Gonna make me some Gaunts.

[JatneDan]

Alrighty... I have this facination for gauntles.

I would like to know how you would go about building springloaded vibros. All I want is advice on how to build the housing for them. Ive got the mechanic down, but do I just put 1 large rectangle of sintra on 2 smaller supports to create a "box" on the forearm?  Is this a bad idea? The springloading I mean. I don't want to get in any type of trouble, in the Mandalorian Mercs, or elsewhere.  Thanks for any insight!

[The Ninja]

Since I will be working with you, I'd like to know the best techniques for this as well.  Simply siad, what you tell him to do, I'll attempt also.

[BedlamX]

I don't care what you think,

Sorry to tell you this, but those few words probably just killed any chance at getting many responses. It doesn't really matter how you meant it, it sounds completely disrespectful to start out with that line and then ask for help.

My granny used to say "you catch more flies with honey than vinegar". It's an old one, but, then again, so am I.

Just a thought.

[Ajon Dren]

I agree. You should never start out a question with those words...

[Hondo Karr]

Yup, it's like you two came here to do your own thing and pi$$ on the club in the process. We're not a tool for your entertainment. We are here for Star Wars costuming for LFL. Your attitude on this one has pretty much put you with Undecided on a narrow list of people's armors I'm not interested in helping (and my primary job here is to help).

Good luck with your build... check your state and local weapons laws. I'd hate to see any costumer go to jail over something silly.

[JatneDan]

Yup, it's like you two came here to do your own thing and pi$$ on the club in the process. We're not a tool for your entertainment. We are here for Star Wars costuming for LFL. Your attitude on this one has pretty much put you with Undecided on a narrow list of people's armors I'm not interested in helping (and my primary job here is to help).

Good luck with your build... check your state and local weapons laws. I'd hate to see any costumer go to jail over something silly.

Noted. Sorry about that a'den. I really didn't mean anything negative. The only reason I started out so ( and no, I am not justifying) is because my friend , the one who posted a reply first, tried to get advice on how to build a vibro blade with 2 "wolverine" style claws and he got a lot of crap from other members. Things like, "don't be a poser or a wannabe mando" or "your gonna poke a kids eye out"  even "your just asking for trouble". So when I come, because I liked his idea, I wanted to avoid any such negative comments and specified that the actual build would be much appreciated. And a'den, I have some other  post you have replied on, and you know I am not "like this". So yes, I apologize for that comment, it was very rude of me, and I wanted to ay sorry to all of you who read this post. I will edit that immdeiatley.

[Taglar Dreskk]

The point that was made in the other thread was that large pointed blades and spring loaded blade devices usually aren't allowed at conventions and may be dangerous at charity events around children.

With that being said, if you're still considering the idea...no one here has made one.  So you may have to look at trying to rig up your own system to get it to work.  Cannibalize a toy, make it from scratch, basically there is no current guide on how to do it.

[BedlamX]

Honestly, if you really want to build something like this, The Hunter's Lair would be a much better place to find info on retractable blades. The Predator guys have been doing this stuff for years. As far as I know, that would be your best bet on some help with retractable gauntlet blades. The RPF (Replica Prop Forum) may be another place for some good info.

As a long-time member of both of those, I'll warn you, though. They are not even as forgiving as the guys here with regards to attitudes...real or percieved. You get even a little rude or "all-knowing" on either and those guys will tear you apart without mercy. If you go in with a great attitude and ask questions with some humility, virtually all prop and costume forums are willing to bend over backwards to get you the info you seek.

We're geeks...and we take care of our own.

[JatneDan]

Honestly, if you really want to build something like this, The Hunter's Lair would be a much better place to find info on retractable blades. The Predator guys have been doing this stuff for years. As far as I know, that would be your best bet on some help with retractable gauntlet blades. The RPF (Replica Prop Forum) may be another place for some good info.

