decided to try to build something. I thought it was appropriate to share.
I decided to go for the IM2/Avengers Arc:
http://www.therpf.com/attachment.php...1&d=1365646377
I wanted to be able to wear it to Iron Man 3, so my primary goals were to make it light and thin.
First I had to learn how to solder. Here is my first circuit, 2 LEDs and a resistor wired to a 9V.
http://www.therpf.com/attachment.php...1&d=1365646377
This would end up being the bases for the whole project, 8 of these make up the 16 total LEDs.
I found some really thin plastic in the quilting section of my local craft store, drew the layout of the lights, punched some holes and went to town soldering,
http://www.therpf.com/attachment.php...1&d=1365646377
http://www.therpf.com/attachment.php...1&d=1365646377
http://www.therpf.com/attachment.php...1&d=1365646377
I picked up some rare earth magnets to attach the reactor to my shirt. Here is the test to make sure they could hold it.
http://www.therpf.com/attachment.php...1&d=1365647014
I glued the magnets in place and covered them with electrical tape to prevent contact with any wiring.
http://www.therpf.com/attachment.php...1&d=1365647014
I sketched out the face plate pattern on some thin cardboard. Then, cut it our with an Xacto knife
http://www.therpf.com/attachment.php...1&d=1365647014
I cut circles of that same plastic the lights were attached to and a clear blue material I picked up at the craft store. First test assembly.
http://www.therpf.com/attachment.php...1&d=1365647014
Light was not dispersing well. After seeing how well Friendly Plastic Pellets worked in Stealth's tutorials. I used Instamorph plastic to create this triangle.
http://www.therpf.com/attachment.php...1&d=1365647014
I decided to go for the IM2/Avengers Arc:
http://www.therpf.com/attachment.php...1&d=1365646377
I wanted to be able to wear it to Iron Man 3, so my primary goals were to make it light and thin.
First I had to learn how to solder. Here is my first circuit, 2 LEDs and a resistor wired to a 9V.
http://www.therpf.com/attachment.php...1&d=1365646377
This would end up being the bases for the whole project, 8 of these make up the 16 total LEDs.
I found some really thin plastic in the quilting section of my local craft store, drew the layout of the lights, punched some holes and went to town soldering,
http://www.therpf.com/attachment.php...1&d=1365646377
http://www.therpf.com/attachment.php...1&d=1365646377
http://www.therpf.com/attachment.php...1&d=1365646377
I picked up some rare earth magnets to attach the reactor to my shirt. Here is the test to make sure they could hold it.
http://www.therpf.com/attachment.php...1&d=1365647014
I glued the magnets in place and covered them with electrical tape to prevent contact with any wiring.
http://www.therpf.com/attachment.php...1&d=1365647014
I sketched out the face plate pattern on some thin cardboard. Then, cut it our with an Xacto knife
http://www.therpf.com/attachment.php...1&d=1365647014
I cut circles of that same plastic the lights were attached to and a clear blue material I picked up at the craft store. First test assembly.
http://www.therpf.com/attachment.php...1&d=1365647014
Light was not dispersing well. After seeing how well Friendly Plastic Pellets worked in Stealth's tutorials. I used Instamorph plastic to create this triangle.
http://www.therpf.com/attachment.php...1&d=1365647014