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 A foam arena-style build

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Kodiak


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A foam arena-style build
« on: Jan 13, 2016, 02:07 PM »


I needed a jetpack that was light enough to not need a harness, yet still be sturdy enough to survive some tumbling around. I turned to EVA foam, which has become a favorite build material of mine.

I hand drafted the patterns to resemble the Jango Arena pack closely (but not exactly). The cones were the most difficult part, since they're hard to find in the real world. I lucked out on the primary cone, which I found at a hobby shop. It's the propeller cap for a large RC plane. The other cones are carved out of three sheets of foam stacked on top of one-another, and I aim to replace them as soon as I find something better. The jet nozzles are high-efficiency shower heads found at Home Depot for $2 a piece. Total cost of materials, paints, and adhesives comes out to about $30.

I didn't have a belt sander when I started, so some lines are much cleaner than others. But overall I'm very happy with it, and I think it completely rounds out my kit. I'm still working on the exact seating on my backplate, it's a fine line between too high and too low.

Here's the build process!




Originally the pool noodles were just a stand in. But they fit too perfectly to ignore, so I just covered them in a thin craft foam.




Save your comments about the cylinders....


The paint without weathering is so astonishingly ugly.


But throw some weathering in and it's certified cool.


My first test-fit. Seated a bit too high, but I like how straight the pack rested vertically. It gets a bit of an angle when seated lower. I may modify the back of the jetpack for a better fit.






NeX


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Re: A foam arena-style build
« Reply #1 on: Jan 13, 2016, 09:57 PM »
That looks awesome!  ;D

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Lem'zig Dee


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Re: A foam arena-style build
« Reply #2 on: Jan 14, 2016, 06:28 AM »
Beautiful!

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