As a long-time member of both of those, I'll warn you, though. They are not even as forgiving as the guys here with regards to attitudes...real or percieved. You get even a little rude or "all-knowing" on either and those guys will tear you apart without mercy. If you go in with a great attitude and ask questions with some humility, virtually all prop and costume forums are willing to bend over backwards to get you the info you seek.

We're geeks...and we take care of our own.

Noted! Thanks for the advice and not rubbing it in Bedlam!

[BedlamX]

Meh...I'm gettin too old to "rub it in". if I think someone or something is a lost cause, I just ignore them.

Like I said, geeks are a tight bunch. Especially costuming geeks. Get in on the good foot (as James Brown always said), and you got friends for life. Get off on the wrong foot, however...you get the drift.


Hhmmm...is "Geek" OK to use? Or is the PC term more like "Socially Challenged" or "Mundanely Challenged" now?

[Hondo Karr]

thanx for the apology. when people start a post with I don't care, i'll do what i want that starts a bad tone.

thing is retractable/expandable blades aren't a bad thing and similar thigs have been done. one of the uk mando's has a gaunt where he can manually do just that and it's based on the principles the predator guys use. also, many members make a faux housing and have blades they can "plug in" for pix etc. however, as cool as it sounds, the idea of an ejecting blade is really not sound for several reasons and if we seem impatient about it, i'll apologize on all of our behalves for that, we've seen it covered alot. it's right up there with using a clone helmet for your mando. heavily covered, shouldn't be done and generally argued with the same points that just don't validate it.

many states or countries have pretty severe and strict laws about those types of things, classifing them as dangerous weapons. most events will not want or allow you too utilize something like that while on site as it's a safety issue.

the best route for what we do is the plug in for pix type. however, if you must have expandible/retractible, it would be HIGHLY ewncouraged that the whole process be manual and not spring powered. it's also best if the blades are made to look sharp but are in fact very dull and made from a material that will simply snap or break away if any kind of inadvertant contact is made with it.

here are a couple of the primary issues you'll run into with powered ejected blades... there are two ways to make the blades to work for this project. one way if from a flexible rubber like material that just isn't going to look real as this material will have the give and flex to absorb the engery from being ejecting and suddenly stopping.. the other is to use a very hard material that will withstand the force of the ejection and sudden stop. something hard enough to withstand that force is going to be hard enough to legitimatly be classed as a weapon. eve if not sharpened it's still a bludgeon.

if you use a material that will break away from contact, such as 3mm sintra, foam core board etc., it can be made to look real, slowly manually ejected or placed into a socket. it doesnt hae he cool wolverine look and sound but, it can be made to look real and be safe. however, those materials will break under the force of the powered ejection.
'

[JatneDan]

thanx for the apology. when people start a post with I don't care, i'll do what i want that starts a bad tone.

thing is retractable/expandable blades aren't a bad thing and similar thigs have been done. one of the uk mando's has a gaunt where he can manually do just that and it's based on the principles the predator guys use. also, many members make a faux housing and have blades they can "plug in" for pix etc. however, as cool as it sounds, the idea of an ejecting blade is really not sound for several reasons and if we seem impatient about it, i'll apologize on all of our behalves for that, we've seen it covered alot. it's right up there with using a clone helmet for your mando. heavily covered, shouldn't be done and generally argued with the same points that just don't validate it.

many states or countries have pretty severe and strict laws about those types of things, classifing them as dangerous weapons. most events will not want or allow you too utilize something like that while on site as it's a safety issue.

the best route for what we do is the plug in for pix type. however, if you must have expandible/retractible, it would be HIGHLY ewncouraged that the whole process be manual and not spring powered. it's also best if the blades are made to look sharp but are in fact very dull and made from a material that will simply snap or break away if any kind of inadvertant contact is made with it.

Ok that is noted. So my next course of action is to make gauntlets with the fixable for pics for the cons, and then a gauntlet with springs just for fun here at home. And thanks for accepting the apology.