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[Tabor Iviin'yc]

So our armor has fallen by the way side a little from our school and work schedules, but we've worked on our weapons a bit, so here's what we've got so far...

My wife's pistol ( $4.99 at Kmart), before and after:



And my new pride and joy, an HH-15 rocket launcher, or reasonable facsimile thereof:



This is what it should look like, pretty sure it's from Battlefront.


I still need to bondo it in several places before the painting and weathering, and I plan on sealing the cardboard with something before I paint it.  The rocket still needs a bit of work, and I'll be making two more to carry in addition to one in the launcher.

My wife is going to have an A280 blaster rifle as her primary weapon as well as her pistol and some pointy stabby things.  I'm planning on a DC-15 long rifle and a sidearm of some flavor.  Plus I'm working on some thermal dets.  My brother rigged up some sweet blinky light circuits in exchange for a finished det.

And one last picture, just for fun.


Comments are welcome,
Thanks vode.

[Sarsk]

Dude, I want to see that rocket launcher finished! Very awesome.

[Tepp Audama]

Very cool!  Love the low cost pistol alternatives and I think that is only the second launcher of any type I have seen in all my reference searches!

[Jaing Vau]

For the rocket launcher, if you want to keep it cardboard you should coat it in fibreglass resin to strengthen and water-proof it. 

[Tabor Iviin'yc]

Dude, I want to see that rocket launcher finished! Very awesome.

Thanks, I think it's going to come out pretty nice.

For the rocket launcher, if you want to keep it cardboard you should coat it in fibreglass resin to strengthen and water-proof it. 

 

The tube is left over from a mighty roll of industrial fabric, and the wall thickness of it is about 3/8".  It's pretty burly as is, but I do plan to seal it so that it paints nicer and doesn't soak up moisture.  Here's some pictures of my first thermal det in it's early stages.  I broke the soldering on some of the wires so the pretty lights don't work right now.  It's made of wiffle ball halves and the threaded section of a water bottle and it's lid so it separates in the middle to replace the batteries.  I haven't glued anything together yet, hence the rubber band.  There's a D-ring on the back to clip it to a belt. 

[Sole Oribar]

The water bottle lid middle section is GENIUS, man. I'd have never thought of that (but then again I never planned on making dets).

[Dar'manda]

excited about the rocket launcher

definitely a sweet lookin BFG hehe

[E'nam Atreuh]

Holy Shiznit! thats a funny pic...

[Tabor Iviin'yc]

So it's been a while since I updated this, but someone asked about the det on another thread so I'll put up some new pics.

First det (gray) finished, second one (silver) parts done, but not guts yet:


Here's a newer one of the launcher too.  It still needs some detailing, plus the gray paint stuck better to the masking tape than to the silver undercoat.  That needs touched up.


Speaking of detailing, I've been wanting to add this since the Clone Wars episode with Hondo's pirates:

[Ajax Kaal]

Love these, and very cool work. Keep it up!

[Slade Kel]

*holds out hands* I can has rocket launcher? Pweeze? .

Jokes aside, that thing is in fact beastly. I like it . Around about how much does it weigh? One of my roommates at DCon 09 had a custom rocket launcher that was nifty, but heavy as haran after more than a couple minutes of holding. Also, nice work on the thermal dets.

[Tabor Iviin'yc]

Jokes aside, that thing is in fact beastly. I like it . Around about how much does it weigh? One of my roommates at DCon 09 had a custom rocket launcher that was nifty, but heavy as haran after more than a couple minutes of holding. Also, nice work on the thermal dets.

It's about 10 pounds or so and the rockets are about 2 pounds each (there are/will be three all together).  One will be loaded and the other two will be in a holsterish contraption to show them off.  I don't plan on carrying it for long periods of time anyway.  I'm going to try and rig it with a sling or ideally attach it to my future rigid backpack.  My wife is making fun of me because I'm wearing my gloves and knuckle plates while I type this, but I'm just happy that I didn't make any typos.  Besides, I'm pretty sure she did the same thing last time she was wearing her gear.

[Jerek Darr]

Hey, consider yourself lucky, MY wife laughs at me regardless of what I'm wearing!  

[Slade Kel]

Ten pounds isn't hugely heavy, but yeah, you'll definitely want some kind of sling-type thing-thing. And hey, when I first finished my helmet I wore it for about three hours sitting at the computer, so I understand the glove thing .

[Bralor Skirata]

Very nice rocket ner vod! It looks almost World War 2ish

[Bazii Malric]

I like the Rocket Launcher, very cool!     I can't wait to see what you come up with to carry the extra rockets.  Speaking of which, what are the rockets make of?

[Tabor Iviin'yc]

Very nice rocket ner vod! It looks almost World War 2ish

I like the Rocket Launcher, very cool!    I can't wait to see what you come up with to carry the extra rockets.  Speaking of which, what are the rockets make of?

Thanks guys.  I'm pretty excited about it myself.  

My initial plan for the other rockets was box attached to my left thigh plate.  I got to thinking that it was going to be too bulky and my kama might get caught in the rocket tails.  I've started thinking of ways to attach them to my (still nonexistent) rigid backpack.  I had an idea to put them into individual PVC canisters that I could mount on something or just carry on a sling, but I think I'm going to make a dedicated backpack for when I'm carrying the launcher, that will have slots for both spare rockets and a place to mount the launcher when I'm not holding it.  I'll need to tweak my backplate attachment to make it more loadbearing because the backpack and launcher together will be pretty heavy.  

The rockets are composed of (from tail to nose) a flare nut, paint stirrer, 1" PVC, cut up spray bottle, PVC check valve, and a concrete anchor.  The flare nut is the nozzle.  The paint stirrer (the kind you use with a power drill) is from Home Depot makes fins and is the structure for the rest of the rocket.  The PVC is the tail leading up to the fins.  The spray bottle and check valve make the body.  The concrete anchor pokes out the front and is the detonator/sensor package.  There's also a 1" coupling thing that acts like a collar around the detonator.  I filled in from the coupling to the check valve with bondo to form the front side of the body.  I'm planning on painting the tails with different markers so I can have different kinds of rockets:  high explosive, armor piercing, anti-air.  I had to trim the fins down a little, but the rockets are about 3" OD, which is the bore of the launcher, so they can slide all the way through.  I'm not sure yet how to secure the one in the launcher so it doesn't fall out either end.  

Here are a few more pictures of the rockets.
The paint stirrer:


The fins and nozzle:


Mostly finished and two more started:


The paint stirrers are what started the whole thing actually.  I saw them in the store and decided that they would be much cooler as rockets, and so naturally, I needed a launcher to go with them.

[Bralor Skirata]

those look awesome! great idea!  well done putting it all together

[Kione Iviin'yc]

Here's a picture of my pistol modded and not quite completely painted (not quite as exciting as a rocket launcher, I know).  Also this is the punched and sewn holster we made for it out of 6 oz leather.

[Remo Jadd]

looks good.

[Cpt. Rhiis Mok'tau]

 I'm not sure yet how to secure the one in the launcher so it doesn't fall out either end.  

Rare earth magnets. Put one or two as greeblies on the outside, and the same number just under the surface of the other two rockets. When you slide it in, the magnets keep it steady!

[Tabor Iviin'yc]

So it's been a while, but we're still at it.  Here's a picture of my A280.  It's supposed to be more of an assault rifle than the ones that the Hoth and Endor troopers were using.  I haven't attached the stock yet, but it looks nicer when you pretend I have. 

looks good.

Thanks (from both of us)

Rare earth magnets. Put one or two as greeblies on the outside, and the same number just under the surface of the other two rockets. When you slide it in, the magnets keep it steady!

That's a great idea.  I haven't tried it yet, but I will.  Thanks.

[Ajax Kaal]

Looks good and love the rockets, very Panzerfaust rocket looking...love it.

Good job on the holster and the custom A280...keep up the good work.

Ajax.

[kalika]

nice work on the A280... I'm working on one too, mine's also more of an assault version that the Endor model, CQBR actually to be more specific. Keep up the good work, oh and for Kione that holster is amazing!

[Tabor Iviin'yc]

Looks good and love the rockets, very Panzerfaust rocket looking...love it.

Good job on the holster and the custom A280...keep up the good work.

Ajax.

nice work on the A280... I'm working on one too, mine's also more of an assault version that the Endor model, CQBR actually to be more specific. Keep up the good work, oh and for Kione that holster is amazing!

Yeah, I love me some rockets too.  I wasn't thinking of a Panzerfaust when I designed them, but you're right, they've got that shape.  Good luck with your A280, Kalika.  I'm looking forward to seeing it.